If you clicked on this article purely for Usher's abs then you're in luck. Scroll further down and there's an entire video. For the remaining few of you who clicked on this for the music, you're also in luck. We're delving into tracks from the ever-impressive Antlers, Aussie wonder-DJ Alison Wonderland and Xtina revival queen K Stewart. This week it's all about the king and queen of the dance floor with Alison Wonderland and new kid on the block, Shamir, proving to be favourites with polar opposite versions of booty-shaking tracks. Keep scrolling for more puns and Usher pick-up lines.
Antlers- Hotel
Sam: There's something about the chord progression on this that just melts me from the outset. My only problem is that there's not a lot of dynamic to the song which means it becomes slightly stale towards the end 3
Lizzie: This is a floaty, smooth track which really makes you drift away to a different place. The vibe is moody and slow - I can almost feel my face mushed against a window on a rainy day, staring pensively into the distance..“In the hotel, I can’t remember how the past felt.” 3
Hannah: Go into your living room, put on a track by The Editors, or maybe even The Cold War Kids, leave the room and listen to the now toned down, slightly muted track from the other side of the door. This is what’s happening here. Same, same but different. I do love the plucky guitar outro though. 3
Bianca: Peter Silberman’s lilting vocals seem to be heavily influenced by Jeff Buckley’s ‘Mojo Pin’. I’d request a late checkout from this Hotel 3.5 Bianca's Pick
[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/antirecords/the-antlers-hotel[/soundcloud]
Usher- Good Kisser
Sam: Dat falsetto, am I right? I am unnaturally obsessed with the verses and bridge of this song and then completely underwhelmed by the chorus. 3.5
Lizzie: Why does Usher always write songs about me, it’s embarrassing. I kid, I kid...
But what I am not kidding about is how pumped I am to see Usher back in full force in 2014. The cowbell is fresh and funky - really makes this song for me. Only problem, stick to singing your lyrics Usher, ‘saying’ them just sounds plain weird. 3.5
Hannah: Basically you had me at Usher. Good Kisser is doing for Usher what Sexy Back did for Mr Timberlake after his hiatus: Pair it back, throw a bit of funk in there and remind the world you have some sweet dance moves and BOOM! Nobody will even care you left them for awhile. 3.5
Bianca: My confession Part I: 'Good Kisser' doesn't do it for me. You're not wrong about dat falsetto, Sam, but other than that, the song never makes it past first base. 2
Basement Jaxx- Unicorn
Sam: I'm not sure if I like this song or I'm just nostalgic for Marky Mark's Good Vibrations. Either way that thumping bass and acid-synth line is giving me damn good feels. Basement Jaxx always succeed in updating their sound but keeping true to their style. 3.5
Lizzie: It’s got all the elements that should make you want jump up and dance. A quick pulsing beat, the lyrics want us to get us up “jumping”, but am I just not feeling it at all. Sadly, I only have room for one British electronic dance duo in my playlist, and that’s saved for Disclosure. 2.5
Hannah: This is a car crash of synth and bass and off-tune samples beneath a whingey vocal. Put bluntly, it does not want to make me get my body jumping. 1
Bianca: Sounds a little too aerobics dance class for me- more Jumping Jaxx than Basement Jaxx. Unfortunately these guys have taken a few Box Steps backwards from their previous album. 2
[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/basement-jaxx/unicorn[/soundcloud]
Alison Wonderland- I Want U
Sam: A little bit of trap, a little bit of Flume and a little bit of Crystal Castles and you have a song that sounds very similar to everything else right now. Alison Wonderland is super cool and I love the warehouse tour idea but this doesn't really dish up anything new. 2.5
Lizzie: Love love this track. Everything fits for me - the vocals are echoey and haunting, but with the layering of samples, crashes and all sorts of sounds, it all makes sense. No wonder why she was snapped up by Diplo & Friends. 4.5 Lizzie's Pick
Hannah: Remember when TNGHT gave us Higher Ground? Yeah, well so does Alison Wonderland… only now it’s called I Want U. 3.5
Bianca: A smorgasbord of everything hot right now which has regrettably left me with a touch of heartburn. 2
Shamir- I Know It's A Good Thing
Sam: It's two from two for newcomer Shamir. This is another slice of disco-heaven delivered by a buttery melody and throwback vocals. It's time to restart Studio 54. 4 Sam's Pick
Lizzie: What a voice, that heavenly voice. And the heavy thump of the piano. It’s not gospel, it’s not electronica, it’s not disco as we know it. Its Shamir. A new and bewitching sound and I love it, and this is only his second release! 4
Hannah: This kid was born in the wrong decade. He shows some skill, easily playing with disco, Rnb, house and a whole lotta soul here. I Know It’s A Good Thing is such a good thing. 4 Hannah's Pick
Bianca: Shamir's androgynous voice provides a melodious juxtaposition to the heavy-handed piano strokes. 3.5
[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/godmodeinternet/shamir-i-know-its-a-good-thing[/soundcloud]
KStewart- Tell Me ‘Bout That
Sam: Xtina is alive and well in this one. And there's no problem with that. The chorus is just A+ RnB and the song as a whole is a testament to the strength of RnB music at the moment. More and more great stuff continues to come out of the woodwork. I would love for something like this to make it to radio. 4
Lizzie: I feel like I’m hosting a very suave party in an elevator, somewhere stuck on the level between Christina Aguilera circa 2000s and some fresh new RnB pop/electronica. What may seem confusing to the ears at first, but it actually turns out to be a little gem of a song after 2-3 listens. Shame she shares the unfortunate name with some bitchy–faced Twilight vampire. 3.5
Hannah: So I listened to KStewart do her thang… and now I’m in the middle of a Christina revival. Did someone say derivative? 3
Bianca: The bubble sound effects, in addition to a melody reminiscent of The Sims ‘Buy Mode’, give this song a playful groove. Something tells me this girl will be bringing in the §§§s in due time. 3.5
[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/kstewartmusic/tell-me-bout-that-produced-by-karma-kid-1[/soundcloud]
