Flashback Friday: Champagne - Rock 'n Roll Star

"Fortune and fame, oh what a shame"

Do you like Abba? And have you heard the Dutch version of them? If not, this should be fun. Champagne are clearly an Abba knockoff, down to the facial hair of the guys in the band. This is no bad thing, though. They were successful in the late 70's/very early 80's in the Netherlands, though they only released one actual album. To me, their output is pretty spotty, but when they're good... they're great. This is my favorite track, an Abba pastiche if I've ever heard one. It has a very strong chorus with tons of harmonies and overdubs. It's also got that vaguely folk-inspired sound that some of Abba's most anthemic songs (Fernando, Chiquitita, SOS) had. It's incredibly old-fashioned, but sometimes that's just what you feel like.



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

Example - Say Nothing

"Your eyes do the talking"

Example is an... ahem... "example" of an artist that just keeps getting better. I've admired his music for awhile now, but it was Changed The Way You Kissed Me last year that cemented him as an awesome hit-maker in my book. With each single in his discography, he seems to be getting poppier/rockier (his earlier work was almost entirely rap). I'm sure some are annoyed at this, but as a lover of mainstream pop, I am so glad that he's gone down a more melodic route. The new single, Say Nothing, is the kind of electro anthem that should go down very well in today's musical climate. There's a little bit of rap thrown in there to remind us of who wrote the thing, but this has "radio" written all over it. Another year, another hit.



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

Parade - Light Me Up

"You need to take me higher"

Parade are a UK girlband that I, in all honesty, never really paid attention to before. But, they've done an excellent job of hyping up their new single and it definitely got me interested. It helps that the sound is in a poppier, more melodic style. In fact, it sounds kind of like a combination of Girls Aloud and the Wanted, which makes sense since its writers/producers worked with both of those bands. I'm also getting a little bit of an 80's Bananarama vibe, particularly in the bridge before the chorus. It's a great track, and officially gets me pumped up for what the girls are gonna do next. Best of all, you can download it for free on their soundcloud!



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

Sam & The Womp - Bom Bom

"I'm the cat with the bass and drum"

Some songs just make you happy. I'm well aware that this isn't for everyone. Some will surely find it annoying, but from the very first few seconds, I was completely entertained. Bom Bom is a delirious mix of Balkan influences, ska, modern dance and ridiculously animated lyrics. To be completely honest, the band's name was what first drew me to the track. It sounds like some weird kid's show. Upon listening to it, I was happy that this is no kid's song (though I imagine it would appeal to them). Instead, it's the kind of bizarre novelty track that pops up occasionally in Europe but never seems to make it across to the States. Anybody who knows me well knows that I love a little weirdness. I may be sick of it in a few weeks, but for now I can't stop listening.



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

MNDR - #1 In Heaven

"You can tell them, I'm smiling"

I, along with everyone else, was first introduced to MNDR when she collaborated with Mark Ronson on his excellent Bang Bang Bang. I loved that song, and filed her name away for future reference. Now, after an EP and some singles, she's gearing up to release her first album. #1 In Heaven was the first single, released several months ago, and it represents exactly why I'm excited for the album. I love the electro sound coupled with the off-kilter vocals and pop melody. The song title recalls the excellent Sparks track, #1 Song In Heaven, and the subject matter is pretty much the same. I like to think that MNDR's version is a bit of an ode to Sparks, but that may just be wishful thinking. Either way, it's damn good.



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