Weekend Supplement ~ 20th May 2012: Returning Faves

When you discover new artists, it's all fresh and exciting and "ooo where is this going to go?" sort of frisson about it all. As the artists become more established, for me anyway I find myself just more expectant that they will always be delivering new work every few years & it becomes part of the status quo. But! That's not to say that when some of my long time faves return, I'm not jolly thrilled with the results - here are 2 artists I've loved since album one (and debut in my most played songs this week), plus the return of another that criminally I only found out about today. Silly me...

• Alanis Morrisette ~ Guardian: Was there a person in the world that didn't own Jagged Little Pill in 1995? She was like a slender, more vitriolic Adele and I loved it. The returns may have diminished somewhat since then, but when Alanis is good, she is very very good. Guardian is of course hyper verbose (she puts even the Dawson's Creek kids to shame - how's that for a relevant reference?!), set to a driving beat and optimistic, romantic lyrics. She promises to help the fella who has been kicked find love again and it's all very charming. Love how the verses are more restrained so that the massive singalong chorus gets even more time to shine. Brillo.
• Keane ~ Disconnected: Keane can still pull in a number one album despite the performance of it's quite good actually lead off single, Silenced By The Night. Disconnected is an even better follow up track that is instantly engaging & likeable. There's a sort of sixties Turtles/Beach Boys vibe to the vocals & instrumental, but the flavour of Keane permeates the track from start to finish. Tom's vocals really shine here and it's a great, upbeat track that are a juxtaposition to the despondency of the lyrics... Now a four piece, the addition of a bass player really gives the track a layered feel and may well be their best single for a while. Aces.
• Regina Spektor ~ Don't Leave Me: Ah, and so Regina gives me my favourite song of hers since the elegant The Call (which soundtracked a pivotal scene in Prince Caspian). This is the follow up track to All The Rowboats (which featured in Ringer) and is a lovely sunshiney bouncy affair that cannot fail to make you feel better about life. Originally a song from her 2002 album, Songs, it's been rerecorded and is like an entirely new song. Her voices glides between the lilting melody and the ending refrain of "I love Paris in the rain" is utterly joyous. It's summer in a song and deserves to be played loud and often...

Top 21 songs of the week:

21 ~ Alanis Morrisette, Guardian (NE)
20 ~ Gravitonas, Sacrifice (NE)
19 ~ Bright Lightx2, Waiting For The Feeling
18 ~ Auryn, I Don't Think So
17 ~ Delta Goodrem, Sitting On Top Of The World
16 ~ Chantal Claret, Pop Pop Bang Bang
15 ~ Marina & The Diamonds, Primadonna
14 ~ Nicki Minaj, Starships
13 ~ Eric Saade, Backseat
12 ~ Madonna, Turn Up The Radio
11 ~ Stooshe, Black Heart
10 ~ fun, Some Nights
09 ~ Scissor Sisters, Only The Horses
08 ~ Danny, Amazing
07 ~ Christopher, Mine Mine Mine
06 ~ Jason Mraz, Everything is Sound
05 ~ Little Jackie, Cock Block
04 ~ Carly Rae Jepsen, Call Me Maybe
03 ~ Ola, I'm In Love
02 ~ Tone Damli ft Eric Saade, Imagine
01 ~ Maroon 5, Payphone (5 weeks)