Pop divas are at the forefront of pop culture news and new releases this week, with Britney Jean Spears bolding arriving back on the scene, but still coaxing out a precocious Make Me, and Katy Perry released her Rio ready power anthem, Rise (not yet available on Spotify). Other significant releases include one from popular country music act Florida Georgia Line with a savory ‘May We All,’ Gucci Mane showing you he needed ‘No Sleep’ while he created his new album apparently in only 6 days, and Steve Aoki is back again with some help from his ‘Dope Girlz.’
There’s another jam-packed freshlist with almost 60 new songs this week; make sure you’re not left in the dust and check them all out on Spotify. Still haven’t had your fix? Check out Busted Wallet’s New Music Friday All Stars for more of the above.
10. Without Love by Descendents
When it comes to the Descendents one must always consider that the band is steeped in history, having been around since 1977 and considered an ‘Essential’ when it comes to punk rock, but also that their music can have a very wholehearted quality to it. They’re back with Without Me, after a hiatus due to Milo Aukerman pursuing a career as a molecular biologist. Without Love is beautifully worded with all the bells and riffs, declaring ‘Life won’t wait for us, and love won’t heal itself…let’s find our way.’
9. Library Magic by The Head and the Heart
Sometimes the hidden gems of summer are not the long days at the beach or epic wild nights, but rather getting a chance to focus on activities that the whirlwind of busy days throughout the year doesn’t allow for, like finding magic through a good book. Library Magic picks up on such enchantment, while throwing in the zest of being alone, artfully describing it as ‘being alone isn’t lonely, sought after like a holiday.” Easy breezy pop folk at its best.
8. One More Night by Michael Kiwanuka
It’s easy to overuse descriptive adjectives when it comes to someone who sings from their soul, so much so that the ones who really and truly do, don’t get the full experience when exposed to such words. Such is the case with Michael Kiwanuka’s latest, Love & Hate, which has been released to ample fanfare and solid reviews. One More Night fully encapsulates that dull slow pain of waiting, One More Night always just around the corner, but just out of reach. Play the night before your first day of vacation.
7. Jean Claude Van Damme by G4shi
The mood is heavy on Jean Claude Van Damme, which after repeated listens and searching the vast expanse of the internet for hidden meaning, bares no direct relation to the Belgium born action movie star (just a shout out in the intro). The first line out ‘IT.WORKS.BOTH.WAYS. pickupyourphone’ feels like a gust of frustration, and continues on and on, perhaps hinting at all that’s come his way since the Brooklynite’s debut LP in 2014. He sums it all up in the final verses ‘things ain’t how they used to be….yeah I know.’
6. Make Me…by Britney Spears, G-Eazy
Last time we heard from Britney (we’ll breeze right past ‘Pretty Girls’) she was issuing out a string of orders from the desert to get to the fabulous life, (spoiler: you have to work, bitch) whereas here there’s a treasure map to make her “oooh, oooh. oooooh oooh.” Direct quote. It’s the trademark not having to put on a thinking cap and carefree vibe that makes her fans so happy to hear from her each time out over the years. For added bonus G-Eazy makes an boozy R&B vibe appearance, and feels right at home on the track.
5. CRZY by Kehlani
Less than a month ago Kehlani was hyping up Samaria on her track ‘Love Me Crazy’ and here we are in July hearing crazy talk again from Oakland based R&B soul-tress, this time with an upbeat, Rihanna-esque sound to back it up. The ‘CRZY’ she refers to in the song is perfectly harmless, only threatening to ‘Kill ‘em kill ‘em kill ‘em with kindness.’ It’s not too late to add CRZY to your Summer 2016 playlist.
4. Ocho Cinco by DJ Snake, Yellow Claw
Here comes your official afternoon pick-me-up. Truth be told the first 30 seconds of Ocho Cinco are so intense it can’t even be filed under EDM, feeling more like a time portal back to the early 2000s time of 150 or over BPM. Not to say the song doesn’t have its place in today’s music, but it’s definitely for fans who prefer their Snake as Turn Down For What more so than Lean On. As far as the name’s significance it seems to point in the direction of the album release date of 8/5.
3. Cruel by Snakehips, ZAYN
If Kim Kardashian hadn’t already broke the internet this week with #taylorgate, the combination of two of most hottest trend worthy acts 2016 of Snakehips and ZAYN would most definitely be the next in line to do so. ZAYN moans of such a ‘cruel’ word, oh why must this darling one who oozes sexiness have his love go unrequited? It’s enough to make you throw yourself on the floor and cry, except that its catchiness outweighs the pain. Put in the queue when you’re feeling lovesick but wanna dance.
2. Living by Bakermat
Sometimes it feels like during summer it’s just one happy-go-lucky song after another, and gone are the morose decidedly ‘winter’ vibed songs. Stuck in a rut? No cash, no job, no self-esteem? Right this way, as the Dutch producer knows that such is the case of life sometimes, but it’s nothing to keep you down for the count. It pairs realism with just gotta hold on (“just survivin’ and livin”) mantras. Your go-to Monday night song.
1. Go Off by M.I.A.
For months there’s been whispers of M.I.A. in the media; working tirelessly for the rights of refugees, rumblings of troubles with her record label, and threats of leaking her album herself. Finally we’re given a taste with Go Off, which couples her incomparable style with the deafening beats created by producers Skrillex and Blaqstarr. Accompanying the song is a music video consisting of a loop of explosions that ignite in step with the beat, of which the rich symbolism is not lost.
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