Just when you thought she was ready to take it easy for a week or two, Carly Rae Jepsen shows up on this week’s New Music Playlist for the second consecutive week in the row, blessing us with an intro as well. Accompanying her in the pop realm are hitmakers Nick Jonas and Jordin Sparks, while honorable mention this week goes to The Neighborhood’s funky, albeit slightly somber, R.I.P. 2 My Youth.
The clock’s already ticking towards the next batch of fresh new music arriving; make sure to get a chance to check out Spotify’s New Music Friday playlist before it’s too late. Over 800,000 followers of the list can’t be wrong. And if you need to be caught up on the last few weeks of new music, check out the best of the best amongst New Music Friday All-Stars.
10. Church by Gary Clark Jr.
The phrase ‘take ‘em to church’ is very popular in the hip hop realm, but on Gary Clark Jr.’s latest, he means it quite literally, all the way down to his single’s artwork. It’s a slow, ‘carrying on’ piece, complete with harmonica, that would be completely apropos as the soundtrack for waiting outside a bus station. It’s a nice song to take it easy to, particularly for the artist himself, who will be starting his world tour this September 11th, coinciding with the release date of his album The Story of Sonny Boy Slim.
9. Ain’t Got Far To Go by Jess Glynne
Since her debut in 2013, Jess Glynne has been wowing audiences throughout her native UK with catchy hooks and top notch vocals, that comes off as what might be if Adele sang Jessie J songs. With a slew of hit singles under her belt, Glynne is now primed and ready for US shores. For those unfamiliar with her work, Ain’t Got Far To Go is a great introduction, full of clapping and soulful piano notes. A perfect one to play while paying off the last few installments of your student loans/car payments, etc.
8. Monument by Mutemath
Having only teased fans with demos, samples , or the occasional live performance since their last studio release in 2011, Mutemath fans will be holding on tightly to and cherishing Monument. It’s served sunny side up, perfect for a Valentine’s Day or anniversary shout out, as the band sings in harmony “Let’s make a monument for our love our love, our love our love.”
7. Shook by Dralms
Those in a mellow mood, in search of something to keep it chill, stop here and have a listen or two. It’s so easy to get lost in the music, heavy with mood, you may find yourself asking after couple of listens, what is this song about anyway? The answer doesn’t really matter, the song just carries you away into a dreamlike trance. Good for an overcast or full on rainy day.
6. Evil Doer by Radkey
Evil Doer acts as a mash up of the many different takes on punk – the beginning kicks off with a sound the millennial punk kids could love, and once the vocals hit there’s hint of old school punk. Just wait for the guitar solos take over, it’s all garage punk. Unlike The Ramones, Radkey actually ARE related to one another, a band of three brothers who grew up homeschooled in great state of Missouri. Their debut Dark Black Makeup is full of similar style down and dirty punk that punk fans are sure to get a kick out of.
5. Gibraltar by Beirut
One that will make you want to get your bongo/empty bucket out and head to the park for an impromptu street performance for Lil Wayne money (Broad City style), Gibraltar makes it easy to get into or dance to, depending on where you fall in the performer or listener realm. A staple of all good things Indie, Zach Condon and Co. shows their artistic chops keep on growing as time goes on. Play this one in the background of your next dinner party amongst friends.
4. Smile by The Royal Concept
It’s a relatively easy concept for these Stockholm rockers to follow: put out great music, amass a following that spans across the world, generate massive interest for more of your said great music, repeat. Now on their second round of wowing the world, the band’s style of high energy is paired with kitschy lines in “Smile” like “ I’ll step on a grenade so you can see I’m the bomb.” Cheesy, yes, but The Royal Concept totally pulls it off.
3. Slumlord by Neon Indian
With a beginning that will have you proclaiming “Is this an 80s soundtrack or what?” Neon Indian takes you on a journey through the wonders that can be accomplished with some vintage synths and a little creativity. The single’s artwork exhibits a similar style to “Annie’s” artwork, released earlier in the year, which you’ll need to take a voyage to the abstract realms of your mind to uncover the meaning, if this is any at all, to the art. Sing “it goes on and on and on and (as long as you got the money)” if you have to pay an ungodly amount of money on rent (though hopefully not to a slumlord).
2. S.O.B. by Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats
Frank Sinatra once said, I’m for anything that gets you through the night – be it prayer, tranquilizers, or a bottle of Jack Daniels. The singer reaches for the latter here, weaving a tale of frustrations and heart ache activated in full struggle mode, while howling “Gimme a drink!” to a joyful rhythm. It’s infectious and karaoke worthy, perfectly fit for the end of a no good very long week.
1. The Emotion by Børns
It’s been a whirlwind of a year for Garrett Borns, the Michigan native who gained a tidal wave of recognition following a shout out on Twitter by Taylor Swift and a performance on Late Night With Seth Myers that was knocked out of the park. Like a true artist, Børns shows no signs of stopping, taking it to the next level with this moving tailspin of a song. The prose is exquisitely told, a tale of loss proclaiming “I lost you not long ago/Heaven knows I’m miserable/Hell takes all the credit though/Til the day is done.”
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