Reflection
When it comes to girl groups in a post-Beyoncé world, female empowerment is the name of the game. On the debut from Fifth Harmony (which formed during the second season of The X Factor, in 2012), high self-esteem feels like a party. Infectious lyrics like “Think I’m in love, ’cause you so sexy/Boy, I ain’t talkin’ ’bout you, I’m talkin’ to my own reflection” complement club-ready beats that leave no room for saccharine ballads. (Partial credit goes to “All About That Bass” singer Meghan Trainor, who co-wrote several songs.) The standout is “Like Mariah,” which samples Carey’s ageless 1995 hit “Always Be My Baby” and more than lives up to her sainted image.