Week in Review: New Songs / Music Videos You Need to Check Out (January 27-February 2, 2019)

A lot of new music gets released over any given week and this week was no different. That was especially true for pop and rock, with new tracks from the likes of Cage The Elephant, AJR, Sheppard, Galantis with OneRepublic, Billie Eilish and more seeing the light of day.

The weekend is the perfect time to take a look back at the week’s best new songs and music videos. That’s why Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, has once again taken to the internet to compile a list of some of the best songs to come out over the last seven days. Here are seven (and a few more) that we think are definitely worth checking out.

1.       Galantis feat. OneRepublic, “Bones”:  An upbeat, folk-pop dance jam, “Bones” is that toe-tapping, feel good kind of song that makes you want to sing along. Of course, OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder is a master of this sound, so it’s no surprise that it sounds this way. But it’s still a great listen if you want to be in a great mood. (video)

2.       One OK Rock, “Wasted Nights”: “Wasted Nights” is a fun, pop-y rock song about being young and hanging out with your friends. Frontman Takahiro Moriuchi’s powerful vocals mixed with the pomp of the instrumental make the song feel big and anthemic, drawing the listener into it’s massive sound. (video)

3.       Ben Platt, “Bad Habit”: You can take the boy off Broadway, but you can’t take the Broadway out of the boy. ‘Dear Evan Hanson’ alum Ben Platt is trying to break into pop music this year with his debut album, ‘Sing To Me Instead,’ set for release in March. In the lead-up, he dropped the first single “Bad Habit,” this week and it sounds like it came directly out of a Broadway show. The feeling comes from the song’s heavily piano-driven melody, as well as Platt vocalizing as if he were on stage. Such added bravado makes the song sound a bit intense. However, the song is too catchy not to include on this list. (video)

4.       Snakehips feat. Rivers Cuomo & KYLE, “Gucci Rock N Rolla”:  Though I’m not really a big fan of putting luxury brand names into song titles, you can’t help but be taken away by the groove of “Gucci Rock N Rolla.” Weezer’s Rivers Cuomo has the perfect soft vocals for this kind of song and KYLE’s rap verse adds to the easy, happy vibe. (video)

5.       Cage The Elephant, “Ready To Let Go”: “Ready To Let Go” has this slinking, creeping vibe that take’s the band’s usually upbeat, rhythm-heavy alt-punk style and turns it on its head. The song, the first single from their just announced fifth studio album, ‘Social Cues,’ is slow and twisty with a bit of psychedelic notes that enhance its eerie spinning feeling. (video [Note: This video is NSFW])

6.       AJR, “100 Bad Days”: AJR have a brand new song out this week. “100 Bad Days” slows things down a bit, focusing more on the beat and groove. There is more of an electronic element in this song than those from their previous album. Even though it’s a different sound, the song still has that fun, reggae-tinged vibe that made them blow up over the last two years. (video)

7.       Sheppard, “On My Way”: Like much of Sheppard’s music, “On My Way” is a bright, upbeat, feel good song that sweeps you up and gets you excited. The galloping percussion and hand clapping set the tone and momentum for the song, providing a base for the uplifting melody and that running-in-the-wilderness feel. With this song being their official entry into Australia’s Eurovision final, they have a real shot at taking the win and going on to the main event. (video)

Further Listening:

-          Funeral Advantage, “Peach Nectarine” (Soundcloud)

-          Hub City Stompers, “Father’s Day” (video)

-          Masked Intruder, “Please Come Back To Me” (video)

-          Billie Eilish, “bury a friend” (video)

-          PUP, “Kids” (video)

-          Marianas Trench, “Only The Lonely Survive” (video)

-          Wallows, “Are You Bored Yet?”  (video)

This week saw the release of a lot of great new music, especially when it came to rock and pop. Check out some of our favorite new songs and music videos above and let us know what tracks you’ve been digging this week in the comments below.

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Discover music new and old at Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s top new independent record shop. We have thousands of titles in stock to choose from in a variety of genres to suit most music fans. Browse our wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs, memorabilia and more in store at our Plainview location or online at vinylbay777.com. Whether you’re looking for something you’ve never heard before or to rediscover the classics, we have you covered. And with more titles being added to our selection all the time, you never know what you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.