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.
Sting — I Can’t Stop Thinking About You
The first pop song in 13 years to emerge from the increasingly world music-loving Sting, I Can’t Stop Thinking About You is just about as classic a return to form as you could ask for. It’s a steady-rocking single which showcases the hooky style that made the bassist famous in the first place, and finds itself among the cleanest singles he has delivered to the public’s ears in recent memory.
Bon Iver — 33 “God”
Justin Vernon’s layered falsetto style hasn’t shifted too much since Bon Iver broke through into the mainstream with For Emma, Forever Ago nearly a decade back, but — probably thanks to high-profile work with hip-hop artists like Kanye West — the band’s music has gotten significantly more beat-oriented. 33 “God”, the latest single from upcoming release 22, A Million is expansive and groove-oriented, an almost-orchestral work with no shortage of sonic curiosities for your ears to latch on to.
Big Thief — Masterpiece and More
Among the most brilliant songwriting duos to emerge from New York in the past decade, Adrianne Lenker and Buck Meek’s project Big Thief appeared at NPR’s Tiny Desk this week, bringing with them songs from their debut record Masterpiece, which came out earlier this summer. It’s an enthralling though brief live set, compelling from the first note to the last.
Sampha — Blood On Me
The latest single from Kanye West and Frank Ocean collaborator Sampha feels like it was bred for the next James Bond soundtrack. Lyrics are fraught with paranoia and placed over a seriously dark and groovy beat, allowing the singer to showcase his chops outside of his typically gentler style. The track demonstrates the sonic depth that drew such big-name cohorts to Sampha’s doorstep in the first place.
Ultimate Painting — Song For Brian Jones
Known throughout the music world for their mellow, post-Velvet Underground songwriting style, British rock band Ultimate Painting returned with a new music video this week, highlighting the juxtaposition between the great outdoors and the city loft in which their music is actually recorded. Song For Brian Jones is one that meanders into your day-end playlist, the onward push you need after time spent muddied in work’s trenches.
That’s it for now, but tune in next week for more tunes and check out our playlist loaded with our recent selections below:
