From a sweet-toothed Canadian hit-maker to a satanic Swedish band and a precocious Oregonian teenager, pop comes in many flavors this week.
Carly Rae Jepsen
“Making the Most of the Night”
★★★ ½
While there’s no “Call Me Maybe”-type juggernaut on Carly Rae Jepsen’s new “E•mo•tion” album, it’s packed with smartly crafted, emotionally direct bubble gum that makes Taylor Swift’s last effort sound even more contrived. One of two Sia co-writes, “Making the Most of the Night” is typically shiny without being plastic, compassionate without being sappy.
Bon Jovi
“We Don’t Run”
★★
Bon Jovi’s first post-Richie Sambora effort, “Burning Bridges,” is a “fan album” — in other words, a transitional stew of outtakes and leftovers. Except for this song, which is new and feels like a middle finger to Sambora. Aside from a perfunctory solo (by John Shanks), it’s dominated by bass and drums. The production is big enough, but it could have used extra oomph from chorus magus Max Martin.
Jordin Sparks
“Work From Home”
★★★
This “Idol” winner’s third album has been announced, shelved and re-announced so many times, its apparition alone is worth noting. Sure, Sparks can be a little hokey when she tries to be, you know, “street,” but “Work From Home,” featuring B.o.B, is a pretty great “I so badly want to be Aaliyah” tune.
Radkey
“Love Spills”
★★
Young dudes with skateboards and wallet chains: You know pop-punk’s just around the corner. The lead single from these three Missouri brothers’ debut album sticks to the formula, which is fine if you like formula. The only distinguishing bit is guitarist Dee Radke’s tuneful, warm vocals.
Ghost
“From the Pinnacle to the Pit”
★★★
Producer Klas Ahlund (Katy Perry, Robyn) hasn’t compromised these masked Swedish occultists, who throw ABBA, Black Sabbath and 1960s psychedelia into their witchy caldron and stir. Featuring the band’s oddly evocative combo of pop melody and heavy riffage, this song is the dark jewel of new album “Meliora.”
Peaches
“Close Up”
★★★
Peaches’ collaboration with ex-Sonic Youth Kim Gordon simmers at a hypnotic low boil. Make sure to check out the accompanying video, a trash — in the John Waters sense — masterpiece in which Peaches fights in lucha libre bouts while coach Gordon coolly vapes from the sidelines.
Grace Mitchell
“Jitter”
★★★½
There’s a crazy lot going on here: a fidgety, glitchy verse; a crazy catchy chorus; a nonsensical bridge; a synth line swooping in from nowhere; a three-second rap. And it works! Mitchell, a 18-year-old Portland, Ore., resident, and producer Mark Foster (of Foster the People) have casually tossed out the sound of future pop now.