Every week, The Tune publishes a survey of the newest songs making their way around the internetz and the music world in general. Despite the name, it is not just reserved for newly-released CD singles, but rather for any new songs from albums that have not been released yet. The songs will mostly be ones that have leaked/been published over the former week, but occasionally we will throw in little-known tracks from the last few weeks or months that never made it onto our survey. Again, the only condition is that the album has not been released yet. EPs and singles are okay. We are also introducing a new rating system for singles, one that is somewhat unique. Rather than rating the so
ngs based on a 5-star scale, a thumbs up/down scale, or having no rating system (isn’t that annoying?), we will give them prizes not unlike sporting events: Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Shit.
We’re only a few months into this concept of an entire week’s worth of new songs in one place, with streaming links and our new rating system, so make sure to leave us some feedback and let us know what you think! You can comment at the bottom of the post or email us with the form on the right (and slightly down).
This week’s survey includes new, free MP3s from Matt & Kim, Chris Brown, Primus, Wise Blood, Cass McCombs, Pusha T, Veronica Falls, Zola Jesus, Kevin Devine, STS, Future Islands, Eve 6, and many more! If you’d like to write a review for any, go to our Staff page and apply to write for The Tune. Also, look for the red MP3 tag for free and legal downloadable songs!
Matt & Kim – “I’m A Goner (ft. Soulja Boy & Andrew W.K.)” (Hip-Hop/Indie Pop) MP3
If you’re slightly confused by the randomness of the collaboration, you’re not the only one — but it might help to learn that it comes from Converse’s “Three Artists in One Song” series. Indie pop-rock band Matt & Kim’s ultra-catchy chorus carries the track, and I wouldn’t be surprised to hear it in a commercial like “Daylight” sometimes soon.
Chris Brown – “Ladies Love Me (ft. Justin Bieber)” (Rap) MP3
Believe it or not — and you probably won’t — the best part of this David Banner-produced track from Chris Brown’s Boy In Detention mixtape is Justin Bieber rapping. His flow isn’t half bad, and it sure trumps Brown’s whining on the chorus. So how long before Bieber starts dating Rihanna?
Thrice – “Promises” (Hard Rock)
The second song from Thrice’s upcoming September release Major/Minor sees the band turning back to Beggars-style rock. No-one does epic like Thrice does it, and this song “promises” another amazing rock release from the California group.
Primus – “Tragedy’s A’Comin’” (Alternative Rock) MP3
The writers of the South Park theme song are back with a banging, bleeping, funk rock piece that sounds like Rage Against the Machine-for-kids — except for the whole religious chick and apocalypse thing.
Jack’s Mannequin – “Amy, I” (Pop-Rock)
“Amy, I never felt this kind of cold before,” Andrew McMahon warbles in his immediately recognizable vocals on the newest Jack’s Mannequin song. For the first time, they sound like they’re almost back to Everything In Transit form — and the return is wonderful. You may be rocking out to this for awhile.
Elvis Costello – “Sparkling Day” (Pop-Rock)
Off the soundtrack for One Day, a new movie starring Anne Hathaway, here’s Elvis Costello’s newest whimsical ballad, a Georgia-tinged peach of a track.
Wise Blood – “Nosferatu” (Indie/Experimental) MP3
On August 30, Wise Blood will drop the These Wings EP, and this swirly vampire-referencing piece is part indie rock guitar pumpernickel and part cinematic rye. It’s certainly not the best he’s ever put forth — that honor belongs to “Loud Mouths” — but its ethereal edge is strangely hypnotic. Listen, mofo, listen!
Cass McCombs – “The Same Thing” (Indie/Folk) MP3
When was the last time YOU released two albums in one year? The notoriously odd-yet-brilliant Cass McCombs already scored a lofty 4.3 with April’s Wit’s End, and he’ll be back with Humor Risk on November 7. From the sound of it, he’s toned down the jazziness and gravitated further towards folk rock for this album — “The Same Thing” barrels along at 40 MPH on a Northern California morning, sometime around 11 A.M. Remember, his SILVER is most artists’ GOLD.
Zola Jesus – “Avalanche (Live)” (Dark Electronic) MP3
Good luck figuring out anything Nika Danilova is singing on her newest song, performed live for Daytrotter Session — it’s as mysterious as Björk‘s Icelandic vocals. Definitely sounds like it comes from further north than that, though. There’s a certain tension to Zola Jesus’ music, something like a Siberian exile.
CANT (Chris Taylor of Grizzly Bear) – “Believe”
After the GOLDed “Answer,” this second cut off of the Grizzly Bear bassist’s September 13 release Dreams Come True nearly maintains the momentum, featuring a growling electric bass behind electronic beats and sparkly Disney-on-drugs synths. “Things I haven’t told you/ You won’t believe” — oh yes, we will.
Everlast – “I Get By” (Hip-Hop)
I honestly thought that the “What It’s Like” singer had stopped making music — seems he joined a hip-hop supergroup La Coka Nostra for awhile along with other original members of House of Pain. His newest is certainly no empathetic ode… it’s an anti-government lower-class anthem with multi-tracked vocals and a plucky chorus that sounds half-gangsta and half-indie pop. “I told y’all I would break the law to put food in my baby girl’s belly,” he sings, reminding us that he’s still as conscientious as ever.
Veronica Falls – “Bad Feeling” (Indie Pop) MP3
A little over a month ago “Come On Over” scored a SILVER from us, but this ’60s-pop influenced beachy tune tops even that. “I’ve got a bad feeling/ And it’s not going away” may not win any songwriting awards, but hell, do you really want your indie pop to win anything? Love the insistent guitars and the “ahh-ahhs” in the bridge.
Twin Sister – “Gene Ciampi” (Indie Pop)
The Long Island indie pop group also scored a SILVER from us in July, and another song from September 27′s In Heaven references a name that doesn’t reveal a lot when Googled. But we do know that the song is fun as hell and feels much fuller than its 2:20 would imply. It’s almost like a phoenix bursting out from sun, newborn to the world.
Kevin Devine – “Off-Screen” (Indie Rock) MP3
I found out about this guy through Manchester Orchestra, like many of his fans — but unlike them, when I saw him live I was wholly underwhelmed, and his studio recordings are worse in that they generally lack his contagious energy. This one is no different, as its 3:15 explosion feels underwhelming and weak, like the entire band was holding back.
Pusha T – “Amen (ft. Kanye West & Young Jeezy)” (Hip-Hop) MP3
-a new cut from Pusha T’s upcoming EP, it’s “H.A.M“-lite and somewhat disappointing
STS- “Hello Sunshine (ft. Yelawolf)” (Rap) MP3
-last week’s “WWW” scored a SILVER; this is slammish from the poet-turned-rapper
Future Islands – “Balance” (Indie Pop) MP3
-a poppier TV on the Radio like I said before, “Balance” is a dark soft headbanger
Dent May – “Wedding Day” (Electropop)
-the chorus could be a ’70s radio hit, but the production is indietronica and woozy
Four Year Strong – “Stuck In The Middle” (Pop-Punk-Rock)
-it’s not bad pop-punk for 10 seconds…and then the screams come. Unbelievably trashy.
Weatherbox – “Secret Muslim” (Alternative Rock)
-gnarly, personable rock with a slight vintage feel
Mastodon - “Curl Of The Burl” (Hard Rock)
-like a modern-day Led Zeppelin, raunchy riffs and the slightest tinge of blues
Eve 6 - “Friend of Mine (Acoustic version)” (Acoustic/Rock) MP3
-a free download of a song off of their 2003 release, in anticipation of a new album
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - “Yellow Missing Signs” (Indie Pop) MP3
-rarities collections usually don’t contain tight pop songs like this
Erasure – “When I Start To (Break It All Down)” (Electropop)
-class synthpop duo is back on October 4; the first taste is Toto/Hawaiian pop
The Fresh & Only’s – “I Would Not Know the Devil” (Indie Rock) MP3
-it’s a tinge of surf and a dash of garage, but this chiming rocker rocks the fuzz
Howling Bells – “The Loudest Engine” (Indie/Alt. Rock) MP3
-title track from 9/13 release tilts and almost jumps the cliff after guitar solo
Maluca – “Lola” (Electronic/World) MP3
-Afropop M.I.A.-style, with Spanish lyrics and a self-assured ‘tude
Main Attrakionz – “Perfect Skies” (Indie Hip-Hop) MP3
-we cover tons of bedroom pop, but not enough bedroom rap – this is blurry & skillful
Woodsman – “In Circles” (Indie Rock) MP3
-stoner psychedelics and an unsettling air of stretching and straining
Hull – “Beyond The Lightless Sky” (Hard Rock) MP3
-a rabid scream of a song from the Brooklyn quartet
Airbird – “City vs. Mountains” (Electronic) MP3
-sunny, chirping electronica with lots of style and little substance — is that good?
Weekend – “Hazel” (Indie Rock)
-this is San Fran shoegaze, not The Weeknd R&B, and it’s swoops in like a sickly vulture
Sampha – “Indecision” (R&B/Pop)
-piano-led demo shows off Sampha’s vocals, but never congeals
Canyons – “Circadia” and “Under A Blue Sky” (Electronic/Experimental)
-starts damp, gets wet behind a sax & an unforgiving bassline, ends nostalgically
Plaid – “Scintilli” (Electronic/World) MP3
-baroque instrumentation brings out the best in ethereal vocals
Kathryn Calder – “Who Are You?” (Indie Pop) MP3
-New Pornographers member charges forward with a blithe, melodic tune
PAPA – “I Am the Lion King” (Indie Pop-Rock) MP3
-wilting California pop-rock
The Drift – “Horizon” (Instrumental/Rock) MP3
-an instrumental that rides on the back of a badass bass line
Covergirl – “Paris Burns” (Indie Rock/Punk) MP3
-raw and chaotic, yet somehow minimalist in aesthetic, it’s a snarl of a song
Keegan DeWitt – “Colour” (Indie Pop-Rock) MP3
-rollicking instrumentation on this lonely-yet-friendly track with catchy melodies
Glenn Jones – “Of Its Own Kind” (Acoustic/Instrumental) MP3
-astounding fingerpicking elicits the true beauty of the acoustic guitar
Talkdemonic – “Revival” (Folk/Experimental/Instrumental) MP3
-beautiful “Glacial Pace” tones that belong in northern Greenland
David Vandervelde – “More Than You Can Feel” (Indie Rock) MP3
-it sounds completely western, like a cowboy smoking a peace pipe
The Icarus Line – “We Want More (ft. Ariel Pink)” (Indie Punk Rock)
-post-rock all the way, with soaring vocals assisted by Ariel Pink
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