So, how about new songs in the pop music spotlight this week?

• And now, witness the rise of the marketing power known as Disney Channel. Focused almost exclusively on tweener girls, Disney has perfected the art of selling to these children and their latest summer salvo is at hand: Camp Rock. The lead single from this movie musical is "We Rock", a cast number that's perky, enthusiastic, and quite forgettable.
• I don't love Keith Urban's new single, "You Look Good In My Shirt", but it has some sharp songwriting and some nice bite to the sound and the playing.
• Flo Rida tries another follow up to his huge hit, "Low", this one called "In The Ayer", featuring Will.I.Am of the Blackeyed Peas. By now it should be clear to all that anythng touched by Will.I.Am is probably not a masterpiece and this one is pretty lame. It's like the guy can't resist a cheesy hook, no matter how grating.
• Most people know who the Neptunes are, the hip-hop producers of renown. fewer know that they began as a rock band called N.E.R.D. Of course, now that they're powerful in the music industry, they can indulge their youthful fantasies and release big rock albums. They have a new single this week, "Spaz", that has deep roots in a drum'n'bass style (yes, odd for a rock band, but they are nerds...). N.E.R.D. really highlight a curious difference between rock and hip-hop: Pharrell Williams' singing is fine for rap singers, but it's awful in a rock track. Plus, this track has zero melody.
• Sorry for the negativity this week--it really wasn't a great week. As proof, I warn you that the Pussycat Dolls return with "When I Grow Up". Kitchen sink production hiding weak singing...
  

CDs listened to today:

• Krzysztof Penderecki: Symphony No. 5
  
• Lisa Stansfield: Affection
• Metric: Live It Out
• Arnold Schoenberg: Pelleas et Melisande, disk 2
• Various Artists: Compilation #1
• The Kooks: Inside In/Inside Out
• Steven Winteregg: Visions And Revelations
• Luciano Berio: Rendering Per Orchestra