Going Steady: New Singles 6-17-22 – 6-23-22 Reviewed

BENNY’S GOT A GUN – BLK ODYSSY, Benny The Butcher, George Clinton – a haunting track that ties the line between bullying and mass murder in school in a brutal bow – B

Moonlight Drive – Blondie – from the upcoming Blondie box set covering their heyday, the band sounds great belieing their new wave rep for a hard nosed Doors cover – B+

Dayglo Reflection – Orchestral Version – Bobby Womack, Lana Del Rey – as if it wasn’t dramatic enough, the original was from 2012’s The Bravest Man In The World, the orchestration sends it right over the top – B-

Escape (feat. Hayla) – Spencer Brown Remix – deadmau5, Kaskade, Kx5 – strong house beat extravaganza, would’ve worked better as an instrumental – B+

SKIN OF MY TEETH – Demi Lovato – I probably shouldn’t say this because god knows she might sue, but sounds a lot like classic Hole – A-

2001 – Foals – the UK lads return with straight up disco – B

So Good – Halsey – sure last year’s album was among her best work, but this is a little sub-P!nk – C

The Walls Are Way Too Thin – Floorboards Version – Holly Humberstone – Holly is getting there, by this time next year she will be huge, and this alt version is as good, though quieter, as the EP take – A-

If I Die Tomorrow – Jack White – awful sub-Chris Cornell crap, I am sick of this guy – MUST TO AVOID – E+

This Is A Song For Miss Hedy Lamarr – Jeff Beck, Johnny Depp – I am less than amused by Depp -he is a drug addicted woman abuser and if Amber Heard is a piece of crap as well that certainly lets him off not at all. A horrible ballad, and who can hear Hedy without glomming on “Blazing Saddle”? – D

Glimpse of Us – Joji -horrid ballad (though he was better than this at Gov Ball yesterday) – D+

Do What I Want – Kid Cudi – the most overrated rapper ever? Scott Mescudi – C

Nevermore – Lamb of God – they are great live, and if they stopped performing at sheds I would go and see them, this screamo rapper is a little generic – B_

Grrrls – Lizzo – if you can get over the song by committee, and the presence of Benny Blanco and Max Martin, it maintains the brand pretty well – B

I’m Waiting for the Man – May 1965 Demo – Lou Reed – the best version I’ve ever heard, it has the sort of folk ambience of the Everly Brothers, a quiet and clear vision of the song and it is the horror of drugs writ small: it all makes sense and it delves forward with harmonies and by the time the harp arrives you’re waiting for the man as well. Beyond belief, certainly beyond faith – SINGLE OF THE WEEK – A+

more than life (feat. glaive) – Machine Gun Kelly – meh pink pop tough the album wasn’t awful – C

Emmi Ya Emmi – Maya Diab – The big time Lebanese popster in an ode to her mom – B

Cash In Cash Out – Pharrell Williams, 21 Savage, Tyler, The Creator – trap beats on a not untypical Pharrel dog – D+

Denial – Rae Sremmurd – the brothers return with one of their greatest moments, a state of the art pop emoish melodiousness which finds them better together on a… love song – A-

Loveology – Regina Spektor, Skopje Studio Orchestra – much like life itself, people peak and Regina has never gotten back to What We Saw From The Cheap Seats (ten years ago) if not Far (thirteen years ago), and she doesn’t have it on the slight though not unpleasant “Loveology” – C+

Angels – XXV – Robbie Williams, Jules Buckley, Metropole Orkest – did I ever say “Angels” was a pop ballad masterpiece? Not me. I said “Strong” was – C

TV – Sebastian Yatra – The Colombian superstar with a catchy slice of Spanish pop – B+

Just Us Two – Steve Aoki, Taking Back Sunday – emo goes dance, could be worse – B-