Every week, there are thousands of new songs hitting the airwaves — and it’s just too much for your two ears to handle. With all those options, you can’t be wasting your time on tracks that deserve a thumbs-down click — you want the best new songs to stream right now.
But don’t worry, we’re going to save you the hassle. We listen to some of the most-hyped and interesting songs each week, and tell you which are worthy of your precious listening time.
Here are our five best new songs to stream this week. And don’t forget to subscribe to our Spotify page for a playlist of our weekly picks, which can also be found at the bottom of this post. Not sure which streaming service is best for you? Check out our post about the best music streaming services, or go in depth and learn the differences between Apple Music and Spotify to better weigh your options.
Benjamin Booker — The Slow Drag Under and more, live on KEXP
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SLK4BcR7EE?feature=oembed&w=100&h=100]
Benjamin Booker brings his signature vintage soul aesthetic to this live performance at Seattle’s KEXP radio station, performing four classic-sounding singles from his catalog. On the first track, The Slow Drag Under, we hear bluesy guitar licks over a fat drumbeat, with Booker’s gravelly voice slithering calmly through the center. We can’t think of anything better to unwind to after a long week.
King Krule — Midnight 01 (Deep Sea Diver) and more, live at NPR
Guitarist and songwriter Archy Marshall (aka King Krule) has been making big waves with this year’s release The Ooz, an album that’s garnered much critical acclaim for its use of mixed musical textures. An interesting blend of acoustic and digital instruments showcase the album’s complex layers during this recent appearance at NPR’s headquarters, as jazzy guitar lines and saxophone solos are joined by whirling audio samples and vocal effects.
Ty Segall — Fanny Dog
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_b0ZjjcDRM?feature=oembed&w=100&h=100]
Rock and roll isn’t dead: Ty Segall is still making it. A big and musically skilled band dressed in white backs up the garage rock icon during this performance of a hilarious, yet powerful song about his dog on Conan. If you need something to pick you up this week, this tune — one of the first released tracks from Segall’s upcoming album Freedom’s Goblin — is sure to do the trick.
Phoebe Bridgers — Would You Rather, live on KCRW
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2U6jJRavX4?feature=oembed&w=100&h=100]
Warm slide guitar and piano hold together this live performance from LA-based songwriter Phoebe Bridgers, whose emotional ballads have garnered much acclaim this year. A love song with compelling story-style lyrics, it’s perfect for sunsets or remembering the ones you love.
Twin Peaks — In The Meadow
Chicago rockers Twin Peaks have been releasing two songs a month as part of their Sweet ’17 Singles series, a group of songs that will eventually be compiled onto a full 12-inch vinyl release early next year. One of the last songs in the series, In The Meadow, is a guitar-fueled single with subtle distorted lyrics. An excellent driving song, this is a great one to put on when you head out for your weekend adventures.
That’s it for now, but tune in next week for more songs to stream, and check out the playlist loaded with our recent selections below:
Editors’ Recommendations
- Best new songs to stream: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Sufjan Stevens, and more
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- Best new songs to stream: Chance The Rapper, Ty Segall, and more
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