"All Bad"

Justin Bieber, album not yet titled

Among Justin Bieber’s recent goings-on, which span from a wrangle with the Brazilian police to a bad bout of food poisoning (Bieber fever, anyone?), the 19-year old has released his newest hit, "All Bad." Opening with a jarring piano chord sequence and an insipid thump masquerading as a beat, JB’s ballad tests the boundaries of tonality and percussion. Bieber’s breathy and raw voice professes disenchantment with all of his haters who, "like pouring fire on propane," have tainted his hitherto innocent track record with the "females." Nearly as uninspired as its lyrics, "All Bad" remains dull and tedious throughout its three minute duration.

"Que Balies Conmigo Hoy"

Fifthe Harmony, "Juntos"

A spunky merging of pop, electronica, and Spanish fluency, Fifth Harmony’s "Que Bailes Conmigo Hoy" bodes well for the nascent girl group, the beloved child of "X Factor" auditions. The song begins fairly formulaically, featuring a charming and energetic a cappella verse that leads into a bubbly electronic build-up. The chorus hits without a moment’s breath and delivers a cheery refrain combining Spice Girl perkiness and TLC nonchalance. Though perhaps lacking in musical sophistication, "Que Bailes Conmigo Hoy" is delightfully light and effervescent.

"Devil in Disguise"

Lecrae, "Church Clothes 2"

Third up on Lecrae’s highly anticipated mixtape "Church Clothes 2," "Devil in Disguise" boldly introduces a bluesy rock riff into a genre largely unacquainted with such sounds. No less intriguing than Lecrae’s musical experiment are his reflective lyrics, which meditate on his purpose and worth as a Christian: "I wanna die but I’m scared of lookin’ in God’s face." A firm and constant cadence underlies Lecrae’s cool rhymes, as he transitions from self-derision to supplication and investigates his dependency on God. "Devil in Disguise" may not be the best jam on "CC2," but it is certainly one of the most innovative.