Hey, we’re doing this stuff again! If you’re here, it’s probably because you just listened to our May reviews episode and heard me mention that I posted my full singles list and notes on the website. And this time I really meant it. In case you haven’t me go into details of my top 3 and bottom 3 songs of the month, and Jay and Zack talk about their favorite albums of May, catch it here:
So really briefly, here’s what I do when I review the hot singles of the month. I listen to a song and immediately give it a 0-100 score. Then I listen to the song again, adjust that number and write some notes about it. Lather, rinse, repeat a few times and you get something that looks like this.
| Artist | Title | Score | Notes |
| Lizzie McAlpine | ceilings | 83 | I definitely came back to this 3x before I felt like I could grade it. There’s a haunting beauty to its simplicity, even with its upbeat and rather sweet descriptions of being in love and finding someone worth spending time with. I should hate it but I can’t. There’s something in her voice that is enchanting, almost hypnotic here. |
| Lil Durk ft. J. Cole | All My Life | 81 | Were you expecting a grand, anthemic, inspirational track from Lil’ Durk? Me either, but this is a very pleasant surprise. And the more verses I hear from J. Cole, the more I like his work. |
| Kali | Area Codes | 79 | A more believable sounding Bitch, Better Have My Money. I believe Kali in a way I couldn’t believe Rihanna. Her flow hits as hard as the deep but sparse bass, both are very impactful. |
| NF | HAPPY | 77 | |
| Rita Ora ft. Fatboy Slim | Praising You | 75 | Most danceable of the three 90’s techno re-works this month. I think it’s the best of the three too, keeps enough of the source material while creating a new piece around it, upbeat and fun |
| The Weeknd ft. Future | Double Fantasy | 74 | A song as uncomfortable as the HBO series it soundtracks. |
| Miley Cyrus | Jades | 73 | |
| Kim Petras ft. Nicki Minaj | Alone | 72 | Another single using a 90s dance/techno sample…Petras at least writes her own chorus. |
| Charlie Puth ft. Dan + Shay | That’s Not How This Works | 69 | The sounds coming out of these three’s mouths should drive me away, but I am hooked in by the writing, taking the formula they usually work in (especially Dan + Shay) and turning it on it’s head. |
| Fifty Fifty | Cupid | 69 | Doja Cat quickly got some soundalikes. Not a bad song persay, but someone should really tell this group to develop their own sound if they want to make it past their first single over here. |
| Lewis Capaldi | Wish You The Best | 69 | Back to yell-singing I see. He’s not as egregious here, almost like this is Someone You Loved Part 2, where he finally actually accepts that things are over. The angst is still overdriven in his voice but the writing is better, more thoughtful. |
| Corey Kent | Wild As Her | 68 | Not quite boyfriend country, a song pining for a lost love so still very much in the country ouvre. Kent’s voice is rather thin and the backing vocals don’t make up for it. The guitars do go a ways towards that though. |
| Jordan Davis | Next Thing You Know | 61 | I’m sure this is touching to those people who still feel feelings, but the country trend of writing first wedding dance songs as singles has way jumped the shark AFAIC. Next thing you know, your third album is released directly into the used CD bin. |
| David Guetta, Anne-Marie & Coi Leroi | Baby Don’t Hurt Me | 60 | Rewriting, or actually adding verses can’t save this reworked Haddaway hit from being just as inane and annoying as the original. |
| Bailey Zimmerman | Religiously | 59 | Gotta get that title in the chorus with a crowbar, eh? And why does your break down just sound like your nose is stuffed up? |
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