Seven Songs for the Week #45

The Billy Joel revival continues. Usher, the halftime act at this year's Superbowl, dropped his first new album in 7 years during his performance. It includes this Billy-sampling wonder. I hope he gets loads of money from it.

Re-watched The Royal Tannenbaums this week for the first time in about 20 years. I loved it back when it came out and it still stands up. Of note, the last time I saw it, I wasn't a dad and my own dad was still around. Hits different now.

Having not been paying attention I didn't know new Crowded House stuff was coming, but here it is. Crowded House put out four perfect albums back in the day, and now we are about to get the fourth "reunion" album - so eight albums in all. It's a different band now, obviously, but also the same in some ways.

Turned on the radio in the car last weekend and a new radio station appeared, Retro FM, and they started playing this song, which I have never heard in the wild, yet alone on the radio. Roy Wood could write a tune. I'm fascinated at how he had about 10 years of prolificacy and hits across numerous identities, then ran out of tunes. What happened?

Anther surprise drop during the SuperBowl, a new single from Beyonce (actually she dropped two tracks). When I first heard it I thought "what in the name of Rednex is this?" I wasn't expecting country. I thought it was not good. A few listens later and it's an amusing evolution (a country album? A Beyonce country album?) and it's nice to have Bey back in the world of fun pop - it's all been a bit ponderous of late.

Yeah, I heard this a few times and it keeps popping up. Catchy song and I can't resist a good descending hook.

Went to see the (excellent/amazing/hysterical) comedian Sam Campbell last week. Before the show and during the intermission the audience got ersatz lounge jazz. Then when the show was over, they blasted this for some reason. Good times.