Final Track: 7 Must-Hear Songs Of The Week

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 Getty Image)

Today, we’ve got selections from Janelle Monáe, Teenanger, Iron and Wine, and more.


“Dance Apocalyptic” by Janelle Monáe

This week was the fourth anniversary of Michael Jackson’s death, but as long as artists like Janelle Monáe are making songs as lively as “Dance Apocalyptic,” his spirit will live on forever.

“Alex Chilton” by the Replacements

The reunited Replacements rehearsing “Alex Chilton” is the most exciting nine seconds of music this year.

“Faded” by Boston George ft. Big K.R.I.T.

For more, check out the Smoking Section.

“Singles Don’t $ell” by Teenanger

“Singles don’t sell, yeah, that’s a shame,” but punk bands like Teenanger sound better live anyway.

“I’m Not the Loving Kind” by Mark Lanegan

The most exciting, unexpectedly great covers are done by musicians who seemingly couldn’t be any more different than the fellow musician they’re covering. For instance, on face value, Screaming Trees and the Velvet Underground have little in common, and yet here’s Mark Lanegan covering John Cale’s “I’m Not the Living Kind.” Beautifully, might I add.

“Rattling Bone” by Iron & Wine

Instead of Disney’s The Lone Ranger, the soundtrack of which Iron & Wine wrote the dusty, Justified-sounding “Rattling Bone” for, could we just have a new Iron & Wine album? That’s much more preferable.

“Kids” by Diarrhea Planet

These guys would be 17 times more popular were it not for that name. That awful, awful name.

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