This is our weekly recap of the best new songs released each week because Plato said that music gives soul to the universe and wings to the mind and we care deeply about your physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.
It’s also not a bad way to start the weekend. Here’s a Spotify playlist of the songs (with some substitutions for the ones that aren’t on Spotify yet) if that’s more your speed. Also, here’s our collected Spotify playlist of all the songs of the week we’ve had.
A general warning that many of these songs have explicit lyrics. Here they are, in no particular order.
Our fearless culture editor Nate Scott is not around today, so it’s just me, Charlotte, flying solo, trying to pick songs that might bring you a little joy.
1. D.R.A.M — CASH MACHINE
If you’re not familiar with D.R.A.M on his own, you might know him from his cameos on Chance the Rapper’s Coloring Book. Or maybe you really liked his song Broccoli with Lil Yachty? Cash Machine is D.R.A.M. by himself and at his best: His wobbly voice weaves in and out of the trickling piano that accompanies the beat, and he goes from rapping to singing so smoothly that you’re not always sure which one he’s doing. And it makes this song absolutely delightful.
2. TOPAZ JONES — WINONA
It was pretty clear that Winona Ryder has once again become someone the world cares about, thanks to her appearance in Stranger Things. But her return to pop culture relevancy is now indisputable because she has a rap song named after her. “Winona, she’s a rider,” is the kind of line you wish you’d thought of yourself, and the whole song is filled with equally as brilliant puns about her career. Welcome back, Winona. You did it.
3. SIA — THE GREATEST FEAT. KENDRICK LAMAR
At first I thought I was listening to a rejected beat from a Drake album, but then Sia’s unmistakable warble kicks in. “Runnin’ out of breath but I, oh I, I got stamina,” she sings, and I can’t help but think that she should’ve released this in late July so that it could’ve been the theme song for the Olympics rather than that trash song by Katy Perry. Kendrick’s verse here is predictably perfect.
4. GROUPLOVE — GOOD MORNING
After teasing us all summer, Grouplove finally released their new album Big Mess on Friday. The whole thing encompasses a range of pop styles, from the more guitar-driven rock to songs that sound like pure bubble gum pop. But there’s a consistency of production and a general upbeat tempo that pulls the whole thing together. Good Morning falls much more on the pop side of the spectrum, with a driving beat and big brass band undertones. The fast hook is especially satisfying.
5. DAMS OF THE WEST — DEATH WISH
Dams of the West is the new solo project from Chris Tomson, the drummer of Vampire Weekend. Death Wish is the first song he’s put out into the world, and will be on his forthcoming album calledYoungish American. The video is as good as the melody and production, which are as good as the lyrics, which are brilliant. The Black Keys’ Patrick Carney produced the record with Tomson and Roger Moutenot, who’s worked with Yo La Tengo and Sleater Kinney.
6. REGINA SPEKTOR — BLACK AND WHITE
No, YOU’RE softly weeping in a coffee shop. Man, Regina, how do you do this to me? Sure, listening to her music reminds me of being heartbroken in high school. But this song would probably get me even if her high, distinctive voice weren’t seared into my memory from years ago. It’s a beautiful, sad song about really loving someone. “You will always start to cry,” she sings, her high vocals soaring over the snare and the strings. “You will always start to cry.” And yeah, you will.
7. WALE — ONE REASON FEAT. ERIC BELLINGER
This is really good Wale. There’s such a thing as bad Wale, which is mostly what happens when he tries to recreate his 2008/2009, younger sounding stuff more recently. And, don’t get me wrong, that Wale was great. I loved that Wale. But it’s fun to hear him evolve and get a little grittier with his sound. This beat on One Reason is slow and sparse, and it works.
8. TY DOLLA $IGN — STEALING
Stealing is like a good, 2016 version of a Jack Johnson song, but instead of Jack Johnson, it’s Ty Dolla $ign, and we’re all better off for it. Play this outside while you lie in a hammock near a beach. Or, if you can’t do that, put it on when you get up on Sunday morning.
9. ST. PAUL & THE BROKEN BONES — FLOW WITH IT (YOU GOT ME FEELING LIKE)
Alabama band St. Paul & The Broken Bones (killer name, right?) just released their new LP, Sea of Noise.Flow with It is a groovy R&B track that makes both great work music and also would be well-suited to a movie montage of people driving around in a car in the 70s. These guys remind me of Sly and the Family Stone, with hints of Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings.
10. THE HEAD AND THE HEART — I DON’T MIND
The Head and the Heart have traditionally put out more mellow music than the songs on their new EP, Signs of Light. The Seattle band appears to be amping up their sound, and the driving beat on I Don’t Mind is a fun depature from what I’m used to hearing from them. There are, of course, slower songs on this new album, too. But it’s fun to hear them play around with a new style.
BONUS, KIND OF: LADY GAGA — PERFECT ILLUSION
I didn’t really want to include this because a) it sounds like every other pop songs ever released and b) it’s not actually as good as most of them. But then I found myself listening to it several times in a row, so I’m tacking it on at the end. Also, a lot of people are talking about it, so I don’t want you guys to be out of the loop when you get to a work water cooler or a party tonight. Glamour noticed a lot of people on the internet saying it sounds just like Papa Don’t Preach, and now I can’t listen to it without hearing Madonna at the same time. Which makes for a very strange listening experience.
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