New Music Friday Review: Shawn Mendes, Lana Del Ray and The Weeknd

This week is interesting given that we are into the 2nd weekend of Coachella and there has been plenty of new music released, heck, Lady Gaga dropped a new song right smack bang during the middle of her set at the festival (You can watch it on Youtube). We've got plenty to look at so let's get this review underway beginning with Amy Shark.


Song: Blood Brothers
Artist: Amy Shark

Blood Brothers is a song from Amy Shark's EP entitled "Night Thinker" and I have to say Amy is yet to disappoint me because Blood Brothers is another excellent track from according to reviewers is an excellent EP. Kind of hoping this does get released as a single because it is a damn good song.

Rating: 8.5/10


Song: Attention
Artist: Charlie Puth

So this song is the first single for Puth's follow up album to the widely condemned Nine Track Mind and while its better than anything that was on Nine Track Mind but man are the verses on this track annoying beyond belief even if the prechorus and the chorus are pretty darn cool. I find the repetition of words in the verses extremely grating and annoying.

Rating: 5/10 (Gets a pass because the pre chorus and chorus is damn catchy)

Song: There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back\
Artist: Shawn Mendes
\
Well I actually thought this was a new song from a new project from Shawn Mendes because this is actually an alright song but no its the first song from his most recent album Illuminate. Sigh. It least this track breaks away from the whining that I find completely insufferable on songs like Stitches and Treat You Better which begs the question why not release this instead of Treat You better which made him sound like an obnoxious little prick.

Rating: 5/10

Song: Murder to the Mind
Artist: Tash Sultana

Tash Sultana is quickly becoming one of my favourite Australian female artists. I just love this woman's voice even if I am not sold on this song at all, Tash's voice is amazing but some of the songs do start becoming annoying. Think I still prefer Jungle over this. Just saying

Rating: 7/10 (That guitar solo is amazing)


Song: Lust for Life
Artist: Lana Del Ray featuring The Weeknd

Now I am not the world's biggest fan of Lana Del Ray, her songs really have this habit of sounding the same to me and yet again unfortunately this song even with The Weeknd's involvement does nothing for me. A chorus that consists mostly of "take off all your clothes"? Really? Have a little more imagination than that but the instrumentation is really dramatic and gripping.

Rating: 5/10


Song: Hard Times
Song: Paramore

Paramore jump from emo to almost a mix of pop and near on tropical 80s sounds. I think a few hardened Paramore fans would be disappointed in this song. I don't mind the very 80s sound to this sound but my problem Hayley Williams vocal, she sounds so pitchy in parts of this song almost like it was recorded in separate studios. I think I'll go back to Paramore's best song "Ain't it Fun" and stay there if I am blunt

Rating: 4/10

ARIA Top 10 April 24

This week saw an odd sense of normality come back to the chart if only for album tracks from Kendrick Lamar's album DAMN to hit the chart (there's about three of them that have entered the chart this week) but we'll get to those.

The top ten sees an old number one with "Shape of You" returning to the summit after a one week break thanks to Harry Styles. It's a fourteenth week at number 1 for "Shape Of You" which means it now overtakes Coolio's 1995 hit "Gangsta's Paradise" for longest running ARIA chart topper. Its a song I can tolerate but its not one of my favourite ever chart toppers, we have had worse number 1 songs than this.

At number 2 on the back of the release of the new album "DAMN". Kendrick Lamar's "Humble" jumped 5 places. There'll be plenty more about Kendrick when we get to the new entries.

"Galway Girl" by Ed Sheeran basically switched with "Something Just like this" by The Chainsmokers and Coldplay so "Galway Girl" up one to number three, "Something Just Like This" dropping to number 4.

Last week's number one "Sign of the Times" by Harry Styles fell from number 1 to number 5, the fact "Sign of the Times" lost the number one spot this week isn't a surprise but the size of the drop is a bit of a surprise. The song badly needs a good video to boost the hype but already it looks as though the hype has disappeared from the song and my fear is that like most of his previous band and other members of said band's solo work is that it won't have longevity on the chart. Hell, Zayn Malik's new single isn't doing that well.

"Symphony" by Clean Bandit featuring Zara Larsson looks like breaking into the top 5 next week after a three place climb to number 6. Its a good song too, give it a listen.

"Stay" by Zedd featuring Alessia Cara drops out of the top 5 with a two place drop to number 7

Bruno Mars stays exactly where he is at number 8 with "That's What I Like"

Lorde drops three places with "Green Light" to number 9. Check out a new song of hers called "Homemade Dynamite", which having heard her perform it live at Coachella via Youtube, is going to be a bonafide hit should her record company choose to release it as a single.

Rounding out the top 10 for another week is "It Ain't Me" by Kygo featuring Selena Gomez.

Now to the new entries and I am going to deal with the three Kendrick Lamar new entries in one hit together so at number 16, DNA. Now I am not the world's biggest hip hop fan so I figure I am just going to give you guys the links to these and let you be the judge.




The 2nd of Lamar's songs from DAMN to debut in the Hot 100 was "LOYALTY" a track with Rihanna as guest vocalist and I got to say having heard an excerpt of this song, I kind of like it. Rihanna really seems to work here.





The last of the new entries from LAMAR is a song called "LOVE" featuring Zacarl which comes in at number 29






So going back up to 17, we have the newest song for Lady Gaga entitled "The Cure". Now normally I would have reviewed this for my New Music Friday review because its come straight onto the chart I haven't had the chance to. Its not quite Gaga at her best but hey I'll take it over some of the other outright bland pop on the chart at the moment.





The last of the new entries comes from the Fate of the Furious movie soundtrack and its been around awhile with G-Eazy teaming up with Kehlani for a song called "Good Life". Its not my cup my tea but hey if I had to hear it, I'm not sure I'd complain, its listenable.




That wraps things up for the week. We've got new music from Shawn Mendes, Charlie Puth and a collaboration between Lana Del Ray and The Weeknd likely to debut on the charts, am about to review all of that. Am busy trying to change when I do the New Music Friday reviews. 

ARIA Top 10: A new but predictable number 1

Perhaps it was a "Sign of the Times" that this week there would be a new number one, albeit completely predictable especially given Ed Sheeran's "Shape of You" has spent 13 weeks at number 1.

I call it the One Direction Effect in that One Direction and the boys solo stuff has a short term impact on the charts and then slowly fades away so we'll see but anyway before I talk about the top 10, we lost Drake's "Passionfruit" which took a 6 place drop from number 5 to number 11 and Ed Sheeran's "Castle on the Hill" drop from number 10 to number 12.

So yes to the top ten, Harry Styles first ever solo single has debuted at number one, perhaps the most predictable result given the fanaticism of One Direction fans given they mobilise support on social media by urging fans to stream the song and hey, "Sign of the Times" might be in strong shape to remain at number one next week given it got to top spot despite a stuff up from music streaming service Spotify.

After a record equalling 13 weeks at number one, Ed Sheeran's "Shape of You" finally drops to number 2.

"Something Just Like This" by The Chainsmokers featuring Coldplay remains at number 3. The Chainsmokers new album "Memories...Do Not Open" is out right now to some not so crash hot reviews but entered the ARIA album chart at number 4 with Ed Sheeran's "Divide" remaining at number 1.

Speaking of Ed Sheeran, "Galway Girl" dropped two places to number 4 this week. Video for that song on the way soon.

"Stay" by Zedd featuring Alessia Cara dropped one place to number 5. Mentioned Alessia Cara's new single "The Other Side" yesterday

Lorde got the "Green Light" to jump two places to number 6 this week. (Good, its a great song. Not sure why its not bigger than it is)

Kendrick Lamar dropped his new album "DAMN" yesterday to good first impressions but "HUMBLE" dropped one place to number 7.

Bruno Mars "That's What I like" continues to drop, this week down one place to number 8

Looks like Clean Bandit and Zara Larsson have another hit on their hands with "Symphony" blasting its way into the top 10 at number 9.

Kygo and Selena Gomez round out the top 10 at number 10 with "It ain't me", a drop of one place from 9 last week.

Only three new entries in the chart this week, one of those being Harry Styles with "Sign of the Times"

I mentioned Halsey's "Now or Never" in the New Music Friday reviews last week, "Now or Never" has entered the chart at number 21.

The only other new entry is at 42 and it comes from Kyle featuring Lil Yachty with "iSpy". Surprised its taken so long to enter the ARIA Chart given its number 4 in the United States. Its not a bad song in my opinion.







So next week should see the entrance of the DNCE featuring Nick Minaj collab (unfortunately) and possibly some album tracks from Kendrick Lamar's "DAMN".

New Music Friday Review

It's that time of the week again. Time to review the new music that has dropped.

Song: Perfect Strangers
Artist: DNCE feat. Nicki Minaj

So DNCE are back and I admit this is kind of catchy in the sense that you'll find yourself singing along without wanting to but the lyrics leave a lot to be desired "Kissing strangers til I find someone I love" Seriously? Takes a lot more than kissing to find somebody you love. At least Nicki's flow is pretty damn good even if it's way too short.

Rating: Saved by Nicki's rap and the catchiness of the melody. 5/10

Song: The Other Side
Artist: Alessia Cara

This song is from the Netflix series called The Get Down and it took me a second listen to come around on this because first listen left me a little unimpressed. This song is pretty damn good if you count out the seemingly out of place fake drum beat.

Rating: 7/10


Song: Go
Artist Marcelo

I had never heard of this guy until this song appeared on Spotify's new music playlist but for what its worth it sounds like a odd amalgam of The Script and One Direction from "Made in the AM". The lyrics are pretty simple but could be oddly effective in the charts. It gets a pass.

Ratings: 5/10

Song: Chained to the Rhythm
Artists: Katy Perry feat. Lil Yachty

Its no secret that I didn't like the original version of "Chained to the Rhythem" what with the washed out disco sound and now a slower version that if manageable makes the song sound even worse than the original and replaced Skip Marley with Lil Yachty. Why, Katy? WHY? Release the new single from the new album already.

Rating: 3/10. Basically for making a bad song sound even worse or the 2017 version of "Dark Horse"


Song: Emoji of a Wave
Artist: John Mayer

Okay, I am buggered to know what the song title means. If John is talking about those faces and symbols used to describe a relationship where the two people involved are living apart. Either way it is a strange song not necessarily bad but just strange to me.

Rating: 5/10


Song: Peek A Boo
Artists: Lil Yachty feat. Migos

Your stock standard new brag rap for the week that includes lines about a woman blowing Lil Yachty's dick like a cello. Also why does it sound horribly like "Bad and Boujee"?

Rating: 3/10


Song: Lights Out
Artist: Royal Blood

Something that is actually pretty damn good. UK band Royal Blood are back with the first single from their sophomore album "How did we get so dark? due to be released on June 16th and those guitars are rocking. Seriously check this out, it deserves to be a mega hit.

Rating: 8/10


Song: Broken Halos
Artist: Chris Stapleton

Trust Chris Stapleton to come up with a country song that really is a country song that is just absolutely gorgeous. Mind you, its a tough effort to follow up an album like "Traveller" but with this effort, "Broken Halos" will be on the Billboard hot 100 in no time.

Rating 9/10



NOTE: Not reviewing any Kendrick Lamar stuff unless they are going to be official singles from "DAMN"

ARIA Top 10: Ed looms large on Ed.

It's a doozy of a week, folks, we have a new entry in the top 10 and plenty of new entries through the ARIA top 50 so let's whip through the top 10. We did however as expected lose Julia Michaels "Issues" from the top 10, it dropped one to number 11.

What isn't dropping is Ed Sheeran's "Shape of You" which remains at number 1 for the 13th week equalling Coolio's record, he was number one for 13 weeks in 1996 with "Gangsta's Paradise"

Whether or not Sheeran breaks that record is going to be interesting because Sheeran's "Galway Girl" has gone from 9 last week to looking like it might replace Shape of You at number one next week (depending on sales and streaming of Harry Styles overhyped new single "Sign of the Times" next week. Ugh), it sits at number 2.

"Something Just Like This" by Yhe Chainsmokers and Coldplay drops to number 3. The yoyo act is getting something just a little tired.

At number 4 is Zedd featuring Alessia Cara with "Stay" after a one place drop.

Drake also suffered a fall this week with "Passionfruit" dropping from 4 to number 5.

Kendrick Lamar unveilled his new album's called "DAMN" cover and tracklisting which is apparently going to feature collaborations with U2 and Rihanna but in the meantime "HUMBLE" has entered the ARIA Chart at number 6. Check it out if you are a keen hip hop fan.



Unfortunately, Bruno Mars suffered a two place drop with "That's what I like" to number 7.

Seems like most songs dropped this week really with Lorde's "Green Light" dropping one place to 8.

Kygo and Selena Gomez dropped to number nine with "It Ain't Me"

Ed Sheeran rounds out the top ten with "Castle on the Hill" after a FOUR place drop. Think it will have enough points to appear on the year end chart so that's all good.

As I said earlier, its a big week for new entries with Kendrick Lamar's "Humble not the only one so let's check out the rest of these new entries.

The latest new single from Calvin Harris has him teaming up with Young Thug, Pharrell Williams and Ariana Grande for a song entitled "Heatstroke" which has debuted at 24 this week. Now its fair to say I really do like this but the thing that lets it down for me is Ariana's vocal otherwise, its pretty darn good.





"Swalla" by Jason Derulo, Nicki Minaj and Ty Dolla $ign has entered the chart at number 34. I wish I felt the same way about this song as I do "Heatstroke" but quite honestly its not my kind of thing. Check it out if you like any of those three artists.





Always great to have Australian talent on the chart, Bliss 'N' Eso's new single with Gavin James called "Moments" has debuted at number 41.





Demi Lovato is reportedly working on some new music to be released later this year but she's the featuring artist on a song called "No Promises" with Cheat Codes.




Finally at number 50 is the single for Sydney singer/songwriter Dean Lewis called "Waves". I actually really like this. Check it out when you have an opportunity




Next week should see a big showdown for number one between Harry Styles and Ed Sheeran, can Directioners get "Sign of the Times" to the top or will Ed Sheeran hang on to break that record? Styles and Halsey's new songs are expected to debut on the chart on Saturday. You can catch up on what I had to say about both songs by scrolling down.

New Music Friday: The Chainsmokers, Halsey and...Harry Styles.

So instead of using my top 10 posts to discuss songs that have entered the chart, I am going to review them after they have been officially released and before they have entered the chart. This week I'll look at the new music from The Chainsmokers, Halsey and of course Harry Styles. Please bear in mind I'll only be looking at music most likely to chart in the coming weeks so if there son

Song: Honest
Artist: The Chainsmokers

Oddly enough I like this in some senses which is weird for me to say because I find The Chainsmokers to be quite obnoxious but "Honest" does work and finally they've found music that does match the limited vocal range. The song basically tells the story of a guy who has admitted to his girlfriend that she isn't the only woman on his mind and is still experiencing feelings for this other woman.

Can't deny that on some level it does work for me.

Rating: 6/10


Song: Now or Never
Artist: Halsey

Wish I could say the same about this song. I really do but quite honestly it just sucks. Halsey vocally just doesn't do it for me. The repeated now now nows and down down downs are ridiculous. What's with the breathing into the microphone, sounds like she has been out on a run just before she recorded the song. This song is just no no no no for me.

Rating: 4/10 because the intro was pretty damn good.


Song: Sign of the Times
Artist: Harry Styles

It won't matter what I say about this song because it will be a hit (It is number one in 80 countries on iTunes already) knowing what One Direction fans are like. One Direction or the boys as individuals could release some awful songs and they'd still be massive on the charts so I do wonder what the point of reviewing "Sign of the Times" is if I am to be brutally honest especially given it is thought that Harry is going to be the break out star following the hiatus of One Direction.

So what do we get from Harry with "Sign of the Times"? It's a massive leap away from One Direction's formulaic and at times somewhat personality less pop (driven largely by their record company) into a more rock driven sound and at times this song does have a tendency to hold Harry's Beatles influence a bit high to the surface which isn't a bad thing, the song writing is dubious at best, horrible at worst, the production works but Harry's falsetto on the prechorus is literally one of the worst sounds I have heard this year, quite simply Harry's voice doesn't reach the sound required for falsetto to work. Leave that to Barry Gibb, Harry!

Rating: 5/10 (Its not bad but it's not blown me away nor am I overly impressed by it)

Australian Top 10: A dozen weeks on top for Ed

Some big moves happened within the charts this week and it looks like we could have a challenger for number 1 within a couple of weeks finally as Jon Bellion's "All Time Low" dropped out of the top 10.

However Ed Sheran continues to hold sway with "Shape Of You" spending its 12th week at number 1. 

"Something Just Like This" spends a 2nd consecutive week at number 2 for The Chainsmokers and Coldplay. Look out for The Chainsmokers new single "The One" to hit the chart next week.

At number 3 is Zedd featuring Alessia Cara with "Stay", it climbed one place this week.

Drake has made his move up charts with "Passionfruit the new entrant to the top ten at number 4.

Bruno Mars has climbed one place into the top 5 with "That's What I Like" at number 5. (Glad to see this song is a hit. Its so good)

"Castle on the Hill" dropped 3 places to number 3 for Ed Sheeran. The Ed Sheeran effect is slowly diminishing from the Australian charts.

Lorde stays at number 7 with "Green Light"

"It Ain't Me" took a three place drop to number 8 for Kygo and Selena Gomez. That song is like a yoyo on the Australian charts.

The third of Ed Sheeran's songs in the top 10 "Galway Girl" has also had a drop of one place to number 9.

Rounding out the top 10 is Julia Michaels "Issues" which looks set to depart the top 10 next week.

Now for the new entries, we have got four of them this week but we begin at number 21 where we find the new one for Zayn and he has teamed up with rapper Partynextdoor for a track that I am convinced that if I hadn't have checked could have been written by Drake given Zayn's bland Drake like vocal delivery so the question has to be asked, does Zayn really want to sound like Drake 2.0?






In at number 29 from David Guetta featuring Nicki Minaj and Lil Wayne entitled "Light Up my Body". Nicki Minaj actually has a nice singing voice but really its nothing very interesting just Nicki and Lil Wayne bragging when they rap.





In at number 32 is Future with "Mask Off", one of the better tracks from his recently released album where basically Future raps about brands of drugs, how he went from rags to riches, grabbing money instead of women and a bit of luxury rap on the side. Its all pretty much standard modern hip hop fare really.





The last of the new entries comes from Kendrick Lamar who is expected to release a new album soon. "The Heart Part 4" and quite honestly its the best of the new entries into the chart this week. He experiments and issues a challenge to his competitors before hinting that his album may drop on 7th April (as if that date couldn't get any bigger). This is worth checking out.




Next week may see Drake issue a challenge to Ed Sheeran for number 1, who knows? I think we might see a change at number 1 if not next week but definitely the week after. As for possible new entries, the big one to watch out for is a song called "Heatstroke" by Calvin Harris featuring Young Thug, Pharrell and Ariana Grande.