Best new songs to stream: Moses Sumney, Ty Segall, Sufjan Stevens, and more

By Parker Hall December 3, 2017

best songs to stream — YouTube/KEXP

Every week, there are thousands of new songs hitting the airwaves — and it’s just too much for your two ears to handle. With all those options, you can’t be wasting your time on tracks that deserve a thumbs-down click — you want the best new songs to stream right now.

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 five best new songs to stream this week. And 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. Not sure which streaming service is best for you? Check out our post about the best music streaming services, or go in depth and learn the differences between Apple Music and Spotify to better weigh your options.

Moses Sumney — Doomed (and more, live at NPR’s Tiny Desk)

Given that singer Moses Sumney‘s debut album Aromanticism ranks among our favorites of the year, we were very excited to listen to this recently released live performance at the NPR offices. The stripped-down and passionate 20-minute performance easily proves why Sumney’s star is quickly on the rise, thanks to gorgeous vocal melodies that drift over an elegant blend of harp, guitar, and keyboard sounds.

Ty Segall — The Main Pretender

Garage rock hero Ty Segall may have already put out an excellent self-titled record this year, but that won’t stop the prolific musician from releasing new tunes. On his latest song, The Main Pretender, we get a healthy dose of Segall’s signature fuzz, with a punchy drumbeat, distorted guitars, and even a shrieking saxophone solo midway through. As with much of the songwriter’s catalog, this one is meant to be played loud.

Sufjan Stevens — The Greatest Gift

Sufjan Stevens - The Greatest Gift (Official Video)

Gently plucked strings open up this short and sweet winter single from indie icon Sufjan Stevens, whose soft voice floats gently throughout the 2-minute gem. Hopeful and quiet, this is a warm musical morsel that will raise your spirits even during the coldest, darkest days of the year.

Day Wave — Drag (Live on KCRW)

Day Wave performing "Drag" Live on KCRW

A crisp drum groove and jangly guitars keep things moving during this brief but memorable cut from Oakland’s Day Wave. One of a few songs the band played during a recent appearance at Southern California’s KCRW radio station, the tune is very well-suited to movement, whether that’s head bobbing along at your desk or taking it with you on your next cold-weather run. We found ourselves particularly enjoying it on the brisk walk home from the office.

Mikko Joensuu — Warning Sign (and more, live on KEXP)

Mikko Joensuu - Full Performance (Live on KEXP)

This performance by Finnish musician Mikko Joensuu is one of a few musical gems that was recently recorded by the team at Seattle’s KEXP radio during their time at the Iceland Airwaves festival. The simple folk melody of Joensuu’s opening track Warning Sign is surrounded by a beautiful large ensemble, with layered strings, background vocals, and supple guitar joining together in powerful harmony.

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

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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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These are the best music videos of 2017

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Every year, there are thousands of new songs and music videos hitting the airwaves -- and it's just too much for your two eyes and ears to handle. With all those options, you can't be wasting your time on tracks that deserve a thumbs-down click.

But don't worry, we've saved you the hassle. We listen to and watch some of the most-hyped and interesting songs and videos each week, and tell you which are worthy of your precious listening time.

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The best songs about friendship

best songs about friendship

There's nothing better in the world than a good friend -- except, perhaps, a good song about friendship. A theme that spans all genres -- from pop and rap to electronic and country -- musical artists have been pondering and praising friendship since time immemorial. Alas, we don't have recordings of ancient Etruscan or Sumerian odes to friendship, but we do have some other dope tracks on this Spotify playlist, by everyone from Biz Markie to Bette Midler. Grab a friend and take a listen to the best songs about friendship.
Deep Fried Frenz by MF Doom (2004) [Amazon, iTunes]
Deep Fried Frenz, the fifth track off of MF Doom's food-related 2004 album Mm.. Food, samples an old-school rap song by Whodini called Friends, so you're kinda getting two friendship-themed songs in one. If you're friends with the masked rapper, don't worry: He doesn't really want to deep fry you. He does, however, want to know who his real friends are. Hip-hop can be a tough game, but it's made better with some quality pals.
Just A Friend by Biz Markie (1989) [Amazon, iTunes]
Poor Biz Markie can't catch a break in this 1989 lamentation of forlorn groupie love, in which the Clown Prince of Hip-Hop meets a girl while on concert and, after trying to date her, discovers she already has a man -- who she insists is "just a friend." This single was a one-hit wonder and Biz Markie hasn't been able to climb the charts since (appearing on reality shows and Men In Black II instead), but what a wonderful hit it is. Just A Friend is now a dance floor sing-along staple and a reminder that friendship can be bittersweet.
You've Got A Friend In Me by Randy Newman & Lyle Lovett (1996) [Amazon, iTunes]

The Toy Story franchise and its theme song, You've Got A Friend In Me offers another bittersweet take on friendship. The song -- written by Randy Newman and performed as a duet by Newman and Lyle Lovett -- is a perfect tribute to friends helping each other when times get tough.
I'll Be There For You by The Rembrandts (1995) [Amazon, iTunes]
We go from bittersweet to syrupy with I'll Be There For You by The Rembrandts, best known as the irritating yet catchy theme song for the TV show Friends, making it a begrudgingly suitable track on this playlist. We're really sorry. It has some nice and appropriate sentiments about friendship though, we promise!
I'll Be There by The Jackson 5 (1970) [Amazon, iTunes]
I'll Be There, The Jackson 5's soul song about soul mates catapulted the quintet beyond the realm of mere bubblegum pop into the stratosphere, according to no less an authority than Michael Jackson himself. If you want more I'll Be There in your listening life, check out Mariah Carey's equally- powerful MTV Unplugged rendition.
You're My Best Friend by Queen (1975) [Amazon, iTunes]
So far, our songs about friendship are pretty straightforward and You're My Best Friend by Queen is no exception. Written by the band's bassist John Deacon -- who also provides those Wurlitzer piano notes -- it's a catchy pop ballad about Deacon's relationship with his wife and the joys of a friendship that evolves into marriage.
Stand By Me by Ben E. King (1961) [Amazon, iTunes]
Ben E King's R&B classic has scaled the Billboard charts twice: First when it was released in 1961, then in 1986 when it was re-released, coinciding with the blockbuster coming-of-age film of the same name, demonstrating the song's timeless appeal. Both versions of Stand By Me serve as anthemic monuments to childhood camaraderie.
Lean On Me by Bill Withers (1972) [Amazon, iTunes]
A friend in need is a friend indeed, as the saying goes, and Lean On Me by Bill Withers is a stirring expression of that sentiment. This song topped the Billboard charts twice: The Withers original went number one in 1972, then the Club Nouveau cover reach the top spot in 1987, also winning the Grammy for Best R&B Song.
With A Little Help From My Friends by Joe Cocker (1968) [Amazon, iTunes]
With A Little Help From My Friends was first recorded by this British band called The Beatles -- maybe you've heard of them. In this case though, we went with the Joe Cocker rendition, which is a friendship-themed classic in its own right, slower and bluesier than the poppy Beatles version. This version of With A Little Help From My Friends also found new life 20 years after its release as the theme song of the nostalgic series The Wonder Years.
Umbrella by Rihanna (2007) [Amazon, iTunes]
"When the sun shines, we'll shine together/Told you I'll be here forever/Said I'll always be a friend/Took an oath I'mma stick it out til the end." Is there a better expression of friendship than that? Rihanna had a string of early successes before Umbrella, but this 2007 single was her breakthrough hit, turning her into the chart-topping titan she is today. It's also an affecting and danceable tune about the everlasting bond between friends.

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Best new songs to stream

Every week, there are thousands of new songs hitting the airwaves -- and it's just too much for your two ears to handle. With all those options, you can't be wasting your time on tracks that deserve a thumbs-down click -- you want the best new songs to stream right now.

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.