James W. Coates's Blog

Posted by James W. Coates

The Verve’s brilliant new single “Love is Noise” crosses the lines between rock and electronica, grabs hold and doesn’t let go for the entire journey. Backed with a wall of sound similar to U2’s fancying with electronica during their experimental period that produced Actung Baby and Zooropa, “Love is Noise” sprinkles the electronics throughout, in particular the loud barking vocal sample clanging in the backdrop.

Known particularly for their Brit pop compilations that brought them to the world’s attention after the likes of Blur and Oasis had all but dried up, the new incarnation of The Verve leaves the pack cowering on the shoulders of giants.

Richard Ashcroft hasn’t sounded this energetic, without the aid of uncontrolled substances in a very long time. “Love is Noise” almost erases his painful solo output since disbanding The Verve.

A great return to form for a band who, despite making one of the biggest singles of the 1990’s, barely scraped by financially after omitting to get permission for the looped sample from, "The Last Time" by The Rolling Stones, to whom The Verve were forced to pay 100 percent of their publishing rights.

With a few remixes, “Love is Blind” could be the floor filler of the fall.

Posted by James W. Coates

As her album Kala nears its first anniversary, M.I.A.’s gun-tottin’ single “Paper Planes” finally cracks the Billboard top 40. Plowing in at an impressive number 36 in its second week on the tally (the track debuted last week at a respectable number 55) the track looks top ten bound. The single has perched atop the iTunes dance music download chart for months.

Politically charged “Paper Planes”, doesn’t fit the typical dance track mold with lyrics such as “Third world democracy / Yeah, I got more records than the K.G.B. / So, uh, no funny business,” and a chorus featuring gun shots and the clinking of cash registers as she threats to take your money. But like most of M.I.A.’s material, it reflects a world turned on its ear.

Born in London, England, her family moved to their homeland of Sri Lanka when M.I.A. (born Maya Arulpragasam) was six months old. The family later relocated to Madras, India.

Civil war in Sri Lanka forced the family to flee the country and M.I.A. returned to London later in life to study art. Her music, a mix of hip-hop, electronica and dancehall became a big hit with local DJ’s and garnered the attention of Record Company XL, for whom she recorded her debut album Arular in 2005.

At the beginning of this year, her first single from Kala, “Jimmy” danced all the way up to number 16 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart, giving her a taste of the recognition and respect this talent deserves. Kala was released in August of 2007.

Posted by James W. Coates

Collectors will be thanked for their patience with not only the CD version of The Slip but also a limited edition DVD that includes 5 live performances filmed during tour rehearsals.

Some of the tracks on the 5-track DVD include “Echoplex”, “1,000,000” and “Letting You”.

Vinyl junkies will have to hold their patience a little longer as the platter version of The Slip won’t be released until August 12 in Canada and the US and August 18 in the U.K.

Nine Inch Nails kicks off its Sky Tour in support of The Slip and Ghosts I-IV in Pemberton, Canada on July 25, 2008.

Supporting acts include Toronto electronic darlings Crystal Castles, Deerhunter and Does it Offend You, Yeah. Complete tour information and a free EP download featuring 5 songs from supporting acts and Nine Inch Nails can be found at NIN’s Official website.

Posted by James W. Coates

Lots of new music to keep the dance floors full this week. The Cure have released yet another single, “Sleep When I’m Dead”, from their upcoming new CD. That’s the third release following “The Only One” and “Freakshow”.

Also new is the latest from Imogen Heap who releases “Not Now But Soon”, to be featured on her new album, the follow up to her delightful Speak For Yourself album from 2005 that featured the haunting “Hide and Seek”.

The Black Ghosts have finally released their first full length. Their self-titled debut album features singles “Someway Through This” and “Anyway You Choose to Give It”. A dynamite album that should keep you dancing well into fall.

Lounge fans looking for something a little different should check out the latest from Ratatat, LP3, filled with interesting sounds and chill out melodies that sound great before or after the party.

Finally, good or bad, Tricky has released a new album. While not exactly on the same level as his Maxinquaye album from 1995, Knowle West Boy marks a nice return from the former Massive Attack rapper.

Posted by James W. Coates

One-stop music shop ShockHound prepares to launch later this summer. Rivaling iTunes and Amazon.com, Shockhound plans to sell universal media player-compatible MP3’s.

Priced at the industry standard of $0.99 a pop, the site plans to offer millions of tracks from the major labels as well as the indies alongside other music merchandise such as T-shirts, posters and vinyl.

The site will also broadcast exclusive video, interviews with established and up-and-coming bands as well as proposed original programming.

While the store won’t open until next month, Shockhound is currently offering an amazing promotion to the Outside Lands Festival in San Francisco.

One lucky winner will receive roundtrip airfare, and 4 night’s hotel accommodations plus 2 VIP passes to all three days of concerts that include performances by Radiohead, Jack Johnson, Tom Petty, among many others.

Best bit - everyone who enters the contest automatically remains eligible for future draws to win ShockHound gift cards that can be used to make future purchases from the site.

Posted by James W. Coates

This week Sam Sparro gets a digital release. The Australian native’s self-titled full length, chalk full of electronic funk, bridges the gap between Daft Punk and Jamiroquai via an 80’s Howard Jones vibe. One of the best dance albums to come out of Australia this year, along with countrymen Cut Copy who released their brilliant album In Ghost Colours back in March.

To test drive Sam Sparro before committing to these 15 tracks, grab “Black and Gold”, the free single of the week. That single recently spent several weeks in the top ten in the UK and still sits firmly in the top 40 at number 15.

Former free single of the week, “Blind”, is included on Hercules and Love Affair their self-titled debut which also drops this week. Think everything you love about dance music splashed with disco and deep, rich vocals. Hercules and Love Affair could be the best floor filler to appear this summer.

Iceland’s answer to Radiohead, Sigur Ros release their new ambient album Með Suð Í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust. Their follow up to 2005's Tak, produced by Nine Inch Nails and U2 producer Flood includes some of their most upbeat material ever. First single off the album, “Gobbledygook”, with a strumming guitar and a breezy feel, sounds like the perfect electronic summer beach campfire song, if only you could sing along with the incomprehensible lyrics.

The album cover art was shot by New York-based visual artist Ryan McGinley who has had exhibits of his naked friends running through fields displayed at such prestigious galleries as New York’s MoMA. He won the International Centre of Photography’s Young Photographer of the Year in 2007.

Other new releases to check out include Black Devil Disco Club’s Eight Oh Eight, and The Chap’s Mega Breakfast.

Posted by James W. Coates

Apple posted a press release this week that music fans have “purchased and downloaded over five billion songs” from the iTunes store, making it “the world’s most popular online movie store”.

Admittedly, I’ve contributed immensely to iTunes’ sales. But one thing startles me as I scan the new releases in the electronic section and look at the top sales chart. I wonder if I am the only one buying dance music from iTunes. It seems the chart has had the same top ten songs since…late 2007.

Let’s run down the top ten for today, June 20, 2008.

1. M.I.A. - Paper Planes

2. Daft Punk – One More Time

3. Imogen Heap – Hide and Seek

4. Daft Punk – Harder, Faster, Better, Stronger

5. The Postal Service – Such Great Heights

6. Technotronic – Pump Up The Jam

7. Daft Punk - Technologic

8. Fatboy Slim – The Rockafeller Skank

9. Moloko – Time is Now

10. Oakenfold – Starry Eyed Surprise

While I can’t find fault with any of these tracks and have embraced each one at different periods of my life, “Such Great Heights” recalls my travels through Vietnam in 2004-2005, “Hide and Seek” my summer romance of 2006, and I still listen to “Paper Planes” regularly.

But I can’t help wondering who is keeping “Pump Up The Jam” alive in the top ten. I bought that album with babysitting money back in 1989. With all the great electronic, dance and techno music available today why is this track still ranking high? And why does Daft Punk, who hasn’t released any new material since 2005, have 3 songs in the top ten?

Isn’t anyone else downloading dance music from iTunes? I have to scan down all the way to number 34 before I find a track released in 2008 - “Vanished” by Crystal Castles.

Just a curious observation

Posted by James W. Coates

Lots of great new music to listen to this week, starting with the newest release from Alanis Morissette. It’s been four years since she released her last album, 2004's So-Called Chaos, and many changes have occurred in her personal life, digitally reflected on Flavors of Entanglement.

She teamed up with Guy Sigsworth who has previously worked with Madonna and Bjork, to create music that is both danceable and highly energetic. Who would have imagined an electronic Alanis album?

Other noteworthy releases this week include two new Cure singles, “Freakshow” and its B-side “All Kinds of Stuff”. These tracks form the second installment of the Cure’s marketing plan to debut a new single on the 13 of every month leading up to the September release of their new album.

Can’t get enough of Groove Armada? This week they release a new remix package for single “Get Down” with not one but 10 alternative versions. The original appears on their incredible album Soundboy Rock.

The Canadian edition of iTunes features the new album by 80’s throwback Sam Sparro. This Australian electronica wizard has had tremendous success in the UK with his fantastic first single “Black and Gold”, which coincidently is also the free single of the week.

Icelandic phenomenon Sigur Ros have pre-released their album on the Canadian store which also has the spotlight on Electronic Music this week featuring the new release from Tiestro – In Search of Sunrise Volume 7, Asia.

Other new dance albums available this week include Flying Lotus’ trippy debut album Los Angles, Re-Creation from Naked Music and Volume 15 from Café Del Mar, just in time for summer.

Posted by James W. Coates

After a quick scan of the iTunes store this morning I noticed that a Greatest Hits collection by Radiohead features prominently on the top banner as well a new compilation Now 28.

Having been part of the record buying public long enough to remember 45’ singles, one question plagues me; are Greatest Hits albums necessary anymore?

Before the internet music explosion, a Greatest Hits album meant a collection of all an artist’s singles onto one disc, with the possibility of owning new tracks added for marketability.

These days club goers can hear a great dance track by Armin Van Buuren and download the song instantaneously. There’s no need to wait for a DJ compilation, artist album or Greatest Hits collections since most of the songs they would contain fill my mp3 player already.

Since getting an iPod, I rarely buy CDs anymore, opting for the more convenient (and greener) digital solution. And on the rare occasion that I do buy one, I simply rip it onto my computer and place the jewel box on the shelf.

Once a devoted album listener, I now play my entire library on shuffle or make playlists of my favorite tracks based around my personal themes. Buying a Greatest Hits collection of tracks I already own and listen to frequently seems absurd, unless it includes added incentives like new tracks or videos – and even then with the ability to download only those tracks, buying the entire disc adds up to a huge waste of time and money.

So while its great to see Radiohead on iTunes, it’s disappointing to see that there’s nothing new included to make me excited. Instead I’ll keep shuffling the tracks I own and mix them with the latest albums from Cyndi Lauper and Ladytron.

Posted by James W. Coates

With the accessibility of online music and the sloping decline in music sales, Canadian CD retail chains such as HMV have had to change rapidly or face extinction.

HMV, has managed to stay afloat while the music industry figures out how to cope by diversifying its product line.

Years ago, customers walking into an HMV store spent hours browsing the racks for the latest and catalogue CDs from Armin Van Buuren, Alanis Morissette and George Michael, but in recent years the focus has shifted to DVDs, and then music accessories such as iPods and other portable music devices, magazines and recordable media.

Now, as the chain closes in on its 20th anniversary in the country, HMV attempts a new model that will include cell phones and computers alongside CDs, DVDs and iPods.

The Canadian Press announced that customers will be allowed to surf entertainment and social networking sites in store on assigned computers, something the Apple Store has been doing for years. The makeover will occur gradually in the chain’s 20 stores across the country.

HMV is also re-working its website to become more information based and less sales-focused. “Purchasing product online is no longer being offered,” reads a note posted on HMV’s website. “The overwhelming majority of our customers have told us [ ] that they prefer to use the website for information, and if or when they opt to purchase product from HMV, their preferred choice is to visit their local HMV retail location.”

There was no mention as to when these online changes will come fully into effect.

HMV celebrates its 20th year in Canada on June 17 and plans in-store performances and prize giveaways.

Posted by James W. Coates

It’s been 25 years since Madonna and Cyndi Lauper released their massive debut albums. Though it seems strange to imagine it today, in 1983 with their ragtag styles, jacked-up hair and fun loving tunes, people often confused the two. Music critics at the time speculated that Lauper would be the break-out artist while Madonna would be a flash in the disco pan.

This week, Lauper makes a dancefloor comeback with Bring Ya to the Brink, three weeks after Madonna released Hard Candy. Like “Candy”, “Brink” crams a night’s worth of dancing into one tight package that shows this girl still wants to have fun.

Before ‘83, summer burned hot with the original “Bad Girl” – Donna Summer. Crayons, her first album of new material in 17 years out now, lead by the infectious single “I’m a Fire”, proves that Summer still has some spark in her yet.

While touring iTunes, don’t forget to download the single of the week. Hercules and Love Affair have had massive success in the UK with their brilliant throwback to the 70’s, “Blind”, and it’s now available to American audiences as a free track. Also check out their EP Classique #2 and “Blind” b-side “Shadows”.

If you’re trying to build stamina for this summer’s dance festivals with morning jogs, warm up with the latest offering in the Nike Run series. Cassiusplay: Nike + Original Run, the new set of electronic workout tracks produced by French House duo Cassius follows in the footsteps of previous compilations by Daft Punk and Air, who, by the way also release Moon Safari (Remixes, Rarities and Radio Sessions) this week.

Once in shape, get naked - Naked Music release “Hurry” as a preview to their upcoming album due in July and prepare for one hot summer 1983, er 2008.

Posted by James W. Coates

One year after releasing her fantastic urban dance album Good Girl Gone Bad, Rihanna tops the charts once more with new single “Take a Bow”.

The track, ripped from the re-release of her album that includes new songs, videos and artwork, plows to number one on the Billboard charts powered by an impressive 267,000 downloads, according to the publication.

Produced by Stargate and written by Ne-Yo, this ballad about a failed relationship sounds strikingly similar to their previous collaboration, “Hate That I Love You”.

Jumping from a low debut of 53 last week, the track charges up the chart to bump the unshakable Leona Lewis from the summit.

This massive hike marks the second biggest jump to number one in history, following the 64-1 leap Maroon 5 took last year with their single "Makes Me Wonder".

Stranger still, Rihanna and Maroon 5 have teamed up on a re-working of the band’s single "If I Never See Your Face Again", which also debuts this week at a respectable 57.

Until the release of Mariah Carey’s “Touch My Body” which shifted 286,000 digital copies in one week, Rihanna held the record as the artist with the biggest one week sales of any digital single, set by “Umbrella” last year. That single sold 277,000 copies in its first week.

Former top ten single, “Don’t Stop The Music”, remains in the top forty this week at number 22 after 25 weeks on the chart.

Rihanna’s expanded release of Good Girl Gone Bad is scheduled for June 17.

Posted by James W. Coates

Quickly scanning iTunes new releases list reveals a great week for electronic and dance music. Electronic outfit Ladytron release a new EP, Ghosts, the follow up to their brilliant 2005 album Witching Hour and a prelude to their new disc coming in June.

The EP includes several remixes of the somewhat apologetic song. “There’s a ghost in me that wants to say ‘I’m sorry’, Doesn’t mean I’m sorry,” reveals that Ladytron has kept its enigmatic outlook on life while continuing to make groundbreaking music. The "Cassette Jam Mix" works the best and even outshines the original single.

Goth / Dance/ hard to classify The Cure release two brand new singles, “The Only One” and B-side “NY Trip” culled from their untitled new album slated for release on September 13. In a new promotional trial, the band plans to release a new single on the 13th of every month leading up to the issue of the album that has been delayed several times.

Also out this week, the new single from Hot Chip, “One Pure Thought” and a new EP from French dance act Justice titled DVNO – EP, as well as a brand new EP from Delirium called Silence.

Originally a track on their 1997 album Karma, the well known single featuring vocals from Sarah McLachlan, has been remixed, re-dubbed and re-released so many times it seems they’re in a battle with New Order to see who can re-release the same material the most times.

She Wants Revenge has struggled to get much recognition for its second album, This Is Forever, but releases a new track from it this week called “Save Your Soul”.

Finally Australian electronic act Pendulum release their new album In Silicio featuring the brilliant single “Propane Nightmare” currently nestled in the UK Top 20.

Posted by James W. Coates

Last week Nine Inch Nails released a band new single, “Discipline” for free on their website. The band hinted at more to come with an enigmatic message to check back on May 5.

This morning at midnight, to the delight of fans, those who downloaded the single received a special e-mail urging them to visit the website once again for the free full length album The Slip.

“Thank you for your continued and loyal support over the years - this one's on me”, Reznor told fans in a message posted on the website.

Since parting ways with their traditional record label, Nine inch Nails have been very busy releasing free music via their website. In March, the band released a 36-song instrumental package Ghosts I-IV.

Nine Inch Nails are also gearing up for a North American summer tour starting in Vancouver on July 28. Presale tickets are available on the band’s website.

Posted by James W. Coates

Summer officially started this week, as far as heavy hitting new music releases goes. Tuesday came super-sized with new dance albums from Swedish dance pop phenomenon Robyn, and somber electro beats from Portishead. But the biggest release was of course Hard Candy from the one and only Madonna.

Nine Inch Nails continued to pour music onto the internet for free with last week’s single release of “Discipline” only to be followed this week by Coldplay who released their new single “Violet Hill” for free on the band’s website.

While technically not dance music at all, they have been in the studio working with Brian Eno who produced some of the best ambient electronic music of the 70’s and 80’s. Expect to hear some pretty interesting music from this team when the album is released in June.

UK new comer Estelle also released an album of danceable hip- hop featuring the single “American Boy” currently dominating the airwaves in the UK. And thought his single has yet to be released in the United States, Sam Sparro has released one of the strangest dance pop singles to come along in a long time.

“Black & Gold” may not be stuck in your head yet but give it a few months and everyone should be humming along to this impressive new release.

Posted by James W. Coates

Less than two months after releasing the brilliant 36-song collection of dark electronic instrumentals, Ghosts I-IV, Nine Inch Nails release another free track.

Available now for download directly from their special website, “Discipline”, is a non-album track and the first song to contain vocals since their last full length album, Year Zero.

The band urges fans to download the album or “The three of us will destroy you,” or so says the caption over a photo of tough-looking action figures resembling Trent Reznor.

Elsewhere on the special Nine Inch Nails website created for the “Discipline” download, the band teases, saying “We have some tour info coming…SOON”.

So far there’s no mention if “Discipline” comes from an upcoming album or if NIN just felt like releasing a free single.

Ghosts I-IV is available for downloading and in Record Stores since April 8.

Posted by James W. Coates

Summer doesn’t arrive until June, but DJ Tiësto plans to make it happen one month early.

World renowned DJ kicks off his “In Search of Sunrise Tour” on May 23 in San Francisco, California, and spins throughout the US in early summer before winding down in Toronto, Ontario on June 30.

DJ Tiësto is trekking his “In Search of Sunrise Tour” in support of new compilation, In Search of Sunrise 7 – Asia to be released on June 10, before setting up summer residency at Ibiza.

His new tour comes fresh off the massive success of his last world tour and album Elements Of Life for which he was nominated for a 2007 Grammy for Best Electronic/Dance Album.

Unlike his massive tour last time around, his new tour focuses on clubs and more intimate settings where clubbers can witness the DJ in action.

Tiësto is also partnering with Armani Exchange in support of the “In Search of Sunrise Tour”. Under the new deal, Tiësto and Armani Exchange will deliver a limited clothing line, appearances by the DJ in major stores as well as on-line exclusives. Armani Exchange store will also offer a special limited edition 3-CD collection.

To get a copy of the CD collection online visit Armani Exchange. Visit DJ Tiësto’s website for tickets.

Posted by James W. Coates

Not sure what to do this weekend? Why not head down to the local record store to pick up a copy of the latest dance music CD. Saturday is after all Record Store Day across North America.

The brainchild of U.S. independent music retailers, Record Store Day aims to draw crowds into these dying institutions.

Since downloading and shopping online have come along, coupled with the surge of big name shops taking large bites out of the market, independent record shops have been dropping like flies.

Since 2003 over 3000 record stores in the United States have closed up shop according to Almighty Institute of Music Retail, a market research firm.

Many stores have special events planned to encourage people to visit. Metallica will greet fans at the Rasputin Music in Mountain View, California while others are selling exclusive vinyl singles for one day only.

Canadian retailers are holding a vote on the Best Record Store in Canada. The list is down to five including Backstreet Records in Saint John, N.B., Back Alley Music in Charlottetown, Taz Records in Halifax and Meow Records in Prince George, B.C.

While there check out some great Dance Music including Paul Oakenfold’s Greatest Hits & Remixes or Moby’s Last Night.

For more information check out Record Day Store online.

Posted by James W. Coates

France’s choice of an electronic song for the Eurovision contest has caused a stir in that country. So much buzz surrounds Sebastien Tellier’s “Divine” that even French MP Jacques Myard has had his say on the matter.

But it’s not that the song’s an electronic dance track, where usually more pop-orientated tracks are used, or even the song’s sexually charged atmosphere that has the country in such an uproar, it’s more the lyrics, or rather the choice of language those lyrics are sung in, that’s causing debate.

Culled from Tellier’s Sexuality album, he chose to have the lyrics sung in English to appeal to a more international audience. But some, such as Myard, feel the song represents more the country than just a song and feel belittled.

Myard may ignore that most European acts that have had any success following the Eurovision contest (Abba, Celine Dion) mostly gained that attention from singing in English.

On another note, most of France’s more internationally renowned electronic acts including Daft Punk, Air and Justice tend to sing English lyrics.

Each year European countries choose an act to represent it in a song contest pitting artists against other European countries. This year Belgrade, Serbia hosts the contest with the final to be held on May 24.

Posted by James W. Coates

Since this is my first blog as feature writer in the Dance/ Techno music section, I want to begin by stating how excited I am to have this opportunity to share my passion for the genre with others who love dance music.

I bought my first music album way back in 1983 – it was Michael Jackson’s Thriller. Still one of the best dance albums ever, I remember seeing Michael’s video for “Beat it” and have been a huge fan of music, especially dance music, ever since.

The 80’s came and went and for a while it looked like the 90’s grunge era would stifle all the great dance bands. Instead dance music splintered into Electro, House and Techno with each genre having its time in the limelight.

Sure dance music doesn’t get the respect or radio airplay it deserves, but that doesn’t mean that artists aren’t making great noise right now.

My goal with this assignment is to fish for up-and-coming groups as well as re-introduce established artists to share with other dance music enthusiasts.

While I’m always on the look out for new music and do a pretty good job of finding it, I’d love to hear from you and what you’re listening to. Drop me a line and let me know what you think.

Until then keep dancing.