Best Songs of the Week

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

Damn, Frank. We already knew your voice was an otherworldly gift that’ll be mythologized for generations to come, but you’re just showing off with “Moon River.” Covering Audrey Hepburn’s original from Breakfast at Tiffany’s, backing instrumentation is barely needed as you layer your voice on top of itself for a stunning vocal collage unlike anything that came before it. Somehow, this is a faithful, respectful cover to a classic that feels completely fresh. Thanks, Frank. This is one I’ll be playing for a long time.—Eric Skelton

"It was a honor to work with the big homie Diplo on a record that's different from what you're used to hearing from the Big Baby. It's still 100% me and I hope you enjoy it," DRAM tweeted to introduce his latest record."

"Look Back" is certainly something different from the Virginia artist, a far cry from tracks like "Cash Machine" or "Broccoli." But DRAM's versatility has been one of his greatest assets from the jump—he sounds at home on songs with everyone from Trippie Redd or Playboi Carti to Erykah Badu or Neil Young—and this time he kills it on his rockstar shit over squealing guitars and pounding drums.—Alex Gardner

Watch our interview with DRAM at ComplexCon here.

With his sharp observations and hard-earned pragmatism, Cozz is a true everyman MC, and “Hustla’s Story” is a salute both to the hustlers in his life and the hustle as a mentality essential for survival. One of the standouts off his new album Effected, the song sees the L.A. rapper link up with Kendrick Lamar atop a wormy bass line that seems to foreshadow danger just around the corner.

Painting vivid images of his parents’ relationship and the tragic cycle of his neighborhood dopeman, Cozz shows himself to be both plain-spoken and philosophical, recalling rappers like Jay Rock and Dave East. Kendrick is fully in his bag, switching between a melodic, coolly detached flow and speedy verbal gymnastics without breaking a sweat.—Grant Rindner

Inspired by artists like Prince and The Weeknd, 20-year-old self-taught producer turned singer Kevin George is making catchy pop and R&B songs with a dark edge. His debut, "High Like This" was immediately impressive, and follow-up "My Crew" is another drug-hazed track with a sticky hook.

"With 'My Crew' I wanted to create the soundtrack to the party for me and the kids from my city. Anything Goes at a party in CT," he says. Kevin George's LOVELAND EP is on the way, and he is two for two so far.—Alex Gardner

Learn more about Kevin George here.

Beach House has kept quiet for the past three years—that is, if you don't count the B-Sides and Rarities compilations—but on Valentine's Day, the Baltimore-based dream pop duo gifted the universe with a new single that's ideal for a hot and steamy makeout session in a dimly lit room. "Lemon Glow" marks the dawn of a new era for the band, or at least signifies a batch of fresh material that will be packaged into the form of a new album to be released this spring.

For some reason, this song reminds me of a Hafiz of Shiraz quote that I keep close to my heart: "I wish I could show you when you are lonely or in darkness the astonishing light of your own being.” This track serves as an ode to the power of connecting with someone on an emotional level. Surely you've experienced the pleasure of falling for a beautiful mind at least once in your life? If not, you'll know it's real when all you can hear are organs and steady drum beats ringing loudly in your ears.—Sydney Gore

For his latest single, “Man Down,” London-based singer Shakka links up with AlunaGeorge to deliver something fun. Their collaboration is a bouncy track that is sure to bubble up into a real heater as soon as summer returns. The versatility of the production make it fitting for a party, a late night drive, and anything in between.

Both Shakka and Aluna have naturally melodic voices that work to blend together seamlessly on this glimmering new song. It may still only be February but “Man Down” manages to feel like a quick trip to the tropics in just under four minutes. The cheapest vacation I could ask for.—Adrienne Black

On Valentine's Day, 6LACK offered catharsis in the form of "Cutting Ties," a brooding breakup track. He dedicated the song to everyone spending the holiday alone, tweeting "If you have a valentine good for you, if you don’t this for you" upon its release. OZ's woozy production sets a somber tone, matching the heaviness of 6LACK's lyricism. As a moody synth loop swells around him, 6LACK mourns the end of a dying relationship and enters an existential vortex, admitting, "this world is new to me, I do not know it."

"Cutting Ties" captures the complicated emotions that come with ending an unhealthy relationship and confronting difficult change.—Charlotte Freitag

Vancouver Sleep Clinic is once a gain free to create on his own time, and he's wasted none of it. "Closure" is the first song the Brisbane artist has released since moving on from a label deal, and will appear on the upcoming Therapy Phase 001 EP. It's a defiant, synth-heavy return that features THEY.'s Drew Love as a guest vocalist.

Each artist delivers a heart-wrenching verse before the dam finally bursts in the final third—drums and vocal samples echo the waterfall that runs backwards in the accompanying video, creating a moment that leaves no doubt as to Vancouver Sleep Clinic's continued success, regardless of the contract.—Graham Corrigan

Richard Russell's Everything Is Recorded album is out now, and although the guests vary from Giggs to Owen Pallett, from Kamasi Washington to Syd, from Ibeyi to Wiki, he makes it into a cohesive whole. The XL Recordings founder brings together established artists with rising talents, and on tracks like "She Said" the results are fantastic, with London's Obongjayar delivering a commanding vocal performance alongside Russell and Kamasi Washington.

"There's a lot for both parties to gain out of that," Russell told us of these unlikely pairings. "I've got a strong sonic taste, I suppose, and an idea of what things are meant to sound like. It's slightly hard to put into words, but it's something I can express when I'm working on things. So I think in that regard, it wasn't difficult to make this into a coherent whole, because there’s a kind of sonic thread which I think is very hip-hop and soul influenced." —Alex Gardner

Read our extensive interview with music industry veteran Richard Russell here.

On first listen, “Suu Whoop” is kind of a weird song. As YG growls about gang life over hard-hitting drums, there’s a crazy high-pitched voice in the background that keeps blurting out, “Suuuuu Whoooooop.” Honestly, it threw me off at first. But after repeat listens, it’s the kind of thing that grows on you. Eventually, you end up happily yelling along to that little voice. Kanye West has perfected the tactic of throwing ridiculous little elements into songs that end up being crowd favorites: “Okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, OKAY!”

It looks like YG figured that out as well. "Suu Whoop" is a strong start to 2018.—Eric Skelton

This one isn't brand new, but Juice WRLD is a new favorite and "All Girls Are The Same" has been in heavy rotation this week, along with the slightly older track, "Lucid Dreams." Over the past few years, we've heard a lot of rappers/artists making melodic, emotionally charged music that bridges gaps between pop punk, emo, rap, alternative rock, and pop. So far, Juice WRLD is one of the best and most unique bringing this genre-defying approach to life. He's got a forward-thinking sound perfect for the moment, and he's got the songwriting skills to back it up.—Jacob Moore

Read more about Juice WRLD here.

BOOTS and Run The Jewels have a lengthy history of collaborations—the producer/guitarist/singer has appeared on all three RTJ albums, going back to the classic "2100." BOOTS has a knack for crafting menacing textures that perfectly suit the pummeling bars of El-P and Killer Mike.

For their collaboration on BOOTS' surprise EP #DARKDAZE, the trio connects with singer Cristina Milioti to craft “Delete Delete,” a lurid track with bruising 808 bass. Featuring a scene-stealing verse from Killer Mike, “Delete Delete” is another strong entry in RTJ’s antihero crusader canon, bolstered by distorted vocals and a killer hook from BOOTS.—Grant Rindner

We've had a lot of rain in NYC this week—a sporadic, gray-blue drizzle that hasn't yet convinced me to buy an umbrella. Lion Babe's "Honey Dew" fit snugly into the drippy vibes—Lucas Goodman shares production duties with Simen Sez this time around, and their off-kilter percussion and cascading piano chords are a perfect backdrop for Jillian Hervey's feathery vocals. It's our first new music of 2018 from the duo, and will appear on an unnamed project due out later this year.—Graham Corrigan

On Madge's debut single "Fight Or Flight Club," the LA-based singer/producer balances sugary pop melodies with an experimental edge. She wrote, sang, produced, and mixed the song herself, and while this one is pretty accessible, she promises that things are going to get weird with her next releases. We're here for it.—Jacob Moore

​Read our interview with Madge here.