New Picks of the Week August 1, 2010

David Garrett is one of these artists who is trying to bring orchestral music to the popular music audience of the 21st century. In that sense, he is doing a great job. Covering the likes of Metallica, Guns N Roses, ACDC and Nirvana is going to draw a lot of us to his music. The question for me is the cheesy factor. I guess it’s a no brainer that it is corny, but this 28-year old German violinist is darn good. And his album “Rock Symphonies” is not just a bunch of remakes of songs by some of the most popular rock bands of the past 30 years. It also includes rock-infused arrangements of Bach’s “Tocatta” and the theme of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5. He also has his rendition of Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal” and the Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way” (which is much more like the Run DMC version from 1986 not the Aerosmith original). Check this out and see if it’s too silly for you or if you find his technique cancels it out.


Yes I am a fan of electro hop. I keep saying that if this is the direction hip hop is going to go, I am going to become its biggest new fan. So this new single from L.A. newcomer Bruno Mars called “Just The Way You Are” is totally my style. It’s got a nice piano hook with a fun beat and harmonies both instrumentally and vocally. That is always my second biggest problem with hip hop (after the crudeness of it) is that it is so minimalistic. It’s also no surprise I like this song since Bruno also was featured on B.o.B’s “Nothin’ On You” and Travie McCoy’s “Billionaire” which are both solid tunes.


Florida rock quintet Anberlin has a nice solid rocker that has just come out called “Impossible”. The band was signed to Tooth & Nail Records but doesn’t classify themselves as a Christian band necessarily even though they are all believers. Their music explores many areas connected to their faith and real life situations. They have sensed move on to Universal Republic Records. Their last album “New Surrender” reached the Top 20 on the album chart. And now here they go again with a great lead single from the album “Dark Is The Way, Light Is A Place”.

Now on to the charts. Eminem is perched atop the pop chart again this week with “Love The Way You Lie” featuring Rihanna. It is the rapper’s third #1 single in his career. One of his other chart toppers, “Not Afraid”, is sitting at #11 this week.

If you’re looking for a song that is out to catch Eminem, check out Usher’s “DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love” featuring Pitbull which debuted last week at #19 and this week cruises up to #12. Usher has already hit #1 this year with “OMG” featuring will.i.am which slides down to #8 this week.

“Love The Way You Lie” knocked “California Gurls” by Katy Perry out of the top spot after a 6-week run. This week the California girl has the highest debut in the Top 40 with “Teenage Dream” at #20. It is the 25-year old pop star’s sixth Top 40 hit dating back to her only other #1 hit, “I Kissed A Girl” in 2008.

Usher’s 7-notch move is tied for the biggest move in the Top 40 this week. It’s tied with “Misery” by California rock quintet Maroon 5 which leaps from 28-21. “Misery” also debuted last week. It’s from their upcoming album “Hands All Over” due out in September.

Also debuting this week in the Top 40 is “Magic” by B.o.B. featuring Rivers Cuomo at #27, “Secrets” by OneRepublic at #35 and “Pretty Boy Swag” by Soulja Boy Tell’em.

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