It’s impossible to cover each bit of new music that comes out during the week, so every Friday, we’ll be doing an end of the week music roundup. It’s called Final Track, and we’ll count off a few songs released during the week that are worth giving a listen to. (Banner via)
Today, we’ve got selections from Drake, Smith Westerns, and James Franco with Dangeruss
“Varsity” by Smith Westerns
The sentimental twentysomethings in Smith Westerns remain stuck in multiple decades gone by, with lush arrangements from the mid-1960s and carefree power-pop from the late-1970s. There’s no reason a song like “Variety” should sound good in 20313, but it does.
“Stare at the Sun” by Eleanor Friedberger
Based on “Stare at the Sun,” the absurdist, dashing first single from Personal Record, it’s time we erase “former Fiery Furnace” before “Eleanor Friedberger.” Check out her 2011 debut, Last Summer, for further proof.
“Digital Lion” by James Blake and Brian Eno
The meditative mastermind, Brian Eno, meets the knotty sonic youngster, James Blake, in a cinematic track, “Digital Lion,” that propels you along to its rapturous conclusion. Pretty sure I was literally the only person on Earth who didn’t Blake’s first album — I like this.
“5AM in Toronto” by Drake
For more on Drake’s hardest track some time, check out the Smoking Section.
“Never Wanted Your Love” by She & Him
Zooey > Emily, I mean, the sun-drenched “Never Wanted Your Love” is the first perfectly pleasant single from She & Him’s third album, Volume 3, due out in May. OK, now it’s time to say: Zooey > Emily.
“Evil Friends” by Portugal. the Man
Danger Mouse brings out the best of Portugal. the Man in a song that begins slowly before transitioning into a snotty stomper that buzzes from the bass. Last year was the first since 2006 that Portugal hadn’t released a new album; good thing they won’t make that mistake again.
“Hangin’ with Da Dopeboys” by James Franco and Dangeruss
The soundtrack for Harmony Korine’s Spring Breakers, which is the greatest movie of all-time (note: I haven’t seen the movie yet; I just really like the publicity stills), contains tracks by Rick Ross, Gucci Mane, Wacka Flocka Flame, and Skrillex. But the only one worth really, I mean, really talking about is “Hangin’ with Da Dopeboys,” as performed by James Franco and Not-Riff Raff. You can practically hear the cornrows.
