Dave Segal, “The Stranger‘s resident weird-music specialist”, is dyspeptic about America’s Top Ten Singles:
… “Holy Grail” reeks of synergizing corporate stratagem. Are the skreets listenin’? Do Fortune 500 CEOs like hiphop? Do you want to make Shawn Carter even richer? Whatever the case, “Holy Grail” starts out like a maudlin ballad, Justin Timberlake viscerally emoting like something’s actually at stake (“This is where we reel in the sentimental schmaltz lovers”). Then the rapping bit starts, N-bombs drop, cautionary tales of fame stream out (“Here’s where my vastly poorer fans shed tears of sympathy for me”), Hammer, Tyson, and Cobain references commence (zzz), and then JT faux-croons the chorus to “Smells Like Teen Spirit” (“This is where we snag ’90s-rock nostalgiacs”). Then Jay and J alternate between perfunctory rapping and heart-on-sleeve singing; the beat plods, the strings waft. Bet your snapback that this song is on Mayor Bloomberg’s iPod…
My own choice for Song of the Summer, below the fold because NSFW:
Saturday Morning Open Thread: Minor IndulgencesPost + Comments (98)