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5 songs you need to stream this week: Leonard Cohen, Danny Brown, and more

best songs to stream 9 23 16 danny brown
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.

Leonard Cohen — You Want It Darker

Leonard Cohen - You Want It Darker (Audio)

82-year-old songwriting legend Leonard Cohen released a new single this week, a haunting song with a title that matches its somber tone. There’s an almost eerie similarity here to later Johnny Cash work, with a low and gravely voice providing depth to a seriously sad melody.

Amazon iTunes

Danny Brown — Really Doe (Feat. Kendrick Lamar, Ab Soul, Earl Sweatshirt)

Danny Brown - Really Doe ft. Kendrick Lamar, Ab-Soul, Earl Sweatshirt

Gap-toothed rapper Danny Brown has been capturing hearts and minds with his weirdo aesthetic for some time now, but it’s his demonstrable skills on the microphone which garner him top-shelf collaborators here. On Really Doe, the vocalist offers crisp and clean rhythmic jabs, easily matching the skills of the fine California rappers who join him.

Amazon iTunes

Weaves — Birds & Bees

Weaves - Birds & Bees (Live on KEXP)

Toronto-based art-rockers Weaves have been taking the indie music world by storm this year, having performed an enthralling live set at NPR’s Tiny Desk, and now offering fans a live performance on Seattle’s acclaimed KEXP. A quirky and instrumentally-gifted outfit, the band shine on Birds & Bees, which meanders somewhere between straight-ahead rock and Pixies-esque oddity.

Amazon iTunes

The Olympians — Sirens of Jupiter

The latest of Daptone’s classic-sounding soul outfits, The Olympians are an amalgamation of performers from The Budos Band, Charles Bradley, The Dap Kings, and more. An all-star outfit whose sound matches its pedigree, Sirens of Jupiter is a forward-moving tune that will keep you going even on the darkest of days.

Amazon iTunes

Corrine Bailey Rae — Paris Nights/New York Mornings (and More)

UK vocalist Corrine Bailey Rae’s shining personality was impossible to ignore during this week’s appearance at NPR’s Tiny Desk. Performing tunes from her upcoming album The Heart Speaks In Whispers, the songstress floats atop a perfectly-pitched live band, offering a shining beam of musical light to carry you through fall’s diminishing rays.

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…
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