NOTE: To hear any song mentioned in the following post, just click on its title.

Good lord, there were a lot of major singles released on iTunes today. But that makes sense, since these songs are previewing big-ticket albums that will be released for the holiday season. Get us primed now, and we’ll be ready to buy a thousand CDs as gifts. Or at least, that’s what the music industry hopes.

In the interest of keeping us up-to-date, here’s a quick overview of wannabe hits from some very popular artists. Let me know what you think of them!

(1) “Keeps Gettin’ Better” by Christina Aguilera

Featured On: Keeps Gettin’ Better-A Decade of Hits (released November 7)

Tidbit: This song was produced and co-written by Linda Perry, who also brought us “Beautiful” and Pink’s “Get The Party Started”

Awesome or Not?: Um… only a little awesome? This song has grown on me, but I still don’t love it. Perry’s loud-n-hard production turns the track into noisy sludge, making the assault of sound more important than the melody, the beat, or Christina’s voice. That’s a shame, because Christina’s best songs (“Ain’t No Other Man,” “Beautiful,” etc.) make it impossible to mistake her for any other diva.

(2) “Human” by The Killers

Featured On: Day & Age (released November 25)

Tidbit: People are freaking out about the chorus of this song. No one can decider if, at the end of the first line, Brandon Flowers sings “dancer” or “denser.”

Awesome or Not?: SO AWESOME! This is one of the best songs I have heard all year. I loved the Killers’ first album, Hot Fuss, but I somehow never listened to their follow-up records. Would I have liked Sam’s Town? Possibly. Who can say? Sometimes you just lose touch with a band, you know?

But the moment I heard “Human,” I was back in love. Seriously, Killers. Call me. I love this song’s new wave sound, and I love how the drums don’t kick in right away. The sudden appearance of a beat is one of my all-time favorite pop tricks.

This song makes me happy like Erasure makes me happy–grandiose, soothing, and exciting all at once.

(3) “Light On” by David Cook

Featured On: Cook’s upcoming solo album (release date TBA)

Tidbit: Co-written by Chris “Soundgarden” Cornell

Awesome or Not?: If you like this sort of thing, then this song will blow your mind. It could be any power ballad by Daughtry, Nickelback, Hinder, or Buckherry, which means it’s tuneful enough with just a hint of rocker growl. (By the way, if you’re my friend Beth, you’ve probably heard this song 45 times. Today.)

I don’t know if “Light On” is distinctive enough to nab serious radio play, but we’ll see. It’s certainly better than that damn David Archuleta song.

Also, did you notice the eyeliner Cookie is rocking in that photo? Did they have a Gary Numan day at his label?

(4) “Right Now (Na Na Na)” by Akon

Featured On: Freedom (released November 25)

Tidbit: Again with the confusing lyrics. At 1:16 is he saying “We showed our ass that night?” Because if he is, that’s the awesomest lyrical tidbit of the year. “Show your ass” is my favorite expression for acting stupid.

Awesome or Not: Oh, very awesome. Akon might talk dirty sometimes–”I Wanna Love You” was not the original title of that song–but he can drop a serious jam. I’m listening to this in my underwear in Park Slope, and I still feel like I’m at a club on the beach, shaking it as hard as I can.

And why fight a chorus full of na-na-nas? There’s no point. They’re just going to infect your brain anyway.

(5) “Womanizer” by Britney Spears

Featured On: Circus (released December 2)

Tidbit: This is the first major single from Atlanta-based, male-female production duo The Outsyders. (Also, it’s not yet available for download, but I couldn’t resist weighting in.)

Awesome or Not?: It’s remarkably similar to the Christina song, is what it is. What’s with burying our former teen starlets in feedback? Why do these songs sound so dark and grimy? Would it be okay for a Britney record to sound sunny? Isn’t that what we want from her?

And yet… it’s catchy. Sigh. This song is generic, but I’ll take it over “Piece of Me” or the insufferable “Gimme More” any day.