Best Songs of the Week

It's not too often that a new band comes along and sounds like they're ready for stardom. MisterWives is just getting started, but "Coffins" is polished, complete, and a convincing introduction to this New York trio. If they can match this—and their new video suggests they can—MisterWives is going to have a lot of people paying attention. For now, I'm just going to make "Coffins" my new addiction and play it to death. - Confusion

Benin City's vocalist Joshua Idehen released an excellent album with electronic music alchemists LV in 2011, but from what we've hear so far, his new work as Benin City might be even better. "Faithless" is a rush of pulsating bass, strident synths and Idehen's sing-song spoken word delivery, and as unexpected as that might sound, the trio absolutely nail it. Brilliant stuff. - Constant Gardner

In a crowded pool of female electro-pop singers, Swedish songstress Suvi possesses the right elements to stand out. With a mixture of powerful beats and sweeping, celestial melodies, "Bleeding For Your Love" has a rare but essential aspect that begs you to take notice. - Katie K.

NONONO have been on their grind lately, pressing their hearts into elaborate, danceable and introspective electro-pop songs that fit close to the heart. Their latest, "Down Under" excavates fear and longing for something real, for something that will last, and offers some answers as to what that might be—it's what you feel. This Swedish trio aren't just operating on the surface level, they dig deep, and the results are surprisingly poignant. Think of the way you feel when you see a wave crashing on impossibly bright, hot sand, or the sadness of a huge group of birds flying overhead—this song captures that fleeting emotion, reflecting your yearning back all too clearly. - Harmonicait

Goddamn, Young Thug can't lose. As unhinged as it is infectious, this hook is another Young Thug instant classic and a clear standout on Waka's new mixtape. - Confusion

Starkey celebrated... something... with a free EP, and the title track is mindblowing. He knows how to tap into some intergalactic portal and unearth these hypnotic rhythms. Intoxicating and inspiring at the same damn time. - Khal

Another week, another impressive entry from members of Chicago's SAVEMONEY crew. This go round it's P&P regular Kami de Chukwu and partner in crime Tokyo Shown trading rhymes over a triumphant Thelonious Martin beat. There isn't a specific focus content-wise, more an assault of punchlines--particularly from de Chukwu, whose verse careens from dust in swishers, to providing "enough food for thought to fill your pantry," to selling your soul to the devil. No choruses, no frills, straight rapping. - Jon Tanners

This is one of those songs that I knew I'd be obsessed with for the foreseeable future after hearing only the first few bars. We've been posting about The Child of Lov for a few weeks now, but embarrassingly enough, yesterday was my first taste in the form of "One Day," and I'm hopelessly hooked. His collaboarting with Damon Albarn (Blur, Gorillaz) makes perfect sense (I mean, their voices alone), and the result of their union is a bleak, unpolished, crawling thing that's perfect in its monotony. If you are still somehow sleeping on The Child of Lov like I was, stop your nonsense now. - Joyce

With his remix of Cassie's sensual "Numb," producer Austin Millz shows that he understands the delicate balance between old and new when reworking a song. By adding skittering background percussion while keeping a slowed down version of Cassie's vocals, he creates a remix that is arguably more dazzling than the original. - Katie K.

After years of trouble with the law, one might expect Gucci to lighten up. Nope. Instead, he partners with one of the most polarizing and controversial young rappers in the game and gives us "Darker." It's Gucci at his most captivating and odd, and the Keef addition just makes sense. - Confusion

With a perfect combination of haunting melody, tribal percussion, and an R&B-leaning chorus, Londoner Elliott Power has hit pounding, paranoid pay-dirt with debut single "SINK/SWIM." - Constant Gardner

Chance the Rapper just keeps impressing me—from introspective to goofy, hyped-up, quick beats and loopy, unlikely pairings like this track with Nosaj Thing, he continually reveals his versatile, compelling lyrical delivery sounds at home in any scenario. Though he calls Chicago home, and often addresses issues that plague that city as he does on "Paranoia" he does so with concision that demands national attention. - Harmonicait

With only three tracks available online, it's hard to make much of a judgment on Atlanta emcee PrinceFool. If "Love Yourself" is any indicator, he's heading in the right direction. Over a moody beat, PrinceFool attacks the topic of loving yourself beyond material comforts and external signifiers; it's a tried and true notion in conscious rap, but the young rapper's energy, anger, and flow give fiery life to telling a girl that loving shoes more than she loves herself is a waste. - Jon Tanners

I love drums, and I love bass. Treasure Fingers provides the fly drums, but it's that dark, edgey bass that he sneaks in is too cool for school. Everything else is cool, but that bassline is from some other dimension. - Khal

Kate Boy is taunting us, dropping morsels of goodness like this one whenever they deem fit. This week, the electro-pop outfit returned with a new track, and "The Way We Are" is yet another sample of Scandinavian genius (shout out to the one Australian in the band). While reminiscent of bands like The Knife, Kate Boy's latest offering is refreshingly invigorating, combining powerful vocals with edgy, energetic production, ultimately yielding a familiar sound that's altogether completely new. - Joyce