Scissor Sisters
Only The Horses (Polydor)
After the 81% amazing Azealia Banks-assisted Shady Love failed to set the world alight, Scissor Sisters have continued taking risks by roping in melody-phobic radio kryptonite Calvin Harris. Thankfully, they've caught Calvin on one of his more chart-friendly days, with Only The Horses the kind of sophisticated banger David Guetta et al only seem to make by accident. Pianos plink and plonk prettily, the synths seem to constantly expand and the central lyric about wanting to escape it all is deliriously lovely. Oh, and if you're wondering when it all "goes off", it's around 2:50. You're welcome.
Demi Lovato
Give Your Heart A Break (Hollywood)
As with the majority of former Disney alumni, Demi Lovato has had her fair share of personal struggles in recent years (eating disorders, alcoholism, drug abuse, dating a Jonas brother). However, she channelled her pain into the spectacular Skyscraper, an almighty ballad as gargantuan as the title suggests. In fact, its shadow is so huge that this follow up – a musically upbeat sing-along about taking a risk and falling in love – still sounds emotionally ravaged. Frankly, it makes me want to find her and give her a big, slightly inappropriate hug.
The Saturdays
30 Days (Polydor/Fascination)
Thirteen singles and three albums into their career as the New Look Girls Aloud and the Saturdays have yet to have a UK No 1 single. Unfortunately, it feels like their best chance of changing that was with the Xenomainia-produced masterpiece All Fired Up, but 30 Days has its moments, specifically some physics A-Level lyrics ("Subtract the distance, fly in the speed of light") and the lovely "oh, oh, ah" chorus bits.
Mark Ronson & Katy B
Anywhere In The World (Sony Music)
Anywhere In The World isn't the official Team GB song for the forthcoming International Sports Day gala, Katy and Mark choosing Coca-Cola as a more suitable outlet for their ditty about countries uniting over a women's beach volleyball match. Musically, it's built around looped samples of athletes kicking or jumping on things, which is impressive at first but soon pales when you realise there's no real tune to hold the sonic splicing together.
Ben Howard
Only Love (Island)
In the video for Only Love, Ben Howard – a man who sounds as if he's singing through gritted teeth – is shown singing a song in a posh-looking flat overlooking a street. There are fleeces, beards and some serious musician face on show. Slowly, a crowd of people walk towards the flat and burn it down as a protest. Only they don't of course, they're actually there as a part of a "flashmob" (yuck) and all they do is applaud this flaccid dribble of a song.
