It’s impossible to cover every 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.
Today, we’ve got Ellie Goulding, Big Boi, tUnE-yArDs and ?uestlove covering Fela Kuti, and more
“No Hope” by the Vaccines
The Vaccines were one of 2011’s mega-hyped bands whose self-referencing first album, What Did You Expect From the Vaccines?, didn’t quite live up to expectations, because no one could possibly live up to BLOG EXPECTATIONS. That’s a shame, too, because even if they’re not The Next Big Thing, they do make urgent, shiny Brit-pop that sounds really good in a fast-moving car. “No Hope” is no exception.
“She Said OK” by Big Boi with Theophilus London and Tre Luce
Even if Big Boi released a song called “Murder Every Bunny in the World, and the Corgis, Too,” I’d probably still listen to it. He’s Big Boi — he’s awesome. “She Said OK” isn’t his or Theophilus London’s best work (the line about Shaq’s deficiencies on the free-throw line is about 10 years too late), but it is a reminder that with every passing day, we’re that much closer to the follow-up to the brilliant Sir Lucious Left Foot: the Son of Chico Dusty, the recently dubbed Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors.
“Lady” by tUnE-yArDs, ?uestlove, Angelique Kidjo, and Akua Naru
This Fela Kuti cover, for the (RED) Hot + Fela compilation, continues ?uestlove’s streak of only doing awesome things. The number of awesome things is at roughly 634,385.
“High for This” by Ellie Goulding
Electropop singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding was the darling of the music world when she released her first album, Lights, in 2010, the same year she won the BBC’s prestigious Sound of… award. Since then, she’s sang on “SNL” and at the Royal Wedding for Prince William and Kate Middleton. Now, she’s working on her second album, due out in October, but took some time off to record a cover of the Weeknd’s “High for This” with producer Xaphoon Jones. It’s hauntingly good, and replaces the original’s downtempo vibe for something more playful, more breathy. It’s so good, I can almost look past the fact that Goulding is dating Skrillex. ALMOST.
“Home” by Friends
The latest impossible-to-Google band, Friends, has been slowly building up buzz over the past few months and will release their first record with Fat Possum, Manifest!, next week. “Home” gives you a good indication of what it’s going to sound like, too: a little bit pop, a little bit disco, a little bit funk, a whole lotta dancing.
“You Got Lucky” by the Gaslight Anthem
They should do “Even the Losers” next.
RIP, Doc Watson.
