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.
Alabama Shakes, “Don’t Wanna Fight”
Alabama Shakes have clearly been listening to a lot of Black Keys between albums. Their new single, “Don’t Wanna Fight” (off their upcoming sophomore album), would’ve been right at home on Turn Blue. It’s a bluesy, smoke-filled last-call-at-the-bar anthem that sees Brittany Howard’s famous growl going straight for the jugular. —Dee Lockett (@Dee_Lockett)
Ardis Grace and Maddie Wozniak, “Ignition/Doowop (Remix)”
After seeing this on my Twitter timeline, I re-downloaded the Vine app to watch more. This is the kind of #6SecondCover that gets you a record deal. —Marcus Jones (@MarcusJonesNY)
Father John Misty, “True Affection”
I probably will always prefer the sad guy in a cabin music of J. Tillman, but I understand Father John Misty is a more artistically fulfilling project for Josh Tillman. “True Affection” is his attempt at synth-pop, a look that he wears unconventionally well. —Jesse David Fox (@JesseDavidFox)
Jessie Ware, “Meet Me in the Middle”
The Fifty Shades of Grey movie might not have quite as much sex as fans want, but its soundtrack has spared no expense when it comes to bedroom bangers. The latest, from Jessie Ware, carries the same red-hot sensuality as the Weeknd’s “Earned It,” but that quivering guitar line makes it twice as sultry. —DL
Kendrick Lamar, “The Blacker the Berry”
In ten years, someone going for their PhD in African-American studies will write their thesis on Kendrick’s latest diatribe. As a continuation of Wallace Thurman’s The Blacker the Berry (also the song’s title), Kendrick delivers a message weighted in pure vitriol aimed at exposing how humanity’s history of racism has irreversibly damaged the black psyche. If ever there were a need for a #BlackLivesMatter call to arms, this is it. —DL
Matthew E. White, “Tranquility”
White wrote this song for the anniversary of Phillip Seymour Hoffman’s death. He didn’t know the actor personally, but he greatly admired his work and felt compelled to write something. The result is touching, tragic, and ultimately hopeful. —JDF
North Highlands, “Quitter”
North Highlands’ Wild One was one of my favorite albums of 2011. And then they broke up. They remain broken up, but today they released the album they finished before doing so. It’s a bummer, because the self-titled record suggests an appreciated step forward creatively. The band had gotten both groovier and dreamier, without losing the certain bounciness that defined them. R.I.P. —JDF
Post Malone, “White Iverson”
This is not much different from what Dej Loaf and ILoveMakonnen are doing (If it ain’t broke … ), but White Iverson is a hella cool nickname and the “Saucin’, saucin’, I’m saucin’ on you” hook is getting me through my workday. —MJ
Towkio featuring Vic Mensa, “Involved”
Again, anything that references Dragon Ball Z automatically gets my co-sign — that’s why I liked Boyhood so much. Add Kaytranada’s production, give a little bit of Discovery-era Daft Punk, and you have fully won me over. —MJ
You Blew It!, “Your Side”
I am currently working on a very large playlist of Emo music. I am not sure why. But it will hopefully be exhaustive, covering the genre beginnings to today. And the best representative of “today” is You Blew It!. Every song off their recent Pioneer of Nothing single is in the playlist. “Your Side” is the saddest and in a three-way tie for best song on the record, with its other two songs. —JDF
