New singles: hits and misses

10/24/08 - To be honest, most of the artists I respect tend to focus their attention on crafting quality albums, releasing singles to radio simply as a means of promoting the larger piece of work. The music industry has changed so rapidly in the last few years due to the advent of online downloading that many artists focus primarily on singles, releasing individual songs for a quick payout. I myself am guilty of feeding into this; many of my favorite songs come from artists from whom I would never dream of buying a full-length LP.

So, out of the deluge of singles released in the last few weeks, which are worth your 99-cent iTunes (or free, but so, so wrong Limewire) download, and which should just be ignored just like their inevitable albums will be? Read on.

Britney Spears - "Womanizer"

I guess it's time for Spears annual "comeback." The chorus will get stuck in your head no matter how hard you try in the name of good taste to forget it, and the buzzing synths and steady clicking drums give this one massive club potential.

The lyrics, of course, are garbage (the song's bridge: "maybe if we both lived in a different world / it would all be good and I could be your girl / but I can't 'cause we don't"), but screw it; let's dance!

David Archuleta - "Crush"

"American Idol"'s reigning runner-up's new single is typical teen-pop, aimed squarely at the Disney Channel crowd. Sonically, I have no complaints; the snare drum beat is tasteful, and the electric guitar undertones do nothing to overpower Archuleta's soaring vocals.

The lyrics are the kind of stuff middle school kids will find relatable: "Am I crazy or falling in love / is it really just another crush?" We've all been there: it is. But expect this song to be absolutely huge.

David Cook - "Light On"

Let's not forget "Idol" champion David Cook, however. "Light On," the lead-off single from his upcoming CD, is a great vehicle for Cook's powerful vocals, but not so much for his "rocker" image. Despite the at-times shout-y vocals and electric guitar solo, "Light On" is clearly just a pop song wearing guy-liner and studded bracelets from Hot Topic.

Archuleta could just as easily and convincingly sing this song as well as he does his own, showing that while Cook deservedly won the title of American Idol, a successful career is all but assured.

Kevin Rudolf featuring Lil' Wayne - "Let it Rock"

Newcomer Kevin Rudolf's debut single is a catchy pop-rock track, featuring an absolutely bumping chorus and lyrics that are just adequate enough to not drive me insane, and the electronic pulses that propel the song are an ingenious touch. Really, the only thing working against this track is the absolutely hideous Lil' Wayne guest verse; "I can d**k you up / I can d**k you down / shorty we can go wherever just pick a town.

The Killers - "Human"

On "Human," the lead-off single from its upcoming album, the Killers blend its signature sound with a great electronic-influenced dance beat and soaring melody. The lyrics, at first incomprehensible, become genuinely thought-provoking after hearing the track a few times.

"Pay my respects to grace and virtue / send my condolences to good / give my regards to soul and romance / they always did the best they could," frontman Brandon Flowers sings. It's a regretful look at the course of human development. It's also a damn great song.