WWWWW- One of the year's finest
WWWW- Great track
WWW- Isn't revolutionary, but it'll play
WW- Well...uhh...maybe
W- If I hear this ONE MORE TIME...
AFI- Leaving Song Pt. II (W) The band steals the riffs from "The Boys Of Summer" to pose as deep rockers, while Davey Havock screams and wails things I could care less about.
Christina Aguilera f/Lil' Kim- Can't Hold Us Down (WWW) Cookie-cutter "girls can do what men do too" lyrics, but the beat's great, so it works...really well.
The Ataris- Boys Of Summer (WWW) Completely rockin', driving and fun remake of the classic Don Henley song.
Buju Banton- Paid Not Played (WWW) May not be the greatest, but this is another great party-reggae song fit for the summer.
The Blue Man Group f/Gavin Rossdale- The Current (WWWWW) Pop's most interesting group strike again with a "rocked-up" Mission Impossible-like sound that's very dark and mesemerizing.
Jeff Bradshaw- Bouncin' Back (Bumpin' Me Against The Wall) (WWWW) It does drag a little, but this jazz song is pretty catchy and the dark, intricate solo two-thirds the way through is pretty cool.
Sarah Brightman- Harem (WWWW) It's just an interestingly dark, Native-tinged pop-tronica. The song pretty much sells itself.
Brotha Lynch Hung- Everywhere I Go (WWW) These rappers have a great message (strength in the hard street life), and it's good, but it could be better.
Bubba Sparxxx- Deliverance (WWWW) He slurs his words too much, but Bubba delivers a great party track with a message about endurance. What? You didn't think it could be done?
Brooks Buford- Trailer Fabulous (WWW) He's an Uncle Kracker wannabe rapping about living in a trailer, but it works.
BT- Somnabulist (W) This dance song is dated, too long and sounds like a trash compactor. I'll just leave it at that.
Pepe Deluxe- Salami Fever (W) What? A turntablist that's messier than DJ Shadow? Say it isn't so...but it is...pitifully.
Defari- Spell My Name (WWW) Yeah, another rapper who's advertising "I'm here and don't mess with me", but he does it style...really well.
The Eagles- Hole In The World (WWW) This folk-pop song is a little overbearing and doesn't exactly rival the classics like "Take It Easy", but it proves The Eagles have returned...brilliantly.
Fam-Lay- Rock N' Roll (WWW) It's good rap song about the hood with a great dark beat, but it has been done better before.
Fannypack- Cameltoe (W) Pathetically stupid disco beat and even worse lyrics about a "frontal wedgie" (the proported "cameltoe" that repulses everyone from this one woman the singers are obviously jealous about). This isn't bad, it's pathetic. Compared to this The Cheeky Girls sound like a work of art. Seriously. (Stinker Of The Week)
Flashlight Brown- Ready To Roll (WW) It's catchy and upbeat, but it really lacks the bite it needs to stay interesting.
Foo Fighters- Low (W) They wanted to write a dark, brooding and reflective song, but it just comes out as dull, lifeless rock.
Freeway f/Peedi Crakk- Flipside (WWWW) This party rap track rivals only one song this summer in quality- Joe Budden's "Pump It Up"...and that's pretty good company.
Vince Gill- Someday (W) The guitar solo's nice, but it can't save this sappy love-lamentation country ballad from rivaling Diamond Rio's "I Believe" as the worst country song of 2003.
Hotwire- Not Today (WW) The riffs are catchy, but this generic nu-metal meets The Used song is as stale as they come.
Jackyl- Billy Badass (W) This sounds like AC/DC doing a very bad Kid Rock impersonation...no, it DOESN'T work...
Kindred- Far Away (WWWW) Deeply personal but up-tempo soul song. A winner every time.
Longwave- Wake Me Up When It's Over (WWWW) Irresistable guitar-driven New Wave song that sounds '80ish but always feels fresh.
MercyMe- I Can Only Imagine (WWWW) Simply put, it's really beautiful Christian-faith affirmation piano ballad.
MF Doom- My Favorite Ladies (WWW) This rapper has an unorganized rant (but a good one) about a girl giving him problems, but the gloomy dark beat is cool.
Newsboys- He Reigns (W) Simple, overwrought (especially with the chior at the end) and cliched inspirational Christian worship song targeted for the world's ills.
Joe Nichols- She Only Smokes When She Drinks (WWW) It's a little mundane country ballad about a girl who's "hard to get", but it works.
Pharrell f/Jay-Z- Frontin' (W) Not even a stellar (but short) rap from Jay-Z can save this pathetic snoozer of a relationship R&B song, made even worse by Pharrell Williams' weak falsetto vocals. Stick to producing, Pharrell.
Radiohead- Go To Sleep (WWWWW) Sounds like a Sam Roberts impersonation, but with mind-numbingly addictive drumwork and Thom Yorke's entrancing voice, it brings the "radio-ready" single to a whole new level...just brilliant. (Single Of The Week)
Calvin Richardson- Keep On Pushin (W) Take D'Angelo's beat from "Untitled" and wrap it around a stale breakup song that's simply a chorus repeated and you've got one snoozer of a soul track. Hey, at least it cures insomnia.
Santana f/Alex Band- Why Don't You And I (W) The talentless Alex Band's whiny vocals and the removal of the solo after the first chorus desecrate the solid song written by Chad Kroeger. Sigh.
Seven Witches- Dance With The Dead (WWW) An upbeat metal song with brilliant guitarwork from Jack Frost. Solid stuff.
Smilez & Southstar- Now That You're Gone (WWWW) Touching, reflective and personal rap song about dealing with a loss...just brilliant.
The Snowdonnas- Edison (WW) Stale, distortion-heavy art/"space"-rock song.
Sugar Ray- Is She Really Going Out With Him? (WW) It's catchy, but this is a stupid send-up of the Joe Jackson cover that sounds as though it should have remained an oldie.
A Static Lullaby- Lipgloss And Letdown (W) It's kiddie rockers doing screamo...ladies and gentleman, we have a band worse than Alexisonfire. Yes, it's possible.
Ruben Studdard- Flying Without Wings (W) Just like Kelly Clarkson's first single, this song is contrived, overwrought, simple and slow snoozer of an inspirational song.
Justin Timberlake- Seniorita (WWWW) The Michael Jackson impersonator does it again, providing a simple, fun little party track just in time for the summer.
Rick Trevino- In My Dreams (WW) It's personal, but this country-pop ballad sounds way too familiar...
Laura Turner- Soul Deep (WWWWW) It sounds like DJ Krush doing an Enya song...very, very, very interesting.
Wayne Wonder- Friend Like Me (WW) It's bouncy- using the same sample as Ashanti- but it's too cookie-cutter to really make it appealing.
DG's Top 70