Jess Glynne
Don’t Be So Hard On Yourself (Atlantic)
It’s nice to have a song with such a positive message, isn’t it? Take note, pop stars: not everything has to be heartbreak, tears and questionable references to bitches. Sometimes, pop can come in the form of an inspirational speech set to an uplifting melody, and that’s exactly what Jess Glynne is doing here in this 100% sing-in-the-car banger. “I was right and you were wrong,” she points out, adding, “Everyone trips, everyone falls,” clearly talking about when we were all really into wearing flatform sandals this time last year.
Frank Carter And The Rattlesnakes
Juggernaut (International Death Cult)
The former Gallows frontman is back and sounding furious. Like, bus on diversion furious. Left your lunch on the kitchen table and you only realise when you get to work furious. Person sitting next to you at work won’t stop sniffing furious. Juggernaut is a chaotic, terrifying noise, the sound of the scary rush of blood you hear in your ears when you get really, really angry. It’s brilliant but, at the same time, you worry Frank’s going to pass out from screaming so loudly. Be careful, babes! Think of your heart and calm down a bit.
Samm Henshaw
Better (Columbia)
If you fed the meat of D’Angelo, Leon Bridges and Miguel into pop’s sausage machine, you’d squeeze Samm Henshaw’s Better out of the end. Hot, 21 years old, voice so smooth it’ll make you want to take your knickers off on the spot, looks good in a hat – Samm’s the British soul singer we deserve. Sorry Sam Smith.
Martin Solveig & GTA
Intoxicated (KOPG/Spinnin’ Records)
In theory, Intoxicated is a by-numbers #ladsladslads piano-heavy dance track that sounds as if it could have been released any time between 1991 and now. But then it gets rescued by a weird trombone bassline, perfect for that kind of aggressive dancing you only do on holiday after 12 rounds of the €1-a-shot local spirit. You know, the one where you swing your arms back and forth above your head until someone (you) gets seriously injured. What’s not to like?
Meek Mill ft Chris Brown And Nicki Minaj
All Eyes On You (Atlantic)
It seems cruel to stick the boot into Meek Mill after Drake’s recent diss track made him into a massive joke, but he’s recruited Chris Brown for this track so he’s brought this on himself. Nicki Minaj, who normally kills with her guest verses, sounds as if she’s got one eye on The Great British Bake Off, another on her Instagram feed, while phoning in her appearance. Chris Brown’s attempt at seduction sounds more like a threat: “Is you drunk / has you had enough? / All these bitches / got my eyes on you”. As Nick Grimshaw said when it played on his Radio 1 Breakfast Show, “Get this off, I hate this song.”
