411 Music Singles Buy Or Sell 08.24.10: The Songs For September

Posted by Ben Czajkowski on 08.24.2010

Does Katy Perry’s "Circle The Drain" and its rock edge cross the genre barrier? Is Soundgarden’s “Black Rain” a return to their grunge prime? Is the new Cali Swag District song going to introduce new slang to the masses? 411's Lenny Vowels and Aarón Mayagoitia talk these songs and more!

Hey again, everybody! Welcome back to your premiere online tastemaker – 411 Music Buy or Sell.

Each week, we'll look at some of the hottest new and hit singles and a couple of our esteemed writers will decide if they want to keep the song (Buy) or drop it like it's hot (Sell). This week's listeners are 411Music's own Lenny Vowels, who does just about everything, and the man behind 411Music's album reviews, Aarón Mayagoitia.

Let's get to it!

1) Trey Songz feat. Nicki Manja - "Bottoms Up" From Passion, Pain & Pleasure (Atlantic), Released September 14, 2010
Lenny Vowels: SELL. I'm not really sure there's much to say here. Trey and Nick have pumped out your standard club hit. Hitting on girls, ordering up drinks, repetitive as hell... the usual. As it is, even for the club, I've heard better, and I'm just not feeling it.
Aarón Mayagoitia: SELL. This song may be a treat for "alcohol heroes" like the one Trey Songz talks about in his latest club shaker, but this line of disposable music has never been my cup of tea. Nicki Minaj's rhymes come out in rapid bursts just like a bad case of diarrhea to add more stink to this grating piece of garbage. Enjoy, kiddies!
ANALYSIS: SELL.

2) Katy Perry - "Circle The Drain" From Teenage Dream (Capitol), Released August 24, 2010
Lenny Vowels: BUY. A Katy Perry song that starts with a guitar riff? What the hell is going on here? And is that angst and profanity I hear? This may be something of a revelation. I've never heard a Katy Perry song that I liked, but this one's really grabbing me. I doubt I'll change my opinion of her as an artist, but this is the kind of Madonna-like attitude that I wish all pop stars had. I gotta give this one a passing grade.
Aarón Mayagoitia: BUY. Looks like there's trouble in paradise for Perry and her flamboyant fiancé Russell Brand… Perry's angriest single to date is all about pointing out the romantic shortcomings that her rockstar lover has because of his addictions; the song's lyrics are sharp and go straight for the jugular and the electro-rock beat punches accordingly. Katy Perry may be the closest thing to a fembot there is, but at least she can write cool songs.
ANALYSIS: BUY.

3) Cali Swag District - "Teach Me How To Dougie" From The Kickback (Capitol), Released October 12, 2010
Lenny Vowels: SELL. Yup, I've heard this term more than a few times recently, though this was my first time hearing the song. The verdict: nah, not happening. This term may be around for a bit (ala Superman dat' ho), but the song is just too silly and not that great for me.
Aarón Mayagoitia: SELL. Where the hell did they find this piece of crap? This is the type of single record companies release to make a quick buck and then give the boot to whoever was responsible for such bad material. The California Swag District's debut alum isn't even out yet, but judging by "Teach Me How to Dougie", the world will be a better place if it never sees the light of day.
ANALYSIS: SELL.

4) Zac Brown Band feat. Alan Jackson - "As She's Walking Away" From You Get What You Give (Atlantic/Home Grown/Big Picture), Released September 21, 2010
Lenny Vowels: SELL. I rarely give country music a chance, but even with all the hype that the Zac Brown Band has been getting this year... I still didn't care for it. It's more of the same old stuff I just don't care to hear, and once again, I'm not buying anything country.
Aarón Mayagoitia: BUY. Nothing like a bit of country twang. Even though Alan Jackson is clearly upfront and center in this tranquil heartbreak number, it's the Zac Brown Band what lifts it up with sweet violin runs and twangy guitar-picking; but the sum of the parts is a winning combination nonetheless and is perfect for when you're in need of something less raucous.
ANALYSIS: SPLIT Ben's Opinion: This might as well have been just an Alan Jackson song, because, as Aaron pointed out, he's clearly upfront, in this one. I found nothing to really take away from this country tune. I felt as though it's a bit trite, but what country song isn't? I'm with Lenny on this one: SELL.

5) Plain White T's - "Rhythm Of Love" From The Wonders Of The Younger (TBD), Released September/October 2010
Lenny Vowels: SELL. Another band that I've never been a big fan of. The Plain White T's didn't originally hook me with hits like "Hey There, Delilah" and I never exactly gave them a second chance. "Rhythm of Love," however, isn't doing much to change my mind. It's okay, but nothing that I'd recommend to anyone who hasn't heard of the band. Maybe they'll score with another, like Ms. Perry did.
Aarón Mayagoitia: BUY. Even though I consider the Plain White T's extremely irritating and unremarkable, "Rhythm of Love" is a sappy song you can't get away from because of its damn hook, once you hear it you're doomed to have it stuck in your head for days until repeated listens somehow saturate your brain cells and make way for the next thing. Make it stop!
ANALYSIS: SPLIT Ben's Opinion: Trying hard not to be a cynical bastard, especially since I just got married two weeks ago. This track, though, it's pretty slow to start, and it just begs to have some crappy ukelele strumming along with the chorus and verses. Definitely wouldn't be a track that I would buy. SELL.

6) Soundgarden - "Black Rain" From Telephantasm (Universal), Released September 28, 2010
Lenny Vowels: BUY. YES! One of the original gods of the grunge scene makes their return this year with a new track. The weak efforts of STP have made me somewhat skeptical about the returns of some 90's bands, but "Black Rain" is a hard rockin' track that harkens back to the days of being back in the day. My only complaint is that it may sound a little bit too much like Soundgarden's older hit "Fell On Black Days," but either way, Cornell and the boys are definitely back in style.
Aarón Mayagoitia: BUY. OH MY FUCKING GOD. When Soundgarden announced that a leftover track from the Badmotorfinger sessions would be released as part of another compilation album, nobody thought it would be THIS good. "Black Rain" has the bulldozer riffs that made the band the heaviest of the Seattle scene and the unfathomable range of Chris Cornell's golden pipes. Grunge junkies, this is the stuff you've been craving, now turn up the volume and get wasted like it's 1991.
ANALYSIS: BUY.

And that will do it for this week. What do you think of the singles we covered? Agree? Disagree? Let us know in the comments!