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 6/2/10

Robyn - Dancing On My Own
A worthy successor to With Every Heartbeat, this is yet more proof that Robyn has mastered the aural equivalent of heartbreak on the dancefloor. A

Eminem - Not Afraid
Should have been called "Not Again." It's all very 2002. The pissed off rapping, the off-key singing. It doesn't work anymore, and the hook is too weak. C-

Pendulum - Watercolour
I appreciate the epic melding of dance and rock that these guys specialize in. That being said, this is not, melodically, one of their stronger singles. It sounds a little bit like BT's (superior) work. B-

B.O.B. - Airplanes (ft. Hayley Williams)
I have a feeling this song is more popular because of who's involved than the actual merits of the production. Compared to similar emo-rap tracks, this is middling to average. At least the hook's better than the Eminem one. C+

Lena - Satellite
This year's Eurovision winner. It's certainly catchy, if a bit meh overall. Lily Allen's pretty much got this type of thing covered. Last year's winning song was 100% more exciting. This is simply nice. B

Love Generation - Love Generation
Producer RedOne's new girl-group, and no the song isn't a cover of Bob Sinclar's epic dance tune of the same name (unfortunately). This goes for the "club anthem on the summer" title and falls slightly short of achieving it, settling instead for "mid-rate Melodifestivalen contender." Not entirely a bad thing. B

Mike Posner - Cooler Than Me
Newcomer Mike Posner goes for an electro thump (à la Sam Sparro) with this single. The vocals work well and the melody's subtly addictive. A pleasant surprise. A-