vulture recommends

10 Best New Songs of the Week

Photo: Getty Images

Every week, members of the Vulture staff will highlight their favorite new songs. They might be loud, quiet, long, short, dance-y, rawkin’, hip, square, rap, punk, jazz, some sort of jazz-punk-rap fusion — whatever works for the given person in that given week. Read our picks below and please tell us yours in the comments. 

Mikal Cronin, “Made My Mind Up”
Did you hear MCII, the 2013 album from bedheaded San Francisco garage-rocker/tie-dye shirt enthusiast Mikal Cronin? Well, it ruled. And if this new song, “Made Up My Mind,” and the commendably straightforward album title (MCIII) are any indication, his next one will rule too. If it ain’t broke! —Lindsay Zoladz (@LindsayZoladz

Pete Doherty, “Flags of the Old Regime”
Both Pete Doherty and Amy Winehouse had their struggles with drugs and alcohol, but while Pete made it out alive, Amy sadly succumbed to her addiction in 2011. For Doherty’s new single, he wrote a powerful elegy for his fallen friend, with the proceeds of the single going to her foundation. It conveys the type of pain one feels when they are forced to face their demons while living in the public eye. —Marcus Jones (@MJinMD)

Jess Gynne, “Hold My Hand”
The voice from Clean Bandit’s “Rather Be” — which totally should’ve stole 2014 Song of Summer crown from “Fancy” — is very prepared to make it on her own. Jess Glynne’s “Hold My Hand” is a powerful piece of pop. We’re a little early for conjecture, but watch Glynne for this year’s slot. —Lindsey Weber (@LindseyWeber)  

Lil Wayne featuring Migos, “Amazing Amy”
Lil Wayne made a sequel to a mixtape he had made to apologize for taking forever to release a sequel to his CD, because the new sequel to the CD is also taking forever to come out. Super confusing. Anyway, the best thing to come from Sorry for the Wait 2 is this Migos collaboration. It is not even officially on the mixtape, but it is so much fun to hear Wayne’s take on Gone Girl, complete with a rework of the “Coco” chorus to “I’m in love with that ho, bro.” —MJ

The Lone Bellow, “Take My Love”
Not going to lie, this song makes me feel cheesy. It reminds me of that one gospel-y Kings of Leon song, where the video was them in a barn singing the song with a bunch of kids, mixed with what I imagine the Lumineers non–“Ho Hey” songs sound like. And yet, here I am, recommending it to you. It probably helps that the Lone Bellow haven’t been played incessantly on the radio. Enjoy it while you can. —Jesse David Fox (@JesseDavidFox)

The Mountain Goats, “The Legend of Chavo Guerrero”
A song that tells the story of regional 1970s National Wrestling Alliance champion Salvador Guerrero II, a.k.a. “Chavo Classic”? Well, that sounds like the Mountain Goats. John Darnielle, who worshipped the wrester when he was younger, sings: “He was my hero when I was a kid / You let me down, but Chavo never once did.” —LW

Natalie Prass, “Birds of Prey”
This year, people will be asking you if you’ve heard of Natalie Prass. Just don’t forget to tell them you heard her here first. —LW

Slutever, “Smother”
Glad to see, like 2014, in 2015, women run punk music. —JDF

Torres, “Strange Hellos”
As displayed on her self-titled debut, Torres’s (a.k.a. Mackenzie Scott) voice can be at times frail and quiet, and other times rich and powerful. “Strange Hellos,” the first single off her second album, which is scheduled to come out in May, features both, but leans much more on the latter, as ish gets real heavy. —JDF

Tove Stryke, “Ego”
Another Swedish import, this Tove sounds significantly different from last year’s breakout Tove, Tove Lo. Instead of dark and moody, Tove Stryke creates a breezy tune that gently puts an ego in their place. —MJ

Best New Music of the Week