...Summer Popping Up

As summer rolls along, the pop stars begin to roll out the lead tracks to fall’s biggest releases (or flops). Here is a look at he singles that have just recently dropped (maybe to just drop out of sight?)

Justin Timberlake - SexyBack: Timbaland does it again. After saving Nelly Furtado’s career with the excellent Promiscuous, he provides JT with a wicked beat and more than adequate hook. Despite being a bit too repetitive, this song sounds fresh and is a true club banger. Expect this track to heat up the rest of the summer days.

Christina Aguilera - Ain’t No Other Man: Timberlake’s former tour mate is also gearing up for a media onslaught. As any pop diva worth her weight in bling knows, you gotta work an angle. Xtina’s is to meld the image and music of the 30’s & 40’s with modern day hedonism. The lead track to her 2 disc opus is a fun, if uneventful ditty. Per usual, Christina screams her way through a serviceable melody that is accentuated by a nice old timey horn sample.

Beyoncé - Déjà Vu: Déjà vu indeed. We have a horn sample, wicked rhythmic beat and a Jay-Z cameo. Yes, those are the exact hit-making elements of B’s Crazy In Love. However, this is not a simple rehash of that chart topper. Destiny’s favorite child sings the hell of this one, but falls just a tad short of anything spectacular.

Jessica Simpson - A Public Affair: The more the Lachey-Simpson debacle continues (Or ends as it may be), the more I begin to believe the whole marriage was planned out from hit MTV show to coincidental album releases timed right before and after divorce papers were signed. Although the title of this pop confection will be immediately associated with the marriage, the lyrics actually spell out a perfect scenario for all those young celebs out there whose only talents appear to be to get into nightclubs and spend the money they inherited on drugs and booze. All this is set to a glorious melody placed on a bed of Madonna’s Holiday with Ain’t No Mountain High Enough thrown in for good measure. Sounds like a mess, but it is pure pop fun especially since Simpson agreed to sing rather than scream or moan her way through this one.

Paris Hilton - Stars Are Blind: Speaking of talent-less celebs, Paris buys herself a record contract. I have to admit I have been terribly curious about how this one would turn out. I know the vocals would not be the issue because studio magic can give (and has given) anyone a voice, but what does an heiress sing about and to what style? Seems that Paris turned to faux-reggae for the first song out the gate. The song doesn’t have much bite and really what is a talent-free pop hit supposed to have if not some personality. Instead, Hilton comes off as a bored, less-gifted Gwen Stefani. Which really should be a wake up call to Gwen that she is only just on this side cool.

Janet Jackson - Call On Me: Miss J tries to make us forget about Nipplegate. Her boyfriend, Jermaine Dupri, tries to work his Mimi magic. Both pretty much fail on this one. JJ commits the most gravest of all sins for a pop icon - boredom. This track is neither funky nor fresh or engaging in any way. The fact that is features rapper Nelly does not help matters. I hope to album has a lot more to offer. Even the debacle that was Damita Jo had some good tunes.

Enjoy the summer hits while you can friends. As fall approaches so will the fresh new tunes.

In the meantime, you can pick up the new albums by Thom Yorke (please tell me that I do not have to let you know that he is the lead singer of Radiohead) and Sufjan Stevens (a lovely album of outtakes from the last, incredible album he released.)