This week’s stuff you’ve never heard is chock full of All Time Low, Gary Sweatshirt, Kacey Musgraves, Blur, and plenty of other fan favorites. Just in time for the announcement they will be headlining this year’s Lollapalooza, Florence and the Machine releases St. Jude, a follow up to What Kind of Man, released earlier in the year.
The New Music Tuesday playlist will only contain the following a few more days; be sure to head over to Spotify and compare how your favorites rank against this week’s top 10.
10. Friends Hurt by We Are The City
The beat for Friends Hurt is simple and plain, oddly refreshing in a sea of over-produced songs in today’s popular music. The descriptive verses present a screwball tale of melancholy – not entirely serious laments, but the undertone is undeniably sad. From a band described as “art rockers” Friends Hurt is a song best listened a few times over to fully understand its depth and intention, much like a piece of art.
9. Wonder Woman by LION BABE
I’d be remiss if I didn’t include a female anthem in the weekly top ten before Women History Month is over. While LION BABE is technically a duo from both sexes, this song is all diva. And if you measure the diva by the size of her hair, few can compete with wonder woman herself, Jillian Hervey. Here her power is more purr than growl, cooing “I ain’t gonna take all that, I’m a wonder woman” seemingly as if she’s filing her nails in the face of naysayers. The result is pure hypnosis.
8. It’s Alright by Kid Astray
It’s Alright provides the best of both of indie and pop – introspective lyrics during the verses (“you keep blinding me, with your own stupidity”) with inflated, squeaky beats during the chorus. The sextet first got their start through a demo contest in their native Norway, and according to their Facebook page now are leaning towards more pop over indie. No where is that more evident than on the song’s chorus, fit for even the most intense of dance offs.
7. Worship by Years & Years
Despite the composition of three young men, Years & Years is not a boy band, but rather an electro-synth trio. A really really catchy electro-synth trio, with silky smooth voices (that you might find in a boy band). The style of Worship is easy to follow, making you feel like you know all the words after a listen or two. Already receiving high praises in the UK and throughout Europe, Years & Years should expect success with irresistible singles like Worship now and for years and years to come.
6. St. Jude by Florence & the Machine
Perhaps the most poignant of break-up songs is one that realizes that the relationship has become a lost cause, like on Ben Folds Five’s Battle of Who Could Care Less, or Beck’s aptly titled Lost Cause. Florence and the Machine beautifully captures these sentiments, while inflecting a divine sort of poetry by summoning St. Jude, patron saint of lost causes. At times you think Florence Welch is ready to take off in her signature howl, but throughout she remains gentle and light.
5. Lonesome Street by Blur
From the alarm clock sounds at the start, Lonesome Street has the appeal of classic 90s Blur songs like Coffee & TV or Parklife, where it takes you on an auditory journey around the a day in the life in the singer’s neighborhood. The result leaves you feeling like met up with an old friend and picked up right where you left off.
4. Wild Honey by Van Morrison with Joss Stone
A slow dance worthy rendition of Van Morrison’s 1980 classic, Wild Honey sounds just the right amount sweeter with the addition of Joss Stone. Also adding to the experience is the inclusion of the piano to accompany the horn section. Van Morrison’s instantly recognizable sound swirled with Stone’s range of vocal power feels both like a trip down memory lane and relishing in the present moment.
3. Need The Sun to Break by James Bay
This one hits extras close to home, as temperatures still hove around 40 degrees here in the midwest. James Bay’s voice is like sunshine – folk pop with that extra je ne sais quoi that make your ears perk up at attention as the song breaks. A recent recipient of the Brit Critic’s Choice Award, James Bay is likely to keep winning critics and fans over with similarly just as sweet songs on his latest album, Chaos and the Calm.
2. Somewhere to Run by Krewella
Another super fun and upbeat one from the festival friendly duo out of Chicago, this time paired with pretty aggressive lyrics like “say..hello to the finger in your face.” A perfect emancipation song, it will leave even the firmest of anti-joggers ready to put on their shoes and run.
1. Biscuits by Kasey Musgraves
You can’t help but smile at the content, the whole of the song is a nod to treating others how you’d like to be treated, common courtesy, etc., but the T-shirt worthy “mind your own biscuits and life will be gravy” captures the lyrical genius in its simplicity. Out currently on tour, by the time Musgraves gets home she’s likely to find a big hit with Biscuits.
Leave a Reply