When Beyoncé released her highly anticipated visual album Lemonade last weekend she dominated the headlines and charts. It's a massive personal and political statement rightfully deserving of all its praise. While there is nothing unexpected about Lemonade's success, Bey still managed to surprise fans with the album's blending and blurring of genres. Nowhere is this more evident than on "Daddy Lessons." The Texas native pulls from her Delta blues roots to weave a tale of familial warning. A father teaches his daughter to use a gun - in case she meets a man like him. While unlikely to be embraced by country radio, its a classic narrative of generational trauma put into a brilliant new context by one of pop's biggest public figures.
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Electronic producer Harley Streten, aka Flume, rose to prominence in the EDM scene a few years ago with his 2012 self-titled album. While topping the charts in his native Australia, the DJ is now poised for global domination with the release of his follow up record Skin. The latest single "Say It" features Swedish pop star Tove Lo, whose raw vocals lend the track a seductive, brutal honesty.
It's hard to believe Band of Horses have been around for over a decade. The Seattle-based band's forthcoming fifth album was produced by Rick Rubin and Grandaddy's Jason Lytle and the first single "Casual Party" fits in well with the rest of their rootsy discography. This twangy indie rock song is also accompanied by a bizarre karaoke-style video, which makes for an easy sing-along at your next campfire.
Consisting of Mastodon's Troy Sanders, At the Drive-In's Tony Hajjar, Queens of the Stone Age's Troy Van Leeuwen and Sencit Music's Mike Zarin, Gone Is Gone is the heaviest supergroup we've heard in a while. Their debut track "Violescent" is an energetic blast that bodes well for their first EP, and perhaps the future of hard rock.
Let's Eat Grandma - Eat Shitake Mushrooms
Bewitching is the only word to describe Let's Eat Grandma's music. The British teenage duo of Rosa Walton and Jenny Hollingworth have captivated early fans with their undeniable weirdness and charm. Every single aspect of "Eat Shitake Mushrooms — from the haunting vocals to the eerie beats — sounds like another language, one you can't learn soon enough.
PARTYBABY - I Don't Wanna Wait
The essence of "I Don't Wanna Wait" is in its title. It's all about immediacy. There's fast-paced drumming, relentless chanting, and hooks galore. In other words, it's everything you'd expect from a band with such a stupid-fun name. With only three track to their name, PARTYBABY definitely leave us waiting for more.
Calvin Harris and Rihanna - This Is What You Came For
Calvin Harris' pulsating beats and Rihanna's sultry yet understated voice made for a dazzling combination on 2011's "We Found Love." It's hard to believe it took five years for the pair to work together again. Their latest track "This Is What You Came For" is sure to pack dance floors this summer as it replicates the sound of their last banger, without rehashing it. The thumping tropical house rhythms are just as effective the second time around.
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Sally Shapiro - If You Ever Wanna Change Your Mind
Italo-disco fans got sad news this week when Swedish duo Sally Shapiro announced their impending break-up. The band however released one final song as a parting gift. "If You Ever Wanna Change Your Mind" cements their short but sweet career as one of the most melancholy dance bands of the 2010s.
"Below" is the latest anthem from a band that has plenty. Their fiery blend of riot-grrrl and post-punk sounds has us excited for their upcoming album Paradise, out next week.
Kesha and Zedd - True Colors
Kesha's first single in over three years is more than a song, it's a battlecry for liberation. "True Colors" is a new version of Zedd's original, that takes on startling new meaning in the context of Kesha's litigious nightmare with producer and alleged rapist Dr. Luke. You can't help but cheer her on when she hollers, "I've escaped my capture and I have no master." There's a defiance in her voice that let's you know the battle isn't over yet.
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