Maybe it’s because the summer is coming to a close, but this week’s Must-Hear Music Podcast happens to spotlight a few melancholy gems courtesy of Yeah Yeah Yeahs frontwoman Karen O, startling newcomer Nick Hakim and others.
But it’s not all weepy bedroom balladry — the Billboard staff also discusses the mind-blowing Flying Lotus/Kendrick Lamar crossover and Jessie Ware’s disco-tinged track with Blood Orange.
We also chat about the return of TV on the Radio, the Vines’ comeback record and newcomer Kindness.
You can listen to Jason Lipshutz, Joe Lynch and Erika Ramirez dissecting this week’s selections in the Must-Hear Music podcast below. Or if you want to skim some highlights from our discussion — as well as listen to the new tracks — check those out below the podcast. Flying Lotus feat. Kendrick Lamar: “Never Catch Me”
Erika: We’re all waiting for a new Kendrick Lamar album, and his rapid verses here show why. Flying Lotus matches the rappers he chooses very well with his production.
Joe: We’re hearing Kendrick rap over sounds we’ve never heard him paired with before — I could listen to an entire album like this. I love that A Tribe Called Quest vibe.
Jason: I’d love to see Flying Lotus go the Madlib route and just make an album with one performer.
Jessie Ware: “Want Your Feeling” Joe: This is the kind of thing I want to hear from Jessie Ware. It’s a got an ’80s Latin-meets-disco vibe.
Erika: I feel like I’ve heard this Jessie Ware before, but it’s a step up from her past work along these lines. And I still love her voice.
TV on the Radio: “Happy Idiot”
Jason: TV on the Radio are one of my favorite bands, but I was disappointed by their last album. But I love when TV on the Radio embrace big choruses and sticky melodies — and they do that here.
Karen O: “Day Go By”
Jason: This is not the direction I want to see solo Karen O going. I would love to see a Karen O solo album that’s weird electro-pop.
Joe: I like this a lot, but I agree that this is a safe route for her — you get the sense that she can knock out these quiet, weepy bedroom pop songs in a second.
Nick Hakim: “Lift Me Up” Erika: He has such amazing vocals, but he never goes overboard. The production is stripped down, and the vocals really take the spotlight.
Joe: It sounds like a lost ’70s outtake from some forgotten soul genius. Thank you for turning me on to this.
Kindness: “This Is Not About Us” Jason: Kindness is an artist that makes brooding funk music. This song hems close to James Blake territory. It’s sad white boy music. It doesn’t bowl you over, but it seeps into you.
Erika: I do love the sad white boy music.
The Vines: “Metal Zone”
Jason: I feel like the Vines were the 98 Degrees of the whole garage rock movement.
Joe: They’re not gonna reclaim their former glory, but this is a solid grunge nostalgia listen. If you were interested in the Vines when they debuted, you’d do well to check this out.