Each month, Arts & Entertainment staff members compile a list of their current favorite tracks to help readers find their new go-to jam. Look out for occasional themed playlists and solid tracks from a wide range of genres every month.
1. “Moaning Lisa Smile” by Wolf Alice
The dream of the ’90s is alive in Wolf Alice. This London hard-rock group burst onto the scene in the past few years with head turning songs like “Moaning Lisa Smile.” The haunting vocals sound similar to the distinctive, 90s grunge style of Alice in Chains frontman Layne Staley, though the similarity in band names is probably just a coincidence. Listen to this song if you feel like casually head-banging to reduce stress or releasing that bottled-up angst you thought you dispelled in high school.
— John Mattingly
2. “That Lady — Pt. 1 & 2” by The Isley Brothers
Kendrick Lamar's "i" harnessed the energy of this song's guitar intro, but the original song builds on this energy to nuance the guitar's funk with ecstasy and emotion. In "That Lady," the Isley Brothers palpably convey the exhilaration of fresh love.
— Paul Rohrbach
3. “Untitled 08 | 09.06.2014” by Kendrick Lamar
The finale of Lamar's "Untitled Unmastered" crackles with laid-back energy. The song jumps from Los Angeles poverty to South African apartheid to the perils of student debt, but what endures is the bouncing synth and Lamar's bubbling, nasally intonation. "Untitled 08" is not a happy song, but it sure feels like one. It's easy to listen and hear nothing but the rhythm and the chorus when Lamar asks, "Why so sad?"
— Ben Hitchcock
4. “Be Apart” by Porches
A song for the wallflowers. Though unusual for an upbeat synth-pop tune, this song makes melancholic isolation easily palpable. Guided by a bleak, hungover charm, Aaron Maine's vocals truly make you want to be "a part / of it all."
— Marshall Perfetti
5. “Electronic Renaissance” by Belle and Sebastian
With Belle and Sebastian’s first album, “Tigermilk,” celebrating its twentieth anniversary this year, this early classic is surprisingly similar to the band’s most recent material. Combining low-fi production with a bouncy electronic sound, it’s an excellent complement to the band’s early, predominantly acoustic sound.
— Christian Hecht
6. “My Love is My Disease” by The Jezabels
This refreshing female-led band weaves topics of gender and sexuality throughout its latest album, “Synthia.” Hayley Mary’s sweet Australian drawl brings a beautiful touch to the vocals of this anthem-like rock song, which harps on a love so strong that it is parasitic to both parties. “My Love is My Disease” strays from the band’s quieter sound, featuring blaring electric guitar and synthesizers, making for an intense and energetic listening experience that can get any listener hype, despite the somewhat dreary lyrics.
— Julia Stembridge
7. “Ginza” by J Balvin
J Balvin rides the new wave of reggaeton that has high production value and catchy mass-appealing lyrics like “Si necesita reggaeton, dale.” Like American hip-hop, reggaeton has slowly transformed from a more hard-core rap feel to a sound that has integrated with pop. Since Latin America has more of a club scene, this pop-reggaeton infused song has a dance feel as well.
— Claudia Castaneda
8. “Excursions” by A Tribe Called Quest
The early ’90s were a simpler time in the world of hip-hop, and jazz-rap trio A Tribe Called Quest shows this fully in "Excursions" — the funky opening track on their seminal album "The Low End Theory." Beginning with a booming double bass line, Q-Tip deftly deals out verses over the timeless production of Ali Shaheed Muhammad. The rhymes in "Excursions" may sound a bit dated, but its positive vibe and infectious groove make it a refreshing detour to the hip-hop of today.
— Alexander Castro
9. “NO” by Meghan Trainor
Meghan Trainor has been releasing singles that all sound like the same song for about the past two years. Thankfully — fresh off her Grammy win — she's released a single that sounds like nothing on the radio right now. "NO" is tinged with early 2000s R&B, reminiscent of TLC and Destiny's Child. It's quite a bop, and most certainly Trainor’s strongest single to date.
— Vondrae McCoy
10. “Make You Feel” by Alina Baraz & Galimatias
Weaving together down-tempo electronica with experimental R&B, rising singer Alina Baraz carves out a distinct sound on “Make You Feel.” Her soft yet intriguing voice matches perfectly with the smooth, chill-wave production, creating a soundscape that captures the listener and entices them to find relaxation in this fast paced world. She masters the art of mood music, which is impressive for such a young talent. Fans of ambient electronics would love this type of music, a type that Baraz explores deeper on her eight-track EP “Urban Flora.”
— David Wells
11. “Summer Guest” by Ásgeir
With spring beginning and summer not far off, Ásgeir Trausti Einarsson takes the sensations of a light breeze brushing across newly blooming flowers in the dry heat and grants them a one-way ticket to your ears through song. The funny thing about this ditty by the Icelandic sensation is that his descriptions of a summer guest’s tales just as easily describe his own "cool tones."
— Ryan Waligora
12. “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)” by The Beatles
Simple and softly nostalgic, “Norwegian Wood” makes a mundane collection of events more meaningful and appealing. The matter-of-fact tone and short plot add to the pleasant subtleties of love and blatant happiness. The atypical guitar strumming and musical sounds emitted throughout the song add to the unique nature of this particular Beatles hit. By the end, even though the girl has snuck away, the boy is content and the listener is left in an equally calm and content state. It truly is a feel-good song.
— Anna Morgan
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