Listen Up: 6-21-12

1. Right Here – Justin Bieber, Drake – This is where modern pop veers wrecklessly into self-parody. Or rather, carefully into tedium. Written by committee, sung by automatons and produced by machines, it isn't even catchy – Grade: D

2. You Will Become – Glenn Hassard – Just the dreariest crap imaginable. – Grade: C-

3. Daredevil – Fiona Apple – Perhaps she should try primal scream – Grade: B+

4. One More Night – Maroon 5 – From "Jagger" to "Payphone to this? Devolving fast – Grade: C

5. He's Not A Boy – The Like – Band lives up to its name with thigh slapping indie pop – Grade: B+

6. Ruin – Cat Power – Powerful piece of emotional disaster area – Grade: B+

7. Come Over – Kenny Chesney – Sappy country pop – Grade: B-

8. Power – Juvenile – Pretty good sample, and Ross and Juvy ride the spaces well. The lyric is a little whatever – Grade: B=

9. Quaser – Smashing Pumpkins – Billy can't get over how collapsing his band destroyed his career so he keeps on trying to resurrect but has forgotten how to write hooks. We loved him for "1969" -the fat head – Grade: c

10. The Letter – Richard Marx, Hugh Jackman – Of everything Chilton achieved, this song makes him an immortal. Not a better version either – Grade: B