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5 songs you need to stream this week: Pretenders, Fruit Bats, and More

By Parker Hall October 2, 2016

best songs to stream 10 1 2016 fruit bats — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Every week, there are hundreds of thousands of new songs hitting the airwaves. It’s too much for just your two ears to handle: With all those options, you can’t be wasting your time on tracks worthy of a thumbs-down click.

But don’t worry, we’re going to save you the hassle. We listen to some of the most-hyped and interesting songs each week and tell you which are worthy of your precious listening time.

Here are our top 5 songs to stream this week. Also, don’t forget to subscribe to our Spotify page for a playlist of our weekly picks, which can also be found at the bottom of this post.

Pretenders — Holy Commotion

Pretenders - Holy Commotion (Official Video)

The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach and Pretenders frontwoman Chrissy Hynde appear hard at work in the classic rock outfit’s latest video, making music in Auerbach’s beautiful Nashville studio. A rocking single with a classic groove, the song sets the tone for the band’s much-anticipated upcoming album Alone, which will hit shelves this October.

Fruit Bats — Absolute Loser (and more)

Fruit Bats - Full Performance (Live on KEXP)

Fruit Bats returned to KEXP’s famed video studio recently, offering beautiful live versions of songs from their recently-released album Absolute Loser. Their first cut (and the record’s title track) exhibits the band’s mastery of the alt-country style, a sonic universe where jangly Southern guitars coexist with vintage analog synth solos.

Kaytranada — You’re The One (Feat. Syd)

KAYTRANADA - YOU'RE THE ONE (feat. SYD)

Featuring a four-on-the-floor beat, and dissected by a heavily rhythmic bass synth part, You’re The One exhibits the deliciously-executed musical layering which just won Canadian producer Kaytranada his nation’s Polaris Prize. If this one doesn’t get you up and moving, you may need to see a doctor.

Moses Sumney — Lonely World (Feat. Thundercat)

Lonely World - Moses Sumney

Moses Sumney’s gentle vibrato vocals meet sharp bass lines from famed low-end specialist Thundercat on Lonely World. It’s a simmering and introspective track which is best heard after the sun goes down, when all is quiet except the voices in your head.

Pinegrove — Portal

The Key Presents: Pinegrove - Portal

Up-and-coming East Coast act Pinegrove appears in paired-down format on a rooftop, sharing their latest harmonized single, Portal. It’s a compelling new cut which matches much of the rest of their catalog — with country-style melodies, emotionally charged-themes, placed over a decidedly 21st-century harmonic rhythm.

That’s it for now, but tune in next week for more tunes and check out our playlist loaded with our recent selections below:

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Former Digital Trends Contributor

Parker Hall is a writer and musician from Portland, OR. He is a graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Oberlin…

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