Going Steady: New Singles 5-5-23 – 5-11-23 Reviewed

It’s Fine – Bethany Cosentino – Best Coast was a fave band of mine for years, they never released an album I haven’t enjoyed. But if Bethany insists… Butch Walker co-writes and produces and while it is a very good self-portrait of the evolved singer, I don’t see what she gained by killing the brand – B+

I’ll Be – Celine Dion – from the new romcom she is appearing in, it is a rethink of “My Heart will Go On” – C

Something Like This – Chet Faker – the Australian one man band electronic guy with a soulful shot – B

Someone – Fireboy DML – the 27 year old Nigerian is a major player in Afrobeats in the wake of the explosion last decade… but this is a disappointment – B-

Pissy (feat. Roddy Ricch, Nardo Wick) – Gucci Mane – I love Gucci when he is getting his pop maneuvers on as he is on this hook monster with real good rapping and a slowly addictive earworm – A-

Shit We Do For Love – Icona Pop, Yaeger – circa “I Love It” the electronic dance duo seemed headed for the top and this wonderful little pfft-er will remind you why – B+

Cheryl – From “A Small Light: Episode 2” – Kamasi Washington – the Bird jazz standard and search out a great version with Miles Davis. This is a great take as well from the Holocaust inspired mini-series – B+

I Don’t Want To Be A Soldier Mama, I Don’t Wanna Die – Stripped Back Session – Liam Gallagher – Liam can sing Lennon and he can sing Lennon very well, though he might not be able to understand him – B

Too Good For Giving Up – Stripped Back Session – Liam Gallagher – when he says it’s stripped down what he means is he removed the piano from the mix of his 2022 deep album cut – D+

Go Hard – Lil Baby – Lil Baby has one of the top voices in rap and if his flow was a little more effective, say as good as DaBaby, he’d be the biggest. As it is he is top ten and this is a brilliant track with a tongue twister to close it out and a lesson learnt from current Chicago rap – SINGLE OF THE WEEK – A-

Tutti Frutti – Little Richard, The Brains, Danny B. Harvey – a sped up psychobilly take – B

But I Got A Beer In My Hand – Luke Bryan – nice from the former Crown Prince of country who never got over spring break – B

Fell In Love – Marshmello, Brent Faiyaz – as mellow as you expect but not bad – B

The 5th Dimension (feat. The HawtPlates) – Meshell Ndegeocello – epic without being an anthem, she has a disquieting jazz with back up singers – B+

Buy My Round – Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats – when will I ever learn? Nathaniel is the guy Bob Lefsetz claimed greatness for in his review of Willie Nelson’s 90th birthday at the Hollywood Bowl but Nat’s soulfulness was always OTT and this is just a nothing special Bonzo Band piece of vaudeville – C

Chastity – Pussy Riot, Boys Noize, Alice Glass – great little rhythm and who doesn’t love all three artists, but it is no “Make America Great Again” – B-

Praising You (feat. Fatboy Slim) – Rita Ora – Rita with a bravado vocal on the Fatboy Slim classic, a praiseworthy take – B+

Greatest Day (feat. Calum Scott) – Robin Schulz Rework – Take That – the oldie reworked for King Charles III – MUST TO AVOID – D

Bogus Operandi – The Hives – the Swedish garage rockers are first rate throughout the song, their first in ELEVEN YEARS, and it is a straight up feel good, badass garage rocker – B+

The Formula – Will I Am, Lil Wayne – not so bad, Weez is in fine form and Wil I Am has always known how to write a world music crossover hook – B