Rock
Set Your Goals
"This Will Be The Death Of Us"
These bay area punkers look to reinvent the lost art of gritty pop-punk with their sophomore release. Laden with blast beats, punchy power chords and a track featuring Paramore/s Haley Williams on vocals, SYG is back with a surprisingly catchy summer release.
Rap
Da/ T.R.U.T.H.
"The Big Picture"
Grammy-nominated rapper Da/ T.R.U.T.H. has made a name for himself spitting religious verses over booty-shaking beats that sound like they were concocted in Jeezy and T.I./s respective rhyme labs. "The Big Picture" is an interesting take on gospel that is definitely worth a listen.
Dance
Owl City
"Ocean Eyes"
Adam Young/s brainchild Owl City makes its major label debut, featuring soothing synths and vocal tracks from start to end, creating a feel good album that may not be the best soundtrack for a dance party but a suitable fit for summer drives and quiet nights.
Pop
Demi Lovato
"Here We Go Again"
The 16-year-old Camp Rock star/s second release isn/t quite as pop influenced as the releases of her fellow Disney teen sensations. Featuring a track co-written by John Mayer and a Kelly Clarkson-esque vibe present throughout, "Here We Go Again," is a step toward maturity for Lovato.