NEW MUSIC FRIDAY: Releases For The Week of October 26, 2018

“Someone” has a new release…

Tricks and treats and plenty of ear candy is on the schedule this week, as we enter the last Friday before Halloween. Who’s going to spook the top spot? These are the notable digital and physical releases hitting the market today:

LUKAS GRAHAM – 3 (The Purple Album) (iTunes)
Best known for the international smash “7 Years”, which topped the Hot AC and Top 40 radio charts here in the U.S., the Danish band is back with their newest album. It features the radio single “Love Someone”, which is currently climbing through top 20 at the former format and impacting at the latter this coming Tuesday.

THE STRUTS – Young & Dangerous (iTunes)
Featuring the Alternative radio hit “Body Talks”, which sits just below the top ten at the format, these rockers are turning up the volume on the chart with their new set. It should easily surpass the peak of their last album, which barely cracked the top 100.

TORY LANEZ – Love Me Now? (iTunes)
With “Talk To Me”, a collaboration with Rich The Kid, now in the top ten at Urban radio, Canadian performer Lanez will likely have a good opening week for his second album of 2018. Will it continue his top five streak on the Billboard 200?

Notable albums out this week: Andrea Bocelli‘s Sì (iTunes), Boy George & Culture Club‘s Life (iTunes), Causes‘s Wake Me Up So I Can Dream (iTunes), Chris Tomlin‘s Holy Roar (iTunes), Dillon Carmichael‘s Hell On An Angel (iTunes), Eagle-Eye Cherry‘s Streets Of You (iTunes), Francesca Battistelli‘s Own It (iTunes), Gavin James‘s Only Ticket Home (iTunes), Joji‘s Ballads 1 (iTunes), Monsta X‘s Take.1 Are You There? (iTunes), Robyn‘s Honey (iTunes), Tom Odell‘s Jubilee Road (iTunes), Zayde Wølf‘s Modern Alchemy (Deluxe) (iTunes)

Notable holiday albums out this week: Brett Eldredge‘s Glow (Deluxe) (iTunes), Gwen Stefani‘s You Make It Feel Like Christmas (Deluxe) (iTunes), Jessie J‘s This Christmas Day (iTunes), Jessie James Decker‘s On This Holiday (iTunes), John Legend‘s A Legendary Christmas (iTunes), Pentatonix‘s Christmas Is Here! (iTunes)

Notable EPs out this week: Bronze Radio Return‘s Check One (iTunes), FERGUS‘s Purple Road (iTunes), Kimbra‘s Songs From Primal Heart: Reimagined (iTunes), Louis The Child‘s Kids At Play (iTunes), RAY BLK‘s Empress (iTunes), Royal Wood‘s Love Will Linger (iTunes)

New digital singles that you can buy this week include:
“1%” and “L*** Is A Bad Word”, Kiiara (iTunes)
“A Million Dollars A Day” and “I Count On Me”, Aloe Blacc (iTunes)
“A Million Dreams”, P!nk (iTunes)
“Armor”, Sara Bareilles (iTunes)
“Arms Around You”, XXXTentacion x Lil Pump featuring Maluma & Swae Lee (iTunes)
“Bamboo”, Far East Movement featuring Jason Zhang & Kina Grannis (iTunes)
“Below The Ceiling”, nicopop. featuring Tyler Mann (iTunes)
“Checklist” and “Slow Down”, Normani x Calvin Harris (iTunes)
“Close To Me”, Ellie Goulding x Diplo featuring Swae Lee (iTunes)
“Cool With It (Acoustic)”, Josie Dunne (iTunes)
“Come Again”, Swizz Beatz featuring Giggs (iTunes)
“Death Of Me”, David Cook (iTunes)
“Don’t Know You”, Justin Caruso featuring Jake Miller (iTunes)
“Dream”, Birthday (iTunes)
“Electricity (Black Madonna Remix)”, Silk City & Dua Lipa (iTunes)
“Empty Space (Digital Farm Animals & Franklin Remix)”, James Arthur (iTunes)
“Expectations”, Lauren Jauregui (iTunes)
“Faded/2AM”, Lila Drew featuring GoldLink (iTunes)
“Freak”, Black Caviar (iTunes)
“Girl”, BRUNS (iTunes)
“Girl Of The Year”, Allie X (iTunes)
“Good And Lasting”, Trent Dabbs (iTunes)
“Goodbyes (Yung Bae Remix)”, The Knocks featuring Method Man (iTunes)
“Got Love”, The Revivalists (iTunes)
“Grapevine”, Tiësto (iTunes)
“Happy Now”, Kygo featuring Sandro Cavazza (iTunes)
“Headlights”, Hellberg & Leona Lewis (iTunes)
“Heaven”, The Shantics (iTunes)
“Human”, Maggie Lindemann (iTunes)
“If I Say”, Mumford & Sons (iTunes)
“In Case I Don’t Feel”, Kevin Garrett (iTunes)
“JT”, Jon Bellion (iTunes)
“Killer Queen”, 5 Seconds Of Summer (iTunes)
“Lady Liberty”, Barbra Streisand (iTunes)
“Lay Your Worry Down”, Milow featuring Matt Simons (iTunes)
“Llegaste Tú”, CNCO & Prince Royce (iTunes)
“Made For Now (Benny Benassi x Canova Remix)”, Janet Jackson featuring Daddy Yankee (iTunes)
“Make Up”, Vice & Jason Derulo featuring Ava Max (iTunes)
“Medicine (Acoustic)”, Robinson (iTunes)
“Money”, Cardi B (iTunes)
“Nervous”, L Devine (iTunes)
“No Drama”, Alex Aiono (iTunes)
“On The Way Up”, Apollo LTD (iTunes)
“One Last Time”, Tyron Hapi & Lucas Marx (iTunes)
“Paris”, Sabrina Carpenter (iTunes)
“Remember”, Gryffin with ZOHARA (iTunes)
“Rhythm In My Blood”, Icona Pop (iTunes)
“Runaway”, Hailey Knox (iTunes)
“Savior”, Elley Duhé (iTunes)
“Siren”, The Chainsmokers & AAZAR (iTunes)
“Song About You (Digital Farm Animals & Franklin Remix)”, Mike Posner (iTunes)
“Survivor”, Daniel Powter & Kelly Yu (iTunes)
“Take Your Love”, Olly Murs (iTunes)
“The Fear”, The Score (iTunes)
“The First Noel”, Tyler Farr (iTunes)
“Up All Night”, R3HAB x MOTi featuring Fiora (iTunes)
“Walk Alone”, Rudimental featuring Tom Walker (iTunes)
“Waste It On Me”, Steve Aoki featuring BTS (iTunes)
“Werewolf”, Quinn XCII featuring Yoshi Flower (iTunes)
“What If This Is All The Love You Ever Get? (Mike Crossley Mix)”, Snow Patrol (iTunes)
“Wildest Dreams”, Marc Scibilia (iTunes)
“You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch”, Tyler, The Creator (iTunes)

Next week: look out for new albums from Barbra Streisand, the Pistol Annies, Takeoff and more. For Adam’s personal picks of the week, listen to the PGTC Friday Faves list on Spotify!

NEW MUSIC FRIDAY: Releases For The Week of April 13, 2018

He’s back in Town.

Coming to a town near you… only the best releases by the artists you know and love. (Just make sure you spend some of your tax refund on music, okay?) Here are the albums and singles you need to check out on digital services and in stores this Friday:

JASON ALDEAN – Rearview Town (iTunes)
Riding high on the Country survey with his smash “You Make It Easy”, Aldean is looking for his fourth consecutive #1 album of the decade. Driven by pure album sales rather than extensive streaming, it could accomplish that goal, though recent chart-topping sets from Cardi B and The Weekend may provide a bit of drama along the way. Stay tuned to see what happens.

BAZZI – Cosmic (iTunes)
Streaming breakout Bazzi has crossed over to the national charts with the hit “Mine”, and his first full-length release features a selection of proven winners, along with some new material to balance it out. Given his presence in the streaming world, expect this set to produce a big album-equivalent total, making a higher debut likely.

Notable albums out this week: Breaking Benjamin‘s Ember (iTunes), Isaac Gracie‘s Isaac Gracie (iTunes), Pentatonix‘s PTX Presents: Top Pop, Vol. I (iTunes), Sofi Tukker‘s Treehouse (iTunes), Tinashe‘s Joyride (iTunes)

Notable EPs out this week: Emma McGrath‘s Silent Minds (iTunes), Ledger’s Ledger (iTunes), The Longshot‘s The Longshot (iTunes)

New digital singles that you can buy this week include:
“2 Souls On Fire” and “Ferrari”, Bebe Rexha featuring Quavo / Rexha (iTunes)
“1942”, G-Eazy, Yo Gotti & YBN Nahmir (iTunes)
“2000 Angels”, Ben Khan (iTunes)
“Always”, Gavin James (iTunes)
“Bad”, Christopher (iTunes)
“Barbie Tingz” and “Chun-Li”, Nicki Minaj (iTunes)
“Better Not”, Louis The Child featuring Wafia (iTunes)
“Come Thru”, Phora (iTunes)
“Could You Be Mine?”, Billy Raffoul (iTunes)
“Cry Pretty”, Carrie Underwood (iTunes)
“Drive”, Youngr (iTunes)
“Even If”, Trinidad Cardona (iTunes)
“Every Morning I Feel Like Running Away”, TOMI (iTunes)
“Feel On Me”, Ghosted featuring JHart (iTunes)
“Finest Hour”, Cash Cash featuring Abir (iTunes)
“Get Lost”, Bearson featuring Ashe (iTunes)
“Guatemala”, Swae Lee featuring Slim Jxmmi (iTunes)
“High Five”, Sigrid (iTunes)
“I Said Hi”, Amy Shark (iTunes)
“Leave A Light On (Cheat Codes Remix)”, Tom Walker (iTunes)
“Let Me”, ZAYN (iTunes)
“Life On Earth”, Snow Patrol (iTunes)
“Magic”, Craig David featuring Yxng Bane (iTunes)
“Miracles”, CHVRCHES (iTunes)
“No Good For Me”, NUUXS (iTunes)
“Out Of Order”, Highasakite (iTunes)
“Raye”, John Splithoff (iTunes)
“Rich & Famous”, SJUR & Isac Elliot (iTunes)
“Riding The Wave”, Sheppard (iTunes)
“Sanctify (Remix)”, Years & Years and ALMA (iTunes)
“Sea”, Ina Wroldsen (iTunes)
“Search”, Noah Carter (iTunes)
“She’s Got Love”, Frills (iTunes)
“Shoot Down The Sun”, Hook N Sling (iTunes)
“Silence”, DREAMS (iTunes)
“Since I Was Broke”, Russ (iTunes)
“Sky Full Of Song”, Florence + The Machine (iTunes)
“Softens”, Wet (iTunes)
“Talia”, King Princess (iTunes)
“Waiting For The Break Of Day”, Sting & Shaggy (iTunes)
“When You’re Wrong”, Twin Shadow (iTunes)
“Wish You Would”, Marian Hill (iTunes)
“Youngblood”, 5 Seconds Of Summer (iTunes)

Next week: look out for new albums from Ashley Monroe, Lord Huron, Sting & Shaggy and more. For Adam’s personal picks of the week, listen to the PGTC Friday Faves list on Spotify!

NEW MUSIC FRIDAY: Releases For The Week of October 20, 2017

Horan is scorin’ this week.

Picking apples at the orchard? Carving pumpkins with the kids? Whatever you’re doing this weekend, don’t forget to refresh that playlist of yours with some new tunes! Here are the albums and singles you need to know this Friday:

NIALL HORAN – Flicker (iTunes)
Of course, it’s the One Direction member gone solo leading off this week’s post, now in stores with his debut album. The latest single from it is “Too Much To Ask”, but “This Town” and “Slow Hands” (a #1 single on both the Hot AC and Top 40 lists) can be found on here as well. Will it give him the edge for #1? Will that surprise mixtape dash his hopes of the top spot? Stay tuned.

CHRIS YOUNG – Losing Sleep (iTunes)
The title track from Young’s latest studio album has been struggling up the Country radio survey for several months now, though it’s currently in the top 20 and building. All six of Young’s studio albums thus far, including a Christmas set from last year, made their way into the top ten on the genre-specific albums chart, three hitting the top five on the Billboard 200.

DARIUS RUCKER – When Was The Last Time (iTunes)
Along with Young’s new album, another notable release from the genre this week comes from the Hootie & The Blowfish lead singer, who got his first break at the format in 2008. It features “If I Told You”, which had a slow rise to #1 earlier this year. (The current single off it, “For The First Time”, is below the top 40.)

More albums out this week: Future & Young Thug‘s Super Slimey (iTunes), Jessie Ware‘s Glasshouse (iTunes), Keyshia Cole‘s 11:11 Reset (iTunes), Margo Price‘s All American Made (iTunes), Tyminski‘s Southern Gothic (iTunes), Tegan And Sara Present The Con X: Covers (iTunes)

More holiday albums out this week: 98°‘s Let It Snow (iTunes), Cheap Trick‘s Christmas Christmas (iTunes), Lindsey Stirling‘s Warmer In The Winter (iTunes), Pentatonix‘s A Pentatonix Christmas Deluxe (iTunes)

More EPs out this week: Bryce Fox‘s Heaven On Hold (iTunes), Lewis Capaldi‘s Bloom (iTunes) MiC LOWRY‘s Mood (iTunes)

New digital-only singles that you can buy this week include:
“Anywhere”, Rita Ora (iTunes)
“Badi Boum”, Felix Snow featuring Tsunami (iTunes)
“Bedroom Floor”, Liam Payne (iTunes)
“Before Anyone Knew Our Name”, Stereophonics (iTunes)
“Blackout”, Erin McCarley featuring Bodytalkr (iTunes)
“Bloodstone”, Guy Sebastian (iTunes)
“bright pink tims”, blackbear featuring Cam’ron (iTunes)
“Buttons”, Sara Hartman (iTunes)
“Candy Paint”, Post Malone (iTunes)
“Caving”, Justin Caruso featuring James Droll (iTunes)
“Christmas Eve” and “Meaning Of Life”, Kelly Clarkson (iTunes)
“Collide”, Rachel Platten (iTunes)
“Confidence” and “Only 4 Me”, Chris Brown (iTunes)
“Darts In The Dark”, MAGIC! (iTunes)
“Don’t Be A Fool (Unplugged)”, Shawn Mendes (iTunes)
“Don’t Turn Around”, Milow (iTunes)
“Everybody Here Wants You”, George Maple (iTunes)
“Forever”, Martin Garrix and Matisse & Sadko (iTunes)
“Forever”, Sigma featuring Quavo & Sebastian Kole (iTunes)
“Friends (Remix)”, Justin Bieber & BloodPop® featuring Julia Michaels (iTunes)
“Gorgeous”, Taylor Swift (iTunes)
“Happy Hour”, Weezer (iTunes)
“High Rollin'”, Jaira Burns (iTunes)
“Home”, Nick Jonas (iTunes)
“It’s My House”, MIKA (iTunes)
“Kids In Love”, Kygo featuring The Night Game & Maja Francis (iTunes)
“Light The Way”, Mikky Ekko (iTunes)
“Lose My Mind (Acoustic)”, Dean Lewis (iTunes)
“Mamita”, CNCO (iTunes)
“Miss Me More”, Kelsea Ballerini (iTunes)
“New Rules (Acoustic)”, Dua Lipa (iTunes)
“One Chance To Dance”, Naughty Boy featuring Joe Jonas (iTunes)
“Sunglasses In The Rain”, John Gibbons (iTunes)
“Take Me With You”, Fleurie x Dalton Diehl x Ruslan (iTunes)
“The Star”, Mariah Carey (iTunes)
“Tongues”, Matt Woods (iTunes)
“What About Us (Tiësto’s AFTR:HRS Remix)”, P!nk (iTunes)
“Whiskey”, Maroon 5 featuring A$AP Rocky (iTunes)
“You & Me”, Marshmello (iTunes)

We’ll see you next week for new albums from Kelly Clarkson, Kenny Chesney and more. Listen to the PGTC Friday Faves list on Spotify!

NEW MUSIC FRIDAY: Releases For The Week of April 7, 2017

Open for business.

Make some musical memories with all the new releases in this week’s report, including chart-topping electronic and rock acts, and so much more. Let’s check out all the action right here:

THE CHAINSMOKERS – Memories…Do Not Open (iTunes)
Whether you love them or hate them, the duo of Alex Pall and Andrew Taggart is essentially unavoidable at this point, with many hit songs and plenty of fans. The two are putting in overtime on the pop radio chart, with two concurrent top ten singles at the moment: “Paris” and “Something Just Like This”, a collaboration with Coldplay. The race for #1 between the duo and Drake, with all the big streaming support behind both acts, should be an interesting one to watch. So, bro, you should like, totally check this one out, bro.

COLD WAR KIDS – LA DIVINE (iTunes)
These Kids are taking over the Alternative chart, per usual, with the top ten hit “Love Is Mystical”. It’s currently at #6. The group has just missed reaching the top 20 on the Billboard 200 on two occasions, and no, they’re not day and night. However, I’m sure it’ll be a a good day next week if their new set does officially reach that goal. We’ll see soon!

K.FLAY – Every Where Is Some Where (iTunes)
The Illinois performer has done very well on the Alternative radio chart in the past few months with two songs, including the top five hit “Blood In The Cut”. After her independent album missed the top 100 just about three years ago, this set will definitely be in there (and much higher!)

More albums out this week: Father John Misty‘s Pure Comedy (iTunes), Future Islands‘s The Far Field (iTunes), Joey Bada$$‘s ALL-AMERIKKKAN BADA$$ (iTunes), Michelle Branch‘s Hopeless Romantic (iTunes), The New Pornographers‘s Whiteout Conditions (iTunes)

More EPs out this week: Alicia Keys‘s Vault Playlist Vol. 1 (iTunes), Pentatonix‘s PTX, Vol. IV – Classics (iTunes), Ryan Hurd‘s Ryan Hurd (iTunes)

New digital-only singles that you can buy this week include:
“A-Side / B-Side”, Tipling Rock (iTunes)
“Battle Cry”, Jack White (iTunes)
“Bloodstream”, Astrid S (iTunes)
“Byte”, Martin Garrix & Brooks (iTunes)
“Call Me”, Kate Nash (iTunes)
“Crowded Places”, BANKS (iTunes)
“Don’t Kill My Vibe (Gryffin Remix)”, Sigrid (iTunes)
“Don’t Let Our Love Grow Cold”, Red Rosamond (iTunes)
“Dream”, Diana Krall (iTunes)
“Everything Everything”, American Authors (iTunes)
“Find Me”, Tinie Tempah featuring Jake Bugg (iTunes)
“Fire”, Beth Ditto (iTunes)
“For You”, Benji Lewis (iTunes)
“Galway Girl (Martin Jensen Remix)”, Ed Sheeran (iTunes)
“Gravity”, Leo Stannard featuring Frances (iTunes)
“Grow (Stories)”, Frances (iTunes)
“Honor”, DJ Cassidy featuring Grace and Lil Yachty (iTunes)
“If This Is Love”, Ruth B (iTunes)
“It Ain’t Me (Tiësto’s AFTR:HRS Remix)”, Kygo & Selena Gomez (iTunes)
“It Was Love”, LANY (iTunes)
“Kryptonite”, George Maple (iTunes)
“Lifetimes”, Oh Wonder (iTunes)
“No Pressure”, French Montana featuring Future (iTunes)
“Now”, Grace Mitchell (iTunes)
“Now Or Never”, Halsey (iTunes)
“Passport Home”, JP Cooper (iTunes)
“Physical”, The Aces (iTunes)
“Promises”, Day Wave (iTunes)
“Scared To Be Lonely (Acoustic)”, Martin Garrix & Dua Lipa (iTunes)
“Sign Of The Times”, Harry Styles (iTunes)
“Stay The Night”, Jukebox The Ghost (iTunes)
“Stoned On You”, Jaymes Young (iTunes)
“Testify (Beast Remix)”, Citizen Four (iTunes)
“Undefeated”, Incubus (iTunes)
“Unforgettable”, French Montana featuring Swae Lee (iTunes)
“Warm On A Cold Night”, HONNE featuring Aminé (iTunes)
“Wash Us Away”, Paperwhite (iTunes)
“Waterfall (Seeb Remix)”, Stargate featuring P!nk and Sia (iTunes)
“Whatcha Thinking About”, Denny White (iTunes)

We’ll see you next week for new albums from John Mayer, The Fate Of The Furious and more. Listen to the PGTC Friday Faves list on Spotify!

NEW MUSIC FRIDAY: Releases For The Week of October 16, 2015

“Cool” keeps this era burning.

This week’s New Music Friday is all about chart courage and musical morale, so pump up the pop with these sweet sets and more than two dozen other titles in the bunch. Here’s a look at the week’s top new album and single releases:

• DEMI LOVATO — Confident (iTunes)
  • After Selena Gomez bowed at the top of the album chart, her former Disney mate is also looking for a #1 entry on the Billboard 200 with her fifth studio album. Two singles from the effort have already graced the charts: “Cool For The Summer” and the title track. Lovato usually opens well in her first frame, so expect this one to do the same.
• PENTATONIX — Pentatonix (iTunes)
  • After years of covers and medleys, this a cappella act is out with their first album of predominantly original tunes. It also features guests like Jason Derulo and Tink, the latter of whom appears on a remix of first single “Can’t Sleep Love”. The set should register a top five debut on the album listing.
• JAMIE LAWSON — Jamie Lawson (iTunes)
  • Lawson’s single “Wasn’t Expecting That” is a big #1 seller in the United Kingdom, and its recent status as the On The Verge song at Hot AC radio for radio giant iHeartMedia propelled into the top 20 at that format. Ed Sheeran gave him his seal of approval; will you?
• OMI — Me 4 U (iTunes)
  • Singer Omar Paisley may like a “Cheerleader” or two, but he’s also hoping his debut set will get a rah-rah sis-boom-bah from music fans everywhere. The album also features followup single “Hula Hoop”, currently on the CHR radio chart.
• More albums out this week: Andrew Ripp‘s Andrew Ripp (iTunes), Beach House‘s Thank Your Lucky Stars (iTunes), BØRNS‘s Dopamine (iTunes), Christine And The Queens‘s Christine And The Queens (iTunes), Coheed And Cambria‘s The Color Before The Sun (iTunes), Deerhunter‘s Fading Frontier (iTunes), Hillsong United‘s Open Heaven/River Wild (iTunes), India Arie & Joe Sample‘s Christmas With Friends (iTunes), Jenny & Tyler‘s Of This I’m Sure (iTunes), Joe Budden‘s All Love Lost (iTunes), Josh Ritter‘s Sermon On The Rocks (iTunes), Kidz Bop‘s Kidz Bop 30 (iTunes), LeAnn Rimes‘s Today Is Christmas (iTunes), Machine Gun Kelly‘s General Admission (iTunes), Majical Cloudz‘s Are You Alone? (iTunes), Neon Indian‘s VEGA INTL. Night School (iTunes), Oh Hellos‘s Dear Wormwood (iTunes), Raury‘s All We Need (iTunes), Son Little‘s Son Little (iTunes), State Champs‘s Around The World And Back (iTunes), Stoney LaRue‘s Us Time (iTunes), Stryper‘s Fallen (iTunes), The Game‘s The Documentary 2.5 (iTunes), YACHT‘s I Thought The Future Would Be Cooler (iTunes), Marvel’s Guardians Of The Galaxy: Cosmic Mix, Vol. 1 (iTunes)
• More EPs out this week: Jake Worthington‘s Jake Worthington (iTunes), Young Rising Sons‘s The Kids Will Be Fine (iTunes)

New digital-only singles that you can buy this week include:

• “C.U.R.E.”, Boots (iTunes)
• “Perfect”, One Direction (iTunes)
• “Prey”, The Neighbourhood (iTunes)
• “Renegade Runaway”, Carrie Underwood (iTunes)
• “Second Hand Heart”, Ben Haenow featuring Kelly Clarkson (iTunes)
• “Way Back Home”, Rod Stewart (iTunes)
• “When the Night Comes”, Jeff Lynne’s ELO (iTunes)

Next Friday, our preview will include new albums from 5 Seconds Of Summer, Carrie Underwood, Rod Stewart and a lot more. See you then!

TURN IT UP TUESDAY: What’s New In Stores This Week (September 23)

Two Cheeks, one week.

It’s a snazzy and jazzy update this week, with two unlikely superstars paired together for a collection of covers, along with one of Country’s leading men and one of England’s hottest indie trios. Here’s what albums and singles are in stores for the week of September 23:

• After a week which will see Barbra Streisand top the Billboard 200, who’s to say that Tony Bennett will not be the next to top the survey? His long-delayed duets album with Lady Gaga, titled Cheek To Cheek, is now in stores. Several digital cuts from it have made the Jazz charts in the last few weeks. Reviews have been generally solid for it and the effort should have enough strength to enter at #1 next week. (iTunes)
• Just off another #1 single at Country radio with “American Kids”, still selling well in the top 40 on iTunes, hitmaker Kenny Chesney is back with The Big Revival, which also features the followup “Til It’s Gone”. Last time around, Chesney’s Life On A Rock debuted north of six figures last year and could hit that same amount this year as a strong #2. We’ll see. (iTunes)
• Currently riding up the Alternative survey with their biggest hit to date, “Left Hand Free”, the band known as alt-J (or ∆) is back with This Is All Yours, the act’s first studio album since 2012’s An Awesome Wave. Pre-release tracks from it have already ranked highly on iTunes stores across the globe. It will likely debut in the top ten. (iTunes)
• In our former reality show contestants roundup, and there are quite a few this week, look out for new releases from America’s Got Talent‘s Jackie Evancho and her latest, Awakening (iTunes), American Idol‘s Jennifer Hudson with JHUD (iTunes) and The Sing-Off‘s Pentatonix with PTX, Vol. III (iTunes). Hudson’s “It’s Your World”, with R. Kelly, is now a top 20 hit at Urban AC radio.
• Other releases out this week include: Aphex Twin‘s Syro (iTunes), Chad Lawson‘s The Chopin Variations (iTunes) Gary Clark Jr.‘s Gary Clark Jr. Live (iTunes), George Harrison‘s The Apple Years 1968-75 (iTunes), Joe Bonamossa‘s Different Shades Of Blue (iTunes), John Mellencamp‘s Plain Spoken (iTunes), Lee Ann Womack‘s The Way I’m Livin’ (iTunes), Lenny Kravitz‘s Strut (iTunes), Leonard Cohen‘s Popular Problems (iTunes), Luke James‘s Luke James (iTunes) and Tweedy‘s Sukierae (iTunes).

New digital-only singles that you can buy this week (and there’s a whole lot of them) include:

• “Burnin’ Up”, new from singer Jessie J and rapper 2 Chainz. (iTunes)
• “Carry You Home”, a digital single from Jamie Scott. (iTunes)
• “Maps (Rumba Whoa Mix)”, the Maroon 5 hit with a new feature by Latin star J Balvin. (iTunes)
• “Something Blue”, a digital single from the forthcoming album by Neil Diamond. (iTunes)
• “When You Were Mine”, a collaboration from Night Terrors of 1927 and Tegan & Sara. (iTunes)

It’s a crazy week as the labels prepare for their final shot at a GRAMMY nomination for acts with new albums like Blake Shelton, Colbie Caillat, Lady Antebellum, Prince and more. So many releases, so little time, but a full preview is coming in seven!

TOP TEN: Everybody Wants To Rule The World

No tears or fears here.

It’s been #1 for six weeks on the Hot 100: “Royals” by the now 17-year-old singer from New Zealand named Lorde. The international smash was ultimately going to inspire some cover versions, but now it seems like everyone and their mother wants to jump on YouTube and upload one. It’s kind of insane how many new ones are popping up every day. So, of the hundreds and/or thousands of takes out there, I’ve narrowed it down to ten that I really enjoy. They aren’t ranked in numerical order, but each version has its own quirks and are all worth a listen. Check these ten covers out:

AMERICAN AUTHORS
Release Date: August 6

The quartet from Boston, now based in Brooklyn, is currently tearing up the Hot AC charts with “Best Day Of My Life”. This band’s version is a folksy take with some really great uplifting harmonies and cheery hand clap line. This is as upbeat as it gets.

CIMORELLI
Release Date: September 20

The six sisters in this band have a fairly large viral following; I first blogged about them when their single “Made In America” went to radio in June. Their cover has some small lyric changes, but works well with a great vocal and some snapping fingers.

MAYER HAWTHORNE
Release Date: October 4

Hawthorne is having a great year on my personal top 40 with three hits from his recent album, Where Does This Door Go. Performed live for VEVO, this guy is smooth and soulful. It’s a risky arrangement, but he and his band pull it off flawlessly.

MUTYA KEISHA SIOBHAN
Release Date: October 8

The Origibabes, as some call them, charted earlier this year in the U.K. with a song called “Flatline”. Their take is stripped down to just acoustic guitar and their three-part vocal, and the harmonies that they’re known for shine through beautifully.

NEON JUNGLE
Release Date: August 22

These gals from London just missed the U.K. top ten earlier this year with their debut single called “Trouble”. The quartet’s version stays true to the original with a little more hip-hop edge, along with a solid vocal and, of course, a cute British charm.

PARACHUTE
Release Date: September 10

They just released Overnight this year, and as a part of an ongoing web series, lead singer Will Anderson posts covers of current songs in the studio, just he and his piano. Bare bones and vulnerable, his emotive remake has a lot of girls swooning.

PENTATONIX
Release Date: October 2

At over twelve million views and counting, the five-piece a cappella group from Texas likely have the most watched cover when it comes to “Royals”. You know their vocals are rich and their percussionist is strong, making this quite the success.

SELENA GOMEZ
Release Date: August 20

Disney kid and pop singer Gomez is touring around the world to promote her latest hit album, Stars Dance. Lorde’s publicly spoken out against her, but she keeps it restrained and to the point, and while it may not be the best of the bunch, it’s pleasant.

SHEPPARD
Release Date: November 5

Their self-titled EP went Platinum in Australia and just last week, their “Hold My Tongue” topped my chart. Maybe I’m a little biased when it comes to this sextet, but the initial sparse arrangement into pop/rock jam along with those harmonies is gold.

WALK OFF THE EARTH
Release Date: August 11

From up north in Ontario, the quintet’s made a home for themselves on YouTube and on radio with singles like “Red Hands”. The five find the most inventive ways to cover songs, and this is no different, with rotating ukuleles, drums, keys and more.

Just in case you can’t get enough “Royals” remakes, some other noteworthy versions out there include Kina Grannis & Fresh Big Mouf (August 12), MKTO (October 22) and Taryn Southern & Julia Price (August 4).

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