Kelesetan: Pop Blitz

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Pop Blitz 8/19/11

Nero - Promises

This is by far my favorite single they've released. It's got the poppiest song structure yet, but an indie edge reminiscent of La Roux. This just screams "crossover hit" to me. A-

Joe Jonas - Love Slayer

Well, it's certainly a jump into the dance/r&b genre for him, but like the first solo track, this has a gaping hole where melody should be. Listen to Darin's Love Killer instead. You won't be missing anything here. D+

JLS - She Makes Me Wanna

This is actually a lot better than most of the stuff they've released. It's nowhere near classic, and is completely trendy/derivative, but for what it is, it's alright. I wouldn't switch the radio if this was on. It's very similar to the Wanted's new single, though (and that one's better). B

Lil' Wayne (ft. Drake) - She Will

I've never really had any interest in Lil' Wayne. I honestly don't even know how to review this, since it's really not my thing at all. I guess it's alright? Pretty dirgy, though, for a rap song that's #1 on itunes. C-

Olly Murs (ft. Rizzle Kicks) - Heart Skips A Beat

Another artist I don't like (he's annoying). But, I've got to admit that I sort of like this song. You really can't tell it's Olly Murs. I wish it wasn't, because then I'd probably love it. As it stands, it's still quite enjoyable. Although I do find it really strange that Rizzle Kicks agreed to be featured on this. B+

Jessie J - Who's Laughing Now

I definitely like this better than her last single, which I hated, but there's still something totally missing in this popstar package for me. The laughing parts are so freaking scary sounding. I feel like the chorus slightly lets down the verses, too. But I do like the video. C+

Example - Stay Awake

Well, it's not as epic as his last single (one of the best of the summer), but this is still very good. I'm obsessed with Example's sound, and really believe that it could be as popular over here as it is in the UK. This is growing on me with each listen. A-

Pop Blitz 7/21/2011

Rebecca Black - My Moment
The subversive part of me really wants this girl to carve out a career based solely on her WTF story. However, this song isn't gonna do it. It's neither good enough to leave an impact, nor bad enough to laugh at. C

Selena Gomez & The Scene - Love You Like A Love Song
Selena's got some team surrounding her. It's not like she's a powerhouse singer (at all), but her brand of radio pop keeps getting better and catchier. This is another surprisingly excellent, dub-step influenced, hit. A-

Calvin Harris - Bounce (ft. Kelis)
Essentially a Kelis song wrapped in Calvin Harris production, this is a summer dance tune that certainly goes down easy. It's nothing revolutionary, but the instrumental hook works and Kelis's vocals sound nice. B+

DJ Fresh - Louder (ft. Sian Evans)
More UK dance music, though the aggressive production makes this a little less clubby than the last track. It's grown on me, but I don't think I'll be playing this beyond the Summer. B-

Six D - Best Damn Night
This was featured heavily on American reality show The Dance Scene, and that's probably the only reason I sort of like it. Now that I've heard it more often, though, I'm convinced it is a little too harried and derivative for its own good. C+

Hot Chelle Rae - Tonight Tonight
Every summer, America seems to pick one "rock" song to get obsessed about (last year it was Neon Trees' Animal, btw). This is not as good. It actually reminds me a little of a borderline novelty song from the 90's. It could be a whole lot worse, but it doesn't do a lot for me either. C+

Rizzle Kicks - Down With Trumpets
While I'm not really sold on this song, I think this rap duo has heaps of potential. They do need a better hook, though. This feels just a bit lazy, even with the nice sample and funny lyrics. B-

Pop Blitz 6/28/11

Maroon 5 (ft. Christina Aguilera) - Moves Like Jagger
I haven't been a Maroon 5 fan for a couple of albums now, but this is easily my favorite single they've released since at least 2008. That whistling hook is the strongest part and carries the entire song for me, while Christina is very misplaced and only distracts. A-

Coldplay - Moving To Mars
Definitely different for them, and more than a little Bowie-inspired, this is an interesting promo single. I'd like it better with a different single, but that's more personal preference than anything. B

Kelly Rowland - Motivation
Though this single's doing well, moving from dance to staccato r&b was not a decision I'm happy about for Rowland. Like Beyonce's most recent efforts, there's not enough melody in this. C-

One Republic - Good Enough
Like most of their songs, this single's bread and butter is in its repetition. It's a style of songwriting that I'm getting a little sick of (including the trademark Tedder drum beats). This doesn't do much for me. C+

Beyonce - Best Thing I Never Had
Her album may be a disastrous disappointment, but this is at least one of its better tracks. It's a big, soulful ballad with some rock 'n roll production in the chorus. It's not up with her best, but it's alright. B-

Ed Sheeran - The A Team
The lyrics are definitely the standout here. Beyond that the melody's pretty forgettable and I'm actually surprised this is as popular as it is. I guess Europe needs its John Mayer too. B-

Cobra Starship - You Make Me Feel
Embracing rather than setting trends, this is catchy but sounds like EVERYTHING ELSE and very little like Cobra Starship. It's a disappointment after their last album, which was actually pretty strong. C+

Pop Blitz 6/17/11

Black Eyed Peas - Don't Stop The Party
I'm not sure that BEP has released any singles from this latest album that I've liked. This definitely doesn't break the pattern. It's not as irritating as a few of the others, but it's not as effortlessly catchy as their best work. The production's better than the hooks. C-

Selena Gomez & The Scene - Bang Bang Bang
Not technically a single (just a promo release), but I wanted to include it because I (surprisingly) have really fallen for this song. It's like a tween version of La Roux's Bulletproof. I LOVE the synth production and the general laid-back coolness of this. She's growing up! A-

Nicole Scherzinger - Right There (ft. 50 Cent)
It's not up there with the prior two singles (particularly the brilliant Don't Hold Your Breath), and I hate the unnecessary 50 Cent feature, but this has grown on me. I like the hook, and that's about it. Problem is, it doesn't have much of an impact when all's said and done. B-

Eric Saade - Hearts In The Air (ft. J-Son)
It's not as strong as Popular, but this is still a decent follow-up. The verses are better than the chorus (which sounds a little too familiar). It's enough to get me excited for the album, though. B+

Shania Twain - Today Is Your Day
It is so GOOD to hear Shania again. This gets instantly higher marks just for that. The song itself is pretty underwhelming... not one of her better ballads. But she sounds great and there's a catchy guitar hook buried somewhere in here. B

Jason Derulo - Don't Wanna Go Home
This is probably the most important single for him as far as longevity is concerned. The multiple samples used make this more of a hodgepodge than an actual original song, but the production's reliably glossy. I think the jury's out. All this has done is confused me. B-

Cher Lloyd - Swagger Jagger
Oh, how I loved Cher Lloyd in X-Factor last year. However, this track is all of her worst tendencies thrown into one song. Whereas I'm not sure about the Jason Derulo song, the sample here (Oh My Darling Clementine? Really??) does not work at all. What the hell did they do to her? D+

Pop Blitz 6/3/11

The Wanted - Glad You Came
The world's most relevant boyband (currently, at least) returns with a new single inspired by European dance hits of the past few years. It's a natural transition and an interesting choice for them. The production definitely works. I think I'm going to need to give the melody a chance to grow, though. B+

Coldplay - Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall
I didn't even know they were releasing a new single this month. I've never been as big a fan as some (always preferred Keane, to be honest), and although this doesn't have the wow factor that Viva La Vida had, it's much better than I expected. I dig the power pop melody, though the production feels a little muddled. B

Pitbull - Give Me Everything
Does it sound like all of the other urban/dance hybrids out there? Yep. But it's at least a pretty solid example of the genre. It'll sound dated in about a month, but there are definitely worse things out there. B-

Joe Jonas - See No More
This project had so much potential, but this song is not very good. The verses are nonexistent and the chorus sounds like a weak Jesse McCartney track. I never really liked the Jonas Brothers, but their singles were better than this. C-

Aloe Blacc - I Need A Dollar
This is a real throwback, and I'm happy to see such a strong soul track doing well in the UK. It's the Adele factor, I guess. People are into this kind of stuff. It's got a real authenticity to it and is spot-on lyrically for this particular moment in time. B

Nicki Minaj - Super Bass
I've tried to get into the whole Minaj thing, but it hasn't been easy. I do like this. It's got that crazy sound you want with Nicki's music, but doesn't forget a strong(ish) hook. B

Alex Gaudino - What A Feeling
Kelly Rowland again ventures into the dance realm with this collaboration. It's, as usual, a great match for her vocals. The song could be stronger, but it'll do for the Summer. B+

Pop Blitz 5/6/11

Friendly Fires - Live Those Days Tonight
Like their past singles, this has that distinct electro-indie vibe. I can appreciate it, and I actually quite like it, but there's something holding me back from loving it. The production is probably the strongest aspect. B

Jordin Sparks - I Am Woman
She's recorded exactly two brilliant pop songs in her career and everything else has really failed to impress me. This, unfortunately, will be filed with "the rest." From the cluttered production to the girl power lyrics, it's like a subpar Beyonce b-side. C

Hard-Fi - Good For Nothing
It's been a long time. The band definitely suffered from the sophomore slump, but I'm not sure if this is enough to bring them back out of obscurity. They've lost much of their electronic influence in favor of guitars. C+

Lady Antebellum - Just A Kiss
They're clearly aiming for the kind of crossover success they achieved with their breakout single, as this isn't all that country. Instead, it's a calibrated-for-radio-success ballad that sounds an awful lot like their last one. Nice vocals and melody in the verses, but it's a little sleepy. The chorus should be stronger. B-

Jennifer Lopez - I'm Into You
It's certainly a comedown from the excellent On The Floor. This midtempo, slightly Latin sounding pop song has some of the dippiest lyrics of the season, but the melody is infuriatingly catchy. B

Rye Rye - Never Will Be Mine (ft. Robyn)
I never thought something that sampled Robyn could be so bad. Rye Rye basically takes on of the best songs of the last decade (Be Mine, the acoustic version in this case) and craps all over it. My only hope is that this would lead people to listen to the original. D-

Cody Simpson - On My Mind
He's tried to be the next Justin Bieber so hard, but it was never gonna happen. Now that his voice has changed, he's aiming to become the next Chris Brown, apparently. As derivative as this is, it's still the best thing he's recorded by far. B-

Pop Blitz 4/29/11 (UK Edition)

In honor of the Royal Wedding (which I really don't care about), today's Pop Blitz only features music from the UK (which I really care about!)

The Feeling - Set My World On Fire
The formerly popular soft-rockers return with an uplifting, breezy single that has an undeniable chorus. This could easily be irritating, but I'm really loving it. It's got such a buoyant sound. A-

Nero - Guilt
A dark, sleazy beat supports airy vocals. It's an interesting contrast and sets this club track apart from all of the other hundreds out there. Not a classic, but very enjoyable. B+

Wretch 32 - Unorthodox
This features Example, which can only be a good thing, but still fails to make much of an impact (even with a hooky Stone Roses sample). At least it's not offensive to the ears like many similar tracks are. B-

Clare Maguire - The Shield And The Sword
Maguire's singles just keep getting better (and there are plenty more ready on her album). This is slightly more uptempo than her releases thus far, with a powerful, grandiose melody. A

Olly Murs - Busy
Well, if you've heard his other singles (or any of Jason Mraz's), you've heard this. I really have a bit of a thing against this "back porch" throwaway rock. It's supposed to be "chill" and everything, but it just fizzles into nothing. C

Jessie J - Nobody's Perfect
I've yet to understand any of the hype surrounding this artist. Her first single was alright, the second was horrible, and this one goes nowhere. I still don't get why people like this. C-

Birdy - Skinny Love
Now this seems a little more special, especially taking in the artist's age (she's only 14). The song's a cover, but the voice is the true standout here. With only a piano for support, it's really pretty stunning. A-

I've had my say, now it's time for yours! What's your favorite song of this week's blitz?

Pop Blitz 4/19/11

Lady Gaga - Judas
Yes, it's basically Bad Romance Part Two, but you can't deny that the thing's catchy. A little more innovation would have bumped this up a notch, but Gaga by the numbers is still something to get excited about. A-

Alexandra Stan - Mr. Saxobeat
The latest European dance hit, sampling a saxophone loop. It's hardly original, and it's not as catchy as either We No Speak Americano or Stereo Love, two similar hits in this genre. It's just a little dull. C+

Jennifer Lopez - Papi
After On The Floor, which I loved, Jennifer Lopez suddenly got interesting again. This isn't quite up to that level, even though it strives for the same international appeal. Still, it's better than the stuff she's been releasing the past few years. B

Tinie Tempah - Written In The Stars
After hitting it big in the UK, this seems to be Tempah's American breakthrough. It's got a nice hook that reminds me of that Airplanes song from last summer. It's better than that, though nothing that's really knocking my socks off. The surging production is the best part. B-

Owl City - Galaxies
A couple years ago, I hated nothing more than Owl City and his whiny Fireflies song. The vocals in this are so much more tolerable and the melody and production is shockingly good. What ruins it are the cheesy religious lyrics. I wish they were in another language so that I could ignore them. B

LMFAO - Party Rock Anthem
A hit around the world, this has (weirdly) yet to strike in America. Give it time. This will be everywhere. It's irritating, yet somehow it's almost impossible not to like. It's what BEP could sound like if they didn't take themselves so seriously. The video's better than the song, though. B-

Bruno Mars - The Lazy Song
After a pair of strong singles, this Jason Mraz castoff is a misstep. I can't believe this was chosen as a single. It's a weak album track, at best, with annoying lyrics. I hope to god I don't have to hear this over and over on the radio. D+

Pop Blitz 4/6/11

Noah & The Whale - L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N.
I've been very much enjoying this band's reinvention as a slick, melodic aor rock act. This isn't one of my favorites from the album, but it's got a laid-back nostalgic sound. B+

Usher - More
Usher delves even further into club sounds, and this is one of his strongest singles in years. It's very Taio Cruz, which means it's gonna sound old fast, but for now I'm enjoying this. B+

Pitbull - Hey Baby (Drop It To The Floor)
Empty calories. I'm not a fan of the heavily distorted vocals that make up the chorus to this. Pitbull's part is passable, but I don't think this is all that memorable. C

Alexis Jordan - Good Girl
There's something refreshing about Jordan's simple, airy pop. The drums on this are fantastic, but on the whole it's not as strong as her debut. The chorus is pretty strong, though. B+

Mumford & Sons - The Cave
Melodically, this is like a slowed down version of their last single. It's a nice, strummy, Summer-sounding single. Very pleasant, but I'm already a little sick of it. B

Willow Smith - 21st Century Girl
Not a bad song, necessarily, but the delivery is very annoying and the lyrics are just ridiculous given who the singer is. Give this to Rihanna, switch it up a bit, and it could be pretty good. B-

The Strokes - Under Cover Of Darkness
Their much-lauded return to form kicks off with this pleasant, jangly single. They've had stronger, for sure. I love the sound of it, but there isn't really much of a hook beyond the guitars. B-

Pop Blitz 3/17/11

George Michael - True Faith
Michael comes back with a midtempo track (a cover of the New Order hit) that overuses vocoder effects. He's got one of the best pop voices of all time, so what's with the electronics? And why can't we get something more uptempo (or at least with a better melody)? C-

Glee Cast - Loser Like Me
Glee remains as frustrating as it is entertaining. There's more potential than this radio-friendly track displays, but it's not bad, either. Next time, they need to opt for a more unique sound that capitalizes on their use of choral harmonies. B

Selena Gomez - Who Says
It's a brief (hopefully) pit stop to "uplifting" Taylor Swift-esque material for the Disney star. It's actually not as bad as I feared. The production's catchy enough, but I wish it was in another language so that I couldn't understand the lame lyrics. C+

The Wanted - Gold Forever
They're really building up a strong set of singles. This is the exact direction I was hoping they'd follow -- more electronic, more dramatic and uptempo. It's a promising sign for their second album, whenever they decide to release it. A

Martin Solveig & Dragonette - Hello
If this is what it takes to give Dragonette a world-wide audience, I'm totally okay with it. It's not the band's best track (and yeah, I know it's Solveig's song, but it sounds enough like Dragonette to be classified as such), but even their average material is heads above most everything else. A-

Jessie J - Price Tag
Honestly, isn't the chorus to this exactly the same as Pink's "F**king Perfect" (another song that completely underwhelmed me)? I just don't get the hype over this. It's dull, predictable and forgettable. What am I missing? C+

Black Eyed Peas - Just Can't Get Enough
How can one band be responsible for both some of the worst songs and best songs on the past few years? This isn't close to their low point (that would be previous single, the vomitatious "The Time (Dirty Bit)") but it's no "I Gotta Feeling," either. It's simply alright. B-

Pop Blitz 12/08/10

Jessie J - Do It Like A Dude
I like this girl because I think she's got charisma. But... I'm not crazy about this song. It grates a little and I just feel like for as much hype as she's getting, she could've come with something more original. B-

The Wanted - Lose My Mind
Their debut album was stronger than it had to be and really quite a good listen, but this song has never screamed "single" to me. It's one of their more skippable tracks, particularly because it sounds way too much like Kings of Leon. As an album track, I love it, but I wish it would've stayed that way. B

Bruno Mars - Grenade
He was smart to release this, one of his album's strongest tracks, as a single. If he continues this quality, he's going to have quite a career. The vocals are amazing. A-

Coldplay - Christmas Lights
If any band were made to write a Christmas song, it would be Coldplay (especially after Clocks). This is somewhat underwhelming, mostly because it really doesn't sound like Christmas at all. That's probably the point, but to me it's a missed opportunity. C+

Sugarland - Stuck Like Glue
I first heard this a couple of months ago and thought: "hey, this country song could totally cross over to pop radio." And it did. It's dangerously catchy. I'm not even sure if I like it, but I can't resist it, which means once it becomes even more ubiquitous I'm sure I'll hate it. For now, it's an A-

Wiz Khalifa - Black And Yellow
I was all prepared to hate this, but the beat's actually really good and the hook's not bad either. I could see this easily pulling 50 Cent In Da Club type success and crossing over. It's not really my thing, but for what it is it's solid. B

Natalia Kills - Mirrors
This reminds me a little of what Lady Gaga sounded like when she first came out. It's great, but the only problem is that we have a Lady Gaga already and it's just a little too similar. Even the vocal delivery is the same. That being said, I'm liking this more each time I hear it. A week ago this would've been a B- at most. Now it's a B+

Pop Blitz 11/23/10

Michael Jackson - Hold My Hand (ft. Akon) C'mon, there's gotta be more interesting stuff in his vault than this. Take Akon out of this song and you'd have something much stronger. As it stands, this just sounds like anyone could sing it. I expect more from Michael. B-

JLS - Love You More
The singles from their first album weren't half bad, but the offerings from the second one have been (so far) pretty awful. This veers into boring Boyz II Men territory. I'm sure it's intentional, but I am not a fan. C-

September - Resuscitate Me
While nowhere near as strong as her very best singles, this is a welcome return for September. I'm actually liking this more and more each time I hear it. A-

Rihanna - What's My Name
A lazy song from a lazy album. It's pleasant enough, but a popstar of Rihanna's stature should aim higher than "pleasant." That being said, it's not something I would automatically turn off if it came on the radio. B

Olly Murs - Thinking Of Me
Now this I would turn off. Or maybe I would keep it on just to make fun of it. The lyrics are dire, the melody is plodding and I'm afraid this could be the last single he's allowed to release. But it does get bonus points for being very easy to mock. D+

Jesse McCartney - Shake
Jesse McCartney is definitely a guilty pleasure of mine. There's just enough kitsch in his music to make it enjoyable. I really shouldn't like this stupid song, but as usual with him, I do. B+

Nicole Scherzinger - Poison
Kudos to her for pulling a Bad Romance and throwing it all out there. This is far more interesting than I would have expected from her. I feel like it's got a pretty short shelf life, but for now it's kind of awesome. A-

Pop Blitz 10/22/10

Black Eyed Peas - The Time (The Dirty Bit) Okay, so it's basically just a cover track of the Dirty Dancing song with some obnoxious sound effects (and even worse rapping) in between. Lazy, which wouldn't be so bad if this was listenable. D

Take That - The Flood
A strong comeback, with a lot of Robbie time. It's as majestic as modern radio pop gets, with a huge chorus and "sing it from the mountain tops" verses. Not quite as good as Patience was, though. A-

The Wanted - Heart Vacancy
Another boyband... from an old to new. The Wanted had a surprisingly excellent debut single. This is less excellent and far more in keeping with the genre, but it's pleasant enough. Still, they should be doing better.C+

Duck Sauce - Barbara Streisand
My god, the things they make songs out of these days. Take a riff from an old Boney M song and repeat a name over the top and that's it. Literally, that's it. It's a testament to how strong the riff is. Without that, this would be nothing but a name. B

Pet Shop Boys - Together
It's always nice to hear something new from PSB. On first listen, I wasn't sure if this was more of a hit or a b-side, but it's grown on me. The layered chorus is gorgeous. It's a very dense dance track with a lot to listen to. B+

Ke$ha - We R Who We R
Well, she's got a formula and she's sticking to it. If you've heard any of her songs, you'll know what this sounds like (maybe with a little of Taio Cruz's Dynamite thrown in). It's a dreadful concoction she's got going on. Lowest common denominator. (but still not as bad as that BEP song) D

Willow Smith - Whip My Hair
The whole Smith family nepotism thing drives me insane, so I came into this already annoyed. I just find it all a little creepy and... lifeless, somehow. This song was long-rumored to be a Rihanna track and thank god it wasn't because it's irritating as hell. Whatever happened to melody with some staying power? D+

Pop Blitz 10/7/10

Joe McElderry - Ambitions While I can't say I'm happy that this perfect Scandinavian hit is being repackaged by another artist, this could be a lot worse. Sure, it's been stripped of the delicate melancholy of the original, but the new Jai-ho peppiness of it all makes this a different kind of treat. A good song is a good song. A-

Nelly - Just A Dream
I can't say I expected this comeback. As far as hip-hoppers go, I've always found Nelly pretty charming. This is more gooey ballad than rap thumper, and it's all the better for that. A nice surprise. B+

Kings Of Leon - Radioactive
Unlikely to chart as high as past hits, but this percussive, rootsy rocker has its own charms. Pleasant, even if it isn't the most memorable thing in the world. B

Robbie Williams & Gary Barlow - Shame
They deserve a stronger song. It sounds like a b-side. That being said, I'm a fan of any song Robbie touches, and the laid-back orchestral flourishes bump this up a little for me. B-

Pink - Raise Your Glass
She's never really released a bad single, so the quality here is no surprise. I'm more fond of the verses than the chorus, though. B+

Kanye West - Runaway
I'm not aboard the Kanye train. When this was performed on the VMAs, I thought it was ridiculously stupid. Presented here without the added spectacle, it's just pretty stupid. C-

The Saturdays - Higher
As far as girl groups go, the Saturdays have done little to impress me. This is utter crap. It's so derivative that I can't believe there were actual songwriters involved. So devoid of any personality. And any semblance of a hook. D

Pop Blitz 9/21/10

Cheryl Cole - Promise This This is what her first album should have sounded like. Gone is the R&B-lite, replaced by a storming dance track with an in-your-face (to the point of being mildly irritating) french hook. A-

Katy B - Katy On A Mission
I just don't get the appeal of this song. It's all bark, no bite. Attitude everywhere, but not much of a hook to hang it on. C

Jay Sean - 2012 (It Ain't The End) (ft. Nicki Minaj)
Jay Sean attempts to avoid one-hit-wonder status with this gimmicky, derivative track. The melody's lazy and completely forgettable. Amazingly, Nicki Minaj is the highlight. C-

Mark Ronson - The Bike Song (ft. Kyle Falconer)
Miles away from his last single, but nearly as good. It's such a laid back, summer song that it's a shame that it wasn't released back in June. Always a plus to hear Falconer's vocals, too. A-

Far East Movement - Like A G6
I'm not sure what's supposed to make this "far east," but beyond the elastic beat, there's nothing much here. Dumb lyrics + a boring hook = D+

The XX - Islands
Winners of this year's prestigious Mercury music prize, this pretty, laidback single showcases the band's downtempo style. It's a pleasant sound, though I can't say I understand what all the fuss is about. B

B.O.B. - Magic (ft. Rivers Cuomo)
I much prefer this to Airplanes. Rather than maudlin, the chorus is catchy and fun. Cuomo was the perfect choice for a guest artist. A nice Autumn single with a Summer feel. B

Pop Blitz 4/23/10 (U.K. Edition!)

Today marks my last full day in the UK, nearly a week after I anticipated staying here (yes, I'm an "ash traveler"), so I thought I'd celebrate what's hot right now in the country. It's mostly very good, actually.

Diana Vickers - Once
Hated her on X-Factor, but this is a cracking pop song. I guess I've been won over. It's shaping up to be quite the hit, as well. B+

Professor Green - Need You Tonight
This could have been very cool. The INXS sample works really well with a hip-hop song, but the tone of Prof Green's whiny vocals destroys it. They should've given it to Tinchy Stryder instead. C+

Scouting For Girls - This Ain't A Love Song
The video (with people hanging around an airport terminal) has certainly been apt this past week. I don't like everything this band does, but I like this. It's nice in that radio-soft-rock sorta way. B+

Plan B - She Said
Great video to this. The song's a little iffier, with a strong chorus but forgettable verses. I'm glad he does more singing than rapping, though. B-

Chiddy Bang - Opposite Of Adults
Another rap song built on a noticeable sample, but this one works. Using MGMT's Kids as a backbone, it's got a strong hook that's been lodged in my brain for days now. B

Florence + The Machine - Dog Days Are Over
Marvelous. It took a trip to the UK for me to fall in love with her, but I'm completely enchanted. The drums alone on this song are stunning. It's certainly an anthem-in-waiting. A

Tinie Tempah - Pass Out
A huge track over here, and the worst of the bunch. It's a case of unimaginative American-type rap, all about passing out because you drank too much. Charming. C-

Pop Blitz 3/4/10

Taio Cruz (ft. Ludacris) - Break Your Heart
What a pleasant surprise to see this sitting atop American itunes. This is the best r&b/dance/pop single of this style that we'll probably hear this year. The beat, the melody... everything. The prospect of this being a hit over here is exhilarating, even with Ludacris tacked on (and btw, he nearly ruins it). Get the original version. A

Daisy Dares You (ft. Chipmunk) - Number One Enemy
While I like the electro blips thrown together with the rockier sound of the track, I wish that this was a stronger single. It's certainly not bad, but nothing terribly original, either. Daisy's voice has the potential to grate and the Chipmunk part is just weird. B-

Kevin Rudolf (ft. a bunch of douches) - I Made It
Rudolf's debut was a pleasant surprise, but this feels like a step backward. The guest artists drag him down and the melody plods. I hope the next single's better. C-

Jay Sean, Sean Paul & Lil' Jon - Do You Remember
The "chorus" sounds like a child's hissy fit. If this was just Jay Sean, it might be alright. But why all of the angry screaming in the background? It sounds more like a parody than a serious track. C

Ellie Goulding - Starry Eyed
Much has been made of Goulding (what's with all these female singers from the UK with strange voices?) and this is a big single right now. It's alright. Nothing that I'm going crazy over, but it's a nice little catchy track. B

The Script - Breakeven
Though I'm not a huge fan of this group, I've been happily watching this song's slow and steady climb on the charts. The melody in the chorus is addictive. B+

Gramophonedzie - Why Don't You
The latest dance track to come out of Europe, it's built around a not particularly interesting big band/loungey sample that doesn't mix well at all with the dance beats. Very strange, and completely unnecessary. D+

Pop Blitz 2/16/10

Cascada - Pyromania
My suggestion to Cascada: take more time between releases to create something a little more original. I could give the same grade to practically any of their songs. Everything sounds the same. This is perhaps a little more obnoxious than usual, though. C-

Eric Saade - Sleepless
Not brand new, but given his success in Melodifestivalen with Manboy (still can't get over that nasty title), I thought I'd give it a review. In a word: better. It's a great pop song. A-

General Larry Platt - Pants On The Ground
As predicted, here's the official version of the song, about a month too late. Funny enough, the production strips all the funny/endearing charm of the "original." Plus, there aren't enough lyrics. He just has to start making up gibberish. It's gone far enough. C

Miley Cyrus - When I Look At You
Aka: The Climb, Part II. Luckily, I quite liked The Climb. She's really got a good thing going with these dramatic, cheesy ballads. I shouldn't like it, but I do. A-

Toni Braxton - Make My Heart
Not gonna do anything to revive her career. This sounds very dated to me. C-

Play - Famous
I was never much of a fan of these girls in the past, and this isn't really gonna change that. It's fine dancepop, I suppose, but the lyrics are bad and the melody's not all that memorable. C

Kris Allen - Alright With Me
Unlike everything else on his album, this track is fantastic. It's got a funkier sound than his last single and a dynamite melody. This could be a very big hit for him. B+

Pop Blitz 2/3/10

Marina & The Diamonds - Hollywood
I'm still not entirely in love with Marina's voice, though that's more of a personal thing. However, the song's quite nice. Subtle in a way... it doesn't really hit you over the head the first time. It's a real grower. Hopefully that means longevity. B+

Lady Antebellum - Need You Now
I'm not a country fan but I can see why this is taking America by storm right now. Somehow it sounds more like a big 80's ballad than anything. There's nothing like it on the radio right now. Very pretty. A-

Jedward - Under Pressure (Ice Ice Baby) (ft. Vanilla Ice)
I'd probably hate this if I hadn't followed John & Edward on X-Factor. As it stands, it's a super fun slice of novelty pop. And it does the impossible: makes Vanilla Ice tolerable! B+

Pink - Glitter In The Air
Her performance at the Grammys catapulted this non-single to hit status and unearthed a buried gem. It's one of her most delicate ballads. Reminds me of the late 90's. A-

Black Eyed Peas - Imma Be
This is absolute crap, and represents the worst side of BEP. It's not a song. It's noise. The military could use it to drive Bin Laden out of hiding. F

Iyaz - Solo
Horrible. Basically, he took a classic song, changed the lyrics and sang it horribly. I can't believe that something like this could even be deemed radio-worthy. D-

Jason Derulo - In My Head
Maybe he won't be a one hit wonder, after all. This sounds a hell of a lot like Chris Brown, and possesses exactly 0% originality, but it's pretty catchy. Could've been a LOT worse. B

Pop Blitz 1/22/10

Goldfrapp - Rocket
This is better than I dared hope Goldfrapp would come back with, especially after their left-turn of a folk-pop album. Bright, summery synths never sounded better. It's like they studied this blog and constructed something to appeal especially to me. A

Young Money - BedRock
I remember when the whole Cash Money brand produced some decent (if incredibly stupid and easily mocked) rap music. I like Lil' Wayne when he was a teenager, or Juvenile's dumb singles, or even the ridiculous "Hot Boys." This is garbage. They took out all of the fun. F

Taylor Swift - Today Was A Fairytale
Let the overexposure begin. How long can she write about fairytales and princes and crap like that? I don't buy that she's always the great lyricist people claim she is. This is sub-par Hallmark card material. Her last one was heaps better. C-

Orianthi - According To You
The guitar is fantastic. Unfortunately, the song's an absolute bore. And, oh my god, who approved of that video? Why the hell is there the neck of a guitar covering the screen half of the time? C

Example - Won't Go Quietly
This could definitely use a stronger chorus. The verses are definitely the best part, but all in all it's pretty forgettable. A time-passer, though I doubt I'll remember it in a few months. B-

Justin Bieber - Baby (ft. Ludacris)
How lucky is this kid? Right place, right time. Like his past singles, it's certainly catchy. I actually kind of like the chorus a lot more than I should. Guilty pleasure, for sure.B

Marianas Trench - Beside You
An emo rock worth noting, especially since I usually hate emo rock. The African elements to this are gorgeous and add an interesting texture to what could've been a boring ballad. A-

Kelesetan