Here are our top 5 songs to stream this week — and remember to subscribe to our Spotify playlist for all of our weekly picks.
Wilco — Locator
The first new single in 12 months from cult-beloved alt-country band Wilco, Locator was released this week as a free download to fans in celebration of the one year anniversary of the band’s ninth studio album, Star Wars. A rambling roots rocker that is rhythmically disparate throughout its two-and-a-half-minute run time, the song is classic Wilco — right down to the harmonized vocals on the chorus, and the fast end-tune fade.
Jamie Lidell — Walk Right Back
The first bars of pop singer Jamie Lidell’s latest cut Walk Right Back grabs you by the back of your neck, jolting your senses with its catchy, inspirational beat. Balancing itself right in the sweet spot between a beat-tape head bopper and a Z100 single, the song comes off as something Michael Jackson might have released if he was bursting onto the scene in 2016. Everyone knows the world needs more enticing beat-breaks to be followed by clear, effective pop choruses, but there’s a shortage of musicians who are actually able to give the people what they want.
Jones — Melt
An acoustic version of British soul singer Jones’ latest single Melt popped up online this week, offering fans an awesomely stripped-down single to chew on. The fully produced version is still great, but there’s something about how the electric guitar plays with her mellow, reverb vocals that makes this one feel more special — a masterclass in classy, late-night jams.
Beach Baby — U R
New Wave Londoners Beach Baby put out their latest Summer-themed single this week, complete with a five-part music video documenting “The Five Stages of Break-Up Grief” via a character named Lily. Anthemic and compelling — even without the extremely well-shot video — the new single is exactly the kind of thing you’ll want to pop on before a casual weekend jog.
Big Thief with Luke Temple — Mother
The best songwriters never rest, and such is the case with up-and-coming Brooklyn band Big Thief. Having released the intimate and near-perfect debut album Masterpiece earlier this summer, the band shared a new collaboration with songwriter Luke Temple (Here We Go Magic) this week, an extended jam called Mother which comes complete with mid-song break down. Produced as part of Philadelphia-based Weathervane Music’s non-profit mission to show bands’ creative processes, the song was released alongside a documentary following the day the band spent in the studio.
That’s it for now, but check back every week for more new tunes to stream!
