Majid Jordan ft. Drake - "Stars Align"

Majid Jordan returns with their third album Wildest Dreams. The standout track on the record is their collaboration with Drake, who sings the hook and the first verse. "Stars Align" features smooth production with 80s-style R&B percussion and twinkling synths.

Brent Faiyaz & Drake - "Wasting Time"

 R&B singer Brent Faiyaz teams up with Drake and production team The Neptunes for this sleek track that is heavy on 808 beats and luscious synth pads.

2018 Favorite Albums (20-16)

Continuing my countdown of my favorite albums of 2018:

20. The Amazing - In Transit

This Swedish band continues to impress with their intricate sonic explorations. On their fifth record In Transit they bring more emotion and rawness to the proceedings, but still maintain their massive, oceanic sound.



19. Drake - Scorpion

Yes, it is overlong, stuffed with some filler, and is rather a mess. But what would Drake be without broadcasting everything about his life? He still maintains his undisputed reign over hip-hop, R&B, and pop.



18. SALES - forever & ever

There is something exquisitely sublime about this bedroom/dream pop record. The sleek, sparkling production draws you into SALES' atmospheric world.



17. Let's Eat Grandma - I'm All Ears

I'm All Ears is this year's most gonzo pop record. What's more amazing is that these two women are only 19, and show so much originality and verve. It's going to be very exciting to see what they do in their career.



16. MGMT - Little Dark Age

Where MGMT finally stop hiding the hooks. Brilliant and much welcome return to form.

2018 Favorite Songs (10-1)

And finally, without further ado, my top ten favorite songs of the year:

10. Yves Tumor - "Licking an Orchid"



The dramatic centerpiece to Yves Tumor's masterful record Safe in the Arms of Love. Trip hop beats anchor simple acoustic guitar strains over pillowy synths before descending into oceans of squalling guitars. It's a wonderful exploration of the tension between the beautiful and ugly. It's mirrored in the evocative lyrics which explore a possible S&M relationship, with lines like “Some call it pain/Some call it torture/Baby I enjoy it."

9. Neneh Cherry - "Kong"



Produced by Four Tet and Massive Attack's 3D, Neneh Cherry's "Kong" draws you in closely with its elegant minimalism. Dubby bass, a simple hi-hat, and mournful strings are the simple backdrop to Cherry's aching voice.

8. Ness Nite - "Tightrope"



Ness Nite's tracks effortlessly blur the lines between electronica, R&B, and hip-hop. "Tightrope" is the perfect example.

7. Drake ft. Michael Jackson - "Don't Matter to Me"

A haunting Michael Jackson sample elevates this track to sublime perfection. You can listen to it here.

6. AlunaGeorge ft. Cautious Clay - "Superior Emotion"



This emotionally resonant track from AlunaGeorge will stay with you for days. Aluna Francis' touching vocal hits all the right spots.

5. Unknown Mortal Orchestra - "Hunnybee"



Sexy, slinky, funky, and a little bit goofy, "Hunnybee" was my favorite go-to get a smile on my face song this year. Trust me, you will succumb to its charms.

4. The Amazing - "Benson se Convirtio Completamente Furiosa"



Nine minutes of pure, achingly beautiful guitar soundscapes.

3. Gotts Street Park ft. Celeste - "Both Sides of the Moon (Live)"



You won't find a better vocal performance than this deeply emotional track. It's gut-wrenching.

2. Rosalia - "Malamente"



Rosalia's gorgeous modernization of flamenco is sublime.

1. Rufus Du Sol - "Underwater"



This was a pretty bad year for myself, and this song spoke so specifically to me. Its raw honesty and emotion is difficult to listen to, but impossible to turn away from.

Jam of the Day: Drake ft. Michael Jackson - "Don't Matter to Me"

Gorgeous ballad from Drake's new record Scorpion, featuring a ghostly sample of an unreleased Michael Jackson song. You can listen to it here on Spotify.

Jam of the Day: Drake - "Nice for What"

Widescreen-Technicolor rap from Drake. It's just a fun track with a killer beat.

Jam of the Day: Drake - "Passionfruit"

I will admit that I am more a fan of Drake the singer than I am of Drake the rapper. "Passionfruit" is a prime example of why; Drake's velvety vocals float over the light mix of fluttery drums and smooth keys as only he can. A less subtle approach would have killed the vibe of the track. You can listen to the track here on Spotify.

Jam of the Day: Drake ft. Jorja Smith and Black Coffee - "Get It Together"

Breezy house track from Drake which is punctuated by sultry vocals from Jorja Smith and jazzy piano riffs. You can listen here on Spotify.

2016 Favorite Albums (Numbers 30-21)

Halfway there:

30.

Broods - Conscious

The Aussie duo Broods builds from their debut and crafts a hook-ridden collection of melodic synth pop.

29.

The Avalanches - Wildflower

First things first, Wildflower is not Since I Left You. That it comes anywhere close to that masterpiece is itself a miracle. No one out there does sample based dance music quite like The Avalanches, and Wildflower, though 16 years in the making, doesn't disappoint at all. We just hope it is not another 16 before we hear from them again.

28.

Rihanna - Anti

Anti is the first Rihanna album that doesn't sound like it was made in a vacuum. Most of her records are three or four killer singles surrounded by aimless filler while this is 13 songs that Rihanna wanted to record and fits her personality. She doesn't have to care what anyone thinks, and it shows. These tracks are loose and free, and perfectly Rihanna.

27.

AlunaGeorge - I Remember

Perfect mix of club bangers, future R&B, and deep house tracks.

26.

Boxed In - Melt

Boxed In's second record Melt was my go-to dance record this year. It always gets me moving.

25.

Psychic Twin - Strange Diary

For a breakup album, Strange Diary is wonderfully warm, basking in the glow of its 80s synth pop sheen.

23.

White Lung - Paradise

Blistering guitars take the driver's seat in this fascinating hardcore record. Less ragged than their previous records, White Lung's Paradise is sleeker, but that doesn't eclipse the fury that lurks beneath it.

22.

Drake - Views

Full admission, even I think this album is a total mess; but what a fascinating mess. Tracks like "Controlla," "Hotline Bling," and the ever present "One Dance," keep this album from going completely off the rails.

21.

Róisín Murphy - Take Her Up to Monto

Avant garde pop songstress Róisín Murphy continues her string of lovely oddities with this collection of striking tracks; her wit and grace intact.

2016 Favorite Songs (Numbers 10-1)

And finally, here are my top singles of 2016:

10. Porches - "Underwater"



This song is reportedly about reaching a contented state of mind. With its liquid synths, I imagine the singer floating on top of a pool, letting the water flow over him.

9. Drake - "One Dance"



All I can say is that once I start playing this song, it will be on repeat for about 10 listens in a row.

8. Clock Opera - "In Memory"



"Do I still do the things that made you fall in love?"

7. James Blake - "My Willing Heart"



This song kills me every time. His voice is pure heaven.

6. Sylvan Esso - "Kick Jump Twist"



By the end of this song you will be doing all three. Trust me.

5. Tinashe - "Ghetto Boy"



Gorgeous R&B track, that perfectly evokes the feelings when you are dating someone you know is bad for you, and that others won't approve of, but you can't help yourself.

4. Hælos - "Cloud Nine"



Mesmerizing song that delves into the abyss of a breakup and the constant swirls of the whys and hows that plague the mind.

3. Massive Attack ft. Hope Sandoval - "The Spoils"



No one does cinematic quite like Massive Attack. Hope Sandoval's vocals are practically perfect.

2. Radiohead - "Daydreaming"



The only thing surprising about this song from Radiohead is how simple and yet ultimately complex it is. I have listened to it countless times and it always sends me into a deep reverie. That this far into their career they can continue to do this never ceases to amaze me.

1. Phantogram - "Funeral Pyre"



Many years ago, I saw Phantogram at a small club in Atlanta. They opened with a song I had never heard before, and in most set lists it was labeled as "Untitled." I had never been grabbed by a song and a performance before, the song building and building to a point of collapse, bludgeoning you to the point of exhaustion, but sending you into spasms of release. That song is now the lead track on Phantogram's latest record Three. It is called "Funeral Pyre," and it is still amazing, and it is my top song of the year.

Jam of the Day: PARTYNEXTDOOR ft. Drake - "Come and See Me"

One of the many standout tracks on PARTYNEXTDOOR's third record.

Jam of the Day: Drake - "One Dance"

I just love this song. You can listen to it here.

Jam of the Day: SZA - "Two AM"

Gorgeous reworking of the track "Come and See Me" from Drake and PARTYNEXTDOOR.

Jam of the Day: Majid Jordan - "All I Do"

From the production team behind Drake's "Hold On, We're Going Home" comes this hooked filled, slinky pop/R&B track. Check out their amazing self-titled debut album.

2015 Albums of the Year (Numbers 20-11)

And on it goes:

20. Julien Baker - Sprained Ankle

This record really blew me away this year. As intimate as it possibly can be, Sprained Ankle is wry, witty, and full of raw emotion. You sense she has lived deeply inside these songs, inhabiting them like a second skin.

19. Beach House - Thank Your Lucky Stars

Beach House surprised everyone with two albums and they couldn't be any more different. Depression Cherry, to me, was a droning, one note, beige mess of songs that made me feel that Beach House had lost their mind. Thank Your Lucky Stars feels like a mea culpa, and a welcome return to form.

18. Wolf Alice - My Love Is Cool

This record throws together alt-rock, indie pop, shoegaze, Britpop, and a hundred other genres together in a mix that shouldn't work, but just keeps finding ways to creep back into your psyche.

17. Everything Everything - Get To Heaven

As I mentioned in my top songs countdown, Everything Everything are weird. Very weird. When I play this record for others, I get lots of head scratching. You either get them or you don't. I, for one, am very glad I get them.

16. Drake - If You're Reading This It's Too Late

If You're Reading This It's Too Late, is a dark, insular record that has no real "singles," but collectively shows Drake at the height of his powers.

15. Years & Years - Communion

Perfect blend of pop smarts, R&B sass, and dance floor power.

13. Young Galaxy - Falsework

The quirky Canadians once again work with producer Dan Lissvik, creating a sublime selection of arty synthpop.

12. Little Boots - Working Girl

While probably too arch and distant to be fully embraced by Top 40 radio, Little Boots' record Working Girl is one of the most hook filled alnbum recent memory. She is a jewel just waiting to be discovered.

11. Jamie xx - In Colour

Eclectic and thoroughly entertaining collection of tracks that hit on almost all of Jamie xx's influences.

Top 50 Songs of 2015 (Numbers 30-21)

And my countdown continues:

30. Selena Gomez - "Good for You"



There are almost too many good singles on Selena Gomez' new record. This is one of the standouts, a slow-burning track that brings Selena fully into adulthood.

29. Ameriie - "Out Loud"



It's been too long since we have heard from Ameriie, and it's like she never left. She is the queen of the jam.

28. GOVS - "6teenDRE'am"



This is one of those dreamy tracks that just pulls at you like those last halcyon days of summer.

27. BATTS - "Morals"



Atmospheric track from Aussie duo Batts.

26. Florence + The Machine - "Ship to Wreck"



I go back and forth with Florence, finding some of her music a tad overwrought, however, on occasion she knows how to hit my sweet spots just right. "Ship to Wreck" is one of those perfect moments.

25. Ciara ft. Joe Jonas - "I Bet"



Just a great breakup jam.

24. Alessia - "Here"



Although her debut album was enjoyable but not striking, when you have a first single this strong, you can overlook that. I hope she stays true to herself and puts out more songs like this.

23. Drake - "Hotline Bling"



Yes, it is almost too ubiquitous, but this song had to make this list.

22. Empress Of - "Standard"



This was another record I had trouble finding one song that I wanted to put on this list. For me, it was that monstrous bass line and her epic vocals that sealed the deal.

21. Hot Chip - "Need You Now"



About the 3:00 mark in the song we reach the sublime.

Jam of the Day: Erykah Badu - "Phone Down"

Sort of an answer to Drake's "Hotline Bling," Erykah Badu releases this very Drake-ian track. I love its sleek minimalism.

Jam of the Day: Majid Jordan ft. Drake - "My Love"

Gorgeous collaboration between the Canadian duo Majid Jordan and Drake.

Jam of the Day: Drake - "Energy"

Slick, trash-talking track off Drake's mixtape If You're Reading This It's Too Late.

Jam of the Day: Majid Jordan - "A Place Like This"

Majid Jordan, the Canadian production duo of Majid Al Maskati and Jordan Ullman, are signed to Drake and Noah "40" Shebib's record label OVO Sound. Their atmospheric work, such as single "A Place Like This," fits nicely within that after-hours comedown aesthetic.