Best Songs of the Month

With so much good music steadily coming through, it's easy to miss out on some of the best. To help prevent this, we've rounded up the best songs from the past month. Here are the songs you can't afford to skip, in no particular order.

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2. Demo Taped - "I Luv U"

This kid is special. At only 17 years old, Atlanta artist Adam Alexander aka Demo Taped is writing and producing some of the coolest new music I've heard in a long time. He's got a vibe that fans of Dev Hynes and Jai Paul should like, matched with gorgeous songwriting and a message we can all appreciate: "I want to be able to put a smile on someone’s face, or to make someone dance. I want to have an audience that I can spread my love to.” Read more about him here.—Confusion

3. Purity Ring - "bodyache"

For a band who are generally categorized as "alternative," Purity Ring certainly write some massive pop hooks. Their love of rap music has already been proven, but the production on "bodyache," especially those earth-shaking drums, hits as hard as any electronic music you'll see kids going crazy to at whatever big festival is currently most popular. Those beats and Megan's yearning vocals combine for one of the most straightforward, but also one of the best songs on another, eternity, which drops March 3.—Constant Gardner

4. Post Malone - "White Iverson"

"White Iverson" is just one of those songs. It comes across as effortless, but the hypnotizing production by FKi and deceivingly catchy melody that weaves itself into the song makes this new one from Post Malone one of the low-key catchiest songs of 2015 so far.—Confusion

5. Future Brown ft. Riko Dan - "Speng"

Future Brown (left to right above: Daniel Pineda, Fatima Al-Qadiri, J-Cush, Asma Maroof) dropped their self-titled album earlier this week, and it features an expertly curated mix of artists from around the world, representing different underground street music styles. Some collaborations work better than others, and the one I haven't been able to stop playing for the past two months is "Speng," featuring grime MC Riko Dan.

Riko delivers rough, tough verses, holding his voice back for the hook where he opens up into a subtly melodic delivery which I've found myself humming in all sorts of inappropriate situations—never have the words "clap a pussy skull" been delivered in such a catchy way.

Future Brown's album is out now.—Constant Gardner

6. Kendrick Lamar - "The Blacker The Berry"

Of course Kendrick followed up two Grammy wins with a track that's a total 180 degree turn from "i" and exactly what people had been wanting to hear from him. Coasting over a fierce, boom-bap-y instrumental from Boi-1da, we get the husky Kendrick on this one, with Kendrick running circles around MCs stepped up to his crown.

It's hard to tell where this is all coming from; Kendrick's definitely agitated on this one, and while it's not necessarily a bundle of bars directed at his naysayers, it definitely feels like K.Dot channeled some frustration and dropped an intriguing, venomous dart to blow the roof off of Black History Month.—khal

7. Florence + The Machine - "What Kind of Man"

To be honest, for a while there I forgot about Florence + The Machine. So much has come along since Ceremonials in 2011. New stars have emerged, styles have changed, and the soundscape has morphed pretty drastically. With "What Kind of Man," Florence + The Machine establishes a fierce reemergence, and it's no less effective in 2015. "What Kind of Man" features all the dramatic musicality of the band's previous work, but it's got a little more bite to it.—Confusion

8. Heems ft. Dev Hynes - "Home"

Heems spent a lot of his early career showcasing his humor and wit as a lyricist. His material in the Das Racist era favored a more lighthearted feel, and struck a chord with listeners because of this. But the rapper has another side, one that's brazenly honest and refreshingly relatable. If you listened to his last two mixtapes, you know this side. If you follow him on Twitter, you know this side. In a world of celebrities scared of being criticized for candidness, Heems remains real.

It's this side he brings to his fantastic new single, "Home." Alongside Dev Hynes, who brings Cupid Deluxe-style instrumentation, he talks about a failed relationship. "All I got is this sweater that you left, the letters that I kept," he raps, defeated. His pain is honest, and it's what makes this song so good.—Katie K.

9. Warpaint - "No Way Out (Redux)"

Even though it may not make it onto their next album, Warpaint has officially awakened from their touring slumber and is recording new material. The band says "No Way Out (Redux)" is "first in a series of new songs being released this year."

It's a brooding, sultry cut that the band has been playing live in recent months. The vocals swarm around Jenny Lee Lindberg's bass like a hive of bees, slowly building in number and distortion as the song progresses. It's a great sign of things to come from the quartet, who have plans to release their next album in 2015.—Graham

10. Kanye West - "All Day"

Sure, this song isn't out yet. Also, it's been bootlegged from weird snippets 5011 times. But if there's any song that owned this past seven days, it's the long-awaited "All Day" from Kanye West, who's set out to own damn near every week in 2015 somehow.

With the UK's Boy Better Know crew in tow, Kanye and Allan Kingdom owned our lives for four minutes, bringing in all of the braggadocio and trap drums they could carry. "All Day" is vintage 'Ye, who can let the world know that he spent "all day" in the mall while still being the "light-skinned slave" because he's "in the muthafuckin' house." It's awesome, it's in your face, and it's the future of music.

Just give Kanye one of your paychecks; he'll earn it at some point.—khal

11. Villagers - "Courage"

Some of the best songs on Villagers’ last album, including standout "The Waves," made use of surprising electronic elements, but things are pared back on "Courage." Simplicity is the name of the game, both for the song and the video, which is based around Conor O'Brien's fragile vocals and gentle acoustic guitar.

There are some extra effects thrown in at the end, reflecting O'Brien's endless creativity, but at its heart, this is a emotive ballad of the highest order.—Constant Gardner

12. Bricc Baby Shitro - "6 Drugs"

Sometimes polished and in control is great, but often, wild and raw is better. Bricc Baby Shitro's (formerly MPA Shitro) track "6 Drugs" is fucking crazy, from the hook, screamed in his croaky voice, to the menacing beat. We've already talked about how excited we are for Frenchman Brodisnki's upcoming debut album, as it mixes edgy electronic production with gritty rap from the streets, but Sam Tiba (part of Brodinski's Bromance crew) is in on the act too. Smash some shit up to this track, and once you've caught your breath, start getting hyped for Shitro's upcoming mixtape.—Constant Gardner

13. ALA.NI - "Cherry Blossom"

ALA.NI will be releasing four EPs this year—one for each season—and "Cherry Blossom" is from the first, titled You & I and out on March 23. There's a delicate simplicity to ALA.NI's work that is hard to find in modern music, and while it recalls past decades, there's something incredibly fresh about how unique it is in today's soundscape.—Confusion

14. Action Bronson - "Big League Chew"

There's something really beautiful about a rapper finding the perfect producer. When it happens, they magically enhance each other's abilities, as Action Bronson and The Alchemist (together again) do for one another on "Big League Chew." Bam Bam brings to the table what he's known and loved for: wonderfully vulgar lyrics and that carefree delivery. That along with The Alchemist's soulful beat? It's a match made in rap heaven.—Joyce

15. Leon Bridges - “Lisa Sawyer”

The first time I heard of Leon Bridges was on his “Coming Home” single, and I was immediately a fan. His soulful music sounds like such an authentic blast from the past that for a moment I was convinced that maybe these were actually some lost recordings from a time capsule that had just been opened. His latest single “Lisa Sawyer” proves that his sound is consistent, but also doesn’t exactly disprove my time capsule theory.

Bridges’ sound is a pure blend of soul, gospel, blues with the lovely addition of doo-wop on this particular track. “Lisa Sawyer” is an undeniably sweet record that you can’t help but sway along to as it plays. Whether you have someone special in your life or not, there’s a special quality about this song that is able to fill you with a happy, warm feeling. Leon Bridges sings with a sincerity that allows you to instantly feel the emotions he’s trying to convey.—Adrienne Black

16. Iamsu! ft. Jay Ant - "Bandz"

First, stand up. This is a song with snapping and handclaps—you're not going to be able sit still for long anyway. Most of the tracks on Iamsu!'s latest mixtape Eyes On Me are synth bass-driven and DJ Mustard-esque (including one by the maestro himself), but "Bandz" stands apart. A slightly eccentric, stripped down ode to the classic '00s party jam, "Bandz" is like a much better version of that song you made on production program Acid in 7th grade (or maybe that's just me).

The layered percussion and a lone, heavily-distorted synth come courtesy of Bay area producer P-Lo, and by the time Jay Ant growls out the unforgettable chorus, you're basically at a middle school dance, only it's 2015 and you can drink.—Natalie Weiner

17. Milk & Bone - "Pressure"

Milk & Bone's "Pressure" is one of those perfect slices of blissful escape. All the hustle and bustle of everyday life disappear the moment you put on your headphones and play something like this—soft, delicate vocals that cushion you like a pillow and percolating production. "You're like good water pressure," it starts, which is fitting, because that's exactly what "Pressure" feels like when you listen to it. After all, what good is music if it doesn't make you feel some type of way?—Joyce

18. Drake - "Energy"

Lately, I've heard a lot of talk about whether or not Drake is going to fall off soon. It seems like he's already becoming a meme-able version of himself, and his rising status as a pop culture celebrity has to be distracting to his creativity. But a funny thing happens every time Drake drops new music—everyone seems to stop questioning him. Drake has a way of shutting people up, addressing the shit that's on everyone's mind, surrounding himself with people who make sure he's keeping things fresh, and sharpening his skills.

His latest mixtape (or whatever you want to call it, because it's not free). If You're Reading This, It's Too Late isn't a typical mixtape. It's got original production, big features, and an album feel to it. That just makes us all the more eager for Views From The 6. We're still taking this one in, but after a couple of listens, "Energy" is an early standout.—Confusion

Energy | Listen for free at bop.fm

19. Marz Leon - “W H I T E L I O N Z”

So much of pop music today is dominated by sweeping hooks and bubbly upbeat production. But then a pop song like Marz Leon's “W H I T E L I O N Z” comes along, and you realize how powerful pop music can be when it's dark. With sinister bass and Leon's sultry, low voice it's captivates us without overwhelming us. It isn't a new feat for the singer, but one that remains impressive nonetheless.—Katie K.

20. Carnage ft. Makonnen - "I Like Tuh"

Carnage and Makonnen sounds like an unlikely collaboration but on first listen,"I Like Tuh" just makes sense. Carnage has been consistently pumping out robust, animated production, and Makonnen is the kind of guy who can probably walk into a studio and come out 10 minutes later with three verses and a catchy ass hook. "I Like Tuh" very much feels like a spur-of-the-moment kind of track. It's a little peculiar and wholly unconcerned with perfection, but it's one of the most fun songs we heard all month.—Confusion

21. Best Songs of the Month Playlist (February)

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