Pop Sweep: January 26, 2013...

Hey gang, it's time to kick off today's "chart sweeps" of the latest songs making their way onto Billboard magazine's weekly music charts, and I'll start with the latest on the pop side.

On the big chart, Billboard's Hot 100, Bruno Mars spends a sixth week on top with "Locked Out Of Heaven".

The top debut on this list was last week's country winner, Blake Shelton's "Sure Be Cool If You Did", which leaps in at #44. This has a very good chance of joining the Voice mentor's eight previous top-40 hits, possibly topping his best, "Honey Bee", which made it to #13 in 2011. Grade: C-

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Nine tracks from Taylor Swift's Red album have made the Hot 100, and now one of the former Target-exclusive tracks, "The Moment I Knew", makes it an even ten at #64. It's as close to a pop power-ballad as you'll see from her (the idea that Billboard considers this "country" is a laugh). Detached from the circus that is her public life, it's not awful, but it's understandable why this didn't make the regular album cut. Grade: C

Denver-based pop group OneRepublic return with the followup to their top-40 hit "Feel Again". The second single from their upcoming album Native, "If I Lose Myself". This is a stronger entry than the first, though it takes a couple of listens to sink in... Grade: B-

Justin Timberlake returns after a six-year break with the first lead-artist credit single since 2007. "Suit & Tie", featuring Jay-Z, enters at #84 on the strength of only a couple days of airplay, as the single didn't go on sale until after the tracking period. Expect a huge jump next week, joining his list of six lead-artist top-10 hits. As for the song. I'm not completely sold on it (and this the Jay-Z add is just a gimmick), but hopefully he'll be back with more. Grade: C

Two singles that debuted on the R&B airplay chart last week jump into the Hot 100 this week, and they're equally profane. First, rapper B.o.B comes in at #95 with "We Still In This B****", featuring T.I. and Juicy J (both of whom have singles of their own on the chart). The man born Bobby Simmons has placed three singles from each of his two regular studio albums (with "Nothing On You" making #1 in 2010), but this track is from the mixtape Fuck 'Em We Ball...Grade: F+

Sandwiched between the rap hits is the third charting single from Las Vegas rock group Imagine Dragons, with "Demons" at #99. The other two also move to new heights with "It's Time" at #15 and "Radioactive" at #41, and this epic track should join them in the top-40...Grade: B+

The other soul debut from last week, "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe" by Kendrick Lamar, sneaks on at #100. It's the fourth track from Lamar's debut album to make the Hot 100, with "Swimming Pools (Drank)" reaching #17.  Grade F

Meanwhile, over on the Mainstream Pop radio format, the aforementioned Mars track reigns for a fifth week...

Mumford & Sons have the highest entry at #36 with "I Will Wait". It's their first to make this list. Grade: A

Rapper 50 Cent is back at #39 with "My Life" with Maroon 5's Adam Levine and Eminem in tow. He took his debut single "In Da Club" to #1 ten years ago (!), and this is written to be his "comeback" track. Grade: C+

The last entry here is by alt-rock group Neon Trees with "Lessons In Love (All Day, All Night)" at #40. It features EDM artist Kaskade, and the melding of the two styles works well here. Grade: B

Over at the Hot Adult Top-40 radio chart, The Lumineers stay on top for a fourth week with "Ho Hey"...

Bon Jovi jumps in at #30 with their latest, "Because We Can".

The other debut at #40 is Scottish newcomer Emeli Sande', who is here with the first US pop hit from her excellent album Our Version Of Events, the biggest-selling album in Britain last year. Grade: A

Finally, on the Adult Contemporary format list, Gotye's "Somebody That I Used To Know" hangs on to #1 for a 19th week, putting it in a tie for fifth place for most weeks on top...

The aforementioned Bon Jovi track jumps on the chart here at #21.

The other entry at #29 is R&B singer/songwriter Alicia Keys with "Girl On Fire". Grade: B+

That wraps it up for part one...four more to go, and I'll be back with the newest on rock radio in 90 minutes...