Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

5 songs you need to stream this week: Bob Dylan, Mac Demarco, and more

best songs to stream
YouTube
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.

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 five 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.

Bob Dylan — I Could Have Told You

Bob Dylan - I Could Have Told You (Audio)

Recent Nobel Prize winner Bob Dylan is preparing a three-disc album of Frank Sinatra covers called Triplicate for release later this year, and recently put out a breathtaking cover of the ballad I Could Have Told You to whet our collective appetite. A gorgeous blend of pedal steel guitar and upright bass, Dylan’s vocals flow gently over the surface of the track, with the iconic songwriter saving the more gravelly side of his voice until the final refrain.

Amazon iTunes

Mac Demarco — This Old Dog

Mac DeMarco // This Old Dog (Official Audio)

Canadian songwriter Mac Demarco retains his classic vintage-inspired sound on This Old Dog, a pulsating new single with punchy drums, warm acoustic guitar, and simple vocal hooks. Soft and inviting, it’s a perfect way to relax amid hectic midweek moments, calming your nerves with a sea of supple analog tones.

Amazon iTunes

The Underachievers — Gotham Nights

In the past five years, the hype surrounding thowback ’90s-style hip-hop has tempered, giving way to a slew of younger, trap-influenced sounds. But that news apparently never reached Brooklyn-based duo The Underachievers, whose latest cut Gotham Nights feels like a lost single from Jay Z’s debut album Reasonable Doubt. Jazzy samples and a deep boom-bap beat pair so well with the duo’s syncopated vocal rhythms that you’ll have a tough time hiding a huge, nostalgic smile.

Future Islands  — Ran

Future Islands - Ran (Official Audio)

This week’s best workout cut comes from Baltimore-based synth pop group Future Islands, who employ a driving blend of acoustic and digital drum sounds to propel you through every step, lift, or push-up. The first single from the band’s upcoming fifth studio album The Far FieldRan is a show of vulnerability and strength, with punchy tenor vocals and cool ’80s-style synth tones creating an extremely repeatable package.

Amazon iTunes

Father John Misty — Ballad of the Dying Man

Father John Misty - Ballad Of The Dying Man

Poignant songwriter Father John Misty shared a follow-up to last week’s politically-influenced single Pure Comedy with Ballad of the Dying Man, a lyric-driven song that centers on musings about life’s end. Piano and acoustic guitars are eventually joined by gospel choir backgrounds, with somber, investigative lyricism tying a big, black ribbon around the thoughtful funeral dirge.

Amazon iTunes

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

Editors' Recommendations

Parker Hall
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…
How to convert your vinyl to a digital format
Rebirth of cool: Is vinyl ready for a second wind, or just a fad?

It doesn't matter one bit if your vinyl collection consists of just a single milk crate or if it fills several Ikea Kallax shelves and is slowly taking over your home — we can all agree that there's just something about vinyl.

Maybe it's the warm, uncompressed sound spinning off a solid turntable, or the feel of holding a physical piece of art in your hands while the record spins — it's a special experience that has regained much of its glory in a world dominated by digital streaming. The problem is, records are fragile, and crates full of them don't fit in your back pocket.

Read more
How to find your lost AirPods using the Find My app
A pair of blue AirPods Max sitting on a table.

Apple's AirPods provide durable, true wireless sound for your music, podcasts, movies, TV, and more, but they’re also tiny sticks that sit in your ears -- which means they're easy to lose, and accidents can happen. You may know the feeling of leaving your AirPods behind or reaching up and suddenly realizing you only have one AirPod left in your ear -- oh, the horror!

The good news is, Apple's Find My service is designed just for these situations and can help you locate your lost AirPods, AirPods Pro, or AirPods Max from an iPhone, iPad, or on your computer, pinpointing their location on a map and even allowing you to trigger a sound to help you find them. There's also a Lost Mode, notification options so you won't forget your AirPods, and more. Here's how it all works.

Read more
How to add music to your iPhone or iPad
mqa universal music group deal hi res audio man and woman listening to

If you're anything like us, you love your music, and you want to be able to enjoy it anywhere, on any device. Downloading your music collection onto your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch gives you access to your music pretty much everywhere — so it makes sense to know exactly how to download music onto all of your Apple devices.

Read more