Concept Store - Damn!

"My feet just want to touch new ground"

Thanks to the wonderful Swedish Stereo for turning me on to this great new Swedish pop band. I don't think I would have ever expected a group with an oddly blank name like Concept Store to create such exciting, uptempo music. The song pulses on a well-utilized string section before blasting into a sky-high falsetto, handclap chorus. It's about time we got a track like this from a new Scandinavian group. It's got shades of Salem Al Fakir, Fibes, Oh Fibes and Scissor Sisters, all pumped up to a dramatic, orchestral flourish. Could we ask for anything more? Luckily, it's already making waves on itunes. If things go as they should, this will be only the first step of an exciting new pop career in Sweden. And they didn't even need Melodifestivalen to get it!

Concept Store - Damn! by alienhits

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the single here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

The Pusher - Planets

"Planets collide all the time"

December seems to be the month of Swedish bands changing their names. First it was Dyno (who are now Set Fire Run), and now it's Fashion (who I posted about back in August), who are now The Pusher. I hate to say it, but in both cases I liked the original name better. But this blog isn't about names. It's about music, and that's what matters. I'm delighted that the band will be releasing their best song (Blinded By The Dark) as a single. Planets is another old song that I think deserves definite single status. With a touch-up on the production, I could see this being really big because the melody's so strong. It's an excellent mix of pop and rock with a rollicking stadium chorus. Wait until about a minute in... it totally explodes. In a way, it's a little Kelly Clarkson-esque. In addition to this track, the guys have written a song with perhaps the funniest title of 2010: Blow Me And Run. Only in Sweden, folks.

The Pusher - Planets by alienhits

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Listen to their songs (and friend them) here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Fenech-Soler - Stop And Stare

"I see the stars on the horizon"

I first wrote about Fenech-Soler ages ago (about a year and a half, actually) and I'm pleased to see that they've released a full album since that time. LA Love, the song I posted, is still by far my favorite track on the album, but Stop And Stare is definitely worth a mention too. These guys have an elastic, heavily electronic sound that, in this song, is a little reminiscent of Calvin Harris. It's a big club track, mixing elements of pop and indie into the fold to make things interesting. I'm not sure that these guys will find mainstream success outside of their niche (LA Love would be the best chance, I'd say), but they're very good at what they do. And for many people, that'll be more than enough to satisfy.

Fenech-Soler - Stop And Stare by alienhits

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Hurts - All I Want For Christmas Is New Year's Day

"I'm not supposed to feel this way"

They're not the most likely band to record a Christmas single, but from the title to the sound, this is a perfect release from Hurts. It's exactly what you'd expect from them -- a big, melancholy ballad with orchestral (in this case, Christmas bells) influences. Holiday theme aside, it would fit perfectly on their album. I'm not sure if it's a proper single release or just an extra little curio, but if given a push I think this could do well for them. At the very least, it's bound to enjoy cult status among fans. They do soaring very well, and the chorus to this certainly fits the bill. And can I just suggest that more pop songs employ the use of bells (Christmas or not)? I'm not sure what it is about them, but I'm convinced that they make everything better.

Hurts - All I Want For Christmas Is New Year's Day by alienhits

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the debut album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Pop Blitz - X-Factor Edition: The Semifinalists

UK X-Factor is approaching its end for the year, and it's been as all consuming in 2010 as it always is (in fact, personally, it's been more consuming). Rather than rate the remaining contestants (though this is more or less my preference anyway), I've decided to put them in the order of how successful I think they'll be after the contest is over, since that's all that really matters anyway.

1. One Direction - The market is ripe for a new boyband and I can't imagine any group doing better than these guys. Manufactured by the program, they were brought together for a reason. They look the part and gel extremely well together while still retaining individual personalities. They've got their "lead singers," their "funny one," their "serious one," etc etc. It's no surprise they've already amassed the fanbase they have. Give them the right songs and they'll be huge. Bonus point: they're the youngest on the list - they've got room for growth. (my prediction for the contest: 2nd place)

2. Cher Lloyd - She's been hailed as the most unique act in the competition. She probably is, though as far as the real world goes I'm not sure she's quite as unique. However, she is what's going on in music right now. And it's not just because she raps. She's got the voice, the attitude, the style, and most importantly, the charisma needed to embark on a very successful solo career. (my prediction for the contest: 4th place)

3. Rebecca Ferguson - I think her future success hinges entirely on the album she releases. Apparently Amy Winehouse has already offered to write her a song, which is definitely a step in the right direction. That's the sound she should be going on. She will have to rely on her voice as personality and charisma is a bit lacking, so it's a plus that she's got one of the most marketable sounds in the competition. Problem is, I'm not sure that particular sound's popularity isn't starting to fade. (my prediction for the contest: 3rd place)

4. Matt Cardle - The chosen winner since the very beginning (I can't begin to tell you how much it annoys me when the early frontrunner wins), coming number one is probably the worst thing that could happen to Matt. Yes, he's got the voice (best voice in the competition), but he's also got the charisma of a piece of cardboard (see: Leon Jackson, Joe McElderry, etc - we know how that worked out). There has never been a long-term successful male winner of X-Factor. Add to that the fact that the music Matt will want to make (judging by his previous band) is not the type of music that the winner's label (Syco) knows anything about. He'd do better to be voted out early, but it's not gonna happen. He'll win and everyone will forget about him next year. (my prediction for the contest: 1st place)

5. Mary Byrne - X-Factor will undoubtedly be the high point of Mary's singing career, as after the contest is over it'll be gigs, a bargain-bin collection of Shirley Bassey covers and (if she's lucky) a stint on the West End (but can she act?). She's a lovely woman, but the world's already got a Susan Boyle. And even though I prefer her to Susan (controversial opinion, I know), lightning won't strike twice. Good for her, though. All this media coverage is a far cry from Tesco! (my prediction for the contest: 5th place)