Singles Summary: February 2015

Florence + The Machine // "What Kind of Man"

How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful, Island

★★★★☆

The wait is finally over for new Florence + The Machine material. After teasing their upcoming album (How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful, out June 2, 2015) with a brass-filled snippet and cinematic video, Zane Lowe premiered "What Kind of Man" on BBC Radio 1. After a minute-long vocoder-assisted introduction, the song kicks into anthemic, alt-rock overdrive; it adds a grittier edge to the winning format that allowed the songs of Ceremonials to shine.

Ty Dolla $ign feat. Charli XCX and Tinashe // "Drop That Kitty"

TBA, Atlantic

★★★☆☆

The pairing of Charli XCX and Tinashe is strange, but the fact that the two sound great together is even more strange. XCX, whose vocals are usually shouted over a pop track, joins Tinashe, who is right at home on "Drop That Kitty," in this song headlined by rapper Ty Dolla $ign. The true sonic magic happens when the two songstresses join forces: "I know you want it all, I'm giving you a show / You like what I'm doin'? Drop that kitty down low." In terms of production and lyrical content, the song is completely in left field for Charli, but she makes it work. As for Tinashe, "That Kitty" would have fit snug in the track listing of Aquarius.

Zedd feat. Selena Gomez // "I Want You To Know"

TBA, Interscope

★★★★☆

Selena Gomez's heart has finally found what it wants: a record deal with Interscope Record and a club banger with EDM producer Zedd. "I Want You To Know" is Gomez's first track to be released since leaving Hollywood Records, and she comes back with power. While her vocals are drenched in reverb, the song keeps her in an attainable vocal range to give her optimal strength and support. Zedd's sea of electrifying synths wash around her as she proudly declares love (to Zedd, perhaps?): "I want you to know that it’s our time / You and me bleed the same light / I want you to know that I’m all yours / You and me run the same course." 

Kelly Clarkson // "Invincible"

Piece by Piece, RCA

★★★★☆

Kelly Clarkson may be coming up on her own Britney Jean-esque era. "Heartbeat Song," the lead single to her upcoming Piece to Piece album, failed to build steam and sizzled under public radar a month after release, but Clarkson has played a wise card to strike back with: a Sia Furler-penned power ballad. The unstoppable Sia can be heard singing back-up vocals behind Clarkson's melody line. The lyrics are not as profound as those in Sia's personal cuts, but the track still sweeps listeners as Clarkson sings, "Now I am invincible / No, I ain't a scared little girl no more / Yeah, I am invincible / What was I running for?"