Carly Rae Jepsen – I Really Like You
The first time you were likely introduced to Carly Rae Jepsen was when she released an undeniable sensation in the form of Call Me Maybe. Can you already hear that song on repeat in your head just at its mere mention? That is the power of Jepsen’s pop prowess. And while the singer has snuck back into the charts a few times since then, it didn’t seem like she’d ever reach the levels of Call Me Maybe again.
Then along came I Really Like You. Utilizing a similar model that propelled Call Me Maybe to absurd heights, I Really Like You is the purest form of bubblegum pop that you’ll find. You’ll be chewing on it for hours, hearing it over and over in your head after your first listen. Jepsen may set a record for most uses of the word “really” in a song, dropping it more than a Valley girl does the word “like.” It’s almost infuriating just how catchy this song is, but when you catch the slightest hint of the chorus, your cynicism is swept away, as you sing along — reluctantly at first, then unabashedly.
Steven Wilson – Transcience
You should be warned, Steven Wilson is not making pop music. His latest album Hand. Cannot. Erase., released this week, isn’t about getting a chorus caught between your ears or providing you with a riff you can play along with on your air guitar. The progressive rock figurehead is creating soundscapes. The one you find in Transcience is full of the bleakness found throughout the album. It creates an industrial wasteland of a sound. It’s an incredible sonic experience, and one that is only improved by the wider landscape of the record.
Tanlines – Slipping Away
Synthpop duo Tanlines is gearing up to drop its sophomore album, and if you’re expecting to find signs of a slump, then keep looking, because Slipping Away shows the group has a firm grasp on their sound. The track is more upbeat and danceable than what we’ve heard from the group before. It’s got a funk guitar riff, techno synths, and influences that stem from ’90s era, east-coast hip hop in the drum kicks. Perhaps the pop-friendly sound shouldn’t be a surprise with Grizzly Bear’s Chris Taylor tackling production, but the lyrics are as melancholy as ever.
Tuxedo – Do It
Tuxedo is a fun little collaboration between beat maker and producer Jake One — the mastermind behind some of the best hip hop beats of the past decade — and Detroit crooner Mayer Hawthorne. The combination is a match made in R&B heaven, as evidenced by Do It. It’s not heavy on the clever lyrics Hawthorne is capable of cranking out, but it doesn’t need to be. Hand claps, a funk-laden keyboard, and and ear worm of a chorus make foot tapping and head bobbing an inevitability.
Major Lazer and DJ Snake – Lean On
Regardless of your opinion of Diplo the person (it’s probably bad), his talent as a producer is difficult to deny. His alter ego Major Lazer, generally used for tracks that tend to fit more in the dance hall genre, teamed up with DJ Snake and Danish singer MØ for Lean On, a track filled with big, punchy beats that are matched in size only by MØ’s incredible voice. A Jamaican influence can be found throughout the production, and it’s sure to get you moving on the dance floor.
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