Welcome back to The Verge’s weekly musical roundup. I’m Jamieson, I’m still your host, and I’ll somehow find it in my heart to forgive the President for stealing my playlisting thunder this week. As much as I’d love to nitpick his selections, the commander-in-chief hasn’t given me much to complain about: he knows how to set a mood, mixes it up on the genre front, and makes plenty of room for lesser-known artists alongside heavy hitters like Aretha Franklin and Billie Holiday. Well done, sir.
My picks this week are, predictably, a little more scattershot: bonkers future-pop from Danny L Harle and Carly Rae Jepsen, sprawling electro-country from Lambchop, and stirring EDM from Porter Robinson and Madeon.
Remember to subscribe to our Spotify playlist if you haven’t already — it’s updated weekly! Let’s go:
Bon Iver, "22 (OVER S∞∞N) [Bob Moose Extended Cab Version]"
Bon Iver are gearing up to release their first LP since 2011’s lauded self-titled effort, and the band debuted the album live in full at a festival in Wisconsin last night. They also released the tracklist and artwork — both of which are very, uh, out there — and two songs to tide fans over until September 30th, when 22, A Million is released in full. ""22 (OVER S∞∞N) - Bob Moose Extended Cab Version" is a mouthful, and it’s also the superior of the two.
Danny L Harle ft. Carly Rae Jepsen, "Super Natural"
"Super Natural" has been floating around for a while, but the high-quality studio version wasn’t released until this week. It turns out CRJ is a perfect fit for PC Music’s high-energy, hyper-glossy pop: her voice is even lighter than the thin synths and rhythms Harle lays down around her. It’s like sprinkling Fun Dip mix on top of a clump of cotton candy.
Isaiah Rashad, "Free Lunch"
I’m crossing my fingers that "Free Lunch" is the first taste of Isaiah Rashad’s as-yet-unannounced studio LP, because it’d set one heck of a high standard with its funky arrangement and relaxed tone. Rashad might be Top Dawg’s most underrated signee, but that could change in a hurry if he lets a few more songs like this loose.
Joyce Manor, "Fake I.D."
The boys of Joyce Manor have a question for you, and it’s a big one: what do you think about Kanye West? (They think he’s "great," "the best," "better than John Steinbeck," and "better than Phil Hartman," in that order. That’s some major competition.) That question is the heart of "Fake I.D.," the raucous first single from their forthcoming LP Cody. It’ll have you nostalgic for the days when every step into a bar was a risky proposition.
Julien Baker, "Badlands"
It’s hard to imagine a combination of words that’d earn my click faster than, "Julien Baker covering anything off Darkness on the Edge of Town." She’s taking on "Badlands" here, and it’s every bit as hearty and penetrating as you’d expect. I hope someone cajoles her into taking on the rest of the album, just for kicks.
Kuedo ft. Hayden Thorpe, "In Your Sleep"
British producer Kuedo is following up his remarkable debut LP Severant with Slow Knife, a new collection of music inspired by silky, synth-laden film soundtracks. Wild Beasts’ Hayden Thorpe chips in guest vocals on lead single "In Your Sleep," a slow-burner that’s equal parts eerie and seductive.
Lambchop, "The Hustle"
Kurt Wagner and the rest of Lambchop haven’t released an album since putting out the fine Mr. M in 2012. That’s changing later this year with the release of FLOTUS — it stands for For Love Often Turns Us Still, naturally — on November 4th. "The Hustle" is a strange choice for a lead single, if only because of its length: it’s over 18 minutes long, and it takes every one of those seconds to fully unfurl.
Porter Robinson & Madeon, "Shelter"
EDM wunderkinds Porter Robinson and Madeon are touring across North America together this fall, and they commemorated the tour’s announcement by releasing the collaborative track "Shelter" earlier this week. It’s luminescent, heart-on-sleeve electro-pop, and the lines between their respective contributions are blurred enough to make the song feel like something new.
Steve Hauschildt, "Strands"
I have an enduring soft spot for Steve Hauschildt’s meditative, distinct electronic music, and "Strands" — the title track from a new album Hauschildt’s releasing this October — is typically mesmerizing. If you’re still spending a lot of time playing No Man’s Sky, this’ll make for a perfect alternative soundtrack.
The White Stripes, "City Lights"
Can you believe it’s been almost a decade since The White Stripes released their last studio LP? Jack White is preparing a career-spanning collection of acoustic recordings for release next month and he’s promoting it with "City Lights," a Get Behind Me Satan-era track that was lost and forgotten until last year.
Here’s the running This Is Your Next Jam playlist — have a great weekend!