Sturgill Simpson - In Bloom (Nirvana cover)
Sturgill Simpson already proved he knows his way around a cover - just check out his emotional take on When In Rome's "The Promise" on his last album Metamodern Sounds in Country Music. Now the alterna-country singer is back with a startlingly transformative take on Nirvana's "In Bloom." His deep croon, twangy steel guitar and brass mariachi flourishes imbue the song with a newfound poignancy, without losing any of the melancholy of the original.
M.I.A. - MIA OLA - Foreign Friend
M.I.A. has never been one to shy away from political provocation. With "MIA OLA - Foreign Friend" there's lots of talk about immigration and borders, which is standard material for the Sri Lankan rapper. But what elevates the subject matter is the banging Lion King sample that underlies it all. After all, regardless of race or nationality, everyone's a part of the circle of life.
The War on Drugs - Touch of Grey (Grateful Dead cover)
Their lone Top 40 hit, "Touch of Grey" has always been a strange outlier in the Grateful Dead's prolific catalog. In this cover, the War on Drugs accentuate the song's eighties shininess that once made it so maligned in the first place. By playing up the bouncy synths and sugary melody, the tune gets its proper due as an undeniable piece of pop.
Mark Pritchard - Beautiful People (feat. Thom Yorke)
Experimental producer Mark Pritchard has been making electronic music that traverses labels and genres for over two decades. However he hasn't released a proper solo album until this year. Atmospheric single "Beautiful People" finds him in the company of some very talented people, most notably Radiohead's Thom Yorke.
My Favorite - Killed for Kicks
Perennially underrated indie band My Favorite make music that would rank among the best 80s synth pop bands. With a killer sax line, lovelorn vocals and a catchy chorus of do-do-dos, "Killed for Kicks" heralds in a new, new romantic era of sophisticated soul by a band that desperately deserves their due.
Listen to it on SoundCloud
Snakehips ft. Anderson .Paak - Money On Me
The London-based production duo have a habit of blending and blurring genres so it makes perfect sense that they'd collaborate with Dr. Dre protege Anderson .Paak. "Money on Me" is a futuristic bit of hip-hop and R&B made by the industry's present greats.
Steve Gunn - Conditions Wild
Steve Gunn got his start as a guitarist in Kurt Vile's band The Violators but his solo material has proven to be equally as virtuosic. "Conditions Wild" is a hazy bit of psychedelic folk that lets his impressive guitar chops shine in a way that's confident but never arrogantly showy.
Destroyer - My Mystery (DJjohnedwardcollins@gmail.com Remix)
"My Mystery" takes off right where last year's stellar Poison Season left off. The track is a lighter, dancier sibling to the album preceded it, yet it's just as indebted to Bowie and Springsteen, as the best of Dan Bejar's material is.
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