This week’s selection of new songs came flying in from all directions; T.I. declaring Peanut Butter Jelly time on his latest, Slayer keeping the intensity pumping (at the highest decimal possible) with Cast The First Stone, and Seal gives us a peak at his first release in 4 years, with Every Time I’m With You.
The work week doesn’t have to drag on when you have two new stellar songs per day to go through before the new batch of New Music Friday hits; even more so when you head over to full list of New Music Friday! Catch up with New Music All-Stars for the best of the best.
10. I Want To Believe by Superhumanoids
Though the classification might sound self explanatory, the lack of familiar artists under the genre heading of synth pop might require further listening. For those unfamiliar, look no further; Superhumanoids are a perfect example of the category. Here they shine at creating a trance like rhythm, perfect for blasting as loud as you can take it.
9. Your Love by Austin Plaine
With the field so populated with male singer/songwriters holding only a dream and a guitar, you’ve got to have many tools in your arsenal to make yourself heard these days. For Austin Plaine, it’s that he can play a mean ukulele. A native of Minneapolis, Plaine is celebrating the release of his first album this week. On Your Love, he strums hard with accompaniments and drums kicking in so it’s not too much of a sleeper (sorry ukulele, your reputation proceeds you). That and the album cover will make you want to kick down a railroad track on these the last days of Summer.
8. Same Old Love by Selena Gomez
It would be easy for the haters to make a quick jab at Selena and say on her latest that it’s one of her “same old songs.” But this latest serves as another example of Selena’s growth as an artist and as a person, leading up to aptly named album Revival, out October 9th. A smooth and sassy bopper of a song, she’s stepping out on her own, declaring she’s not spending any time wasting time on you. Get it girl. Great understated power anthem.
7. Hourglass by Disclosure, LION BABE
From the moment it says go you’ll have no problem gathering this IS a dance track, Disclosure providing the tempo, Lionbabe the vocals and diva defining locks. The song warps and clucks on, as any good dance track is required to do, but LION BABE really makes herself known here, giving another reason why she’s a hot new artist that everyone should have their eyes on. The song declares, “eyes on the hourglass, as we sink into the sand/ time’s up, there’s nothing we can do about it” making it an unlikely candidate as your chosen song for your next existential crisis.
6. Circadian Rhythm (Last Dance) by Silversun Pickups
The latest from the Silver Lake, CA All-Stars both captures the fleeting somber tones made popular by their first few albums, and at the same time has an updated kick to it. This is in large part due to bassist Nikki Monninger leading on vocals. As the band breaks out into shouts of “Nowhere to go, nowhere to go!” at the 2 minute 2 second mark, you can’t help but have a feeling of just how great that will sound live. A few listens in may just have you thinking this is one of their all-time best.
5. Pressure Off by Duran Duran, Janelle Monae, Niles Rodgers
Couldn’t have picked a better name to describe where the band seems to be at creatively, with their careers spanning over three decades now, the band no longer has to create music to appease managers or record labels; the pressure here feels suitably off. For a dash of cheeky and further funkiness they’ve roped in powerhouse Janelle Monae and Niles Rodgers of 70s Funk blaster, Chic. The best part? The song sounds like a piece of 80s Duran Duran, but there’s no trace of alienating a younger audience.
4. Friends by Raury, Tom Morello
It’s not often you here “free-spirited” and “rapper” in the same sentence, but Spotify gets it right on the money in their description of Raury. Also inviting you to give peace a chance on the track is Tom Morello, here more self-actualized than full of rage. As the lyrics go, “I made a friend in North Korea, she showed me how to meditate” this is the perfect track to dedicate to your friends around the world on International Day of Peace, which is conveniently coming up on September 21st.
3. Fell In The Sun by Big Grams
Equal parts Hotlanta and Mouthful of Diamonds, Big Grams is a shining example what happens when talent recognizes talent and decides to collaborate with one another. Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik fans will quickly recognize “that voice” as none other than Big Boi, and electro alt-rock fans the accompanying vocals as coming from Phantogram. With so much cool on the track, it makes it the perfect accompaniment to chill time.
2. Clearest Blue by CHVRCHES
With popular reception of Never Ending Circles and Leave a Trace all over alt-rock radio, you’d think the crew from Scotland would be happy coasting in until their album release date on September 25th. Not so, with this powerhouse of a song, that’s bound to get even the most anti-dancers toes twiddling. If you’re a dancer, this is THE jam to get your pirouettes perfectly timed (no, really). At the 2 minute 12 second mark they completely go OFF, which is bound to result in uncontrollable flailing of the arms (both in your room or at a festival).
1. Honeymoon by Lana del Rey
On Honeymoon, also the name of her upcoming album, Lana takes us back to her Video Game roots, using the quiet moments just as much as singing parts to make an impact. The beginning swells like a soundtrack to an old Hollywood movie, her voice rich as if it too is full of old Hollywood glamour, with a Sunset Boulevard secret or two. Clocking in just under six minutes, the song never really reaches a fever pitch; just a dreamy, moody sensation to take in, much like the artist herself.
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