Top 25 - 12 July, 2015

Veruca Salt!

1. Little May - Home (#1 for 3 weeks!)





2. Santigold - Radio





3. Ngaiire - Once





4. Kira Puru - All Dulled Out





5. Highasakite - Keep That Letter Safe





6. Veruca Salt - Empty Bottle (NEW)





7. Our Man In Berlin - Bones





8. Manor - Can You Hear Me Talking At You





9. Velociraptor - Dollarmite





10. James Chatburn ft. Frank Nitt - We Drink





11. ON AN ON - Icon Love (NEW)





12. Airling - Stallin'





13. SAFIA - Embracing Me





14. Peking Duk ft. Benjamin Joseph - Say My Name (NEW)





15. Youngs - Serasan Shakes (NEW)





16. Lupa J - Quiet Here





17. Atlas Genius - Molecules





18. Christopher Coleman Collective - Just Like A Needle (NEW)





19. Wolf Alice - Freazy (NEW)





20. Dear Plastic - Overwinter





21. Eminem ft. Gwen Stefani - Kings Never Die (NEW)





22. Quintessential Doll - Saccharine (Rework)





23. Dolo Jones ft. Passerine - Can't Give You Up





24. Little Sleeper - Middle of the Night





25.  R.W. Grace - Shells

Top 25 - 26 October, 2014

Heeeeeey, ladies!

1. Hey Lady! - My Head, My Heart





2. Tkay Maidza - Switch Lanes





3. San Cisco - Run (NEW)





4. Dear Plastic - Epic Delay





5. Jessie Ware - Pieces





6. Little May - Bones





7. Foo Fighters - The Feast and The Famine (NEW)





8. Foo Fighters - Something From Nothing





9. Howling Bells - Original Sin (NEW)





10. Jack Ladder and The Dreamlanders - Her Hands





11. Fractures - It's Alright (NEW)





12. Tanzer - That's Why Darling





13. Marina and The Diamonds - Froot





14. Gwen Stefani - Baby Don't Lie (NEW)





15. Jasia - Safety





16. Son Lux ft. Faux Fix - No Fate Awaits Me (NEW)





17. Julia Why? - Just One Night





18. Chvrches - Get Away (NEW)





19. Cold Clinic Love - Bullet Youth





20. Sleater-Kinney - Bury Our Friends (NEW)





21. Lurch and Chief - Keep It Together





22. Iggy Azalea - Iggy SZN (NEW)





23. Lorde - Yellow Flicker Beat





24. Sean O'Neill - I Know You Worry





25. slacksmiths - Slotmachine

The A to Z of Pop - Y is for #yolo

The A to Z of Pop

by Jo Michelmore

"I hate old people, why don't they all just f-off" was what one of my previous work colleagues used to say when dealing with anyone of an elderly demeanour. Unfortunately, I could never quite get my colleague to admit what they considered 'old' because whenever they said that sentence, I would always be busy thinking to myself; "well, I hope all your dreams come true and you don't get old then...." which was probably a little harsh, but whatever, paying jobs can sometimes do that to you.


Having had a birthday myself recently, it got me thinking about what 'old' is anyway. To a five year old, anyone over the age of five is old, right? And anyone under the age of five is a baby. Easy. These lines start to get blurred as time goes on. They're even more blurred in pop music, because what is age in pop? As I said way back at T, Madonna is old as something about 56 years old, but that doesn't mean you can take away her Queen of Pop crown. I've decided that pop music is ageless. Some pop is really good and some pop is really...average and some pop stars are super young and some pop stars are super old. For example, 5SOS are all under 21, but that doesn't make them musical geniuses, does it?


Perhaps you should decide that for yourself.

"I wish that I could wake up with amnesia and forget about the stupid little things" - you don't get to decide what you forget with amnesia, 5SOS. You forget the big things too. Oh well, at least someone told you how to spell amnesia, I guess. But wait, there's still hope for pop with people like one of my faves who released a new song this week.

Ms Gwen Stefani. She's 45. This week, she released a new song after eight long years. I like it. Lots. Someone I know (hey editor) said it sounded very Rihanna-ish. I agree, but Rihanna is 26 and Gwen is rocking a Rihanna sound better than Rihanna has in a little while. Where is that eighth album Rihanna? Which brings me to Pitbull, who is one that confuses me, because how old is he anyway?

He looks like he's 50, but apparently he's 33. I beg to differ. Old eyes are hiding behind those suits of his. Mr Bull just wishes he was more like someone else who's way older than him but seems way younger.

I know right? Jay Z is 44. All I can say is, thankfully he hasn't taken the advice of Pitbull's ol' mate Kesha (who by the way, is 27). And for the record, at 27, I don't want you to follow your own advice either, Kesha.

What have we learnt here boys and girls? Pop music and our mainstream media in general might be focused on the 'young', but pop music is good. At any age. You should just enjoy it, at any age, because after all; #yolo.

The Candy Shop #20

Money, money, money, must be funny, it’s a crime, too tight to mention, gimme the MUNY the Yen and the Peso, I WANT MONEY!


In light of recent Australian political events it only seems fit that I dedicate tonight’s Candy Shop to the all mighty dollar! It consumes our lives and dominates out decisions like “Do I have enough money for another cream filled éclair or should I be saving to get that tumor cut out?” It rules our health, our leisure, our pleasure and apparently the music industry. WHO KNEW? Lolz.

Money in the 70s

Money 

by Pink Floyd

I can never get over how timeless these guys are. This was released in 1973 and is still as fresh today. I dedicate this to Australian politics!

Money Money Money 

by ABBA 

Just find me a rich man so I can be a kept lady. Were these the aspirations of the time? I want this. I keep telling my lover to become super successful or I’m leaving. I think it’s healthy in a relationship to have an ultimatum.

 Money in the 80s

Money's Too Tight (To Mention)

by Simply Red

That’s not all that’s too tight to mention… Did you see that curly fringe? Mick you little firecracker, I bet the money isn’t too tight these days.

Money For Nothing

by Dire Straits

“See the little f****t with the earring and the makeup, yeah buddy that's his own hair, that little f****t got his own jet air plane, that little f****t he's a millionaire...” charming no? This was regularly played when I was growing up. Maybe I subconsciously felt that being gay would make me rich? Actually no…

Money in the 90s

Money

by The Flying Lizards

I was a teenager once. I heard this song. I also just wanted money. I was a teenager and needed things. Things only money could buy. I WANT MONEY!

 Money in the 00s

 Rich Girl
by Gwen Stefani

If I was a rich girl I’d probably nana nana nana nana nah too. This was when Gwen sold out to so it’s only fitting she’s singing about being rich. Maybe she wrote this before she was raking in the cash?

 Money in the 10s

Muny
by Nicki Minaj

She a muny grabbing so ‘n’ so with a luv for da buck and a butt like a truck! I’m not really a Nicki fan but this song was part of a burlesque production I saw recently and I must admit my muny maker became a muny shaker!


Money makes the world go round and drives everything from politics to music and as much as things change they remain the same. Now where’d I put my diamond ring? I think it might have fallen off in my money pit…

#5 - Music From Your High School Years



MISSSEYYY!!!!!



2000 - 2004. Aka, my high school years. Not so long ago, but enough to make me go... it's about time you made something of your life, isn't it? Isn't it?! But that daily struggle is another story. I was actually thinking about high school last night. Unfortunately it was a lot of thinking because I can't seem to remember a whole lot of it. Of course, some funny moments are still there, but the learning stuff? That gone now. That far away or something. As for the music, it was an interesting time for the industry. The reign of bubblegum pop was ending and rap was becoming the new dominant genre. Britney Spears was sane, kids were feeling all emo and Lady Gaga... was still in high school too. Yep, I've accomplished nothing. Here's some music from my high school years!

Music From Your High School Years:

Incubus - Drive (2000)

Sexy... Everything about you so sexy?

We've been told this a million times... sex sells. Especially in music and, well, porn and a whole bunch of other stuff, but especially in music. You're already starting to wonder where this is going, so I'll get straight to the point. This week, Richard Russell, founder of the amazing British label, XL Records, spoke about the joy that Adele's overwhelming success has given him in a world that's been overrun by "faux porn" pop music;

“The whole message with [Adele] is that it’s just music, it’s just really good music. There are no gimmicks, no selling of sexuality...What a great thing, how amazing. At the level it is at now, it is radical. It is clearly about the music and the talent and the things it is meant to be about. Adele is a good thing to be happening."

Adele is, indeed, a very good thing to be happening for the music industry. Could you say the same of Lady Gaga? Sure, she's running around in a bikini half the time, but would you class her as sexy? With the message she's trying to sell on Born This Way, I haven't really bought into any sexual message. Is Ke$ha sexy, or is she just that drunken easy chick you're willing to lower your standards for? What about Britney Spears? Maybe we shouldn't go into that one. I can't speak for what YOU find sexy, but I can speak for what the good people of FHM and I do, so we're going to do a bit of a face-off today. First I'll give you FHM's ten highest ranking singers in their annual '100 Sexiest Women in the World,' before showing ten women that I believe define the word sexy.

FHM (UK):

1. Katy Perry

Top 100 Music Videos, #90 - 81



Breathe with me...


Welcome back to It's My Kind of Scene's music video bonanza... or countdown. Whatever. Last time we saw clips from a huge range of music superstars like Marilyn Manson and Kylie Minogue. Who's next up to the plate? Let's find out!

#90 - What's A Girl To Do? (2007)

by Bat For Lashes

I love long-take music videos almost as much as I love the sudden appearances of animal people riding bicycles. Natasha Khan delivers both of these things in the 'What's A Girl To Do?' video... and she does it well. It might not have the super polished look (or love of The Karate Kid) that 'Daniel' has, but it remains a personal favourite.

Best Moment: BAM! Bike riding animal people. From where? From whence?

Top 300 Songs of the 2000s, #120 - 111



Britney's last stand... on this countdown.


This could be my favourite post of the entire countdown. Well, the songs aren't my favourite (clearly, or they'd be the top 10 no?), but the post get extra props for being the only one that features a song from every year in the decade. That's right, one song from the year 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. Whatever, I think it's cool... here's the songs!

#120 - Hollaback Girl (2005)

by Gwen Stefani

So I'm ready to attack, gonna lead the pack,

Gonna get a touchdown, gonna take you out...

Brian Griffin - "I don't know what a Hollaback Girl is. All I know is that I want her dead." I can't say I feel as strongly as everyone's favourite talking dog, Brian. 

Top 300 Songs of the 2000s, #130 - 121



Lily Allen aka Rirry Arren.



Three posts remain before we hit the Top 100 Songs of the 2000s! So why waste time with my usual hilarious banter? Here's our next ten (awesome) songs!

#130 - Sway (2008)

by The Kooks

Say whatever you have to say, I'll stand by you.

Countdown: Women Who Rock - #10, Gwen Stefani

#10 - Gwen Stefani

of No Doubt

"I'm just a girl,

Take a good look at me

Just your typical prototype."

The Gwen Stefani of today is super pop in its finest form. No Doubt Gwen is a completely different entity, obtaining commercial success that few female rockers have ever achieved with the release of Tragic Kingdom in 1995. Tragic Kingdom went diamond in the US, eventually selling over 16 million copies worldwide. 'Don't Speak,' the third single off the album, spent a record breaking 16 weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart, becoming the band's most popular and signature song.

The overwhelming mainstream success didn't keep up though on follow up album, Return of Saturn, which had less of a pop-rock focus. Gwen showed that she was continuing to grow as a frontwoman and it's here that she was achieving popularity as a fashion icon, a status she maintains to this day. Return of Saturn would receive a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Album, losing out to the Foo Fighters There Is Nothing Left to Lose.

Stefani credits Blondie's Debbie Harry as a major influence and this was oh so very clear with the release of Rock Steady. Reggae and Dancehall heavily influenced the album and brought No Doubt back to the forefront of the mainstream. 'Hey Baby' was a massive success, but contained almost nothing of the No Doubt of old and paved the way for Gwen to launch her solo career.

No Doubt has been back on the touring circuit since last year and is back in the studio with an album to be release sometime this year. It could be the career defining album that either solidifies their position as one of the greatest rock bands, more in line with Tragic Kingdom, or takes them further down the road they started with Rock Steady. I'll take option one thanks. Rock Gwen.... rocks.

Key Tracks: 'Just a Girl,' 'Sunday Morning,' 'Don't Speak' and 'Spiderwebs' (Tragic Kingdom), 'Ex-Girlfriend,' 'Bathwater,' 'Simple Kind of Life' and 'New' (Return of Saturn), 'Hella Good' and 'Underneath It All' (Rock Steady), 'It's My Life.'