So, what are the new pop songs this week?

MTV's TRL did the good old clearance sale bit again last week, shoving a bunch of oddball clips at us instead of lingering on the top ten, so a lot of what was on that, I'm ignoring (moldy oldies from Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears? Demonstrating "girl power"? No thanks...).

• The big debut this week is Flo Rida's follow-up to his huge hit, "Low". While the beat is brisker, it lacks the distinctiveness of the earlier track. I'll just be grateful when we don't have to hear about "Apple Bottom Jeans"...
• Lifehouse returns to the charts with "Whatever It Takes", another husky-voiced, sweeping anthem. Or is it a ballad? It's performed with production that's just so; note perfect in every way and as boring as perfection.
• Angels And Airwaves are back with "Secret Crowds". Perhaps it's because of fond memories for Blink 182, but this band doesn't do much for me. I find the singing weak, the playing positively lifeless, and the song insipid. Other than that, it's OK.
• Kanye West has another video out, supporting his track, "Flashing Lights". The beat is different, which is a pleasant surprise, augmented by lush strings and curiously vintage-sounding synthesizers, but Mr. West is still delivering his rhymes with the same juvenile, sing-songy cadences and while this isn't a shallow and materialistic as some of his other pieces, it's hardly interesting enough to matter. Is it just me, or is this guy as paranoid as a competitive athlete?
• With "Sky Is Over", Serj Tankian has managed to go as over the top as vintage Queen, but without the self-aware sense of humor. The pompous, self-consciously grandiose lyrics, the mock-classical piano, none of this suits his voice anyway and what's with the refrain in the middle of this mess? "Don't you want to hold me baby?" Huh?
• Ray J is joined by Yung Berg in the charming, if cheesy, "Sexy Can I". This thing is so lightweight with its lothario rap and buttery singing, you might want to make sure you don't float away when you listen. The spacious production is pretty subtle and these two are pretty winning--although I could do without the pornographic lyrics at times.

CDs listened to today:

• Alfred Schnittke: Symphony No. 8
• Richard Wagner: Siegfried-Idyll
• Prodigy: Firestarter
• Soho: Hippychick
• Cuong Vu: Vu-Tet
• Nick Didkovsky: Amalia's Secret