1. Paramore - “The Only Exception”
Paramore’s breakthrough album Riot! had one or two songs that could’ve been their big pop crossover third single (in tradition of girl rock crossover ballads like No Doubt’s “Don’t Speak” and Evanescence’s “My Immortal”), but they shied away from that and even the big Twilight soundtrack song didn’t go all the way in that direction. But this song was the big gooey shameless standout on last year’s brand new eyes, and after 2 uptempo singles that weren’t remotely as catchy as “Misery Business” they’ve finally unleashed this as a single with a really good video, although it doesn’t really be hitting at all, so maybe too little too late.

2. Pitbull f/ Sensato, Black Point, Lil Jon & El Cata - “Watagatapitusberry”
I still have no idea what this song is about or how it became some kind of meme before Pitbull made it into his own song. But it’s pretty hilarious and enjoyable, and DJ Class’s production has kind of turned it into the umpteenth iteration of “I’m The Ish,” which seems to keep on taking on a new life every time I think it’s over.

3. The-Dream - “Love King”
There’s a sect of critics who really love The-Dream and take him very very seriously and think the slow long-ass “Fancy” is his best song. And even though he wrote my favorite album of last year (the Electrik Red one, not his own), I still generally think he’s just a really prolific, effective hack, and enjoy him more in goofy “Take U Home To My Mama” mode. So this single is really working for me right now -- wasn’t totally sold on it when it hit the internet a few weeks ago, but hearing it on the radio for the first time recently it really worked.

4. Train - “Hey, Soul Sister”
I’ve known for over a decade that Pat Monahan is perhaps the most embarrassing, cringe-inducing man alive, since when I saw Train open for Ben Folds Five and he played a saxophone solo and did goofy little dances and sang “Ramble On.” According to his official bio, he’s 41 now and would’ve been only 30 then, which I totally don’t believe, because the leather-faced motherfucker looked like he’d been playing in cover bands for 20 years by that point already. I almost feel bad for a friend of mine who has the same last name as him. But whatever, Train are a pretty solid singles band, and though this song’s hook isn’t as irresistible as “Drops Of Jupiter,” I nonetheless have failed to resist it, even with jaw-droppingly awful lyrics like “my untrimmed chest” and “I’m so thug.” This amazing collection of YouTube remixes of “Hey, Soul Sister” is a testament to the song’s shameful, inscrutable appeal.

5. Lady Antebellum - “Need You Now”
I’m really late to warming to the year’s big country pop crossover hit, and in general I kinda gave up on following mainstream country well a few years ago not out of any dislike or indifference but just because it takes work. But yeah, this is good. I remember at the Grammys being totally confused that they came out and did this great Fleetwood Mac-sounding song, and then it was Taylor Swift who got to do the duet with Stevie.

This entry was posted on Friday, April 02, 2010 at 12:50 PM. You can skip to the end and leave a response.