Going Steady: New Singles 5-19-23 – 5-25-23 Reviewed

UNHEALTHY (feat. Shania Twain) – Anne-Marie – a Western twang added to the English singer’s dance vibe – C+

WHERE SHE GOES – Bad Bunny – Bad Bunny’s ode to his current flame, one of the Jenners, on typical latin pop a la Bad Bunny and his first solo song this year. Nothing special and if it kills, well then we have a true phenom – B-

The Narcissist – Blur – they never understand that we don’t love em for “Bad Head” but for “Park Life” and yet they continue to, well, Blur the lines: this starts as a typical piece of insipid Damon whinge but builds to an anthem and a titanic conclusion – B+

All Night/ All Day – Cat Stevens – sounds like really early Cat but the worst of the three we’ve heard; sitting waiting or the world to change is a waste of time – B-

Never Ending Song – Conan Grey – the Japanese American makes a move on the charts with Max Martin producing a tedious pop dance – C-

Under You – Foo Fighters – a second not bad track of the first Foo I’ve been interested in hearing just about ever; a deeply melodic, straightforward rocker – B

The Journey – H.E.R. – apparently she doesn’t want to miss airing those lungs and covered a terrible Diane Warren ballad – C-

Try That In A Small Town – Jason Aldean – an ode to suburbia where they don’t carjack little old ladies, though they force you into unwanted pregnancy and admire their three sets of traffic lights – C+

Cha Cha Cha – – the Finnish eurovision Contestant deserved to win in this throbbing hyper-pop, adding rap, electronic music, metal in a thriller that deserved to win – SINGLE OF THE WEEK – A-

favorite kind of high – Kelly Clarkson – co-written, kinda obviously, by Carly Rae Jepsen, and while no one doubts Kelly has terrific lungs, this is meh product mainstream middle of the road – C

Only Love Can Save Us Now – Kesha – produced by Rick Rubin who adds little to a very ear candy goodie from a woman who, if she hadn’t be waylaid by Dr. Luke, might have been huge – B

Padam Padam – Kylie Minogue – I guess there’s a new album on the way, this is superior disco hook monster that will padam itself into the deepest recesses of your musical memory before driving you crazy and to murder – B+

Say Yes To Heaven – Lana Del Rey – an outtake from Ultraviolence and a very good one from what was an excellent album, a haunting number about desire – B+

Middle Ground – Maroon 5 – whatever the band that gave us on V in 2014 has left, it ain’t here. Except for Adam’s voice it is all the same ol same ol except so is his voice – C

Daydreaming – Nxworries – crap song from a duo who should know much better, Paak has never lived up to his potential and this ain’t much – C+

Mourning – Post Malone – turning his back on rapping while maintaining hip hop production values and autotune might seem like a good idea but has caused him to stumble, “Mourning” is a pretty good song, maybe he can return with it – B

Don’t Touch Me – Sam Huber – hard rock that takes off from Sam’s usual r&b and into a plain sink of riffarama, Sam is a great singer and his rasp here is a wonder and who is behind that psychedelic guitar break? – A-

Fun, Fun, Fun – Steve Aoki Remix – The Beach Boys – until he drops the bass, Aoki has done the undoable, he has made a Wilson remix where the distance between nostalgia and today is ridden through: the second time round might make you want to sink into yesterday… then he drops the bass again – B

69 – Nicky Jam, Feid – Nicki is a reggaeton giant and Feid have a terrific breakthrough year, this is straight ahead reggaeton with a clever pun about oral sex and working 9 – 5 – B-

GODDAMNITALL – The Wonder Years – an outtake from their tenth anniversary Greatest Generation box set and pretty damn magnificent. I had completely forgotten why I once loved these guys – A-