Maroon 5 featuring Cardi B
Girls Like You
Pop

Cardi B joins Adam Levine and Co. for a song and video that pretend to offer empowerment but actually don’t.

Shawn Mendes
Shawn Mendes
Alternative, Pop, Rock

Love and lust, hope and heartbreak get all tangled up on Shawn Mendes’ third, self-titled effort.

Jennifer Lopez
Dinero
Pop

Jennifer Lopez’s latest caters to the empty idea that money and materialism are all that matters.

Charlie Puth
Voicenotes
Pop, R&B

On Charlie Puth’s second effort, he can’t seem to decide if he’s more interested in being sweet or seductive.

Shawn Mendes
Youth
Pop, R&B

Shawn Mendes joins forces with R&B singer Khalid to boldly declare a message of determination amid terror and tragedy.

Christina Aguilera
Accelerate
Pop, R&B

It’s been six years since we heard from Christina. But little has changed regarding her willingness to exploit her sensuality.

Janelle Monáe
Dirty Computer
Pop, R&B

Janelle Monáe’s latest is a compelling, complicated case study in contradictions when it comes to love and freedom.

Ariana Grande
No Tears Left To Cry
Pop

Ariana Grande’s first new song since the Manchester bombing last year mostly majors in positivity and looking forward.

5 Seconds of Summer
Youngblood
Pop

The latest hit from this Australian boy band involves two people whose romance has devolved from vows to vindictiveness.

Zayn
Let Me
Pop, R&B

The latest hit from this former One Direction singer begins lustily but takes a surprising turn toward commitment after that.

George Ezra
Staying at Tamara’s
Alternative, Folk, Pop

As musical escapes go, this one gets a mixed review.

Meghan Trainor
No Excuses
Pop

Meghan Trainor returns with another empowerment anthem undermined by some mixed messages in its video’s visuals.

Vance Joy
Nation of Two
Alternative, Folk, Pop

This up-and-coming Australian indie artist majors in sweet sentiments and dabbles in some mild sensuality as well.

Various/Soundtrack
Fifty Shades Freed (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
EDM/Electronica/Techno, Pop, R&B

Tender love songs are in the minority on a soundtrack that more often mirrors the R-rated content of the film …

Justin Timberlake
Man of the Woods
Country, EDM/Electronica/Techno, Pop, R&B, Rock

J.T.’s latest touches on fatherhood, marriage and fidelity while dancing with questionable language and sexually explicit lyrics.