"United State of Pop 2012 (Shine Brighter)" DJ Earworm

Over the past five years, DJ Earworm's annual mash-up of the 25 biggest Hot 100 hits has become an event for pop music fans. Offering an opportunity for reflection on the trends that were, each new United State of Pop mix earns millions of online streams and even some radio spins following its late-December debut. The 2012 edition, subtitled "Shine Brighter," dropped today with much fanfare, and it's (quite literally) a change of pace for the series. Picking up on pop's split identity over the past twelve months—as dance sounds were slowly replaced by natural instruments, ballads and folk influences—it is more subdued than its predecessors, despite pulling most heavily from Ke$ha's frivolous anthem "Die Young." Even as it eventually kicks into club-ready overdrive, "Shine" remains relatively grounded: darkly melodious rather than pleasingly heart-pounding, with something more on its mind that just the usual Frankensteined lyrics about partying all night long. It's not the raucous good time of Earworm's 2009 peak, but "Shine" provides a refreshing reboot to an aging franchise. B+