Best Songs of the Week (May 6th, 2016)

When I saw James Blake’s The Colour of Everything had dropped, I decided to quickly run through it before bed. I ended up listening to the entire album—it's that good. But after it all, "Radio Silence" is the track I keep going back to.

Like "Retrograde," my personal favorite James Blake song, "Radio Silence" swells into a dramatic, out-of-this-world symphony of synths, howls, and percussion. The repetitive vocals are still looping in my head, and I can't wait to spend more time with the rest of this album. The downside of a great opener is that it makes it really hard to get past track one.–Jacob Moore

"I Need A Forest Fire" is the musical equivalent of an old adage: the simplest answer is usually the right one. This is a collaboration so blatantly obvious, it's taken years to produce. James Blake and Justin Vernon—two songwriting titans and unofficial torchbearers for the modern falsetto—had only joined forces once before.

"Fall Creek Boys Choir" is a great song in its own right, but "Forest Fire" is a much larger song, a slow burning, incense-swinging ode to rebirth and honesty. Forest fires, destructive as they often are, can also restore a forest's health. The lyrics admit as much ("I hope you'll stop me before I build a wall around me / We need a forest fire"), but Blake and Vernon's harmonies are the song's main attraction. Together, they are nothing short of inspiring, and the only place to go from here is a whole album's worth of collaborations.—Graham Corrigan

Skepta's new album Konnichiwa is finally here, Pharrell feature and all. From just a couple of listens, it's already clear that this is an album with depth and substance, from the lyrical subject matter to the skits to the varied production choices. Favorite songs will likely change over time, but "Lyrics," featuring Novelist, makes an immediate impact.

From the opening seconds, sampled from a 2001 clash between garage crews Heartless and Pay As You Go (listen here), "Lyrics" is intense, and the two MCs don't let up for one second. They take aim at challengers, detractors, and, of course, Devilman, who Skepta has been going back and forth with on and off ever since their Lord Of The Mics clash in 2006. Tough tune.—Constant Gardner

Dez's project business as usual was a breath of fresh air for me. I love the style raps and the trap anthems, but I'm getting bored. Every once in a while I could use a song that I can play outside of a function. With this project, Dez takes listeners on a trip inside of his mind, and for six songs you get a break from the bounce around raps currently spread across the rap game.

Weed is one of the most common topics in hip-hop history, but on "afterblunt," Dez found a way to speak on a overused subject in an unique way. The song details how the drug plays a part in the artist's day-to-day activities—he doesn't dwell on how high he gets, or how potent his weed is.—Eric Isom

Jamaican dancehall artist Popcaan’s star is steadily rising, and for good reason. When he’s not offering valuable features to artists like Jamie xx, AlunaGeorge, Drake, and more, he’s putting out hit singles on his own—the latest, “Ova Dweet,” is another hit.

On this feel-good track, Poppy details his fearless approach to living life. He willingly admits that he has a tendency to “ova dweet” (over do it), but that same self-assurance sewn within the lyrics and production of the track gets transferred to the listener after just one spin. It’s impossible not to immediately feel better once this song goes on.—Adrienne Black

& is the solo alias of The Neighbourhood lead singer Jesse Rutherford, and it's a chance for him to explore a style outside of the full-bodied alternative sound of his band. The Neighbourhood has always had a hip-hop edge, but with &, Jesse embraces that fully with a more minimal vibe. On "Vacation," Jeremy Rocwell provides a laid-back beat anchored by a piano riff, and Jesse's half-sung vocals and heartfelt lyrics melt into it.

“This song is dedicated to my friend Cole & his family,” Jesse says. “His mother, Franny, just lost her life to cancer.” You can donate to help out Cole's family here.–Jacob Moore