vulture recommends

13 Best New Songs of the Week

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. (Also, read our music critic Lindsay Zoladz’s review of Sleater-Kinney’s No Cities to Love.)

Blis., “Floating Somewhere High And Above”
This is the indie-rockiest indie rock this side of 1999. It sounds like Modest Mouse skipped dipping a toe into emo and just plunged their entire leg in. —Jesse David Fox (@JesseDavidFox)

Fall Out Boy, “Favorite Record”
Fall Out Boy is emo’s Bon Jovi. This is the truest fact. —JDF

Emile Haynie featuring Lana Del Rey, “Wait for Life”
Born to Die diehards, rejoice! Emile Haynie, the producer who filled the likes of “Video Games” and “Blue Jeans” with Lana Del Rey’s now-signature breathy vocals and booming orchestrals, now has his own debut EP (called We Fall). Lana’s on there, along with Lykke Li, Randy Newman, Rufus Wainwright, and Sampha. —Lindsey Weber (@LindseyWeber)

Fifth Harmony featuring Kid Ink, “Worth It”
And you thought saxophones were “over.” Well, take a little of that, combine with a very “Don’t Tell ‘Em” beat, throw in some Fifth Harmony, and the recently buzzed-about Kid Ink, and you have “Worth It.” —LW

Jeremih featuring J. Cole, “Planes”
Is it too early to call Jeremih’s perpetually delayed album Late Nights the new Broke With Expensive Taste? Is it too early to call anything the new Broke With Expensive Taste? Here is Jeremih using aircrafts for sex metaphors in a dirty and fun way. —Marcus Jones (@MJinMD)

Majid Jordan, “Forever”
Have you ever had sex in a laundromat? After this, you might want to. —LW

Jens Lekman, “Postcard #3”
Lekman has plans to write, record, and post a new song every week this year. This is the third song, and it is a pure delight. It sounds so much like Graceland-era Paul Simon (especially that bass part) without any of the appropriation issues. It’s going to be a good year. —JDF

Modest Mouse, “Coyotes”
Now a song from the real Modest Mouse. This is the second single from MM’s upcoming Strangers to Ourselves, and it is decidedly chill, with a twinkly little guitar part and a cute video of a coyote riding public transportation. It all builds to an affecting, gorgeous, slightly tense crescendo. —JDF

The Cast of Empire, “Good Enough”
Have you watched Empire yet? It’s great. And not just the show. The music, all handcrafted by producer/writer/rapper Timbaland, is a huge part of its success. Would you believe the world of a successful record producer if the hit songs he produced weren’t actually good? No. That’s why Timbaland’s signature sound — the mouth noises on “Live the Moment,” the Timberlake-esque” vocal echo on “Good Enough,” the barking chorus of “What the DJ Spins” — is essential to Empire and more than good enough on its own. —LW

Raury, “Fly”
Raury wrote this last year in reaction to the decision in Ferguson, but how fitting for it to come out in the week leading up to Martin Luther King Day. This is the type of song that earns you the title of “Voice of a Generation.” Raury transcends teenage Tumblr musings and creates a song that perfectly articulates the concerns of the new movement for civil rights in a way that is inspiring and healing. —MJ

Rome Fortune, “Pure”
Rome Fortune has a been a mainstay on blogs for a while, with his teal beard, high energy, and collaborations with OG Maco of “U Guessed It” fame, but this song shows a more introspective side. —MJ

St. Vincent, “Bad Believer”
A new St. Vincent song is always reason to rejoice. And this one — which will appear on the deluxe edition of her 2014 self-titled album — blends the warped-plastic textures of St. Vincent with the bright melodicism of her great(est?) single, “Cruel.” Bow down. —Lindsay Zoladz (@LindsayZoladz)

Viet Cong, “Continental Shelf”
Viet Cong sprung from the ashes of the late, great Calgary art-punk four-piece Women; both bands transcend their pretty-awful names to craft music of odd, dissonant beauty. Viet Cong’s chiming single “Continental Shelf” has been making the rounds for a bit, but since their very good self-titled debut came out this week (and they’ll be playing two shows in New York next week, at Union Pool on the 28th and Mercury Lounge on the 29th), there’s no better time to revisit it than now. —LZ

Best New Music of the Week