Tons of collaborations made the countdown this week, some sensible and others bizarre. But, our No. 1 spot goes a legendary singer-songwriter, who’s been releasing a new single every couple months leading up to a highly anticipated full-length.
10. Best Coast – “I Don’t Know How”
Best Coast’s show-stopping “I Don’t Know How” is the most accurate impression of rock heads like her dude, Nathan Williams, to date, meshing a subtle ballad with a driven rock jam. While her lyrics spell out her typical love confessions, Cosentino’s vocals sound stronger than ever, exposing how she beautifully pronounces whole notes and conquers the distortion in the song’s rockier shift. “I Don’t Know” will serve as an invigorating conclusion to her upcoming “mini album,” Fade Away, due October 22nd. –Sam Willett
9. Pearl Jam – “Sirens”
The last Pearl Jam single to make our countdown was the speedy punk tune “Mind Your Manners”, an unexpected dose of adrenaline from the grunge vets. Their new track, “Sirens”, a glistening country ballad, is more in line with our expectations for a band at this stage in their career; yet, it’s still a strong composition. Vedder holds to a croon throughout: “I could take your hand and feel your breath/ or feel that someday we’ll be over.” If you prefer Pearl Jam’s slower stuff, you might dig this more than “Manners” . –Jon Hadusek
8. RJD2 feat. Phonte Coleman – “Temperamental”
RJD2 and Phonte Coleman find themselves in the studio again for “Temperamental”, a cut from RJD2’s fifth LP, More is Than Isn’t (out October 8th). Sonically, the track is a sequel to the duo’s 2010 collab, “The Shining Path”, as they reach more for R&B rather than hip-hop (similar to Phonte’s Foreign Exchange project with Nicolay). The beat here is a heavy barrage of acoustic drums and piano, but instead of rhyming, Phonte sings in a falsetto, contemplating his desires: “Maybe I’m a victim of my own defenses/ Maybe I don’t care about the consequences/ I’m on fire, baby”. –Jon Hadusek
7. James Blake – “Life Round Here” [Remix feat. Chance the Rapper]
As evidenced by RZA’s enigmatic contributions to “Take a Fall for Me” on his sophomore album, Overgrown, James Blake’s down-tempo foundations serve as phenomenal lifting points for rhythmic flow that retexture and challenge his musical psyche. Chance the Rapper takes Blake’s auras in the form of a “chill pill addict” on the remix of “Life Around Here”, supplying verses of spoken word dialogue, schizophrenic rushes of hip-hop, and tamed R&B croons. The care dedicated to each personality segment is mastered precisely, verse-by-verse, proving his collaboration with perfectionist Blake to be well matched. We can’t wait to hear the duo’s other locked-away material that will, hopefully, be released. –Sam Willett
6. FKA Twigs – “Papi Pacify”
FKA Twigs’ songs are often lost in love, forcing her to wander into unknown passages that open its darkest secrets. Her heart aches for reassurance in “Papi Pacify”, mixing whispered statements of confusion with a yearning question for her lover to “clarify our love.” Its droning sensuality, provided by producer Arca, drips with twisted vocal samples, sporadic clicks of percussion, and bass-heavy waves that dominate the scene. Her second EP, EP2, was released this past Tuesday, so give it a spin and explore its expansive depths of impressive R&B experimentation. –Sam Willett
