How's your holiday shopping coming along? The crowds are fierce out there, so I just throw in some earbuds and brave the madness with some new tunes. Music makes everything better. This week I've got the usual 15 song playlist compiled from the freshest jams on the net. Listed below are a few of the tunes that have my ears buzzing.
ICYMI: HERE'S LAST WEEK'S NEW MUSIC MIXTAPE (FEAT. HAIM, ELECTRIC GUEST, MORE)
Ryan Adams (who CL last caught up with last May) is an artist that I have looked to over the years, and also looked passed as well; it all depends on what genre he decides to explore. Adams is back with a brand new single "Do You Still Love Me," off his new record Prisoner, due out Feb 17th. "Do You Still Love Me" is bringing the sound that I think he excels best at; singer-songwriter indie-rock. Organs open the track and give way to Adams' passionate vocals that are possibly about his recent public divorce from pop-singer Mandy Moore. This side of Ryan Adams is what I've come to love, but I hope the new album is filled with a similar sound. Lost love seems to bring the creative side out for most. His loss will be our gain.
J. Cole is all the rage when it comes to hip-hop right now. The North Carolina rapper just released "False Prophets," a new single that doesn't appear on his also newly released record 4 Your Eyez Only. What I want to focus on is his "False Prophets" track that appears to be aimed directly at his once idol, Kanye West.
Amid West's recent mental struggles, here comes J. Cole painting vivid stories about his bitterness and disappointment for the struggling emcee. Cole also shares sympathy for West, but the core here is about West's downfall. The production is laid back and minimal which allows you to focus on Cole's sharp lyrical content. There are a few other opinions floating around that this track is said to be about Drake, Lil Wayne or possibly Wale, but the consensus say it's about Mr. West. Either way it's a song that you need to hear if you're fan of hip-hop. Well done, Cole.
Beloved indie-pop outfit Tennis just announced a new LP titled Yours Conditionally. With that they gave us the first tune off the new record, "In the Morning I'll Be Better," a '70s-influenced tune that is sorta groovy. Alaina's layered vocals and shimmering melodies come together perfectly for this husband and wife duo. Yours Conditionally is due out March 10th.
Weekly Tune-Up XLIII (Stream/Download)
01. Ryan Adams, "Do You Still Love Me"
02. Bonobo, "Break Apart" (Feat. Rhye)
03. PLAZA, "Youth"
04. Wild Pink, "Great Apes"
05. Daeva, "Love"
06. Sporting Life, "Nothing To Hide" (Feat. Devonte Hynes and Wiki)
07. Odd Couple, "Slept On' (Feat. Mike Golden)
08. Denitia and Sene, "strung."
09. Shampoo, "Katie"
10. Flawes, "Consolation" (Vaults Remix)
11. J. Cole, "False Prophets"
12. Fear of Men, "Change Me"
13. The Halfways, "I Don't Know How to Say No"
14. Tennis, "In the Morning I'll Be Better"
15. Simian Mobile Disco, "Flying Or Falling"
