New Picks of the Week August 22, 2010

This the 70s retro sound that I absolutely love. Thank you to the Staten Island Afro-funk band Budos Band for providing it. The band which has been around for five years has just released their third album “The Budos Band III” (they enjoy titling their albums like Chicago). My favorite single from their new album is “Mark of the Unnamed”. I love the funky unison horn lines with the organ, funk guitar and African drum grooves layered underneath.

The Plain White T’s are doing everything they can to get out of the one-hit-wonder label that they firmly had placed on them with their mega hit “Hey There Delilah”. They technically got rid of it last year with their minor hit “1234”. Now they are making another attempt with “Rhythm Of Love” which is another fun vocally captivating tune with a Jason Mraz “I’m Yours” type of feel. I of course love the line “My heart beats like a drum” followed by the hard hits on the bass drum. Then comes the line “a guitar string to the strum” of course followed by the guitar hook. It’s too bad they didn’t follow the next line “a beautiful song to be sung” with some harmonic vocal line or even a small choir.


This week’s free iTunes download was “White Lies” by Stacy Clark. Stacy is a 29-year old singer-songwriter from Buffalo, New York. Her first big time release is quite similar to Sara Bareilles‘ new single “King Of Anything” without the horns (unfortunately). It has a fun pop beat with a cool piano groove. If you get a chance, download this one for free before the week is over. But it is definitely worth the one dollar too.

Chart update:
It’s going to be pretty difficult for Eminem to top his biggest hit of all time. Back in 2002, the 37-year old Kansas City native went to #1 the first week of October with “Lose Yourself” and nearly held down the top spot the remainder of that calendar year. His run ended at 12 weeks. He is over one third of the way there with his current single. This week he makes it five weeks at #1 with “Love The Way You Lie” featuring Rihanna.

Two songs are on Eminem’s trail though. 28-year old British newcomer Taio Cruz has already proved he can hit #1 here in the states. He nailed down the top spot earlier this year with “Break Your Heart”. This week he is at #2 with “Dynamite”. And leaping from 9-5 is Katy Perry’s “Teenage Girl”. She is looking to displace Eminem out of #1 and seek revenge for him knocking her out with “California Gurls” which still sits at #3 this week.

A little further down in the ranks are some other songs gaining quickly. All are of the electro hop feel that continues to dominate the pop chart. B.o.B. who has already scored two Top 10’s this year with “Nothin’ On You” and “Airplanes” is up from 15-11 with “Magic” featuring Weezer’s Rivers Cuomo. Bruno Mars who was featured on “Nothin’ On You” is up from 20-16 with “Just The Way You Are”. Flo Rida is the latest to jump on to one of David Guetta’s grooves as he moves from 24-18 with “Club Can’t Handle Me”. And Ke$ha is looking for her fourth Top 10 hit with “Take It Off” which leaps from 27-20.

15-year old singer-songwriter Trey Songz has the week’s highest debut with his third career hit, “Bottoms Up” featuring Nicki Minaj at #22. Country superstar Blake Shelton scores his fifth pop hit this week at #37 with “All About Tonight”. His biggest hit was his first, “Austin”, which reached #18 in 2001. And Chris Brown is back in the Top 40 this week with “Deuces” featuring Tyga & Kevin McCall at #39. It is the 21-year old’s tenth Top 40 hit song.

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