Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Downtown (ft. Eric Nally, Melle Mel, Kool Moe Dee and Grandmaster Caz)

I watched the MTV VMAs the other day, and for so many reasons it pissed me off. It's been awhile since I've had any interest in American music, and a lot of that has to do with the culture surrounding it. Between Taylor Swift and Kanye West's obnoxious egotism and Miley Cyrus's constant need to "get high," I found myself embarrassed for the whole lot of them. Back when I was a teenager, the VMAs were such a big deal. I'm sure part of that was due to my age and my ignorance to the wider world, but it's really sad to see how far they've slipped. I don't remember hating American popstars the way that I do now. What ever happened to the modest performer who let their music and talent speak for themselves rather than bitch and moan and wax poetic and start needless "feuds" to stay relevant? Anyways, this post isn't really supposed to be about the VMAs. It's actually about the only performance that I enjoyed. When I heard the name Macklemore, my initial reaction was "absolutely no interest." But then, Eric Nally of Foxy Shazam strutted on out to sing the hook of this new track, Downtown. Eric Nally! On a major pop record! I was so pleasantly surprised, and what makes it even better is that the song is actually pretty awesome (minus the Macklemore parts, ironically). If this catapults Nally to the fame he's deserved for so long, I will be one happy camper. He is just the kind of solo performer we need right now: charismatic, uber-talented and raw.

Pop Blitz - U.S. Itunes Top Ten

Time for a little snapshot of Summer 2013 on U.S. itunes. These are the top ten tracks at the time of writing. Do they stack up against other summers?

1. Robin Thicke - Blurred Lines (feat. T.I. & Pharrell)
This is the Summer of throwback jams. I'm continually amazed that Thicke still has such a strong career. This gets a little annoying after repeated listens, but there's no denying nostalgia. B+

2. Miley Cyrus - We Can't Stop
Didn't like it at first, but the track's druggy weirdness won me over in a big way -- enough to become my favorite American Summer track so far this year. A

3. JAY Z - Holy Grail (feat. Justin Timberlake)
Timberlake just annoys me, but his vocals are almost unrecognizable here. I actually really like the first minute or so, but then it becomes all too murky and forgettable. The Nirvana reference doesn't work at all. B-

4. Imagine Dragons - Radioactive
This has become more and more inescapable as the months have gone on. It's not really my thing (a little too dark), but I can appreciate it -- and it's definitely got that big hook. B

5. Daft Punk - Get Lucky (feat. Pharrell Williams)
A nice compliment to song number one, this disco throwback has become a surprising hit. It's deservedly soundtracking the Summer. A-

6. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Same Love (feat. Mary Lambert)
For some reason, I thought this was Frank Ocean for the longest time. The track never really surpasses its "message" status, but it's an important message and I'm certainly happy that it's become so big. A-

7. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Can't Hold Us (feat. Ray Dalton)
I'm actually kind of amazed at how much success these guys have had. I'm not as big a fan of this track as the last one, but it's cool enough, I guess. B

8. Florida Georgia Line - Cruise (Remix) [feat. Nelly]
Country and rap... is not something I usually enjoy. Add a healthy bit of vocoder and you've got this weird track. I just don't know... C

9. Anna Kendrick - Cups
She must be absolutely shocked that she suddenly has a top ten hit. I was a fan of Pitch Perfect when it was first out, but have cooled on it quite a bit as it's gained so much popularity. This is... fine (for a little cup ditty). B

10. Bruno Mars - Treasure
I don't know why I've never connected with Bruno Mars. On paper, he should be everything I like. I just can't get into it. This is a nice throwback and better than I expected, actually, so I'm hoping it'll grow on me. For now I'm gonna have to give another B