Best New Tracks Of The Week: 9/1/24
A variety of styles on this weeks list, but an extremely good collection of songs nonetheless.
5. Exhilarate - Sophie (feat. Bibi Bourelly)
Sophie songs seem to so rarely have a "main character." Even Sophie herself often seemed like she was more of an orchestrator than a principal protagonist in her own music. That's why it was strange at first to see guest vocalist Bibi Bourelly taking over this song with her lyrics and melodies. Despite the surprise though, this is a warm electronic pop effort that I find pretty infectious and one that maintains Sophie's eccentricities, even if they come in a very muted manner.
4. Summer Drop - Cordae (feat. Anderson .Paak)
5 years ago Cordae and Anderson Paak teamed up for one of the smoothest rap songs I've ever heard on the former YBN affiliate's debut album. I haven't loved much of what Cordae has done since but this absolutely hits it out of the park once again. The pair are unshakably smooth together and dish out on catchy refrain after another combined with infinite clever lyrics.
3. Foreign Spies - The Smile
At this point what can I even say other than wow. The Smile already released their sophomore album earlier this year, a strong showing and an improvement upon their debut. Now the Radiohead side project is gearing up to release a second album and the lead single is another stunner. The song once again deploys impressive patience and nuance in its earliest moments while waiting for the absolute perfect time to deploy the harsher edges of its sound.
2. Dafodil - Jamie xx
As if I needed any MORE reasons to be excited for the first new Jamie xx solo album in almost 10 years, he delivered a collaborator stacked microhouse jam packed full of memorable samples and intimate performances. The whole cocktail comes together in irresistible fashion, once again testing the race for which of the singles he's released so far this year are really the best.
1. GREY RUBBLE - GREEN SHOOTS - Godspeed You! Black Emperor
In a sense, this week's list was a bit unfair to every other artist who dropped new music. The news that beloved post-rock outfit Godspeed You! Black Emperor would be releasing new music hit in the middle of the week and while it came with a rush of excitement, that excitement quickly turned into pure awe at reading the album's title and the description that came with it. Unsurprisingly, the band delivered a composition that carries the weight of its inspiration on its back as a lead single and one that is likely to sound even more crushing when presented as part of the full album.
