At Creative Loafing, we are always trying to find ways to deliver you fresh music. That said, we've decided to re-tool the regularly scheduled Weekend Tune-Ups, which came out every Friday but will, from this date forward, be featured on Mondays and given a new title: the Weekly Tune-Up. Now, you'll have a playlist full of new tunes coming at you at the beginning of the week to serve you through the rest of it — and carry you into the weekend. Let's start the "first" edition started off with a Banks.
Coldplay has a new single that was released this past Friday. The UK band also revealed the name of their seventh (and final) studio album — A Head Full of Dreams — and its release date (December 4). "Adventure of a Lifetime" is a radio-friendly ode that has a heavier dance appeal. It's not surprising the UK band is dabbling in electro-pop since their "Sky Full Of Stars" collab with EDM producer Avicii was such a hit. Hip-hop great Talib Kweli is back and this time he's teamed up with North Carolina beat maker 9th Wonder. Indie 500 is his newest record and it's filled with a slew of quality tracks. "Prego" features hip-hop vets Pharoahe Monch and Slug from Atmosphere. Chromatics just released a maxi-single (remember those?) of Cyndi Lauper's "Girl Just Wanna Have Fun," and then remixed it four times. I couldn't imagine a more perfect song for this band to remake. They turned classic '80s pop into downtempo dreaminess. I approve. R&B singer Jeremih come out of nowhere with a new track, "OUI," but it's a strong offering from the birthday sex crooner, its production littered with high-hats and a looping piano. The best part is the Shai; it really caught me off guard. I wonder who else will pick-up on that little snippet? Well done, Jeremih.
My sleeper tune of the week comes from Maxim Ludwig. If you were in need of some '70s soft-rock vibes and Darryl Hall-style crooning, than Maxim's new blue-eyed soul tune, "Assembly Line," delivers just that. The blue collar day-to-day lyrics and production are perfect for ending to your day or week.
1. Grimes, "Butterfly"
2. Coldplay, "Adevnture of a Lifetime"
3. Pell, "93 Supreme"
4. Banks, "Better"
5. Diiv, "Bent" (Roi's Song)
6. Chromatics, "Girls Just Wanna Have Some"
7. Talib Kweli feat. Pharoahe Monch & Slug, "Prego"
8. Chinah, "Minds"
9. Jeremih, "Oui"
10. Sundara Karma, "Run Away"
11. Naytronix, "I Don't Remember"
12. On and On, "Drifting" (Brothertiger Remix)
13. Maxim Ludwig, "Assembly Line"
14. Memoryhouse, "Dreamshake"
15. Diddy feat. Ty Dolla Sign, Gizzle, "You Could Be My Lover"
https://embed.spotify.com/?uri=spotify:user:leilanipolk:playlist:3ziVM8MlGJMEknhDFNuFCa
This article appears in Nov 5-11, 2015.