Skip to main content

5 songs you need to stream this week: Fleet Foxes, The Maldives, and more

best songs to stream 5 12 17 the maldives
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.

Fleet Foxes — Fool’s Errand

The second new song from indie folk heroes Fleet Foxes comes as the countdown clock to their upcoming album Crack-Up approaches the one-month mark. A simple and driving jam that overflows with the complex vocal harmonies listeners have come to expect from the band, Fool’s Errand  is a return to form that many fans will be excited about.

The Maldives — No Sense In A Slow Death (and more)

The Maldives - Full Performance (Live on KEXP)

Slow rolling and full of musical space, The Maldives bring sharp live chops to this recent take of No Sense In A Slow Death — the first cut from their terrific recent album Mad Lives. Electric and acoustic guitars blend with powerful organ tones in an extremely vibrant half-hour performance that will ease you perfectly into the record.

Girlpool — Powerplant

Girlpool - "Powerplant"

Whether it’s the rollicking 6/8 time signature or the gorgeous use of unison vocals that transform into two-part harmonies at just the right moment, there is a distinctly Elliott Smith-like feeling to Girlpool’s Powerplant. Like Smith’s many iconic singles, this is the kind of song that you want to live with in the real world, whether you’re blurring out the sounds of a bleak bus ride, or you are filling in the space between thoughts on a long walk to nowhere.

Lost Balloons — Numb

The quick-paced indie pop of the mid-2000s is beautifully reworked by Lost Balloons on their latest song Numb. After a short acoustic guitar intro, Numb leaps into itself and drags you with it — a musical escape that will help you clean your room 10 times faster, or blast you into the final half mile of your evening jog.

Preservation Hall Jazz Band — Santiago

Preservation Hall Jazz Band performing "Santiago" Live on KCRW

The spirit of springtime is perfectly embodied by the sounds of New Orleans’ Preservation Hall Jazz Band, who brought a massive ball of sonic energy to this recently record live video for KCRW radio. Screaming saxophones meet deep and groovy bass and drum lines, creating an atmosphere that will have you looking forward the dog days of summer.

That’s it for now, but tune in next week for more tunes and check out the 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…
Best new songs to stream: Porches, Alvvays, Feist, Grizzly Bear, and Goon
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.

Read more
Best new songs to stream: Big K.R.I.T., MGMT, Curls, and more
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.

Read more
Best new songs to stream: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Sufjan Stevens, and more
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.

Read more