ROCK
ARCADE FIRE
“Reflektor” (7:42)
Producers: Markus Dravs, James Murphy, Arcade Fire
Writer: Arcade Fire
Publisher: EMI Music Publishing
LABEL: Merge
Generation Y’s most beloved rock band is back, and is more concerned about the heavens and world-saving love than writing a four-minute song that easily fits into radio formats. An electronic underbelly (courtesy of James Murphy) propels “Reflektor,” but the group’s guitar bombast is left to dominate the track’s outer layers, which it does extraordinarily well. -Chris Payne
DANCE/ELECTRONIC
DAFT PUNK Featuring PHARRELL WILLIAMS
“Lose Yourself to Dance” (5:54)
Producer: Daft Punk
Writers: Daft Punk, Nile Rodgers, Pharrell Williams
Publishers: various
LABEL: Daft Life/Columbia
After ruling the summer with “Get Lucky,” could lightning strike twice for the supergroup of Daft Punk, Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers? Follow-up single “Lose Yourself to Dance” is already a dance hit, and with an equally effervescent mic performance from Williams, the beaming funk track could cross over with a pinpoint radio edit. -Jason Lipshutz
R&B
SEVYN STREETER Featuring CHRIS BROWN
“It Won’t Stop” (4:42)
Producers: Picard Brothers, Diplo, Free School
Writers: Sevyn Streeter, Micha Powell, Jean Baptiste
Publishers: various
LABEL: CBE/Atlantic
Sevyn Streeter’s sultry new single examines the irrepressibility of romantic feelings, with the newbie singer/songwriter pairing verses with Brown. The two strike a kinetic balance on “It Won’t Stop” by gracefully wooing each other atop the rhythmic production, which benefits from Diplo’s role as a co-producer. -Kathy Iandoli
INDIE
CUT COPY
“Free Your Mind” (5:15)
Producer: Dan Whitford
Writers: Dan Whitford, Tim Hoey, Mitchell Scott, Ben Browning
Publisher: Kobalt Music
LABEL: Loma Vista/Modular
Cut Copy often revels in odd sonic juxtapositions like blending ’80s synth-pop with futuristic psychedelia. New single “Free Your Mind,” however, is more immediate and less impressionistic: Over disco bass, congas and sampled yelps, Dan Whitford sings, “You got to reach the sky/If you want your life to shine,” in a master class of camp. -Ryan Reed
POP
CHER LLOYD Featuring T.I.
“I Wish” (3:32)
Producers: Shellback, ILYA, OzGo
Writers: Shellback, Savan Kotecha, ILYA, Oscar Gorres, Clifford Harris
Publishers: MXM Music (administered by Kobalt)/Wolf Cousins/Domani & Ya Majesty’s Music/WB Music (ASCAP)/Warner-Chappell Music Scandinavia
LABEL: Epic
“I Wish” possesses a handful of winning ingredients, including Shellback returning as co-writer/co-producer, T.I. popping in as a guest and U.K. vocalist Lloyd dropping some more harmless cheekiness. Unfortunately, this pseudo-update of Skee-Lo’s “I Wish” lacks a compelling hook, as the blaring percussion overpowers the punchiness of the lyrics. -Jason Lipshutz