Will Young Echoes

RD: Smooth-voiced Will is having a major comeback in his home country of the UK thanks to this album, which is flawlessly produced by Richard X. (Unfortunately, Echoes is currently only available in the States on import.) The music included takes you on a journey through dance, retro-sounding jams and ballads awash with synths and somber piano chords. Lyrically, Young, now 10 years on from becoming the world’s first Idol winner in the franchise, digs deep into his own experiences with heartache and the darker side of relationships. If tasked with only choosing one album from 2011 that really knocked me for a loop, this could well be it.

Key Track: Electro-pop perfection is achieved on “Losing Myself”.

Read more at ONTD: http://ohnotheydidnt.livejournal.com/65005...l#ixzz1g9dVAxG9

#16: "Echoes" by Will Young

THIS was the album I always wanted Will Young to make. There is no doubt in anyone's mind that Will Young has one of the most incredible recording voices of this generation and when you bring in Richard X to wave his magic wand around in the studio, what do you get? Electronic pop genius. "Jealousy" proved that Will still has those vocal chops we fell in love with on Pop Idol whilst album tracks "Lie Next To Me", "Come On" and "Losing Myself" made "Echoes" by Will Young one of the most important electronic pop albums of 2011.

Will Young: 'You learn everything you need in life as a waiter'

The singer discusses his formative food experiences

The first food I remember is Farley's Rusks with warm milk on cold mornings. I still love rusks. That's why my sister has kids – so I can go round and nick theirs.

At boarding school we were rationed to three boiled sweets on Wednesday, three on Saturday, and a chocolate bar on Sunday. So anything extra represented freedom, especially crisps. I'd smuggle in mine inside a hollowed-out dictionary.

I have a lolly stick phobia. I can't even hold one – I have to wrap a napkin around. It's making me go funny now, just thinking about the texture if you bite one. Horrendous.

When I was 19 I waitered at an organic restaurant in Exeter, and one night four deaf gay guys came in and I spoke very slowly and precisely, so they could read my lips. They became more lewd as they got more drunk and finally said, "We want to take you home with us." I thought, "You pervs, no way" and mouthed "f*** off". But they gave me a tip.

You learn everything you need in life as a waiter – delegation, communication, selling, handling difficult people, pushing premium products, humility, charm, and getting others to fancy you.

The most disappointing food experience I've ever had was when the bus driver stopped for lunch during a horrendous, standing-room-only, 12-hour bus ride to Mombasa and I was told a cafe served fish and chips. But it was raw potatoes with a charred fish head on top.

Recently I meditated and fasted for five days in Ibiza, living on just vegetable water. Although I probably lost too much weight, I coped very easily. But when I got home I had a coffee and a piece of chocolate cake and went completely nuts.

We had a family party in 2002 to celebrate my parents' wedding anniversary, my sister's birthday, and me winning Pop Idol. There were 120 people on three trestle tables eating bangers and mash and at the end we had a massive food fight with ice cream and jelly. Delightful.

I saw a psychiatrist who told me about how food could help my depression, then at a lodge in Mozambique I discovered the power of blueberries, blackberries, pomegranate seeds, avocado, veggies and fish oils. Wanting to take care of yourself is the key.

I've started thinking I'd really like to go on a beginner's cookery course for a week, to learn the basics of pastries, pies, breads and sauces. It's time for it – I've moved home, I've got a big kitchen and I'm ready. I want to take Dad on it with me – I'm not sure he's very keen, but it'd be a good thing for us to do together as men.

The album Echoes is out now on RCA

There favorite track is Interesting

"Jealousy" proved that Will still has those vocal chops we fell in love with on Pop Idol whilst album tracks "Lie Next To Me", "Come On" and "Losing Myself" made "Echoes" by Will Young one of the most important electronic pop albums of 2011.

The 10 Best Pop Singles Of 2011

At the onset of 2011, the pop landscape might have seemed like a bleak, barren hooker den. And, yes — there were more than enough culprits for trusty Chart Rigger sidekick Moogaboo and I to work up our 10 Worst Singles Of 2011 list last week. But there were also several shining musical moments throughout the past 12 months — yellow diamonds in the light, if you will.

Below you'll find what we consider to be the 10 Best Pop Singles of 2011, along with fairly colorful descriptions on just why these jams got our attention. As usual, the singles listed need only have reached their peak chart position within 2011, even if they were technically released the year prior.



5. Will Young, "Jealousy"
D'luv says: "The Richard X renaissance continues! And here I thought he had peaked with Foxbase Beta two years ago. Will Young's Echoes is one of the best albums of the year, and "Jealousy" was a hell of an excellent choice for lead single.
Moogaboo says: "Remember when Will Young won that 'Best Butt' contest a few years ago? This is even better than that, further solidifying my opinion that he is the new Annie Lennox."
Charts: UK #5

MuuMuse Presents: The Top 25 Albums of 2011


5. Will Young – Echoes
(iTunes UK) (Spotify)

Produced by Richard X (responsible for another one of the year’s best releases, The Sound of Arrows’ Voyage)–along with some help by Richard “Biff” Stannard (Spice Girls, Kylie Minogue), Kish Mauve‘s Jim Eliot and frequent Richard X collaborator Pete Hofmann, original Pop Idol winner Will Young‘s sixth studio effort, Echoes, is nothing short of an absolute pop triumph.

From the surging heartbreak of lead single “Jealousy,” to the warm, ’70′s-encrusted disco stomp of “I Just Want A Lover,” to the icy electronica chill of “Losing Myself,” Young’s velvety coos and Richard X’s lush, dreamy electronic production come together effortlessly to form something truly magical.

The result is Echoes: Easily the year’s finest work by a male pop artist, and one of the best releases of the year, period.

will_young31Will Young

Will has a special Xmas treat for his fans. Goto to http://www.willyoung.co.uk/christmascountdown every day until Xmas to watch his Christmas Countdown –Team Will x

Will has a special Xmas treat for his fans. Goto to http://www.willyoung.co.uk/christmascountdown every day until Xmas to watch his Christmas Countdown –

The wave interview will be repeated at the weekend for anyone that missed it

http://www.thewave.co.uk/on-air/badger-and...g-on-breakfast/

Is that the one we just missed at the travelodge Sunday?

No that was key 103