The
Hotlist 
THE HOT AND NOT
LIST as of March 20th 2002
Le Mec:
Hotlist
- Lambretta.
A cross between Veruca Salt, Garbage and other US alternative rock bands.Fronted by a
female voice, the single is called "Bimbo" and yet another great band from
Sweden has seen the light.
- Black
Rebel Motorcycle Club: "BRMC". Great reviews have been given to
this new band from San Francisco and rightfully so. If you love Jesus & Mary Chain
you'll love this album too. It's an album that needs time to grow and expose itself -
especially if you, like me, need a great melody in the core of a song. They are here - the
melodies - but they are sometimes hidden in layers of guitar noise. So be patient, listen
loud, and you will be rewarded.
- Eskobar
& Heather Nova: "Someone New". Beautiful duet from American
singer-songwriter and underrated Swedes.
- Rhonda
Harris: "The Trouble With Rhonda Harris". Fine and much
overlooked Danish album. The genre is probably a little too indie and alternative to be
noticed by mass media but the album contains many small pearls. It's available
internationally too - I saw it at www.amazon.co.uk.
- Sheryl
Crow is on her way with a new album soon. Until then you might want to
check out Shawn Colvin and her album "A
Few Small Repairs" from 1996. It's very much like Sheryl Crow and every bit as good.
I guess Crow just beat her to the charts...
- Madonna
has been chosen for the theme for the next Bond movie. This ensures quality and I'm sure
she'll come up with something very Bond-ish yet also very much her own style. A hit is
inevitable.
Notlist
- Mercury
Rev. This band has received enormous critical acclaim in the music media.
Their last couple of albums have been hailed as the year's best. Well, I'm sure their
music has certain qualities but I really find it rather...dull....I've only managed to
listen to 3-4 songs in a row before having to put something else on. Not a band for me...
- Muse.
They make very theatrical Britpop and have been compared to Queen in their approach to a
big anthem type of rock. They are fairly big in the UK but hardly will be elsewhere. Their
music may be loud and dramatic but fails to capture and thrill me no matter how hard they
try.
- Sophie
Ellis-Bextor. She's hugely popular in the UK, not so much for record
sales, but more for her eternal presence in the tabloids. This kinda puzzles me since I
just don't see that much star quality in her...or rather she may have too much star facade
and too little substance as an artist. She won't go far abroad.
- I need to stand up against what can be
described as Nu-metal's ballad deceit. The
charts are currently flooded with bands from this genre with sensitive and melodic songs
(Nickelback, Linkin Park, P.O.D to mention a few). These ballads may have an edge but as
soon as you encouter their actual albums you mostly meet a much harder and aggressive
sound far from the hits. This happens in all genres where hits sell the albums but
presently this just seems very striking among Nu-metal bands. Personally, I think most of
the "ballads" are decent while the rest just sucks!! But that's probably just me
getting old.
- Well, Mike
Oldfield, once a credible artist, has finally taken the last plunge
towards the supermarket racks. Over the years his albums have consistantly dropped in
price and with the release of a new "The Danish Collection" compilation the
cash-in seems complete. Now, how many other ways are left to compile his work...? Wait, I
got it. Let's make a compilation containing songs in which he doesn't sing in the first
two minutes of the song. Or one with songs sung by vocalists no taller than 1.7
meters...Oh dear, there are plenty of ideas for upcoming compilations...
- I've always had a huge problem with many
of the so-called "strong" female voices
in the charts. They really annoy me and what's considered personality by others just come
off like vocal masturbation to me. More specifically, the list of such artists includes
- Macy Gray
- Céline Dion
- Heather Small (from M People - she sounds like Fozie Bear from Muppet Show)
- Tina Turner
- Hanne Boel (Danish diva - sounds like a distorted Tina Turner)
- Anastacia
- Vonda Shepard (the one with the Ally McBeal songs)
- Shakira
- Jennifer Rush ('80's diva)
- Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston in their more hysterical moods
- a wide number of black divas in general
The list is in no particular order and the nuisance level depends on my mood and whether I
have earplugs within reach. It's mostly relatively high, though (the nuisance level, that
is). I guess I'm just not one for big voices and I'll need to find my emotions elsewhere
in music. Now, Lemmy from Motörhead - there's a voice for ya ;o)
Hotlist main
menu
Back To Top
|
