Snap, Crackle (fizzy) Pop: Weekly catch-up July 4th 2010 ft Kylie flash mob! Plus Olly Murs, Samuel and Elan Lea...

Is it actually possible to literally suffer from exhaustion?! Because if so, I think I am. I have just had absolutely no energy the past few days - and not just in a tired way, but in a way where everything that I normally do takes a vast amount of effort, and then leaves me absolutely pooped all over again. (Despite all this I still managed to be co-erced into entering a mechanical bull riding competition at the local gay bar last night - and won. It's all in the thigh gripping!) So to cheer myself up I have regressed into a world of shiny, sunny pop (have I really regressed? Isn't that my world anyway?) and been watching things like the still brilliant Britannia High clip above. Which just proves two things - i) Matthew James Thomas could still be a magnifico pop star & ii) there is more energy and enthusiasm in that clip than anything in the "back 9" episodes of Glee. And there will be much more adoration of slightly outdated but current pop in tomorrow (ish) boyband post... But for now, some songs that caught my attention late this week...

Something for your Sunday:

• Olly Murs ~ Please Don't Let Me Go: I actually really do like the new Olly Murs single. I think he had his moments on the X-Factor, but was often marred by a bad song choice. Getting the song choice right for his first single then was absolutely crucial and I think he happened to get this spot on. A shuffling reggae beat pitches him somewhere between Paolo Nutini and Jason Mraz, in an incredibly infectious and summery lilting tune. His vocal sounds quite nice and there is some entirely pleasing piano tinkling in the middle 8. Hopefully he has retained enough of his X-Factor fanbase that this will do quite well for him, especially as I hear he is working with Preston on his debut album (whose debut album I still desperately need to hear!) So ultimately quite surprising (as is nothing like the songs he performed on the show) but a pleasant addition to an increasingly good summer of 2010 pop soundtrack...
• Samuel ~ I Heart NY: This has been floating around forever and a day (well at least a month or so) and I've only just gotten around to listening to it. My bad - this is quite a delightful tune filled with enough quirks and surprises to make it feel new and special, yet familiar enough that you feel you can sing along after just one listen. And it's definitely one of those songs that invites you in to it's created community with chanted vocal snippets, an engaging singalong chorus, enough attitude and swagger ("i was made to grow up and be famous/so i'm trying my best to stay shameless") to give it a real confidence and just completely wonderful from start to finish. It's definitely the anti-California Gurls (still shudder at that spelling) and all the better for it! You can buy the EP online here and listen to a mean cover of Ellie Goulding's Starry Eyed on his myspace here...
• Elan Lea ~ Right Anyway: Two things to get out the way - firstly, there is no getting around the fact that young Elan is a bit of a looker. Secondly, I discovered his earnest charms thanks to my twitter buddy Pip, who got to interview him earlier this week. Elan is one of those people with gorgeously smooth vocals that can make anything they turn their voice to sound heavenly. This single is no exception - set over lush piano chords and some complementary drums, it gives the song some energy and charisma; a raw feel that really brings the tune alive. Sign up to his webpage and you also get a free download of another album track - the equally lovely Strangers For The Second Time. Definitely one to watch...

Top 21 songs of the week:

21 ~ Ola, All Over The World (NE)
20 ~ Bjorn Johan Muri, Circles
19 ~ Gravitonas, Kites
18 ~ Adam Tyler, Friction
17 ~ Gabriella Cilmi, Hearts Don't Lie
16 ~ Kelly Rowland, Commander
15 ~ JLS, The Club Is Alive
14 ~ Scissor Sisters, Fire with Fire
13 ~ BrightLightX2, A New Word To Say
12 ~ The Bang Bang Club, Chemistry
11 ~ LeKid, Mercy Mercy
10 ~ Chanee & N'Evergreen, In A Moment Like This
09 ~ Dirty Disco, White Room
08 ~ Magic Numbers, Pulse
07 ~ Simon Curtis, Beat Drop
06 ~ Eric Saade, It's Gonna Rain
05 ~ Brandon Flowers, Crossfire
04 ~ Darin, Can't Stop Love
03 ~ Kylie, All The Lovers (flash mob in Madrid video above!)
02 ~ Same Difference, Shine On Forever (Photo Frame)
01 ~ Maroon 5, Misery (1 week)