Adult Pop picks January/February

30 songs you should be listening to now

February picks on YouTube

ROBBIE WILLIAMS    Bruce Lee
This will be the highest debut on my personal chart this week. My favorite Williams song in many years. He’s had over 60 songs reach my personal chart since the late 90’s.

COLD WAR KIDS    Love Is Mystical
I love this song!! The gospely, anthemic alt rocker with an inescapable groove should be this decade old  band’s real breakthrough. I would totally program this as a pop radio song as it would totally distinguish itself from the rest of the pack.

SILENT CROWD    Me + You
In many ways Alternative radio is the best place to hear pop-rock, and while this hasn’t made any inroads there, it would fit in well. There is a Walk The Moon vibe I’m feeling here though they claim the 1975 and Two Door Cinema Club as influences.

TAVISH CROWE    Fire
Debut single from young Canadian, sounding like a lot of EDM inspired current hits.

BIFFY CLYRO    Flammable
Fifth and poppiest release from the venerable Scottish rock band’s latest album. Their last 4 of 7 albums released since 2002 have reached the UK top 3.

BLONDIE    Fun
It’s Blondie, the title explains it all. From their upcoming 11th album.

OCEAN PARK STANDOFF    Good News
Lyrically appropriate for our time in the universe. This trio includes the daughter of Mark Ronson, on the map because of the ubiquitous “Uptown Funk”, though he’s had a lengthy career. Currently starting to see some HotAC airplay.

JONATHAN ROY    Good Things
Son of Canadian hockey star Patrick Roy and former player himself, he is a protoge of Corey Hart of “Sunglasses At Night” fame and one of my fav artists of the 80’s.

HEARTRACER    In The Dark
This Richmond, VA band wears their 80’s influences proudly. I had featured them on an alternative pick list in Nov. as well.

JULIA BRENNAN    Inner Demons
Another song currently starting to see airplay, a gorgeous and instrospective piano ballad from the 18 year Minneapolis native recalls Christina Perri.

TYLER GLENN    Shameless
Solo debut album, aptly titled “Excommunication”, from ex-Neon trees lead singer, addresses his path out of the Mormon church after coming out. Here he offers a funky dance-rocker and he is unabashedly shameless.

THE SUMMER SET    The Night Is Young
Arizona pop band that formed in 2007 came up with their name after opening up an atlas and coming across the town Somerset, New Jersey. The song “All Downhill From here” was my #16 song of 2016.

KUNGS f/ RITUAL    You Remain
This young French producer’s music often builds EDM rhythms around acoustic guitar, jazz or off center vocals, giving it a more adult feel than others in the genre. He scored an across the board smash with “This Girl” last year and a great follow up with Jamie N Commons on “Don’t You Know”.

PANIC! AT THE DISCO    Death Of A Bachelor
Almost a year and a half in, Panic is still milking the album with now the title track, seemingly a Sinatra homage. It is receiving alternative airplay and is a hit on Sirius XM’s Hits 1. Would easily fit into an adult pop radio station’s playlist.

GOLDFRAPP    Anymore
UK artist Allison Goldfrapp has been producing electronic music since the late 90’s with her artistic peak in 2005. This song just entered the Beyond Radio top 100 at #62 this week.

January picks on YouTube

PORT CITIES    Back To The Bottom
Canadian Folk Pop trio

ENISA    Burn This Bridge
Debut pop/soul single from 20 year old Brooklyn singer 

COLEMAN HELL    Devotion
Reggae tinged song from Toronto based singer-songwriter

AMY MACDONALD    Dream On
Akin to KT Tunstall, Scottish artist whose 1st release was in 2007

YOU ME AT SIX    Heavy Soul
Softer side of British rock band whose debut was also in 2007 

EMELI SANDE    Highs And Lows
Another soulful winner from her current album

MICHELLE BRANCH    Hopeless Romantic
Her first release since 2010. Her “Til I Get Over You” was by #4 song of 2004.

DANNY GOKEY    If You Ain’t In It
Upbeat song from American Idol alum and Milwaukee native who has found his biggest success with Christian music

FUZZBOX    Let’s Go Supernova
Comeback single from British punk-pop girl group from the mid to late 80’s. Their biggest UK hit was “International Rescue” in 1989.

JAMES ARTHUR    Safe Inside
Latest single from Brit whose riding international and U.S. success with his current Hot AC and Pop hit “Say You Won’t Let Go”

LIONS HEAD    See You
A collaboration between a NY singer-songwriter and German producer. The lighter side of EDM.

THE KENTS    Something About Her
Indie pop foursome from Ontario. “The Stakes” was featured on a June 2016 AAA pick list.

EYES ON THE SHORE    Starting Fires
Breezy song from San Francisco quintet

5 SECONDS OF SUMMER    The Space Between A Rock And A Hard Place
From a recent B sides EP. Sounds more like an A side.

WEEZER    Wind In Our Sail
The poppier side of the band