Single Selection Extravaganza! (Jonas Oakland, Jesse McCartney, Didrik Solli-Tang, Bjorn Johan Muri)

I do love autumn. New tv shows start proliferating the US schedules, hoping for more than a few weeks of air time before they are unceremoniously yanked forever (Hellcats, please last!); returning faves hope to wow the world once again and return to their place as the one to beat; there's a whole new range of clothes in the stores that will keep your arms & necks warm (though won't be anywhere as amazing-ridiculous as arm warmers); and of course all in the world of pop ready their new material to capitalise on the lucrative Christmas market. Here are a few of the more recent forays into early autumn single release, building up to the big pre-Christmas album push :)

• Jonas Oakland ~ Point Of Not Return: Yes, of course I was briefly disappointed that this wasn't a cover of the Expose classic. But after the glorious pop majesticles of Every Beat of My Heart, I was pretty sure Jonas wouldn't let me down. And he hasn't. A foxy new haircut and a funky new tune are more than pleasing - it's a solid synth-heavy, dance-pop tune with a chorus that is perhaps more of Ace of Base levels of aceness than the current ace of base single. Some nice handclaps and pounding, echoey bass in the middle 8 build up to a frenzied final chorus. It's all about taking that final tentative step into something risky and unknown and Jonas delivers an edgier vocal than on the more euphoric BOMH. It's always nice to know that artists perform to the song rather than just being automotons in the recording studio and I'm excited for a full album of sheer, unadulterated pop goodness from lovely Jonas...
• Jesse McCartney ~ Shake: Hurrah! Jesse is back. He's always hovvered around the periphery of being a huge popstar despite having some brilliant pop tunes. This is perhaps a slightly generic attempt to break into a wider market, but the song has enough charm that it's entirely forgiveable - plus I love phone calls within songs, so I'm all over this pulsating, r'n'b tinged little nugget of goodness. Not sure about the use of "shorty/shawtie" in the song, mainly because I have no idea what it means :( I'm so not down with the kids (I still think it's hip to be square). I'm really enjoying the tune though and find the chorus nigh on impossible to "shake" from my head...

• Didrik Solli-Tangen ~ Best Kept Secret: Didrik did incredibly well in Eurovision with his powerful, soaring ballad My Heart Is Yours (still the perfect type of song for this year's X Factor winner or a brilliant Westlife comeback). For his first single post competition, he's gone down a more languid, laid back route, but it's no less lovely a tune. It's a somewhat jazz tinged, horn laden tune that has the most gloriously inviting middle 8 (you just want to sing along, grab the one you love and shimmy) and the layered vocals at the end continue the communal feeling of the song. Bloody brilliant - think Matt Dusk or Michael Buble; this infectious tune should be bobbing around your head (and hopefully the charts) for weeks...
• Bjorn Johan Muri ~ Once Upon A Time: The "Yes Man" is back and since that soaring moment of musical genius, he hasn't really scaled the heights with his subsequent release - the pleasant but somewhat safe Circles. This definitely isn't in Yes Man territory, but the more I listen to it the more I'm drawn into it's 80s inspired groove. I quite like that the song title mainly features in the verses rather than the chorus and while I could have done without the unnecessary addition of the rapper, I'm really enjoying Bjorn's voice, the female backing and a track that grows on you with each listen (much like brandon's crossfire). The album is out next week. YAY!

Coming tomorrow - weekly roundup (boyband special)...