Best Songs of the Month

"Blessing" isn't anything new for Drake or Big Sean. It's what they do, and it's what they've been doing for a while now. But the thing is, they're both getting really good at what they do. "Blessings" is a celebratory song with a dark side to it—all these blessings come at a price, and while a lot of rappers are out here mindlessly celebrating success, Drake and Big Sean are able to articulate things with a bit more complexity. Plus, they're both sounding as sharp as ever.—Confusion

P.S. - Now there's a Kanye verse.

Break-ups suck. I always try and find a more eloquent way to express this idea, but I can't. The end of a relationship is painful, regardless of the reason it ended. It's a weird concept, the life cycles of relationships.

Tobias Jesso Jr.’s fantastic "How Could You Babe" tackles this idea and then some. Here, Jesso laments not only a love lost, but a lover who then went on to find someone else. The track starts off subtly over piano until he reaches the chorus, where he croons over and over, "How could you babe?" His hurt and bewilderment is honest and straightforward, making the song heartbreakingly relatable.—Katie K.

Denai Moore’s got a beautiful voice. It would be so easy for her to go for straightforward melodies that allow her to fall safely into that general "vocalist" category, which so often becomes territory for bland piano ballads, coffee shop music, and Christmas albums. But with each release, Denai proves that she's so much more than that.

Over interesting production, with a voice that wanders with each line delivered and an undeniable precision to pull it off, Denai is a special kind of vocalist. More Sampha than Adele or Sam Smith, Denai Moore balances technical skill with the less obvious, and "Elsewhere" is another great example of how not playing it safe can pay off.—Confusion

A$AP Rocky made a triumphant return in October with the "Multiply" video, but the standout moment from that video wasn't even part of that song—it was actually a teaser of "Lord Pretty Flacko Jodye 2" with Yung Gleesh dancing to it (check 2:48 of the "Multiply" video for a reminder). On New Year's Eve, Rocky dropped the track in all its twisted, synth-filled glory, a quick reminder that he can make a track to set off a club or party with ease. Big shout out to Nez & Rio for the incredible production.—Constant Gardner

Purity Ring's upcoming Another Eternity has been one of our most anticipated albums of 2015 before we even heard any new music, and it's shaping up to be a great one with first single "Push Pull" and this one, "Begin Again."

Since the rise of Purity Ring's Shrines in 2012, a lot of new groups have come with forward-thinking production and melodic indie pop, but none have done it quite like Purity Ring, with their dark, almost gothic vibes. With Crystal Castles gone, we're glad to have Purity Ring back to bring a little gloom.—Confusion

Future might be best known for hard-hitting, aggressive tracks like "Move That Dope," "Sh!t," or "Same Damn Time," but recently his emotionally raw, personal tracks have been the standouts. "Hardly" (dedicated to his dead friend OG Double D) was the best track on the Monster tape, and "Just Like Bruddas" has emerged as the song I keep going back to on Beast Mode. With Zaytoven's twinkling keys behind him, Future shows that he's one real dude, treating his goons in the cut "just like bruddas."

Where so many rappers are trying to prove how hard they are on a me against the world tip, Future gives us the real him—flaws, pain, and all.—Constant Gardner

Pete Doherty has been through a lot of drug related strife and turmoil throughout his time in the limelight. Happily, it seems as if he's doing better now, rehabbing in Thailand where he and his Libertines bandmates signed a new deal with Virgin EMI, with plans to release an album this year. While we wait to hear what Libertines 2.0 sound like, Pete released this beautiful, heartfelt tribute to his friend Amy Winehouse. It's a painfully honest look at Amy's struggles dealing with drugs and fame, and with all the proceeds going to a foundation that works to prevent the effects of drug and alcohol misuse on young people, it's for a good cause too.—Constant Gardner

Buy "Flags of the Old Regime" here.

If "Closure," the first single from Lapalux’s sophomore album, is anything to go by, Brainfeeder are going to have another awesome record in their catalog when Lustmore drops in April. The woozy, lush production that made Lapalux's debut Nostalchic so cohesive is present and correct, but everything feels richer and brighter, the audio equivalent of going from regular TV to HD.

Layers of sound (strings, keys, rain) are built upon each other, while the gentle vocals lull you into a dreamlike state before more abrasive electronics snap you back to the present. The production may be rooted in the electronic side of things, but "Closure" feels organic—a delicately stitched together patchwork of beautiful music.—Constant Gardner

The amount of talented female pop artists right now is overwhelming. A new artist can no longer survive on just strong vocals alone. Instead, there needs to be something interesting to really hook listeners. It's just the result of there being this much good music out there.

So when someone actually does wow you, it's a big deal. Which is what Tove Styrke has done between her Borderline EP and now once again with "Ego." She infuses a mix—part Grimes, part Lykke Li, part Elliphant, even part Björk—to create something unique and utterly infectious. Last night I saw her live and her performance only further impressed me. She has a quirky, captivating energy on stage that makes every moment fun and exciting. It was here first ever show in New York City but her confidence and comfort on stage would've fooled anyone. She's a commanding force, and one that's ready for much bigger things. And personally, I can't wait to see it all happen.—Katie Kelly

Australian duo Audego always keeps things interesting with a bit of abrasion and instability in everything they create. The melodies don't always match up perfectly, and the production often feels like it's about to fall apart. On "Feral," this is still true, but more than ever, the pieces agree with each other. It's still got the off-kilter energy that makes Audego so compelling, but they're hitting all the right notes at all the right times, and that makes "Feral" their most enjoyable song yet.—Confusion

It’s safe to say that nearly every Travi$ Scott track has an extravagant, attention-grabbing beat. And as expected, “Nothing But Net” falls right into that category—this beat deserves the proper treatment on big speakers.

In addition to a stadium-ready beat, Scott is also joined by PartyNextDoor and Young Thug on the track, which makes for a winning combination. Both Travi$ Scott and Young Thug provide verses that make you want to look up the lyrics just so you can confidently shout the words when you finally hear this come on at a party, while PartyNextDoor continues to prove that he’s got a gift for creating hooks with memorable melodies.—Adrienne Black

Some of Shlohmo’s most impressive work comes from collaboration (see: Jeremih). But with his second full-length album on the way, the beatmaker is reminding people he can do just fine on his own. "Buried" is grandiose and magnificent gloom: nearly seven minutes of of synths growl and swell above waves and waves of drums. "Buried" will be equally at home in nightclubs and overlaid above Hollywood shootouts. The rest of his Dark Red album is out April 7.—Graham

Action Bronson’s success is built on the release of much-loved mixtapes and an incredible live show, but in 2015 he is finally releasing his major label debut album. Although he's proved again and again that he can make funny, food-referencing, imagery filled songs, the pressure of making a "proper" album is a different one.

From what we've seen so far, Bronson's making the right moves to make this album stand out, working with new producers (Mark Ronson, Drake's producer Noah "40" Shebib on this song) and dropping the incredible "Easy Rider" video. "Actin' Crazy" bumps, with a refined beat backing Bronson's comfortably boastful bars, and we can't wait for the rest of the album to be out in the wild.

Mr. Wonderful drops March 24.—Constant Gardner

While a regular occurrence in my electronic music digging is finding talented producers who couldn't legally buy a beer in an American bar, it's not every day that you find one that's getting a hefty Soulection co-sign. 18-year-old Scottish producer Sam Gellaitry is set to drop his first EP, Short Stories, in February for the future-based imprint, and "Temple" highlights why Sam's a problem.

Where Hucci spent most of his time focusing on twisting samples, Sam seems to be appealing to the same bottom-heavy trap-esque fans, but putting some delicate melodies together alongside some percussive accents and a funky bass guitar bit in the middle, bringing in a jazzy, Kaytranada vibe to the mix.

Dude's potential is through the roof, and linking with Soulection might've been the best place for him to land.—khal

When Leks Rivers sent this song over, he wrote, "Imma keep it real, I HATE writing emails like this, it's so awkward and I'd rather just let my music speak for itself. However I do believe in my art & my big mouth hasn't gotten me in trouble, yet!"

He continued, "I'm not gonna act like I've read through your blog or like I'm a huge fan cause I'd be lying BUT your description of Pigeons & Planes hooked me so I fucks with you guys."

It was one of the more honest submissions I've seen, but it also turned out to be one of the best. "When I'm High" is still a little unpolished, but that chorus is perfect, and this song could be a hit with a little work. Plus, Leks produces all his own music, and he's only 20 years old. I can't wait to hear what's next for him.—Confusion

Daily Discovery: Leks Rivers

Who would've thought that the dude who made that "Birthday Sex" song would be one of the more progressive R&B artists of 2015? Jeremih has been on a creative hot streak, and "Planes" keeps it going strong. Some credit here has to go to producer Vinylz, though—this beat is a genius blend of moody and smooth-as-hell.—Confusion

It's been quite a while since we last heard from Heems, with his last solo project dropping in late 2012. After a crazy year during which Das Racist disbanded, Heems kind of just disappeared for a while, only resurfacing for a brief EP with Riz MC and a bizarre Japanese Vitamin Water commercial. During that time it was easy to forget that Heems is more than capable, offering one of the most unique voices and perspectives in hip-hop. "Sometimes," however, makes sure to remind us of these points, pointing out just how much of an underrated rapper Heems really is.

His album Eat.Pray.Thug. is out March 10. Read our interview with Heems here.—Joe Price