INTRO: The most successful single of the year went to Gotye's “Somebody That I Used To Know” (shifting nearly 1.5 million copies). The most successful track actually released in 2012 (and the year's 2nd most successful single) was “Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepson which gas gone on to become one of the most streamed tracks over the years. Emeli Sande's “Our Version Of Events” (2012) was the top album (shifting closer to 2 million copies). Although then-modern acts like Adel

THE HITS One Direction “Midnight Memories” 5 Artic Monkeys “AM” 6 Bastille “Bad Blood” 7 Taylor Swift “1989” 7 This was the album that supposedly solidified her gradual shift from fringe-country-artist to mainstream pop star. You might also argue that whereas her previous 2 albums had propelled her to worldwide wide superstardom, this one solidified her stature. Working backwards from the present, my favourite Swift album was 2019’s “Lover” which I gave a 7 (all the rest have

INTRO: I’d say the most interesting point about this year, working backwards through time, is we have left steaming data and are back to sales (including downloads) only. 2013 was the last year that the UK Singles Chart was based on this before steaming data was included in mid-2014. There was a separate steaming chart. I have to say the closer we have got back towards this year, the better the quality of pop music…….. and it makes a significant leap in 2013. We’ll see what h

Dermot Kennedy “The Weight Of The Woods” (#1) 6 This was an interesting listen because the mark wasn’t easy. The song-writing is good but not massively inspiring in and of itself. I’m heavily reminded of other current make solo acts – Sam Fender, Alex Warren, Noah Kahan etc., so we’re looking at ‘average’ – a mark of 5. However, it places itself beyond that by the music arrangements and interesting quirks, such as industrial sounding percussion and choral passages. This eleva

INTRO: I had seen a pattern that the first quarter of the year in the world of pop music is slow these days. However, this seems to have extended well into the 2nd quarter this year. The chart is still largely made up of residuals from 2025, old hits with significant anniversaries, classics bouncing back for one reason or another (often use in film or TV), and even old stuff bouncing back seemingly inexplicably. I can only really comment on this as an ‘active member of the c

ALBUMS: HITS Ed Sheeran “X” 6 George Ezra “Wanted On Voyage” Its definitely class. Some accused his follow up “Staying At Tamara’s” (2018) as being less authentic or ‘selling-out’. Although I can hear that to a degree....... it feels a little more ‘crowd-pleasing’ and/or ‘uplifting’......... its hugely overstated. There’s not a million miles of ground between the two albums. In fact, of the two, I probably slighter prefer the later album. That said, this one arguably has a g

INTRO Pharrell Williams “Happy”, from the previous year, was the most successful single this year Clean Bandit & Jess Glynn’s “Rather Be” being the most successful 2014 release. Ed Sheeran’s ‘x’ (released in 2014) topped it for the albums. The most significant shift this year came from streaming. When it comes to album, we are back to full sales for chart performance – because streaming was introduced into the album charts mid-2015. But, streaming was introduced into the sing

2026 Singles Chart - the first quarter

This is a snapshot of albums released in 2015. There is a mini review for each. This is the second part of a review of pop music in 2015

May 2026 INTRO 2015 was the 1st full year that streaming was included in the singles chart – which had a real impact on the chart even before we consider issue such streaming preferences, how access to streaming affects the way we to music and experience it, and the change in the production of music as attempts at manipulating algorithms were made to get a record’s streaming number up. The immediate and significant impact was because streaming reflects how we listen to music

May 2026 Marking key at bottom Blue “Reflections” 4 Their big comeback over 20 years since their last album. We didn’t need this. Just play us the classics. 4 Robbie Williams “Britpop” (#1) 5 Despite my overall mark - if we take ‘melody’ in isolation, this is better than many modern artists’ work. 5 Victoryland “My Heart Is A Room With No Cameras In It” 6 An alternative listen. 6 Madison Beer “locket” 6 I’d say nearly a 7. But not quite. 6 Louis Tomlinson “How Did I Get Her

My top pics of The GWIM Project for the past decade (2016-2025)

Updated April 2026 SINGLES: Olivia Dean “It’s So Easy (To Fall In Love) https://youtu.be/3sur4BmjQt8?si=CPHzveA6wQjwZ9sz Katseye “Internet Girl” https://youtu.be/5q9EjSUovc4?si=hTiv9EUSnGtHyscq Harry Styles “Aperture” https://youtu.be/7sxVHYZ_PnA?si=YOz4SFGbalNw-y6B Bella Kay “iloveitiloveitiloveit” https://youtu.be/4D6qatXG5-A?si=2tBpiXdaulYh9h19 Sienna Spiro “The Visitor” https://youtu.be/5Wq1iDyEjF8?si=l-2KW_bS5AdWhi3F RIP Magic “5words” https://youtu.be/Nztx

Important Notes - NOT THE GWIM PROJECT AT ALL “ Creep ” (The Easter 2024 Sessions) https://youtu.be/mZ_gp11UApo?si=pAVOgwk1rxWI1Trw “ Amazed ” (The Easter 2024 Sessions) https://youtu.be/rem93W1SPP4?si=abe5k5q2GxAStcw5 “ Forget About You ” (The Easter 2024 Sessions) https://youtu.be/_CAnoLtDsJ8?si=zl_bd_Zm-CFSx2wM “ Encore: Night Boat To Cairo ” (The Easter 20×4 Sessions) https://youtu.be/eQiWg-P8ZdM?si=lxsl0WHYqeeP_Kfb “Bloopers from The Easter 2024 Sessions”...

Originally posted Sept 2025 Jade Thirlwall. The Geordie from Little Mix who astounded me with her debut solo single “Angel Of My Dreams”. So much so I declared it my favourite singles of 2024. She has continued to impress me every since. https://youtu.be/ZP3XMEayaVo?si=nWaz45_zv-3gxvqM I think her outstanding talent was solidified with me when I saw/heard her version of “Backbone”. Wow! Chase & Status, and Stormzy “Backbone” https://youtu.be/Qtogm_mo1AQ?si=XpndgRxrS3_qXLWy Ja

Originally posted June 2025 So after almost 24 years since the last album, lengthy hiatuses, solo albums, reunion performances, old members returning, returning members leaving again, a few recordings, and a death – Pulp announced a new album for 2025. I had mixed feelings about this. The vast majority of times this happens, the nostalgia is fantastic, but the actual music is disappointing. I'm can't always pinpoint the reason. Is it truly poor? Or is it because it is bound u

Originally posted May 2024 This year I’ve taken on a ‘get with it, man’ Project, having been progressively out of touch for twenty-five years. In an early post, I said that I’d review a brand new album by a new band/artist before the year was out. ‘Radical Optimism’ dropped (yea, that’s right, I say 'dropped' now)) on May 3 rd . To me, Dua Lipa is a new artist. I can hear the voices of those ten or so years younger than me exclaiming ‘she’s been around 8 years....... hardly ‘

Originally posted March 2024 Disclaimer: I'll be honest this is actually an autobiographical snippet followed by a review. Occasionally, maybe once every 1-2 years, I will post a review of an album. Although I get positive feedback I always feel like I’ve cheated a little. If you’ve read any you will notice I tend to review new material by old bands/artists. Despite by Masters in Music (ooh eer) and being something of a new music expert (whether it be charting stuff, more obs

Originally posted Nov 2023 (pre-GWIM Project) I think it’s important to note that the vast majority of this review was written before the album entered at Number 1 in the UK Album Chart making it Madness's 1 st ever number 1 album (excluding ‘best of’ collections). A surprise. Although they came very with their 1 st two albums (1979/1980) and have had a number of very successful albums since, they’ve never actually managed to achieve that Holy Grail. So, whatever I thought

Originally posted March 2026 THE GWIM PROJECT 2016 PART 2 OF 2 – THE ALBUMS Note: as mentioned in a previous post – I have slightly reduced the amount of listening I have to do, and significantly reduced the amount I’m writing (and you have to read through). I’m only writing up on the albums if I give them a mark of 8 and above or 2 and below. I may drop short comments on others. Otherwise I will simply state my mark. Albums: Marking key at the bottom. Little Mix “Glory Day