Song of the Day - These Days - Rudimental, feat. Macklemore, Jess Glynne

Here's a fresh track from British drum and bass band Rudimental.  The tune features the vocals of Macklemore and Jess Glynne and is as sweet as it is romantic.  Check out These Days...

New Music Fridays, January 19th, 2018 - New Kylie, Chainsmokers and More

Oh man, there were a lot of new songs released this past week!  I spent no less than two hours combing through all the new music tracks on Spotify's New Music Fridays.  Surprisingly, there weren't too many tunes I bookmarked, but the ones I did will be on my playlist for a long time, I am sure.  Exciting new stuff here, folks especially the debut of Kylie Monogue's Dancing and new stuff by Troye Sivan and The Chainsmokers, among others.  So let's get right to it...

Dancing - Kylie Minogue

After what seemed like an eternity, Aussie superstar Kylie Minogue is back with a brand new song from a forthcoming album called Golden.  The song is not as immediately memorable as the debut to her last album, Kiss Me Once's Into the Blue, but the mid-tempo tune is Kylie through and through nonetheless.  Check out Dancing...

Sick Boy - The Chainsmokers

After what seemed like a long hiatus from music, The Chainsmokers are back with a darker, more serious sound.  Sick Boy is eliciting some unfavorable reviews from critics, and I can understand why, but to a point.  No, this new track isn't fun at all, and its dramatic undertones might disappoint some fans, but to me it just might attract them some new ones.  I'll let you decide...

The Good Side - Troye Sivan

A week after releasing My My My! in advance of his new album, Troye Sivan put out a new track, The Good Side.  This one's more like the stuff on his Blue Neighborhood album, and possibly an apologetic nod to a former lover mentioned on that album.  The ballad is straightforward and honest, and a perfect second release for Sivan.  Check him out performing the song on SNL this week...

These Days - Rudimental, Macklemore, Jess Glynne, Dan Caplen

British band Rudimental has released a new, beautiful and inspiring track.  These Days features fellow Brits Jess Glynne and Dan Caplen and Seattle-based rapper Macklemore.  Check out this beautiful song...

Heaven's Gate - Burna Boy, Lily Allen

Nigerian rapper Burna Boy is just beginning to become internationally known.  After appearing on Fall Out Boy's Sunshine Riptide, the performer has just released his own single.  Heaven's Gate features Lily Allen on vocals, and her unique voice blends well with this up tempo, island rap jam.  Check out the very cool Heaven's Gate...

With the unusually high number of new music releases this week, of course there's got to be some honorable mentions.  Check out these noteworthy new tunes...

Supplies - Justin Timberlake

Ignore Me - Betty Who

No Drama - Tinashe, Offset

Placebo - Devin Dawson

Human - Kimbra

New Music Fridays, September 22nd, 2017 - An Awesome Week of New Music

Whoah, what a week in new music!  It's only been a little more than twenty four hours now, and I'm feeling a little overwhelmed digesting all of the great, noteworthy stuff that's new this week.  Which ones to share?  For what it's worth, here goes...

Good Old Days - Macklemore & Kesha

Indie turned mainstream rap artist Macklemore has dropped his own solo project without his partner in crime Ryan Lewis and the newest single off the set, Gemini, is a tender, sweet ballad featuring the newly respected, mature Kesha.  The song is radio friendly and has already caught quite the buzz, featuring in all of the major music magazines.  Check out the vintage-esque video set at a campground...

Sexy Dirty Love - Demi Lovato

Demi Lovato's got a brand new album coming out this week and she's dropped yet another sexy tune from the set that's also catching a lot of buzz.  This one is a lot more dance-floor friendly than her previous Sorry, Not Sorry, but still with a lot of rhythm and blues.  Great voice, sexy jam!  Take a listen to the track on Rolling Stone.

Starlight - Emeli Sandé

I love Emeli Sandé, but usually it's for the positivity and inspiration that she so often sings to.  Well now Ms. Sandé has dropped a surprise dance single from her forthcoming third studio album and it is awesome! With a nice groove and her smooth, ethereal vocals, this one is a winner.  R+Take a listen to Starlight...

Generous - Olivia Holt

Marvel's Cloak and Dagger actress Olivia Holt has turned singer with this new, irresistible, sexy finger snapper and toe tapper that I loved the very first time I heard it.  Such a fun tune, and video! Check it out...

Hot Damn - The Shadowboxers

The Shadowboxers are Justin Timberlake's newest discovery just dropped their newest single and it is hot.  The trio of Adam Hoffman, Matt Lipkins and Scott Tyler have been working with Timberlake all summer long and the results are amazing.  Hot Damn is definitely within the realm of JT's sound, fast moving and dancey rhythm and blues that is very radio friendly.  Take a listen to it on Just Jared, where the tune debuted on Thursday.

Deadly Valentine - Charlotte Gainsbourg

British and French actress and singer Charlotte Gainsbourg, whom I'd never heard of before today, has released a new tune from an upcoming album called Rest.  The track is described by Spin's Anna Gaca as "dreamy [and] danceable," and I couldn't agree more with that assessment.  The tune has a sort of strange, but funky bassline that's just immediately likable and the rest of it is, well, dreamy and danceable!  Check out the "offbeat" video to Deadly Valentine...

Borrowed Time - Wyclef Jean

Two of my favorite songs of all time, Gone Till November and Perfect Gentleman, are from former Fugees frontman Wyclef Jean.  Jean has been largely absent for the past several years, but that's about to change with his new Carnival III: The Fall and Rise of a Refugee, his latest album which just dropped on September 15th.  I gave this song an extra listen because it is Wyclef, and I'm actually glad I did.  The tune is a beautiful, socially conscious ballad that actually features sounds never heard before from the planet Jupiter, as recorded by NASA.  Pretty cool, huh?  It really is a beautiful song! Check it out...

Big Girls (Wiz Mix) - Salt n Pepa

Okay, so I can't find much on this freshly released track from Salt n Pepa, but I love it!  It's sounds like it could have been an early recording, a little more rappish than pop, and I can't tell, but I think the recording samples Run DMC somewhere in there.  Great tune!  Take a listen...

A Different Way - DJ Snake, featuring Lauv

I've been a fan of DJ Snake for a couple of years now, and his latest, A Different Way, only adds to my admiration of his work.  Ed Sheeran gets songwriting credits for the tune and smooth-voiced singer Lauv contributes the dramatic vocals.  Of course, it is a DJ Snake track, so it's gotta be danceable, and ooh, the dance sequences in the song are actually what make it for me.  Snake debuted the single in Paris atop the Arc de Triomphe...cool!  Check out A Different Way...  

Okay, okay, I need to stop here.  You see, I told you there was a lot of great stuff this week, probably the most of any single week since I've been doing New Music Fridays.  On top of these nine great songs, there are some really great honorable mentions that you should check out as well.  Take a look...

Phases - ALMA, with French Montana
Again - Noah Cyrus, XXXTENTACION
Hillside Boys - Kim Petras
Week Without You - Miley Cyrus
Ain't Ready - Hoodie Allen
Don't Look Back In Anger - Portugal. The Man.
Lost in the Wild - Synead
Move You - Kelly Clarkson
Ready For It - Taylor Swift
Anything - All Tvvns

There's even more, so stay tuned to John's Music World Song of the Day or Spotify's New Music Fridays to check em out.