The curators of this week’s New Music Friday playlist must have known we needed one big push before diving head first into Fall, (that or something to help us cope with MTV’s annual VMAs this past weekend) and jampacked this week’s list with eighty new tracks, a whopping thirty more than usual. Fortunately we were up for the challenge, and heard tracks from Glass Animals, Britney Spears, Carly Rae Jepsen and Young Thug, all of whose new albums came out last Friday. Also of note, De La Soul, which features 2 Chainz on ‘Whodeeni,’ Korn keeps it realer on ‘Insane,’ and in 180 degrees from there Michael Bublé waxes poetic about ‘My Kind Of Girl.’
If you’re up for the challenge all eighty tracks are for the taking over on Spotify. To keep track of all the freshness as week’s go by we’ve complied Busted Wallet’s Fresh New Music All Stars, whose contents are just that. Find it all here.
11. Cold by Citizen Four
There’s nothing more ‘revolving door’ in the music industry than the formation of a boy band. As classics like N’SYNC and The Backstreet Boys have taught us, the smooth and hyper poppy ballads are forever, but the groups themselves are not. Thus we need a consistent introduction to new ‘young man’ bands: enter Citizen Four. The foursome – which consists of a pair of brothers – already are making their stake with a sound that sounds like b-sides off of ZAYN’S Pillowtalk, and campy lyrics like ‘With a body so hot, how’d you get so cold?’
10. Get Right by Jimmy Eat World
It’s fair to assume when you think of Jimmy Eat World the massive hits off Bleed American – The Middle, Sweetness, Hear You Me – first come to mind, no? It’s just how our brains are hardwired to recall the popular stuff first. Which is why it’s so intriguing that on their latest there are some seriously dark undertones to it, in both sound and lyrics. But just like jumping into a pool at the end of a long, hot day, the sound is fully refreshing and stimulating.
9. Black Crow by Brent Cobb
With the high number of tracks on this week’s new music extravaganza, it makes it all there more difficult for the little guys to make their impression felt. But when it comes to Brent Cobb, he may not have the play count of your Glass Animals or your Britney Spears, but the impression on Black Crow is strong. It has that singin-the-blues-never-felt-so-good vibe, mixed with feelings on sitting on a porch in a rocking chair, watching the setting sun. Mixing his own laid-back style under the guise of Americana, Brent Cobb will be one you’ll be looking forward to hear from in years to come.
8. Traumatized by Grouplove
The band’s latest album is named Big Mess (out September 9th), which rightfully describes Traumatized; a lesson is discord, but the messiness comes together in discombobulated harmony. Lead singer Christian Zucconi took to explaining explaining the song on their Facebook page as being about “becoming a parent, explores what my parents sacrificed when I was born, excitement and bliss of being alive.” Whether you’re looking to explore the nuances of parenthood, or simply would like something to rock out along to, Traumatized has got you covered.
7. Wyclef Jean by Young Thug
Much has been made of the album name and cover of Young Thug’s latest; no longer Young Thug -No My Name is JEFFREY – then whittled down to just ‘JEFFREY,’ with the artist decked out in up-n-coming designer Alessandro Trincone threads phresh off the runway. But when it comes to musicians, it ultimately comes back to how good the music is. And there’s much to explore on Wyclef Jean; the laid-back West Indies vibes, the Too Short-esque simple and raunchy lyrics, and the sound of him sloshing around an icy drink. With his finger firmly on the Zeitgeist (the album includes a track titled Harambe), JEFFREY is one worth getting to know better.
6. Blow Your Mind (Mwah) by Dua Lipa
All we’ve ever asked of a pop song is to be catchy as hell, make us feel cool while we’re singing along, and give us something to dance our brains out to (or bawl our eyes out with). Is that too much to ask? Dua Lipa doesn’t think so, as her attempts at Blowing Your Mind involve keeping it cool with easy lyrics, with a delivery that makes you think “I wouldn’t mind hearing this on the radio when I’m not able to change the station.” Nothing will feel as freeing as walking out of work on Friday singing “Tonight I’m alive – not a dollar sign, guaranteed I can blow your mind.” MWAH.
5. London by Jeremihh, Staffon D
For an R&B star whose name is synonymous with late nights, so much last year’s album bared the same name, a sequel entitled Late Nights: Europe only makes sense. Jeremih makes good on his European promise, with track names ranging from Dubai & Lebanon (the minor geographical error is forgiven) to Amsterdam. On the London leg on the tour he’s super chilled out, much more than the other cities on the album, but still manages it to keep it moving, like taking a taxi home at 4am with the music blaring.
4. Wish You Were Here by Florence + the Machine
With her sweeping otherworld-ness, no doubt Florence Welch and her band of Machineheads were an obvious choice for penning a song related to the Miss Peregrine’s Home of Peculiar Children, by name association alone. And when it comes to Wish You Were Here it’s a familiar and soothing sound, one that’s hard to tire of. It’s like a visit to the ocean; beautiful and moving, no matter how many times you’ve seen that particular stretch of open water.
3. High and Low by Empire of the Sun
There’s something so innately feel good when it comes to Empire of the Sun’s brand of electro pop; the beat finding its easy rhythm, and the style transports us to another world, captured by the brand imagery in videos and album covers. The first album in three years, Two Vines, is still a ways away (October 28th), but fortunately High and Low is so gentle on the ears we’ll be playing it until the rest of the tracks arrive. For slightly unsettling imagery (one never expects to discover a gigantic eyeball in the earth) check out the corresponding video.
2. Woman by Diana Gordon
Two parts feminist anthem, one part ‘females are strong as hell’ Diana Gordon lets you know in no understand terms that God gave you the answer when he gave you the WOMAN. Though she’s making her debut, there’s a good chance you’re familiar with her work: Daddy Issues, Sorry, and Don’t Hurt Yourself off of Beyonce’s LEMONADE (still waiting Spotify!) were all penned by Gordon. Now on her own terms, Diana absolutely killed her television debut on network tv on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert. To watch a star burst into the atmosphere, watch here.
1. Wild Season by Bank & Steelz, Florence Welch
Here at Fresh New Music headquarters we’ll often make parallels between the release of music and corresponding season (easy, but still relevant). So when a song with melancholy undertones but a firm beat comes along named ‘Wild Season’ on August 26th, it feels like kismet for kissing summer goodbye. The song plays out like watching summer in your rearview mirror with lyrics like ‘Girl you know you are the reason, it’s been a wild season.’ Enriching the song like so many songs before Florence Welch adds ethereal notes to reflect on the last three months in a whimsical and romantic way, before the cold winds of Fall.
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