The Monday Playlist: Kings Elliot, Kris Allen, Ethan Bortnick and more...
The best songs from last week delivered direct to your inbox
Another M̶o̶n̶d̶a̶y̶ Tuesday when I have many pressing will-have-real-world-consequences-if-not-done-on-time things to do where instead I labour over this silly little newsletter recommending new songs to anyone who will listen for zero pounds and zero pence per word.
This week features another new ABBA song (not the one the main playlists were pushing) from their revival album, a song from Kris Allen who I had the pleasure of seeing last week, and some really interesting and or fun pop-leaning songs for you to enjoy.
Also, whilst we are now firmly in November, I still intend to publish at some point this week my take on the top twenty songs that came out in October, I’m still just tinkering with their order a little.
Alright, here is the Spotify Playlist
Thank you so much as always for subscribing, please do share my little corner of the internet if you feel so inclined. Have a great week and happy listening!
No Doubt About It by ABBA - the ABBA revival album here at last, and it's all very ABBA. Sure, none of it has been quite up to par with their biggest hits, but this one is joyful and jubilant and worth a spin
3D Feelings by Alfie Templeman - a fun, funky bit of pop, the whole idea of 'you give me three-dimensional feelings' is charming and cute and also ever so slightly sad
fall forward by beaux - a lovely little indie-pop tune, on first glance understated but on repeat play it feels remnant of The 1975 by the way of Taylor Swift in the way it dips down at the bridge
Sirens by The Brides of the Black Room - big boomy bassy brilliance, a stonking great dance-pop song
It’s Over by Cat Burns - a sweet little sliver of acoustic-pop, this one is a song about knowing when the it’s time to break up even when it might not feel like it, a little sad bit sad and a little bit gorgeous
New Trick by CXLOE - the chorus on this one comes out of nowhere and I keep coming back to it which is 90% of the time a sign of an excellent song - sonically Dua Lipa’s Don't Start Now via Billie Eilish’s bury a friend
cut my fingers off by Ethan Bortnick - weird and wonderful and infinitely too short, the piano is so thrilling and the melodic choices are excellent, one of this week's best new songs - take Panic! at the Disco but make it on TikTok and this is what you’d get
Sky Love by Foxes - not entirely sure what 'Sky Love' is, but Foxes sure as heck makes it seem like an exciting rush of euphoria, delighted to hear that she’s finally gearing up for her long-overdue third album next year
Take It Or Leave It by James Arthur - this is par for the course James Arthur, good vocal, annoyingly hooky, decent melody, but I just can’t stop thinking about that bizarre album artwork for his new record
Call Me A Dreamer by Kings Elliot - gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous, the voice on Kings Elliot is so so good, her melodies are simple enough but the way she consistently nails the delivery (as she does on this) is stunning - one of tomorrow's brightest pop stars I just know it, pop sensibility like this doesn’t grow on trees
Hello, Mr Right Next Door by Kris Allen - I’m still riding high on seeing Kris Allen the other week, his new one is a bit Paul-Simon-y - think The Boxer or Mrs Robinson and you’re somewhere close
how am i supposed to by Lucy Deakin - just a sturdy bit pop music, there’s not much more to it sometimes and in this case there doesn’t need to be - simply brilliant
till you brought me home - demo by Tamezene - a lovely little piano ballad, what a wonderful world it would be if everyone released their music in such raw demo form as this
I BELIEVE by Ziggy Alberts - Ziggy Alberts has a knack for the acoustic pop song, his voice is so warm and lovely, it almost makes me forget that he tricked me into liking an anti-vaxxer song last year