Downloads of the Week
R. KELLY Feat. 2 CHAINZ
“My Story”
★½
After two superb throwback-soul albums, R. Kelly clearly needed to do something tasteless to atone; hence this tuneless, witless, pointless first single from the forthcoming “Black Panties.” Its topic: R. Kelly is from Chicago and successful — so there. Think that’s unexciting? Wait till you hear 2 Chainz’s guest verse.
THE CIVIL WARS
“The One That Got Away”
★★½
“I miss the way you wanted me,” sung with a sudden hush, is the most resonant part of this spooky lead single from the country-folk duo’s self-titled, second album. The stop-start arrangement is self-conscious and showy, but Joy Williams and John Paul White get under your skin anyway.
HUGH LAURIE
“The St. Louis Blues”
★★
From “Didn’t It Rain,” the “House” star’s second album of blues standards, this version of W.C. Handy’s foundational song features an arrangement whose ostentation is distracting. It seems overly theatrical — but despite being an actor, Laurie sings relaxed and right for the material, though not for too long here, only one verse.
ASIA ARGENTO Feat. MORGAN
“Sexodrome”
★★
Another movie star also busy making music is Italian movie star Argento, whose new “Total Entropy” collects several years’ worth of singles. “Sexodrome,” made with Italian dance producer Morgan, is a heavy-breathing club track: “I wanna take you to the sexodrome,” she growls. It meanders, but pleasantly.
GLEN CAMPBELL
“Hey Little One”
★★
More than a year after a public farewell tour following Campbell’s diagnosis with Alzheimer’s, he’s released a new album (“See You There”) full of remakes of old hits. “Hey Little One,” from 1968, is typical — not a bad update, with Campbell in surprisingly good voice, but it has nothing on the earlier version.
JAMES BLUNT
“Bonfire Heart”
★½
Mr. “You’re Beautiful” — one of the most sickly sweet recordings ever made — is back with his fourth album, “Moon Landing,” which gives us this piece of romantic nonsense. Blunt’s reedy earnestness and the corny lyrics (“Your love is like a soldier, loyal till you die”) are tough to take.
AVICII
“Wake Me Up”
★
This Swedish house DJ, who’s toured with Madonna and headlines giant dance festivals worldwide, is an utter cheeseball. At least he’s daring — no one else in his field is making country-crossover tracks like this teaser from his forthcoming debut album. If we’re lucky, no one ever will again.