Photo: WENN/Justine Trickett
Now the musical juggernauts that are Drake's Nothing Was the Same and Justin Timberlake's The 20/20 Experience - 2 of 2 have been and gone, you'd be forgiven for thinking there was nothing exciting to come. Luckily, you're wrong!
This week's new music includes an exciting preview of the forthcoming Hunger Games soundtrack, the return of Cults, as well as Fall Out Boy going back to their punk roots. So kick off your shoes, relax your socks, take a seat, pop on your headphones, and let us take you through the best new tracks from this week.
Tyler, the Creator/Earl Sweatshirt/Domo Genesis/Hodgy Beats, 'Look'
This unexpected drop from Odd Future sees Tyler, the Creator back to his aggressive, immature best after the relative calm of 'Wolf', even weighing in on Cyrus-gate ("a paint job that's flatter than Miley Cyrus' ass" he quips at one point). A hook isn't needed as Hodgy Beats, Domo Genesis and Earl follow with quick-witted, sharp verses over a gritty beat.
Sia feat The Weeknd & Diplo, 'Elastic Heart'
Another preview of the forthcoming Hunger Games: Catching Fire soundtrack dropped this week in the form of this Diplo produced Sia track, which also features silky vocals from The Weeknd. It's a fairly slow-paced number, but Diplo's beat, leading with a vocal tic sample, chugs along nicely in the background, and Sia and The Weeknd's voices merge together oh so wonderfully.
Katy Perry, 'Walking On Air'
The US pop starlet teased us with another track from upcoming album Prism this week. 'Walking On Air' is a different beast entirely from the previously shared trippy, trappy 'Dark Horse' - a more straight-forward pop number with hints of EDM and 80s drum snares. It's got hit written all over it.
Cults, 'High Road'
The New York indie-pop outfit return after their 2011 eponymous debut album with this organ led, bouncy number, which gives off a strong 60s vibe. Madeline Follin's vocals sound as ethereal as ever, and the hook is catchy enough to guarantee this sticking in your head for a couple of days.
RAC featuring Kele, 'Let It Go' (Robert DeLong remix)
American electronic musician DeLong has taken the upbeat, chilled tones of 'Let It Go' - by Portland producer RAC, featuring the vocal talents of Bloc Party's Kele Okereke - and turned it into something completely different - a darker, house-y club banger. Oof, that's good.
Danny Brown featuring Purity Ring, '25 Bucks'
Listening to Purity Ring's debut, especially 'Lofticries', we couldn't help but thinking the electronic duo would produce great hip-hop. And we were right. This standout track from Brown's new release, Old, is an engaging, dark cut, Megan James' unique vocals lifting Brown's equally individual tones wonderfully. The hook is incredibly catchy too.
Fall Out Boy, 'Love Sex Death'
Not only have the pop-punk band shortened their song names, they seem to have shortened their songs too, with this lead single from new min-album Pax Am Days clocking in at under a minute and a half. With a touch of that Ryan Adams production magic, 'Love Sex Death' sees the band going back to their early roots - it's frenzied and raw, and the only thing radio-friendly about it is the simple, chanting chorus. It's the sound of a more confident Fall Out Boy, just enjoying themselves. Thanks, Ryan Adams. Thadams.
Anna Calvi, 'Sing To Me'
This eerie, Nancy Sinatra-esque track sounds like it should be, as one Youtube commenter puts it, soundtracking a 'Tarantino slow motion Uma Thurman slasher scene'. It's a beguiling preview of the musician's upcoming release One Breath.
Best Coast, 'This Lonely Morning'
The lead single from forthcoming EP Fade Away, 'This Lonely Morning' is typical Best Coast, all fast-paced garage-rock vibes and 60s girlband choruses. It's nice to hear lead singer Bethany Cosentino's vocals in high quality, as opposed to fuzzier, distorted sounds of Crazy For You.
Two Door Cinema Club, 'Changing of the Seasons' (Monsieur Adi remix)
French producer Monsieur Adi takes this indie pop track, which sees Two Door Cinema Club going in a more mainstream direction, and turns it into a squelchy, electropop anthem. Good stuff.
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