Time for one of my major “Most Anticipated” acts of 2011!
I first wrote about Ed Drewett in September.
He’s the UK singer-songwriter responsible for co-penning The Wanted‘s wonderful debut single “All Time Low,” as well as his equally wonderful debut single “Champagne Lemonade” along with post-Xenomania pop scribe, Tim Powell.
Sadly, the single didn’t chart as wonderfully–peaking at a deeply unsettling #84 on the UK Singles Chart.
But know this now: Ed Drewett is an incredibly talented songwriter, and “Champagne Lemonade” is just the beginning.
Around a week ago, the 5-track sampler for Drewett’s upcoming studio album (due out in early 2011) leaked onto the interwebz. Though I’m not one for encouraging the downloading of leaks (Who am I kidding…don’t we all?! It’s 2010), it must be said: This is required listening.
As a whole, the sampler is unbelievably listenable–from “Vital Signs,” a glittering, synth-y groove that finds Drewett continuing the beef with his lady lover on “Champagne Lemonade” (“You can be so heartless, check your vital signs / You say that’s a pulse that I can’t find / Girl, I’ve tried”) to “Keep Me In Mind,” a surging serenade in which Drewett flexing his songwriting muscles by playing the pauper and offering up some sweetly sung promises (“I would buy the shoes you like / In every single color, you deserve them every time / So keep me in mind”).
It’s “Parallels,” however (which I originally wrote about in the Introduucing piece), that continues to be the shining highlight for me.
Like Madonna‘s “Get Together” mixed with the piano riff of Sia‘s “Breathe Me” mixed with Sting (sounds potentially terrible, isn’t), the song is a massive, pulsating 21st century ode to seizing the day and living in the moment.
While I’m not usually one to warm to inspirational anthems in my pop, “Parallels” truly makes me a believer.
See you at the top in 2011, Ed!
“Champagne Lemonade” was released on October 29. (iTunes UK)