I'm gonna talk about new pop songs in the spotlight...

There are still a lot of songs out there and I'm finding that I'm not enjoying writing a mini-review of every new song. I'm shifting directions this week to broader commentary where I'll still comment on the songs that most interest me.

• The iPod ad effect strikes again with the Ting Tings, who debut at number one on the BBC singles chart. While their song "Shut Up And Let Me Go" is on the Apple ad, they debut with "That's Not My Name" here. What's up with that?
  
• Meanwhile, Foo Fighters introduce "Let It Die", which confuses me terribly some days since Feist had an album with the same title.
• It looks like now that I'm using the Billboard Bubbling Under chart, I'm going to be talking about country music more. Tim McGraw is this week's addition with "Kristofferson".
• Usher's "Love In This Club Part II" isn't nearly as distinctive as the first part, despite Beyonce's presence.
  
• In case you have a high school graduation this season, Mariah Carey has an ill-suited bit of sentimental dreck: "Bye Bye". It's not really a propos for graduations since it's more about a bigger transition (death), but I'd be willing to bet you'll hear it this year at those graduations.
• OK, speaking of Mariah, it's more noticeable when Ms. Carey is on the charts, but isn't it very clear that Leona Lewis has grown up listening to a LOT of Mariah Carey? She's just a pale clone without the magnificent voice...
• And I've now realized that Estelle's song, "American Boy", is a novelty hit. she recites American lingo and place names while Kanye West indulges in British lingo. It turns out that Mr. West is well-suited for goofy novelty hits. Besides, listen to his performance on his "Homecoming" single. The dude can't even figure out when to breathe.

CDs listened to today:

• Bohuslav Martinu: Nonet
• Radiohead: OK Computer
• Deerhoof: The Runners Four
• Harry Partch: The Bewitched
• Spoon: Girls Can Tell
• Paula Diehl: Right Of Way
• Arnold Schoenberg: Gurre-Lieder, disk 1