"Fancy"
IGGY AZALEA feat. CHARLI XCX
(Virgin EMI/Island)
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After the shelf life of Lorde's "Royals" expired, ears quickly shifted towards the old-school throwback rap of this Australian-Floridian breakout hit. In a year when crossover hip-hop seemed like a lost cause, "Fancy" made rap seem cool again, even if Iggy is hard at work in trying to channel her best Nicki Minaj. |
"Sleeping With a Friend"
NEON TREES
(Mercury/Def Jam)
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FWB might be the hip social trend now, but mixing friendship with pleasure can still be a scary situation. Those heartaches are outlined in this catchy tribute to the pains of being alone and feeling that void with a night of fun. “And why leave when I got you, baby?/It's a risk but babe, I need the thrill,” Tyler Glenn outlines on this innocent rollercoaster ride of feelgood pop. |
"Love Me Harder"
ARIANA GRANDE feat. THE WEEKND
(Republic)
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The Mariah Carey of the now generation turns out a sleek bedroom ballad decorated with emo-R&B trimmings and sensual pleasantries. It helps to hear The-Dream responding to her every affection as if he's preparing to dethrone Trey Songz for good. |
"Two Weeks"
FKA-TWIGS
(Young Turks)
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Janet Jackson-esque exotic moans and after dark Quiet Storm vibes dominate the fantasy sex of "Two Weeks." And in this four-minute odyssey of bedroom lust, the English singer-songwriter puts her lovemaking on top of everyone else's this year: "Higher than a motherfucker/Dreamin' of it, it's my lovin'.” |
"i"
KENDRICK LAMAR
(Top Dawg/Aftermath/Interscope)
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Using Isley Brothers “That Lady” and a Philly-styled neo-soul edge, hipster rap star Kendrick Lamar digs deep into the narrative of the black ghetto, calls out dirty politics and fires back with some Curtis Mayfield theology using “I love myself” on the chorus. This is a modern-day peace anthem, if there ever was one.
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"Classic"
THE KNOCKS feat. POWERS
(Big Beat)
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New York electropop duo The Knocks perfectly blend the magic of California sunshine and Chic together for this nu-disco jam. With alt-pop duo Powers providing bubbly Gwen Stefani-esque lead vocals to the mix, the song is set in motion to become a dance classic. It sure sounds like it. |
"American Dream Plan B"
TOM PETTY & THE
HEARTBREAKERS
(Reprise)
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Tom Petty isn't afraid to go for what he wants. On “American Dream Plan B,” he reaches for big aspirations while kicking out a smoking guitar-heavy groove alongside his powerful army of musicians. “But I'm half-lit, I can't dance for shit/But I see what I want, I go after it,” he chants using Larry Blackmon swagger. Clocking at three-minutes, this song exemplifies the heart of heartland rock ‘n roll. It's probably better than anything else Tom Petty has put in the Top 40 since "Runnin' Down a Dream."
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"Come Alive"
CHROMEO feat. TORO Y MOI
(A&M/Octane)
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Chromeo's cool dibs on synth R&B and disco revivalism made a shiny impact on “Come Alive.” The single is a glorious splash of Hall & Oates ‘80's pop, glowing synthpop and percolating dancey vibes. Dave 1 croons out the words like he's breaking a West Coast summer ride; Toro y Moi – joining on the second verse – seals the deal.
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"Say You Love Me"
JESSIE WARE
(PMR/Island/Interscope)
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Even with the indie soul moniker on Jessie Ware, she finds a way to emerge as an Alicia Keys prototype on this Quiet Storm-anointed power ballad. From beginning to end, “Say You Love Me” is beautifully executed. When it reaches its thunderous apex, a choir joins in alongside booming percussion. Ware's vocals suddenly sail beyond the icy comforts of her previous hits. Now she's proven to be in the big leagues, performing something that reaches the timeless status of Sinead O' Connor's “Nothing Compares 2 U.” |
"My Offence"
HERCULES & LOVE AFFAIR
(Big Beat/Atlantic)
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Hercules & Love Affair has a love affair for giant tribal house funk, and "My Offence" is the perfect summation of a Frankie Knuckles' sweaty exercise and bad ass street swagger. It goes so far to explore the taboos of the word "cunt" in NYC gay life by transforming the dirty word into a positive. Squeeze this killer groove somewhere between Frankie Smith's "Double Dutch Bus" and the four-on-the-floor clubland jams of CeCe Peniston.
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