Cheryl Cole - I Don't Care

"I'm screaming, I don't care"

It's been awhile since I was into a Cheryl Cole single. In fact, not since 2012's still-awesome Call My Name have I felt the need to write about her music. Refreshingly, her new song I Don't Care is a gimmick-free, classic melodic dance track that doesn't sound at all like it wants to be trendy. The beat, while not new or unusual, is amazing from the start and the melody hooks as it wraps deliciously around the production. I don't expect that this will be Cheryl's new sound, and I'm actually kind of surprised that they chose it as a single, but I'm happy that she's up for recording something like this. It'll be interesting to see how the public takes to it. I can't help think that this is more of a Summer single, but I definitely understand that she'll want to ride the publicity of her return to the X-Factor UK (which is looking pretty good so far this year).



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. Buy her music here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Top 50 Singles Of 2012: 45-41

45. The Killers - Runaways



The Killers returned with one of their biggest, most ballsiest anthems yet.

44. The Wanted - Chasing The Sun



Sure, it sounded pretty much like their last single, but why change a winning formula?

43. Katy Perry - Wide Awake



Capping off the flawless Teenage Dream era, this ranks as Perry's best ballad yet.

42. Cheryl Cole - Call My Name



Cheryl's most exciting comeback, let down only by the lackluster album that followed.

41. Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know (ft. Kimbra) 



Certainly overplayed, but overplayed for a reason. I much prefer the remix, which takes that chorus to dizzying heights.

Track-by-Track: Cheryl Cole - Messy Little Raindrops

Messy indeed. As part of one of the UK's most prolific and successful girl bands, Girls Aloud, Cheryl Cole created (ok, participated in) some of this past decade's most essential pop music. Last year, her first solo album did very well even though it was mostly filler. Is the follow-up any better? Not sure, but at least it's got more high points.

1. Promise This - One of her better singles, this uptempo dance track hinted at a more aggressive album. And while that didn't come to pass, it's still a great kick-off. 9/10

2. Yeah Yeah - A ravey dance track that marks a perfect shift in sound from the last album. It's increasingly euphoric as it plays out, and features the kind of subtle hooks that stick with you. 8/10

3. Live Tonight - A strummy Will.i.am. track that's saved from being skipable by a breathy, wordless hook at the end of the chorus. It's pleasant stuff, and continues the streak of strong tracks at the head of the album. Too bad the quality doesn't keep up. 8/10

4. The Flood - It's the best solo ballad I've heard from her, though the vocals in the chorus are clearly not all her own. It's a big sounding track and an obvious choice for a single. In fact, it's the only ballad on the album worth listening to. 8/10

5. Amnesia - And thus begins the saggy, midtempo center of the album. This is a lightweight pop track that sounds a lot like the songs on her first album. The chorus is particularly repetitive, and not in a good way. 6/10

6. Everyone - I thought having Dizzee Rascal on this track would make it stand out, but neither the production (which sounds a lot like the last song) nor the melody really catches. Just as you think the promising verses are going to blast into something worthwhile, the forgettable bridge and lame chorus disappoints. 6/10

7. Raindrops - Insipid. From the opening lyrics, I started rolling my eyes. It's the song that gives the album it's title and I guess that's why it's included. The chorus of this ballad couldn't be any more cloying, though I do like the high bits in the verses. 5/10

8. Hummingbird - By this time I was pretty much numbed from the previous tracks, and this is no better. Where is the passion? This is so incredibly boring, from plodding production to repetitive melody. It's barely even a song! 5/10

9. Better To Lie - Oh god. And now we've reached the nadir. This is so lazy. It sounds like about a million other tracks and is oddly detached (even a little bouncy?) considering the subject matter. 3/10

10. Let's Get Down - Finally, some tempo. The lyrics here are some of the worst on the album, but (importantly) the hook and, especially, the production here are great. The beat is easily the best on the album. A pity that Will.i.am. and Cole's ridiculous lyrics keep this from being better. 8/10

11. Happy Tears - Back to boring midtempos. It's hard for me to imagine what Cole sees in this material. It's so incredibly forgettable. This is actually one of the worst tracks on the album, salvaged only by being sandwiched between two of the better. 4/10

12. Waiting - Why this ends the album completely confuses me. In fact, it would make a great single. It's probably the best song on the album -- a straightforward dance track with an ingenious piano sample and simple, yet addictive, hook. This is what she should be doing! 10/10

Album Grade: 6.7/10

Cheryl Cole - Waiting

"In another time, you'll still be mine"

Whether she's judging on X-Factor or releasing her own music, Cheryl Cole seems to inspire a lot of passion. I'm surprised how "love-or-hate" she is with people, especially since the majority of her music is pretty darn bland -- eliciting glazed over eyes more than fiery emotion. Her second album is mostly the same as the first, though there are a few more standouts in my opinion. Cole's voice (solo, at least) definitely has its limitations and she does best with heavily produced uptempo numbers that hide that. Waiting, the last track on the new album, is one of my favorites. It's an uncharacteristically energetic dance song with what sounds like a Vanessa Carlton piano sample (can anybody confirm this?) running throughout. That it comes at the end of an album largely devoted to tired Will.i.am produced midtempos is kind of surprising. It's more Girls Aloud-style than most of her solo work. That's probably why I like it so much.

Cheryl Cole - Waiting by alienhits

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Pop Blitz 9/21/10

Cheryl Cole - Promise This This is what her first album should have sounded like. Gone is the R&B-lite, replaced by a storming dance track with an in-your-face (to the point of being mildly irritating) french hook. A-

Katy B - Katy On A Mission
I just don't get the appeal of this song. It's all bark, no bite. Attitude everywhere, but not much of a hook to hang it on. C

Jay Sean - 2012 (It Ain't The End) (ft. Nicki Minaj)
Jay Sean attempts to avoid one-hit-wonder status with this gimmicky, derivative track. The melody's lazy and completely forgettable. Amazingly, Nicki Minaj is the highlight. C-

Mark Ronson - The Bike Song (ft. Kyle Falconer)
Miles away from his last single, but nearly as good. It's such a laid back, summer song that it's a shame that it wasn't released back in June. Always a plus to hear Falconer's vocals, too. A-

Far East Movement - Like A G6
I'm not sure what's supposed to make this "far east," but beyond the elastic beat, there's nothing much here. Dumb lyrics + a boring hook = D+

The XX - Islands
Winners of this year's prestigious Mercury music prize, this pretty, laidback single showcases the band's downtempo style. It's a pleasant sound, though I can't say I understand what all the fuss is about. B

B.O.B. - Magic (ft. Rivers Cuomo)
I much prefer this to Airplanes. Rather than maudlin, the chorus is catchy and fun. Cuomo was the perfect choice for a guest artist. A nice Autumn single with a Summer feel. B