This most recent installment in new music, unofficially Halloweekend to most, saw some pretty docile and decidedly not ghoulish releases; at the forefront of hip hop a showdown transpired amongst Jeezy, Meek Mills, Migos and 2 Chainz, Alessia Cara lent her sweetness for the forthcoming Disney film Moana (out November 23rd) with How Far I’ll Go, and Little Mix has a list of ‘Do-Nots’ on You Gotta Not. Tove Lo celebrates ‘Lady Wood’ via ‘Keep It Simple’ and Alicia Keys gets real on ‘Holy War.’
The only scary thing about a Halloween on a Monday is the possibility of a going through a whole week with no new releases in your arsenal; head over to Spotify and find this week’s favorite. Need just a little bit more? Check out Busted Wallet New Music Friday All Stars for a six month update.
9. lil bit wrOng by Maty Noyes
‘Coming back from the dead’ is Maty Noyes here in her own words, but on her first official EP ‘Noyes Complaint’ most are just getting to know the 19 year old. You perhaps are familiar with her voice on Kygo’s Stay (over 300 million plays would indicate there’s a strong possibility) but now we get to focus on her vocal chops without the distraction of another on the track list. A little bit of this, a little bit of that could best describe lil bit wrOng, and we can’t wait for what’s next from her in the future.
8. I Got You by Bebe Rexha
According to her twitter bio, Bebe Rexha describes herself as a a ‘pop disruptor’ and perhaps there’s more than a little merit to the description; she’s indisputably popular (check her stats!) but lacks the universal recognition of your Arianas, your Taylors, your Selenas. On I Got You she makes a strong case for herself further, with a few ‘oh na na na’s she point blank asks for your friendship, followed up with a supportive ‘I got you.’ No reason at this point not to let her in.
7. Way Down We Go – Recorded at Spotify Studios NYC by Kaleo
So many times when a band or artist takes part in a Spotify Sessions,or any recording at Spotify headquarters, it’s stripped subtlety but lacks true distinction from the original. Not so with Kaleo on their drench-in-soul single Way Down We Go, who took part in a Spotify ‘Single,’ along with the equally as popular track All The Pretty Girls. The acoustic version here gives it that extra panache of emotion that was just waiting for the right interpretation. Dare I say even better than the original, or in this case, the first take.
6. Playground by Møme
When it comes to playing on the playground Møme provides in his latest, it hits on all the counts that EDM should be – moderately paced build, transformative, and doesn’t fizzle out. The nice French DJ from Nice made a huge splash with his hit ‘Aloha’ last year, and here he shows he’s not just a flash in the plan, with plenty up his sleeve. The track is also super versatile, making it suitable for studying, driving home for work, or even a warm up to getting the party started.
5. Little One by Highly Suspect
The things that moody grunged-out fall daydreams are made of, on Little One Highly Suspect sings of reflection, a weirded out nostalgia, and mostly regret. For keeping it so real, no matter how bleak it gets, what’s not to love? While the band has included the track as part of the live shows they’ve been touring over the past year, we’ll have to wait until November 18th when the full album The Boy Who Died Wolf comes out, for more.
4. Angels by Avenged Sevenfold
There’s no better time of year than the Friday before Halloween to release a surprise album from a band like Avenged Sevenfold, as The Stage came as an unexpected jolt for fans, with an album cover that looks like a metaphysical episode of Tales from the Crypt. PR genius aside, the track rocks hard, with a slight touch of creepiness and the macabre for good measure.
3. Chantaje by Shakira, Maluma
Serving as both a way to take Shakira in her purest form and a means to practice your Spanish for those who don’t hablalo, the Columbian international superstar is back with a track that translates to “blackmail” in English. It’s a beautiful ‘back n’ forth’ duet like La Tortura, this time with Maluma, another Columbian superstar. The result is a feeling of overwhelming sultriness, which we can’t to see how it transpires when the music video comes out.
2. Make America Great Again by Pussy Riot
When it comes to Pussy Riot’s latest (and official debut on Spotify), it’s a lesson in juxtaposition. The video for the track is as in your face as it gets, while the song is has the stylings of an easy breezy Brazilian bossa nova. It’s an ingenious take on the protest song, but not at all diffident. There’s something so invigorating about the central blow to mark your dissent being whispered. It appears along two other tracks off of xxx, a three track release that marks a (one track) partnership with fellow masked badass Leikeli47.
1. Dead Alive by The Shins
Just like Avenged Sevenfold, The Shins took advantage of the eeriest time of year for a Halloweenesque release, but while the Avenged went grisly, the Shins went spooky-psychedelic, swirling around repeated lines of ‘figments of imagination’ and ‘What are they hiding under there?” It’s about as scary as David S. Pumpkins, but entertains just as much. The hidden gem of it is is that you won’t feel out of place listening to this one all year long.
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