Downloads of the Week
Justin Timberlake
“Take Back the Night”
★★★
As if releasing one of the best albums of the year wasn’t enough, JT is about to follow up “The 20/20 Experience” with a companion album (out later in the year). The first taste is this glistening piece of R&B that sounds like Michael Jackson’s “Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough” with even more funk and lust. Goddamn, this boy is good.
MAYER HAWTHORNE
“Allie Jones”
★★ 1/2
Although Justin Timberlake’s retro R&B has taken the world by storm this year, it’s worth sparing a thought for Mayer Hawthorne, who has been doing his own highly respectable version for a few years. His third album, “Where Does This Door Go,” continues that trend — especially on this slice of stoned-soul, which showcases his impressive croon and impeccable taste.
DAVID LYNCH
“The Ballad of Hollis Brown”
★★★
The director’s excellent second album, “The Big Dream,” has all the eerie hallmarks of his film work [see story below], but it’s on this Bob Dylan cover that darkness really draws in. A death-march beat and Lynch’s unsettlingly high-pitched voice give an already harsh song an added layer of creepiness and desperation. Evidently, there’s more than one way for him to freak people out.
PET SHOP BOYS
“The Last To Die”
★★★
Of all the floor-friendly material on the Pet Shop Boys’ vivacious latest collection, it’s the reimagining of a track from Bruce Springsteen’s album “Magic” that arguably stands out as the best cut — and certainly the most unlikely. The Boss’ earnestness is replaced with four-to-the-floor euphoria and shows that while the British electro duo are pretty long in the tooth, they still have the odd trick left in them.
PEARL JAM
“Mind Your Manners”
★★★
It’s quite possible that Pearl Jam will be rocking out with cockroaches after the apocalypse, but their new track suggests that wouldn’t be such a bad thing. Taken from their forthcoming album, “Lightning Bolt” (out Oct. 15), this raucous, punky single captures them in an agitated mood. “This world’s no longer good enough,” sneers Eddie Vedder at one point. If Pearl Jam has taken it upon themselves to improve things, then this is a pretty good start.
SARA BAREILLES
“Chasing the Sun”
★★ 1/2
Sara Bareilles’ natural talent has never been in doubt, but it’s fair to say that just a little of her piano-based pop goes a long way. “Chasing the Sun” (from her new album, “The Blessed Unrest”) is certainly good enough to keep you going for a while. It’s a gorgeous and uplifting homage to New York City that sees the Californian singing with characteristic warmth.
THE JULIE RUIN
“Oh Come On”
★★ 1/2
The ’90s indie-rock nostalgia crowd are in for more excitement, this time courtesy of Kathleen Hanna, who is taking the current Le Tigre hiatus as a chance to reunite her old side project. The first results are a hoot: lo-fi rock ’n’ roll pierced with Hanna’s unmistakable yelps, all of which feel as invigorating as they ever did. Hopefully, there are similar thrills to come on their forthcoming second album, “Run Fast” (out Sept. 3).
NADINE SHAH
“Floating”
★★★
This British singer has enjoyed critical acclaim in her homeland for her brooding yet soulful sound, and there’s no reason why she couldn’t repeat her success Stateside. “Floating” (from her debut album, “Love Your Dum and Mad”) mixes Patti Smith’s smoky vocal tones with PJ Harvey’s sense of anxiety for a compelling and convincing outcome.