A catchy new tune by Keane

KEANE, ”Is It Any Wonder?”
Honestly, I hated Keane. Even as a fan of wussy Britpop like Coldplay, I couldn’t stomach their languid, piano-led songs (like ”Somewhere Only We Know”). But I can’t stop playing this new single, from their upcoming sophomore album, over and over…and over. The robust track marks a grand step forward for the group, recalling the spacey guitar — yes, guitar! — theatrics of U2’s Achtung Baby. If this track weren’t so damn catchy, I’d be totally embarrassed for liking it. Stream a sample of the track for free at Keane’s website, or buy it on iTunes.

T.I., ”Get It”
Produced by hitmaker Swizz Beatz, this track from the Atlanta rapper’s recent No. 1 album, King, is one of the most fired-up hip-hop salvos of the century (!) thus far. Whipping out every single horn and whistle in his banger arsenal, Swizz concocts a jump-up instrumental to be reckoned with. And T.I.’s criminally smooth flow rides the beat with a ridiculous amount of finesse. Got it? Good. Buy the track on Rhapsody.

THE STATES, ”100 Years War”
Taking cues from neo-post-punk bands like Interpol, this Brooklyn trio gets their rock on by way of high-pitched guitar static coupled with ambling basslines. But what separates them from the other 10,000 Brooklyn bands doing the exact same thing is the manic drumming of stickman Joe Stroll, who takes this decent track and transports it to another level of manic mayhem. Download the track for free here. (PC USERS: RIGHT-CLICK on the link above and save to your desktop. MAC USERS: CONTROL-CLICK on the link to save to your desktop.)

CARINA ROUND, ”Come to You”
The striking British rocker summons PJ Harvey’s no-nonsense bravado on this dynamic track taken from her third album, Slow Motion Addict (due June 27). ”I will not come to you,” she wails on the song’s biting refrain, dismissing a past love with steadfast resolve while galloping drums reinforce the sting. Download the track for free at her official site.