The Shins' new track, "Simple Song" is one of my favorites of the year. "Shady Love" by Scissor Sisters, Jack White's "Love Interruption," "Comeback Kid" by Sleigh Bells and "Ghost Tonight" by Chairlift are also fantastic. There really haven't been many great (or good) albums released this year thus far. Chairlift, Tennis, Schoolboy Q and Islands are the only artists to release albums that I can listen to all the way through.
I can't believe I forgot to mention Perfume Genius! Forget what I said earlier, "Hood" is my favorite song of 2012, and it's going to take a lot to knock it off its perch.
Pop music has been kind of underwhelming, but "Starships" is by far the catchiest song released in 2012 so far. "Climax" is also fantastic. Other than that, the new singles from Madonna and Katy Perry aren't anything fantastic.