This week’s list has a heavy emphasis on ‘more,’ with appearances from artists who’ve put out an album or single thus far this year, including Mumford and Sons, Blur, Kid Astray, and the ever present Jason Derulo.
You’ll have your work cut out for you becoming familiar with all the new artists featured this week – head over to Spotify and get moving. The best of the fresh have been provided for you below.
10. Mr. Put It Down – DJ White Shadow Remix by Ricky Martin, feat. Pitbull
When the original was released last month, the tempo seemed destined to shine in a group fitness setting (Zumba I’m looking directly at you). In a group of remixes released this week – with choices from Big Syphe, DJ Drew & Mayeda, a Lexo Trap mix, and a Jump Smokers version – the first thing that comes to mind in the DJ White Shadow is the…Eighties. The full on, stereotypically synthesized, She Blinded Me With Science, Eighties. It gives the song a little bit of a kick and – don’t fret – fully maintains its Zumba like danceability.
9. Paralysed by A Silent Film
If you’ve always felt you’ve needed a soundtrack to make a Chicken Ceasar Salad in the Spring to, look no further than A Silent Film’s Spotify page. As a featured song on the playlist (which hopefully is not alluding to any injuries sustained in the salad making) the band weaves semi auto tuned warped beats with forceful ‘I’m free but I have no choice’ lyrics. The effect is more stimulation, less paralysis.
8. Shake & Tremble by Django Django
In a self defining genre of what can only be described as ‘what to expect from a group who met at art school,” Django Django delivers a Summeresque surf (throwback) RockNRollah with Shake & Tremble, pairing it with surfy lines like ‘Holding back the Ocean, just enough to say a word.’ The first glimpse after a three year hiatus, Shake & Tremble hints at good things to come from their accompanying album, Born Under Saturn.
7. Stressed Out by Twenty One Pilots
Following the release of two popular and oft played singles earlier this year, Tear In My Heart and Fairly Local, Twenty One Pilots comes back with another, this one unmistakably slightly more, uh, panicked. You’d think life would be all peaches n cream with their massive following, but the demands of success are high – don’t make them “rhyme every time they sing” – it stresses them out!! Heavy emotions aside, this take on stress sounds seriously catchy. Be sure to check out the music video too, which includes big wheels for big kids and Capri Suns on the curbside.
6. I Do Not Feel Like Being Good by Ryan Adams
Said in his official statement regarding the release of his latest 7” ‘the dust never settles on his songs” and that is clear for the singer himself, too, as this is the second week in a row we’re hearing a completely new release from him. Despite the rebellious title, I Do Not Feel Like Being Good is more of a peaceful, rambling prose than a howling dissent. There’s also a hint of Bob Dylan from the Nashville Skyline years in his work here; another great piece to add to his ever expanding catalog.
5. Minimal Affection by The Vaccines
As the second single before their forthcoming album English Graffiti (out May 25, 2015) the band provides an angled look at the world – at once appearing cynical to outsiders but at the same time lamenting that people were more, say, ‘maximal affectionate.’ The band may not be able to have their cake and eat it too, but with tracks sounding as good as this they’re likely to enjoy success with their next album.
4. Sexual Healing – Kygo Remix
Upon my initial listen of Kygo’s rendition on the classic, I was genuinely surprised how much I liked it – I myself am a big fan of Marvin Gaye but not this particular song. The way Kygo dismembers then reconstructs the song is solidly genius – it allots enough to Marvin’s voice that he’s fully represented, but completely takes over the beat of the song- breathing into it a hearty burst of fresh energy.
3. Aftergold by Big Wild
Another song buzzing with energy, Aftergold – a purely instrumental track – is like waking up after a revitalizing sleep and feeling ready to conquer anything. It’s hard to put a specific musical category on this on – at times the song reaches a mild fever pitch and has its own version of a Drop, but strays far from a typical dubstep or electro categorization. Whatever it may be assorted as, all you’ll be concerned with is how good you’ll feel when you listen to it.
2. AhHa by Nate Reuss
If you didn’t have access to the artist’s name on this track, you’d safely assume this was the latest single from Fun. Well you’d be close, as AhHa is the latest from lead singer and defining voice of Fun, Nate Ruess. While taking a pause to pursue solo projects (brilliantly explained on the band’s website) he manages to sound current, while offering a nod to the band’s past as he whispers ‘it’s for the best you didn’t listen’ just as he did on Some Nights. An amped up, ode to loving life jam, AhHa is perfect for the mid-afternoon blahs.
1. Cloaked by Woolf and the Wondershow
I always get excited when I see an artist have their very first single with very little information about the band featured on the New Music Tuesday playlist. It’s like unearthing a little gem for the very first time. I get even more excited when the song turns out to be a ton of fun and all I want to do is play it over and over again. Such is the case with Woolf and the Wondershow; I can tell you very little about the duo, other than they seem to have a pretty strong preference for the Victorian age. It’s likely to be the first time you’ve ever heard wanting to protect feelings referred to as making sure their heart stays “cloaked.” Looking forward to see what else Woolf and the Wondershow will bring to the table in the future.
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