I don’t like making these quarterly lists too long, but the fact that artists like Halsey, Grimes, The Weeknd, Mac Miller (posthumously) and Chelsea Cutler all put out albums over the last few months and I chose to put none of their songs on here is a testament to just how much great music has been released so far this year. As always, I’m not saying that these are the BEST songs released, they’re just my favorites :). Enjoy.
Honorable Mentions
4. Kisses To The Sky- Jadakiss ft. Rick Ross
3. loneliness for love- lovelytheband
2. He Don’t Love Me- Winona Oak
- Anxiety- Krewella ft. Arrested Youth
Top 12
12. Murder Most Foul- Bob Dylan
I think it’s quite fitting that at 79 years old, and during a worldwide pandemic, Bob Dylan would drop a near-17 minute marathon track, with a simple melody, led by just piano and strings, about another worldwide phenomenon that is still such a mystery. John F. Kennedy’s assassination in Dallas, Texas on November 22nd, 1963 will forever and always be one of the most mind-boggling events in America’s history, and history as a whole. Dylan, his prowess as a songwriter as effervescent as ever, seems to be warning the listener to, even in these times of uncertainty and fear surrounding COVID-19, stay alert and stay thoughtful.
11. Letters to Nipsey- Meek Mill ft. Roddy Ricch
Nipsey Hussle’s passing brought not only his artistry and musicianship to light for many people, myself included, but also his incredible character and selflessness for others. While this song isn’t one I return to often, I believe it is a fitting tribute to a man whose career hadn’t even peaked yet and would have gone onto such great heights had he not been taken from us. Meek Mill, a rapper who’s struggles are prolific and well-documented in his own right, and Roddy Ricch, who spent 11 weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with “The Box” trade emotional verses, where they attempt to rationalize the loss of a man who left a wife and kids behind; “Seen your kids on the ‘Gram, got me sick to my stomach and as the marathon continues, we keep runnin.”
10. Cinnamon- Hayley Williams
Hayley Williams is one hell of a vocalist and performer. She’s served as the lead singer of a little group called Paramore (ever heard of em?) for a decade and a half now, but “Petals For Armor” is her first attempt at a solo in-between type project. “Cinnamon”, my favorite track off the project, sees the singer show the same type of impressive restraint she showed on lead single “Simmer”, her silky, lilting vocal growing more and more captivating throughout. She sings of the smells and comforts of her home, and the safety of it; “I’m not lonely, I am free. If I let you in you would never want to leave.”
9. All That I’m Not- Nearly York
Nearly York is an up-and-coming alternative-pop group from Lancaster, PA. Their debut EP, “Like Everybody Else” is a smooth, easy listen, but “All That I’m Not” is by far my favorite track. It’s a song for everyone that just can’t seem to figure it out, even though things are changing around them; “I finally got that tattoo on my shoulder, I thought by now I might feel a bit older. But I’m still the kid that can’t please myself, too concerned with everybody else.” One of the highlights for me is the vocal production, which is warm and luscious atop the soothing Ed Sheeran-esque instrumental.
8. In My Bones- Jacob Collier ft. Kimbra and Tank and the Bangas
If you’re looking for something to dance to while you’re in quarantine, this is the song for you. Led by literal music genus Jacob Collier, it’s Nile Rodgers and Bruno Mars’ “24k Magic” record on steroids. With him on the track are Kimbra, most known for her contribution to Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used To Know” and Tarriana “Tank” Ball of funk group Tank and the Bangas. If I could compare it to anything, it’s what Fred and George Weasley’s Hogwarts exit in “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” would sound like if it was a song. Combining clashes of sounds, whirring tempos and boundless, playful energy, Collier makes it look easy.
7. Born Tired- Jhene Aiko
I’ve had a hard time connecting with Jhene Aiko and her previous releases, particularly 2017’s “Trip”, an album I feel I should revisit. Her newest release, “Chilombo”, showcases just how gorgeous her voice is, with lush vocals and “chill” instrumentals designed to highlight them. On “Born Tired”, Aiko encourages the listener to find the strength to push through daily life even if things seem bleak and tiresome; “Look at how far you’ve come and look at all that you have going. Look at who you have become, baby, you gotta keep going.”
6. Quick Escape- Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam rocked my world at the Global Citizen Festival at New York’s Central Park in 2015 with raucous, riveting performances of classic balls-to-the-wall rockers like “Alive”, “Better Man” and personal favorite “Lightning Bolt”. “Quick Escape”, a cut off their newly-released record “Gigaton”, shows Pearl Jam at their best, political and ferocious; “Crossed the border to Morocco, Kasmir then Marrakech. The lengths we had to go then to find a place Trump hadn’t f***ed up yet.” A potent bassline, a gutteral guitar solo (that could have stretched another minute or two) and Vedder’s gruff, intense vocals are like ecstasy, a sign that the bands stranglehold on grunge-rock as a whole is far from over.
5. Take Yourself Home- Troye Sivan
There’s just something so alluring to me about Troye’s music. Whether it’s the darker, moodier cuts like “Bite” or “Talk Me Down”, the brash and brazen “My My My!” or the lighter, poppier sounds of “Bloom” or “Plum”, I can’t help but be drawn to him. “Take Yourself Home”, seemingly the first single off his upcoming record, is not just your standard electro-pop song. There are layers here. We go from the softer, more introspective side of Troye, as he sings about not really knowing where he fits in the world despite seemingly having it all; “Counting all the losses that you can’t collect, got everything and nothing in my life.”, before switching to a dance-heavy instrumental that adds well over a minute to the tracks runtime.
4. Physical- Dua Lipa
It took quite a long time for much of the world, myself included, to warm up to
“Don’t Start Now”, Dua Lipa’s lead single off her newly-released “Future Nostalgia” record. It, however, took me about one minute to be absolutely obsessed with “Physical”. The call-and-response vocal in the chorus, the hand-claps in the bridge and just the overall energy throughout the track result in a perfectly-executed ode to the synth-pop sound of the 80’s, and it’s a beautiful thing. The chorus is pure bliss, as Dua playfully yet sensually corrals a lover; “I’ll night I’ll riot with you. I know you’ve got my back and you know I got you so come on….come on…..come on, let’s get physical.”
3. Forever- Justin Bieber ft. Post Malone and Clever
I know, “Yummy” is not lead-single material. Is it horrible? I don’t think so. But is it Justin’s best work? No, it doesn’t quite measure up to “Sorry” or “Let Me Love You”. What does measure up is this cut from his new record “Changes” that is by far the most interesting song on the album. Justin’s singing about his wife, as is the norm on this album; “You still intimidate me, keep me up on my toes now. Better man is what you made me, made me aware of what I was missing.”, but I think it’s the production, which sits in a gorgeous spot sonically, that allows Justin’s voice itself to sit in such a comfortable place. It’s just so incredibly pleasing to listen to. Post Malone’s verse is standard, but it’s Clever, with his soulful, gritty voice that really steals the show here, taking the opportunity to showcase himself on one of the biggest releases of the year with his own story of devotion; “When I leave it’s bye for now, it’s just never bye for long. Set my feelings aside, let’s settle down, every time I go the wrong way you turn me back around.”
2. Modern Loneliness- Lauv
It’s no secret that Lauv is one of my favorite artists right now. Songs from his “I met you when I was 18” playlist have defined the last two years of my life, and he delivered in a big way with his debut album “how I’m feeling”. The last pre-released single from the record, I was lucky enough to see him perform it live mere hours before the album dropped but I almost wish he could have saved it. The track encapsulates what it’s like to be young and lonely, particularly in the age of social media; “Modern loneliness, we’re never alone but always depressed. Love my friends to death, but I never call them, I never text them.” The track begins with just Lauv himself, singing in his sweet falsetto, but is later accompanied by a chorus of voices of those seemingly echoing the sentiments of the hurt they also feel. The explosive, poignant track is as arena-ready as anything Lauv has released thus far, and is the perfect way to close out the record.
- not ur friend- Jeremy Zucker
Jeremy Zucker, like Lauv, Cheslea Cutler and a boatload of other artists that fall into the alternative pop category, just has a knack for connecting with listeners who can relate to his outward sincerity and his ability to process his feelings. This acoustic-driven track, a cut off his upcoming record “love is not dying”, is simple yet stirring as Jeremy sings about coming to terms with a toxic individual and letting them go; “Honest, if I’m coming to your place it’s to say it to your face. I’ve decided that I’m not your f***ing friend.” Typically calmer and composed, his intensity grows until it reaches a boiling point near the end of the track, when he lets out a shout of anger and frustration, no longer allowing this person to have any control.
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