“Silk Pillow” Childish Gambino ft. Beck
Have I died and gone to heaven? Childish Gambino and Beck in one song? And Beck finally rapping for the first time in six years? Music Gods, you are too kind. This collaboration has all the elements for an eccentric hit. The jam is a little on the somber side, with eerie backing vocals and electric piano chords backing Beck and Gambino’s intellectual rhymes, but in the fashion of both artists, they throw some synth in the mix to bring up the groove factor…amazing!
“Entitled” Leighton Meester ft. Check in the Dark
Leighton Meester decided to take some time off stealing boyfriends and ruining lives (on TV that is) to release a new song, “Entitled.” After skyrocketing to fame by playing Manhattan’s queen bitch Blair Waldorf on Gossip Girl, Meester launched a pop singing career, with her only memorable hit being “Good Girls Go Bad” with Cobra Starship. I was never a fan of Meester’s music, but I have to eat my words when it comes to “Entitled.” The girl has an impressive set of pipes and the song is just beautiful. It’s worth listening to, and Gossip Girl fans may be a bit surprised to see the girl who plays such a ruthless character can be such a sincere performer.
“We Are Young (cover)” — Alex Clare
You may know British soul singer Alex Clare’s work already from a recent Bing commercial featuring his hit “Too Close.” You also may know a little song called “We Are Young,” by American band Fun. So it seems quite fitting that Clare decided to cover Fun.’s summer anthem. He cuts out the marching drums and back up vocals, using only a keyboard to back up his smooth vocals. The result is an expressive jam with a great soulful spin.
“Baby Come Home” — Scissor Sisters
The Scissor Sisters are back in all their funk-poppy glory with their second single “Baby Come Home,” off their fourth studio album Magic Hour. The song itself sounds like it will fit right in with the band’s flamboyant demographic, and the video is a crazy, fluorescent pretend commercial for the band’s fake new beer. Look for special appearances by cross-dressing nuns, a glitter-spewing witch, furless rabbits, and Satan himself. My only question after watching this insane video is where can I get some Scissor Sisters beer for myself?
“Heaven” The Walkmen
One of my favourite things is when you can tell just how much a band loves creating music from simply watching a video about them, and The Walkmen are one of these bands. They take us on a trip down memory lane in the music video for the title track of their brand new album, “Heaven.” The video gives us an inside look at the band’s evolution, starting with each member’s childhood, in a heartwarming collage. From clutching their first instruments as children, to playing in small clubs, to photobooth fun, this video and single will instantly make you a Walkmen fan if you aren’t already.
