Could it be anything but “Burn the Witch”? That’s how the conversation went around the office when Radiohead finally released their new single. With all of the disappearing shenanigans, claymation teasers, and fervent fan anticipation, it had to live up to the hype. In fact, I’m pretty sure one of the team came close to insisting that it needed to fit every slot in the top 10. But you’ll have to read through to find out where exactly it wound up and what challengers it faced.
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10. iLoveMakonnen feat. Lil Yachy and Skippa Da Flippa – “Loaded Up”
Last month, iLoveMakonnen announced that he was collaborating with Lil Yachty on a new mixtape. This week, we may have finally gotten our first taste of the collaboration via “Loaded Up”. The track features the burgeoning top talents in Atlanta with Lil Yachty and Skippa Da Flippa running shotgun. Boasting Yachty’s braggadocio aesthetic and Makonnen’s druggy-hazed aesthetic, “Loaded Up” comes in tow with hilarious punchlines and a nearly improvised and charming flow. Featuring Danny Wolf’s light production, erratic and feather-light synths serve as the backdrop to the Atlanta trio’s comical, pop-off raps. –Alejandra Ramirez
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09. Charlotte Carpenter – “Am I Alone in This?”
There is a boiling cauldron of emotion fueling the stoic minimalism of Britain’s Charlotte Carpenter. “Am I Alone in This?”, the first single pulled from Carpenter’s forthcoming How Are We Ever To Know? EP, echoes the uncertainty of millions of millennials across the globe. Rife with false starts and accidental slide-guitar strikes, the folksy cut’s gait is a further embodiment of life’s dead-ends and misdirections. Even amidst this chaos, Carpenter remains steadfast in her approach to the craft — reclaiming power when nestled behind her trusted guitar. As with the greatest of bluesmen, Carpenter offers a momentary reprieve from our own darkest days. Grab How Are We Ever To Know? June 10th via Let It Go Records. —Derek Staples
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