"Locked Out of Heaven"
Bruno Mars
(Atlantic/Elektra)
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The hit parade for Mars continues as he messes around with The Police reggae and MJ “Beat It” riffs on this half dancefloor starter, half Coldplay ballad. Although the chorus interrupts the joy of the tempo, it's what we now call classic Bruno. It's a trademark that allows him to not be compared so easily with his musical inspirations. » JMC |
"Simple Song"
THE SHINS
(Aural Apothecary/Columbia)
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There's a sweet mellowness that snugs so easily around the indie pop of “Simple Song.” With its triumphant bridge, dreamy interlude, Beach Boys chorus lines and gorgeous key changes, lead singer and songwriter James Mercer is given enough the perfect strategy to whip up a moving tribute about the uncanny powers of love. » JMC |
"Sweet Nothing"
CALVIN HARRIS feat. FLORENCE
WELCH
(Columbia/Deconstruction)
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The brans and ear behind Rihanna's 2011 breakout disco jam “We Found Love” does the impossible turning Florence Welch into a Donna Summer club vixen. Before the forever-pounding electronic beats takes control, Welch evokes an affinity towards Annie Lennox when she sings: “And it's hard to love/When you're giving me such sweet nothing.” This probably will go down as one of the strangest and most rewarding collaborations of the year. It most certainly will leave fans wondering how the Brit alt-rock singer managed to walk on Rihanna's turf. » JMC
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"Swimming Pools (Drank)"
KENDRICK LAMAR
(Top Dawg/Aftermath/Interscope)
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One of the more clever songs of 2012, breakout west coast rapper Kendrick Lamar manages to successfully convey his idea of being immersed into swimming pools of liquor. Amazingly, Lamar manages to accomplish this feat commercially without compromising quality. Citing previous generations within his own family and their alcoholic problems (“Round some people living their lives in bottles/Granddaddy had the golden flask”), “Swimming Pools (Drank)” only further enhances the complete narrative of which he composes on conceptual parent album Good Kid m.A.A.d. City. » BF |
"Part of Me"
KATY PERRY
(Capitol)
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Katy Perry's break-up song from ex-hubby Russell Brand isn't the Taylor Swift masterpiece it could've been, but she manages to walk away without all the bruises of yesterday's scorn : “Throw your sticks and your stones, throw your bombs and your blows/But you're not gonna break my soul,” she vehemently sings atop a sizzling disco beat. » JMC |
"Runaways"
THE KILLERS
(Island)
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Brandon Flowers hardly minces his emotions when he belts the first line of the chorus: “We can't wait ‘til tomorrow.” With a brutally honest love story on the verge of collapse with a “teenage rush,” “Runaways” is like a Rodgers & Hammerstein composition done with Nirvana rock. » JMC |
"Home"
PHILLIP PHILLIPS
(Interscope/19 Recordings)
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Just like Bruce Springsteen quickly inherited the Bob Dylan comparisons, American Idol champion Phillip Phillips earned instant comparisons with Dave Matthews. “Home,” the winner's coronation track, allowed PP to put his acoustic ramblings on a jubilant Fleet Foxes-esque shindig. » JMC |
"Love Bites (So Do I)"
HALESTORM
(Atlantic)
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The first single from Halestorm's latest album, The Strange Case Of, presents a hard rock take on the familiar “I could love you better” concept. Imagine a Taylor Swift track with a double shot of adrenaline. Lzzy Hale's lyrics are fairly straightforward. Lines like “that chick can eat her heart out” get the message across with patented Halestorm grace. Her vocals range from a crystal clear chorus to an all-out scream. The surrounding instrumentation matches the singer's angst play-for-play, including some cool guitar work by both Hale and Joe Hottinger. “Love Bites” captures all the energy of Halestorm in concert. » TL |
"The A Team"
ED SHEERAN
(Warner Music Group)
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The academic poetry from the hand of English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran is tagged to a Paul Simon-esque folk beat that favorably masks the imploding storyline about a homeless girl “stuck in her daydream.” The descent into chaos is practically all over the story (“And in a pipe she flies to the Motherland/Or sells love to another man”). Luckily the tale born out of a dark depression is beautifully salvaged with buttery Sheeran's innocence and sensitivity. » JMC |
"Wildest Moments"
JESSIE WARE
(Island)
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A therapeutic pop anthem stringing together Phil Collins ‘80's beats and an Alicia Keys-type balladry. » JMC |
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