Janet Jackson – R&B Junkie
Damn it, Janet. Dan Poliak on the complete madness of 2004.
Alex Newell & DJ Cassidy (with Nile Rodgers) – Kill the Lights
Echoes of an era with the best person to come out of Glee.
Dolly Parton – Here You Come Again
Dolly! Dolly! Dolly!
Prince – D.M.S.R.
"DanceMusicSexRomance" - it's Dan's go-to Prince tune (and also his to-do list for Saturday nights).
Robbie Williams – Better Man
In which Dan asks the question "Is 'Better Man' Robbie Williams' career-defining song?" Dan is American, and therefore has an entirely different perspective from the rest of us who are all shouting "NO, IT'S OBVIOUSLY ANGELS" right about now.
Gwen Stefani – Make Me Like You
Brilliant song, amazing video, but Gwen Stefani can't get a hit single. Are those pesky "isms" to blame? Dan Poliak investigates.
R.E.M. – Sitting Still
1981: a fresh faced young man from the west coast arrives in New York city and heads straight for the nearest record shop.
Beyoncé – Ego
In which Dan asks the question "do singles even exist anymore?" The short answer is of course "no, not really and we sort of have Beyoncé to thank for it". But we'll let him delve a little deeper via discussion of the unbridled filth-fest that is "Ego".
America – Sister Golden Hair
California, here we come.
Selena Gomez & the Scene – Love You Like a Love Song
Everyone wants to be a Disney princess. Especially our American correspondent Dan Poliak. He's almost there!
Andy Gibb – Shadow Dancing
When a fourth musical Gibb brother appeared, America was like "OMG YES", but over here we were more "we'll just leave it, thanks" - which was patently a mistake because "Shadow Dancing" is absolutely bloody amazing.
Bleachers – Rollercoaster
Jack Antonoff, putting the fun. into the pop side project.
Paula Abdul – Cold Hearted
Here's a little story and you're sure to like it - Dan Poliak on everyone's homegirl, Paula Abdul.
SHeDAISY – Passenger Seat
In any other industry, a knock-off might be considered a bad thing. In pop, as Dan Poliak explains, it's often anything but.
AC/DC – Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
Dan Poliak, invoking the memory of the Spice Girls to make a point about AC/DC and the Fist Pump Anthem. Business as usual then.
Paris Hilton – Screwed
It's the biggest test of pop snobbery there is: can you admit to liking a Paris Hilton record? We can.
Heart – Magic Man
America had loved them for a decade, but in the UK there was a total eclipse of Heart until 1987.
Squeeze – Some Fantastic Place
Or: how to write a memorial without getting maudlin.
Young MC – Bust a Move
Dan Poliak on Young MC, rap's big breakthrough and Bette Midler samples.
Carpenters – Rainy Days and Mondays
Easy Listening. No two words have inspired more hate and derision amongst rock hipsters and the pop music cognoscenti than these – frankly, for the most part with good reason. […]
The Grateful Dead – Touch of Grey
Can a band be considered to be one of the most successful in the world without ever having had a hit single? The answer is, of course, yes, but the […]
Into the Popvoid 