all you need is now

I adore the worldwide web. Where else can you opine, spew your blatherings and be recognized for your innermost thoughts being blurted out in a public forum?

Having been a busy bee, I haven't properly announced and reviewed my fave raves of 2011. So, I've decided to place my top ten albums of last year in alphabetical order, on their own, without commentary. Over the next few days, I will expand this entry to include my ramblings on each one. I know you're quivering in anticipation.

It was a year of near drought for pop music elpees. We are back to the Sixties! The single is king. The year fluctuated between anemia and euphoria. There would be a purple patch of longplayers and then an extended dearth of material punctuated by a fun, effervescent, standout track. 2011 was inconsistent at best.

Without further delay, let me introduce you to my ten favorite longplayers of 2011.

CocknBullKid - Adulthood
Duran Duran - All You Need Is Now
Erasure - Tomorrow's World
Foster The People - Torches
Darren Hayes - Secret Codes And Battleships
Penguin Prison - Penguin Prison
Roxette - Charm School
Sneaky Sound System - From Here To Anywhere
Will Young - Echoes
Patrick Wolf - Lupercalia

Honorable mentions include "Panic Of Girls" by Blondie, "50 Words For Snow" by Kate Bush" and "Credo" by The Human League.

Lavish them with praise. Roll your eyes in disgust. Whatever you do, please do it with equal parts passion and dignity! Roll on 2012!

a bloody video with a twist

Darren Hayes, everyone's favorite Aussie pop troubadour, keeps delivering some seriously good singles this year in anticipation of his forthcoming, solo longplayer, "Secret Codes And Battleships".

While the UK gets "Black Out The Sun", his home country is treated to "Bloodstained Heart", a gorgeous, epic ballad. And now, DH has lensed a video for it.



A bit of a plot twist in this one. Some deep meanings, as well. After three brilliant singles, "Secret Codes And Battleships" is shaping up to be one of my fave rave elpees of the year.

"Black Out The Sun" is available in Australia from all fine "shops" right now. It's parent album is scheduled for release on October 17.

black and blood

Darren Hayes has released some deets about the second single from his forthcoming longplayer, "Secret Codes And Battleships".

"Bloodstained Heart" is scheduled to be released in Australia on September 5.



It's a beautiful ballad that starts with a lonely, throbbing guitar and builds through a beautifully heartbreaking chorus and ends with a brutally epic arrangement which would make Jimmy Webb shed a jealous tear. Simply gorgeous.

On October 2, the rest of the world outside Oz gets a different track, "Black Out The Sun".



It's another big pop number, but it's dressed in some hip hop inspired drum programming without the melody ever being compromised. The chorus is very expressive with a smattering of Middle Eastern flavored string arrangements laid over the top.

Three singles in and Mr. Hayes' next elpee sounds quite promising, indeed. "Secret Codes And Battleships" is due to be available from all fine "shops" on October 17. Many friends who have heard the new longplayer at recent playback sessions in London and NYC have indicated that this might be his finest and fully satisfying album to date.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to attend the session during my recent visit to London as I was deeply ensconced in various studios across the capital working on songs for other artists. I guess I'll have to wait until the album is unleashed!

collages and codes collide

Darren Hayes has revealed the gloriously colorful artwork for his forthcoming, fourth, solo longplayer "Secret Codes And Battle Ships". Is there a hidden message within its imagery?

First single, "Talk Talk Talk", is head and shoulders above much of the current pop pack. Let's hope everyone's favorite Aussie troubadour stacks the zeros and ones with more of the same shimmering goodness.

Apparently, the album isn't scheduled for release until October. However, Darren will be having exclusive playback sessions of the elpee throughout August in London, New York, Sydney and Brisbane. Such a generous chap!

all talked out

Oh, we love a good mash up here at So Hip It Hurts HQ. Darren Hayes has been slogging around the globe promotion his fabulous new single, "Talk Talk Talk".

And now, everyone's favorite Aussie troubadour has chucked it in a high speed blender with the Hall And Oates "classic", "Out Of Touch", to magnificent effect. The resulting aural cocktail is called "Out Of Talk" and it is available from all fine digital retailers from today.



Good gravy! That's a nice mashie.

For the uninitiated, here are the separate parts!

talk of the town

Aussie pop minstrel, Darren Hayes, has returned with "Talk Talk Talk", the first single from his forthcoming, fourth longplayer, "Secret Codes And Battleships". The song has a giant, anthemic chorus which is preceded by more understated verses that feature some nifty electronic shadings. Darren's voice has rarely sounded stronger and more confident.

It looks like Darren is pulling out all the stops with the video. It's a suitably stylish visual extravaganza rarely seen these days.



Plus, he's given his new single an old fashioned, non-album b-side in the shape of his interpretation of "Angel", an often overlooked chestnut originally released by Madonna way back in 1985.

"Talk Talk Talk" is available now from all fine online retails. Expect a bundle of reswizzlings to be hit the "shops" on July 31. The song has been reworked by 7th Heaven, Club Junkies, Fred Falke and Penguin Prison. A nice line up!

Also, Darren will deliver an old school extended version and a clever mash up which features the vocal of "Talk Talk Talk" over the instrumental of "Out Of Touch" by Hall & Oates. Looks like he's covered all the bases. Kudos to his management team for pushing all the right buttons.