Going Steady: New Singles Reviewed 1-27-17 – 2-2-17
I’m Betta – Bell Biv Devoe – Welcome return from old schoolers who sound very cool on the chorus but less so on the rap – B
I Could Have Told You – Bob Dylan – Sinatra recorded it at the same 1953 session that gave us “Young At Heart”. Dylan’s singing is impeccable and his phrasing (though not voice of course) is pure – B+
Pure Comedy – Father John Misty – This guy is a comedian who can’t tell a punchline or a ironist who doesn’t understand the meaning of the word, and this is a clunky piano bore, as dramatic as the end of the Saturday installment of Batman – C
Two Wildly Different Perspectives – Father John Misty – A terrible over wrought disaster area, the first ten seconds is silence, also the best ten seconds are silence – D+
Ran – Future Islands – I didn’t care for their breakthrough album but this is a clever soulful indie rocker – B
Cave Me In – Gallant – This guy is ready for his close-up, this is addictive alt r&b – B+
Easy Target – John Mellencamp – Sounds like he’s gargling with razorblades and all he has ever done is gone after easy targets anyway- D
Issues – Julia Michaels – Julia has been writing hit songs for the big boys of pop from Bieber to Sheeran and back (she is Justin Trantner’s partner in crime) , but she has kept a very sweet and strong new pop standard for herself. A major single for a woman coming into her own – A-
My Old Man – Mac Demarco – The indie singer songwriter who left his address at the end of his last album and had to move, has lost his quirkiness on this dog – C
Run Up – Major Lazer, PARTYNEXTDOOR – Two big EDM players know a good track when they hear it, and the beat is solid and slithery and the hook sounds like something Skrillex would invent. But it isn’t a great song – C+
Scared To Be Loved – Martin Garrix, Dua Lupa – Dua is this years Tove Lo, nearly exactly. But this isn’t gonna hook you hard – C+
I’m Better – Missy Elliot, Lamb – Good, we need a healthy Missy because nobody else can do what she does with the word “vehicle”… this is still not Missy at her best – B
The Battle Of Jimmy McCabe – Paul Weller – I didn’t like didn’t hate the folk acoustic strummer at first, but I stuck it on a playlist and lived to regret it- D
Darling – Real estate – Lovely, boring Real Estate -though that opening riff is something special – B-
Sing It Now – Reba McIntyre – Reba goes Americana – C
I Think She Likes Me – Rick Ross, Ty Dolla $ign – This is his latest biggest return? Rhyming Leo DiCaprio with Rapido? I don’t think so – C
High Ticket Attractions – The New Pornographers – Ho hum indie rocker – C+
Keep You Eyes On Me – Tim McGraw, Faith Hill – Alternative title, keep your eyes open.
So Good – Zara Larsson, Ty Dolla $ign – Ty is in pretty good voice and Zara is extremely catchy. Not much but not bad – B-
