"Compound Fracture"
MY MORNING JACKET
(ATO/Capitol)
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Dressed with an Eighties New Wave gloss and a rollicking chorus that rings with the fibers of Curtis Mayfield preachiness, “Compound Fracture” pushed the boundaries of this dreamy alt-rock band. There's even a cute, synth-y Giorgio Moroder remix worth checking out. |
"Run Away With Me"
CARLY RAE JEPSEN
(School Boy/Interscope)
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Absorbed by magical synthpop and excellent EDM gravitas, “Run Away With Me” opens Jepsen's ignored third album with all the glitter of a newborn pop princess at a Cinderella ball. |
"Can't Deny My Love"
BRANDON FLOWERS
(Island)
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The Killers' frontman discovers a hypnotic groove and a sumptuous chorus that houses the excess of Eighties rock-pop, as if it climbed out the chamber of Ocean Drive coolness.
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"Satisfy Me"
ANDERSON EAST
(Elektra/Warner Music Group)
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Sweeping through the backrooms of Stax and Fame Studios, under-the-radar blue-eyed soul gent Anderson East carefully transports back to the era of classic R&B. Making things even more momentous on this cut is his companionship with warm girl background vocals and a blistering brass section.
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"Here"
ALESSIA CARA
(Def Jam)
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Using old school neo-soul vibes akin to Alicia Keys, the 19-year old Alessia Cara ushers in a river of hip-hop edge and furious lyrics to a song showcasing the strength of a street anthem. |
"Scared"
DELTA RAE
(Sire)
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North Carolina folk rock band Delta Rae hit a glowing crescendo on “Scared,” a tune peppered with gorgeous harmonies, industrial tints, urban spice and a dash of haunting opera. The end result, a two-minute and forty second adventure into dexterous 21st century blues rock fusion, is quite breathtaking.
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"Gimme All Your Love"
ALABAMA SHAKES
(ATO)
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Shakes' frontwoman Brittany Howard empties her soul out on this firestorm ballad, a song that marinates Prince's “Purple Rain” into Aretha drama.
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"Leave a Trace"
CHVRCHES
(Virgin EMI)
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The winning synthpop flavor of the Scottish electro trio CHVRCHES hits a career-high with “Leave a Trace,” a tune stoked with Cyndi Lauper-like shininess and synth grandeur.
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"I Really Like You"
CARLY RAE JEPSEN
(School Boy/Interscope)
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On Jepsen's 2015 best single, cute synthpop riffs and flirty magic take precedence and proves the “Call Me Maybe” singer was more than just a fluke. A travesty this was so embarrassingly ignored by radio. |
"You Can Feel It"
YOUNG GUN SILVER FOX
(Légère)
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Dreamy AM gold yacht rock takes over this offering by this new duo formed by Mamas Gun frontman Andy Platts and producer Shawn Lee. It's a sweet trip back to the sunny California soul of the Doobies and the buoyant AC appeal of Steely Dan's poppier sides. |
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