LOL: Iggy Azalea, “Clap Back” – Australia-via-ATL rapper Iggy Azalea just released her sophomore album In My Defense, which… okay, sure, fine. Iggy is easy to clown, and while I can’t say I’m a fan, I’ll admit she has some good songs (“Pussy” was great, and I genuinely like “Kream”). But, I’m sorry, the second song on this album, “Clap Back,” makes it impossible for me to continue my Iggy journey. The first line of this song (which is later repeated) is “’Cause I talk like this and my ass fat/They be saying Iggy tryna act black.” I mean, that seems like a pretty fair assessment to me. She later says, “They call me racist/Only thing I like is green and blue faces.” Er, okay! This is less of a clap back and more of an airing of grievances. —Ashley Reese
I’d really rather not, but: Sam Smith, “How Do You Sleep?” – On this song, Sam Smith sounds like an abused dog who has cruelly Autotuned his cries. Hurt dogs hurt people. The track is like, “What if we took principles of trap and EDM but removed all the edges for people who are afraid of everything?” And yet, I cannot deny the chorus, which immediately crawled up my spine, into my ear, and wrapped itself around my brain. I know I will not mind hearing this in every counter-service food joint I enter for the next two years, that I will, in fact, secretly enjoy it. I surrender: It’s a good song, I guess. You won this round, Smith, but I’ll be back!!! —Rich Juzwiak
Yes: Charli XCX & Christine and the Queens, “Gone” – I was fully prepared for “Gone” to be a two-rights-make-a-wrong situation, you know, the supergroup-makes-mediocre-art conundrum. And guess what? For once, my skepticism has gotten me nowhere. This insecurity anthem bangs. I also think both parties should pivot to eletroclash. It’s their final evolution. —Maria Sherman
I’d really rather not, but: Sam Smith, “How Do You Sleep?” – On this song, Sam Smith sounds like an abused dog who has cruelly Autotuned his cries. Hurt dogs hurt people. The track is like, “What if we took principles of trap and EDM but removed all the edges for people who are afraid of everything?” And yet, I cannot deny the chorus, which immediately crawled up my spine, into my ear, and wrapped itself around my brain. I know I will not mind hearing this in every counter-service food joint I enter for the next two years, that I will, in fact, secretly enjoy it. I surrender: It’s a good song, I guess. You won this round, Smith, but I’ll be back!!! —Rich Juzwiak
Yes: Charli XCX & Christine and the Queens, “Gone” – I was fully prepared for “Gone” to be a two-rights-make-a-wrong situation, you know, the supergroup-makes-mediocre-art conundrum. And guess what? For once, my skepticism has gotten me nowhere. This insecurity anthem bangs. I also think both parties should pivot to eletroclash. It’s their final evolution. —Maria Sherman
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