Best Songs of the Week

Some music works nicely to accompany your mood, and some music completely alters it. Australian artist AAA+'s "Some Days" is one of those songs that immediately brings on this wave of bittersweet nostalgia. It's a mid-tempo, synth-heavy song that wouldn't be out of place on the Drive soundtrack, and it's the perfect musical accompaniment to long, lonely summer nights.—Confusion

Sometimes an emotional, heartfelt song can be great for the soul. But who really wants to be in their feelings during the summer? Not me. Right now, I really only want to hear fun songs that make me feel good. As soon as I heard Marvel Alexander open up the song with, “When I come through, it’s lit,” I already knew this was a song I needed to add to my rotation.

Soulection’s Lakim has made a name for himself by making beats with a signature sound that is already instantly recognizable. The constant turns and twists within the production of “Smoke All Day” is enough to keep listeners involved but Marvel’s witty one-liners help to complete the entire package. The production may be more intricate than the lyrics, but that doesn't matter when the results are this fun.—Adrienne Black

After hearing "Money," we had vox situated in the same realm as an artist like Banks—a singer making songs rooted in pop but playing with more interesting electronic production. Her new song "Put The Poison In Me" strips back all and any distractions with a simple piano accompaniment the only element besides the vocals. It's perfect for the song's stormy heartbreak, and is coming out on vinyl alongside three of her other tracks here.

vox shared "Put The Poison In Me" with some more awesome pictures from a photo shoot with Kristian Punturere. Check them out here.—Constant Gardner

18-year-old Australian rapper Baro's "Bears" was a personal favorite from 2015, and his new 17/18 EP shows off more depth to his skill set. "Bears" is breezy and hook-driven, but my new favorite, "See Less," is a mischievous, jazzy cut that plays like some kind of DOOM/Jaden Smith hybrid.—Confusion

Billy Joel-inspired and backed by a soul-tinged bounce, “Sugar,” Milwaukee upstart IshDARR’s latest, lets his girl know she’s perfect just the way she is. The summery tune is joyful. It’s also, perhaps more importantly, appreciative. In a genre so frequently plagued by one-sided accounts of male-female relationships, he shows respect and shares his enamored state.

Medasin, a gifted Texas producer, helps Ish paint his picture. Worldwide travels, mall shopping splurges, endearing nicknames, and compassionate deliveries make it hard to believe this record was inspired by anything but a very real, very important woman in the rapper’s life. That alone makes it notable.—Alex Siber

IshDARR played our recent No Ceilings showcase in NY. Check out pictures here.

Rome Fortune knows how to pick his collaborators. After making a name for himself with some glossy Four Tet collaborations, he teamed up with iLoveMakonnen for a handful of catchy weird rap singalongs. But he's outdone himself here by bringing his talents to Toro y Moi (who was releasing folk albums last time we checked) on "Pitch Black." Toro's production is unlike anything we've heard from Chaz—he verges into something resembling house music with the intro before flipping into a smooth, melancholic verse that sounds like it could have come from Timbaland's brain.

The two work exceedingly well together: Rome knows when to back off the beat, and where it needs a little extra oomph. As for Toro y Moi—there seems to be nothing he can't do at this point. We only ask that he continue this trip into the unknown.—Graham Corrigan