Well, it’s been a busy week preparing the list of nominations for the second half of 2018 for the LA Music Critic Awards, which will be announced tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. While you wait, here are ten great singles that were not chosen for Monday Mashup features, but which we thought deserved recognition.
First up is the second single from Noctorum, featuring Marty Wilson-Piper, the former lead singer of The Church. The single is a soft rocker that is the perfect sound for your early morning music fix and is called “Piccadilly Circus in the Rain.” Let us know what you think.
Next up is “Infinite Swim,” which has a decidedly 80’s retro sound, with big beats and cool vocals, and comes to us courtesy of the Irish band All Tvvins. We can’t wait to hear and review the rest of the album when it is released next year.
For our next single, we travel to Amsterdam for the latest from the Moon Tapes. If there was an award for the strangest song title, they would win it hands down. Check out the noir-pop sound of “Tonight I’ll Write the Saddest Lines.”
From noir-pop we return to rock-n-roll, with the latest offering from Jon Tessier, “Freak I Need.” This one will put some 70’s rock flavor into your day.
At single number five is K-Pop phenom Monsta X, who has released their first all-English song, “Shoot Out.” We reviewed their album last week, and were impressed by the multiple genres these lads have mastered, and look forward to what comes next. Get down to this one.
We kick off the second five singles with this refreshing country song from form The Voice contestant, Lauren Duski. This one is a future hit, and it definitely makes our “Heart Hurt Good.”
Single number seven is from an iconic reggae singer who has returned with a fun, upbeat tune that will get you ready for summer in the middle of winter. Check out “Use Me” from Shaggy.
For our next single, we go from reggae to the R&B/Pop sound of Australian YouTube sensation Arlene Zelina. We love the smooth sound of “Dream of Me” and think you will too.
Single number nine features another amazing female voice with the sultry sound of Ariel Gold. This one has the perfect driving drum beat, truly amazing vocals and an upbeat song the belies its title, “Blue.” Let us know what you think.
https://soundcloud.com/bigmanagement/ariel-gold-blue/s-CTDv7
We close out this edition of Ten Great Singles with a beautiful collaborative effort, courtesy of our friends at the Durango Songwriters Expo. The song was written by Scott Krippayne and Jeff Peabody for the late Neal E. Boyd, winner of America’s Got Talent in 2008. The orchestration was recorded and the song was mixed and mastered by Brandon K. Guttenfelder. We think it is the perfect holiday song. Enjoy “Not so Silent Night.”