Hey y’all! It’s a fucking five song Monday! I have been listening to some great new music lately, and here are five fantastic tracks that I can’t wait for you to hear. Also, it is nearing that time of year where the best of albums list gets compiled, and while I have quite a list going, I am eager to hear what has made YOUR lists; I don’t want to miss out on something incredible that I may not have heard of yet. So… let me know what you are listening to in the comments as well. Now to the five songs I’ve got for you today:
Vanbot – Make Me, Break Me
I couldn’t wait for a 5S-day, so I posted the video for this on Facebook the other day immediately after I heard it, because of how incredible it is. While the Robyn influence is undeniable (and frankly, welcomed with open arms), this song is fresh, and highlights the fact that there must be something genetically inherent about pop music in Sweden. In fact, Vanbot’s entire debut album is delightful, and a great find; it’s full of great songs that I am pleased to have randomly discovered. I expect to see it among my favorite albums of this year; like I said it’s delightful. Whatever is going over there in Sweden, I am glad that the pop music keeps flowing out of that magical land, and into my ears.
One Direction – What Makes You Beautiful
It seems like the Brits do boybands better than almost anyone, and this is a new contender in the boyband genre that are killing it with this single (they were on the show the X-Factor, and came in third… looks like that show really does well at finding talent). Their new album Up All Night is a solid release, and one that is sure to have many singles. This song is a great pop song that will probably never see the airwaves here in the states; which is a bummer, because it has a lot of great energy. I have been listening to this one on repeat, and I am glad to share it with you today. Thanks to my buddy Douglas for telling me about the wonderful One Direction!
Cher Lloyd – Want U Back
After falling head over heels for Cher with her previous single, With Ur Love (which I posted about on the previous incarnation of the 5S-day), I was curious to hear what else she would release. Imagine my surprise when her debut album Sticks + Stones was actually brilliant (save a song or two), and was filled with great songs like this one. I love this song; it’s my favorite from her album. She has a lot of the same spunk that reminds me of Lily Allen, which I adore. This is yet another great find that I randomly stumbled upon; 2011 has had some great finds, and they seem to be getting better and better!
Penguin Prison – Don’t Fuck With My Money
I have seen a lot of talk on the blogs about Penguin Prison, but for whatever reason, I was never moved by one of their songs. Then I saw the video for this one, and I loved the song! This song reminds me a lot of that one song from the 90s that I’m sure everyone knows, but not a lot know who sang it: the New Radicals’, You Get What You Give. Similar feel with a more dance beat; I like it. I’m glad I am on board with the oft talked about Penguin Prison now!
The Saturdays – My Heart Takes Over (Digital Dog Remix)
Nothing, and I mean NOTHING tears it up like taking a beautiful ballad, and a laying a slick as hell beat over it, turning it into a dance-floor filler. This song is definitely one of the best examples that I have heard in many, many years. The Saturdays’ My Heart Takes Over is a gorgeous ballad that I love all on it’s own, but this remix that they released is like pure pollen to a bee; I cannot get enough of it. I only wish there were more remixes of this high quality doing the same thing… where are Thunderpuss when you need them (remember them?)? Either way, brilliant. Their new album is great as well; not as wonderful as I was hoping, but I guess you can’t win them all, can you?
BONUS:
Westlife – Lighthouse
Lastly, it is bittersweet that I bring you Westlife’s most recent single Lighthouse, off of their final album, which is a Greatest Hits collection. This is a band that I have followed for more than a decade, and have loved for so long that I am really broken up about their impending split. I am a major sucker for a beautiful pop ballad, and these guys have delivered many, many times in that department. I have loved following them for all of these years, and am glad that they have put out so many wonderful albums. Westlife will always be among my favorite artists, and I will definitely cherish the great pop music they released in their impressive career. My only hope, is that Shane and Mark release wonderful solo albums, and keep making music that I love. Westlife, I love you guys, and you will most certainly be missed.
Well, a farewell, and some great music, what more can you ask for on a Monday? Hope you enjoyed my picks, and please let me know what you are listening to as well. As I said, I will greatly miss Westlife, and I am just glad that those guys have made so many amazing albums over the years; the fans have a ton of great music to cherish from their amazing career… I just wish it wasn’t over. *sniff*
Normally, the B-side isn’t as good as (and certainly is not better than) the single itself. However, that is exactly the case with Shayne Ward’s latest single, Gotta Be Somebody, taken from his upcoming album Obsession. Unfortunately, Gotta Be Somebody isn’t stellar (perhaps it being a cover of a Nickelback song has something to do with that), but at least Future Love (another, much better cover) makes the grade. Sadly, Future Love didn’t make the cut, and will not be on Obsession, which sucks, because it is far superior to the aforementioned lead single. Oh well, at least we can cherish it on its own, even though it’s just a B-side. 
First and foremost, I want to say, that I do not understand why in the hell the artist for this song isn’t marketed/labelled as Deadmau5 feat. Alexis Jordan, because they “heavily sampled” Deadmau5’s Brazil (2nd edit), for this song; which really means they just used it in its entirety, and gave him no credit. I would prefer to put credit where it is due, and while the lyrics and her singing definitely liven it up, and make it more poppy and enjoyable for me, I do think Deadmau5 deserves his due; the backing track is brilliant, and it is why I fell in love with this song in the first place (a big thanks to my pal Steve for giving me the heads up on it too). Now that I have said what I had to say about that, let me talk about the song; it’s saccharine sweet, and totally groovy. I love this song, and her sweet vocals over the brilliant Deadmau5 house music is pure pop perfection. I expect to hear this on the radio, and have been listening to it on repeat for a few weeks now. 
I first heard this song playing in the background during the pole dancing scene between Steve Carrell and Tina Fey in the movie Date Night. I loved it, and tried to download it, but according to the internets, it wasn’t available, and wouldn’t be; everyone said that it was going to be covered/released by Pussycat Doll Melody Thornton instead (and her version can’t hold a candle to this one). Hmpf! Well, low and behold, Cee Lo Green released his new album The Lady Killer this week, and there was my song! Hot!! I love the sexy swagger of this song, and how it just begs you to dance to it. The juxtaposition between both Cee Lo’s and Lauren’s voices is a perfect marriage in this throwback track. I am thrilled that Cee Lo decided to throw this on his new album, because it just meant that I would be sure to pick it up (especially after the fantastic Fuck You, which was featured not too terribly long ago on the 5SF).
Keeping the throwback swag going today, I have been enamored with this fun little song for a few weeks now. I saw the video, and immediately had to hear the song again. Thankfully, you can go to 
What can I say? I’m a sucker for a beautiful ballad, and if it’s Westlife singing it, I am definitely all ears. I have loved these guys for over a decade, and each new release shows that not only do they know their fan base extremely well, but that they have access to a plethora of wonderful ballads and love songs to feed us with. 
Using jangly guitars, banging beats, and sounding like a well-made mash-up of Chrissie Hynde and the White Stripes, Band of Skulls take heavy influences from classic rock and completely rock out on this fantastic album. Perhaps it is the pairing of the male and female vocals that really draws me in, because I never got into the White Stripes, as the musical formula is very similar; at least, the distortion effect on their guitars is really close to the one Jack White uses, and they also use heavy drumming to back up the whole shebang. That being said, while they do stick to a similar musical formula as the White Stripes, I think that Band of Skulls have made their own consistently amazing album with Baby Darling Doll Face Honey, as there really isn’t a bad track on it; and when I say, “not a bad track”, I really mean, “they’re all quite brilliant, actually”. After one listen, I went back time and time again to rock out to this fantastic ode to classic rock (as well as clear hat tip to the White Stripes), and I am glad I discovered them through their amazingly catchy lead off single, I Know Where I Am; which is definitely one of their best. Looking back, I am really glad that I went and listened to the whole album, because like the lead single, it too, is down right great. Standout Tracks: 
On her follow up the to the amazing album, The Story, Brandi does right by not deviating from the folk-country rock that she creates oh so well. However, this time around, she ups the ante, and instead of sputtering out after the half-way mark (as I felt her last album kind of did), she stays strong throughout the entire album. On Give Up The Ghost, Brandi’s vocals are more raw and real, and the yodel of her voice is more pronounced and peppered throughout. Overall, this album is a solid one, and Brandi has proven to be quite the talented musician; she is certainly building something more and more beautiful on that foundation she laid with her previous two albums. This time around, she distances herself from those that she could be so directly to in the past (namely, the Indigo Girls); showing growth and attention to a nuanced detail that really signals that she is coming into her own. With this distancing, she highlights her own strength and individuality as an artist, and the result is a wonderful album that should definitely win her many, many new fans; and die hard fans of her previous work should certainly be more than pleased with this direction and growth. Standout Tracks: That Year, Dying Day, 
As a long time fan of Westlife, all I can say, is that if this album doesn’t make you a fan, then you probably never will be. However, for those of us that love beautiful songs about love, I can definitely say that these boys have done it again. Following what was (in my opinion) their best album, Back Home (well, other than their Greatest Hits Vol. 1), I had high hopes for another near-flawless Westlife album. However, worry set in when it was announced that the first single would be a cover of Daughtry’s What About Now (which is the ONLY reason that this album didn’t place higher, and receives four stars from me). While it is a great cover (probably better than the original, which isn’t surprising seeing as the do covers VERY well), their cover of the song, the inclusion of it on this album, and especially the decision to make it the lead off single from the album, are all just extremely unnecessary in my opinion. Westlife has relied on covers so much in the past, and I rarely understand why after listening to the rest of the album. The same holds true with Where We Are; after listening to the rest of the album, it is clear that it stands firmly on its own as a solid album, full of great songs (most, if not all, soaring over What About Now in their quality). Basically, the only thing left to say here, is what’s been said already; it’s a great album of love songs, and if you are a fan of Westlife, you certainly know what to expect, and you will NOT be disappointed. Even working with the predictable Ryan Tedder doesn’t ruin the Westlife formula, and that’s really saying something right there; if it works, it just works. Standout Tracks: Sound of a Broken Heart, How to Break a Heart, 
The first time I heard Angel Taylor’s Chai Tea Latte, I was blown away. This song is perfect. The juxtaposition of saccharine sweet lyrics (chock full of coffee and personality themed double entendres) with an incredibly beautiful melody and achingly tender vocals had me buckling after one listen. After falling for that song, I was clamoring for more material from Angel, and when she subsequently released Love Travels shortly after, I was not disappointed. The rest of the album is full of her piano driven pop that is just a pleasure from the beginning through to the end (with her strongest tracks opening and closing the album; smart move on her part). My only complaint, is that there are moments where she bears a very strong similarity to one of my favorite female singer-song writers, Sara Bareilles, and that striking similarity (especially the track Not Even Human, which is undoubtedly, one of Taylor’s best) takes something just a little something away from her originality. However, that being said, if you love Sara Bareilles, you will probably then love Angel Taylor as well; so really, it’s a win/win if you think about it. Overall, Love Travels is a beautifully orchestrated piano-pop album, filled to the brim with delightful melodies about love and longing. Standout Tracks: 
This album came out of complete left field for me. I first heard of the Eulogies back in August, when I saw the super cute video for the great first single Two Can Play from their sophomore album Here Anonymous (which is actually a sweet duet featuring Nikki Monniger of the Silversun Pickups). After I fell in love with that delightful song, I wanted to hear more, and I am glad I did; Here Anonymous is a fabulous alternative rock album, driven by sweet melodies, slick arrangements, and delightful vocals. They really remind me a lot of Peter Bjorn and John, with the added sweetness and delight of bands like The Weepies and She & Him, in the way that they layer each track, and how they weave in such catchy choruses to carry almost every song on the album. This album was a great random find for me in 2009, and I’m surprised I’m not seeing it on more year end lists; this band deserves a lot more attention, especially when you consider the overall greatness of Here Anonymous. Standout Tracks: 
Here we are at 21, with Westlife, and it should be clear by now; there is no stopping the pop on this year end list! Seriously, though, did you really expect anything else? You will find a few rock/indie albums stashed here and there, but I am a boy who loves pop, and is more than willing to embrace it and share that information with the world.
made my year end list. First of all, if there is one thing that makes me weak in the knees, is a male vocalist to swoon over, as he sings me seemingly heartfelt love songs; and with Westlife, you get four of those in one package. Secondly, I have been a fan of Westlife for as long as I have known they existed, and if there is one thing that they have, is that they can consistently bring those pop-laced love songs that I adore so much. Finally, and most importantly, this record really is a testament of them going “back home”; allow me to explain.