The top mp3s have gone through many incarnations since the beginning of Consequence of Sound in 2007. What used to be an exhaustive roundup of all the singles, remixes, covers, and undiscovered gems emailed to us any given week evolved into a compilation whittled down to our 10 favorite new songs. For 2013, we’re again changing up the format with the hope of giving our selections some added weight. We’re still posting about our 10 favorite songs, but they’ll be ordered in quality from 10-1. Who takes home #1 this week? You’ll have to click ‘Next’ to find out.
10. Oberhofer – “Ear Plugs”
Oberhofer’s “Ear Plugs” just can’t sit still. It’s full of overactive musical parts and passages, most notably the voice of frontman Brad Oberhofer. He’s got a strange way of carrying a melody, emphasizing words at random and occasionally breaking into a booming baritone. “Can you hear me now?” he repeats during the sweeping chorus, so much more than aping an ad for phone service. “Ear Plugs” is the lead single from Oberhofer’s forthcoming sophomore album, Nostalgia (out April 23rd via Glassnote). -Jon Hadusek
9. Fasano – “Last Evening”
This week’s essential lo-fi, four-track recording is a selection from Matthew Fasano‘s cassette-only debut album, The Barn. With only an electric guitar and his voice, Fasano recalls the early works of Grizzly Bear. “Finding out love is a fluke, anymore,” he sings, defeated, like so many emotive singer-songwriters before him. Despite the dubious cassette sound quality, producer Nick Sylvester carves out a lush sonic palette for Fasano’s self-harmonized vocals. -Jon Hadusek
