I am consistently amazed by the volume of quality singles that come out on a weekly basis. As I have continued with this column, I have less and less trouble coming up with 5 songs to post each week. Often, I have more than 5 but rarely, if ever, go beyond that maximum because I want to make sure the stuff I like most does not get lost in deluge of releases and it is, quite regularly, a deluge of new music. And while everyone is constantly bringing our attention to all of the things vying for our attention (so much so that articles about how we are being pulled in multiple directions by the endless influx of data is itself a prominent genre within that endless influx of data), it is really staggering to stop and think about everything that is easily available to us at once. That said, it does mean that I never can fully pay attention to these singles after I write about them; however, this in turn creates its own filter as the stuff that really stands out is the stuff that sticks with me in the proceeding weeks. Either way, regardless of how you feel with being inundated with new bands, micro genres, etc., with such regularity, there is really something exhilarating about it all. So, here are this week's tracks, and as always, enjoy!

Melody's Echo Chamber - "Je Me Perds De Vue:" Melody's Echo Chamber's debut, a solid LP of psychedelic indie pop, was one of last year's most underrated records. "Je Me Perds De Vue," the b-side to an upcoming single is more of the same, a feedback drenched song with a creeping rhythm that, when combined with the icy vocals, is reminiscent of Broadcast.



Pond - "Giant Tortoise:" Originally, Tame Impala was a side project for members of Pond, but Tame Impala became a side project big enough for journalists to refer to Pond as the side project. Pond, while definitely in the same vein as Tame Impala,  features a bigger, more anthemic sound. "Giant Tortoise" is a sludgy track featuring a spaced out bridge that slowly builds back to the level of its over the top opening.If you would prefer that Tame Impala be a little more bombastic, Pond might be for you.



Alpine - "Gasoline:" A burst of a song reminiscent of Phoenix at their most catchy. "Gasoline" features female vocals over a blippy synth and guitar and an exceedingly bouncy beat. Alpine, hailing from Australia, will be releasing a debut LP later this year.



Caveman - "In the City:" Caveman's latest single might be my favorite new track this week. The song features a crisp synth line, a steady rhythm and pensive, strident vocals for an overall melancholy effect . The vocals drop out during the last third leaving the dramatic melody to finish out the track.



Washed Out - "The Sound of Creation:" A subtle and drifting track, Washed Out made this as part off a deal with Phillips to create a song exploring his "autobiographical exploration of his musical influences." While I am not really sure what that actually means, the result is "The Sound of Creation." Textured and gentle the song slowly builds until the end, cutting out abruptly before achieving any sort of real climax...that's what she said (HEYO! Sorry.)

The end of the year brings about countless "best of" lists that often focus on the few albums and artists that have gathered widespread acclaim. While artists like Frank Ocean, Tame Impala, Grizzly Bear and Beach House certainly deserve all the attention they'll receive when looking back on the year that was in music, there were some solid LP's that may go overlooked as we focus on the major releases.

DIIV- Oshin
The Brooklyn quartet's debut album spans 13 tracks of reverb heavy, post-punk influenced jangly-pop with a sound similar to bands like Lotus Plaza, Wild Nothing, Real Estate, and Beach Fossils. Taking a minimal yet highly atmospheric approach to their songwriting, Oshin may not blow you away after an initial listen, but the dream-like production throughout will bring you back craving its undeniable bliss.


Jessie Ware - Devotion
In a year that has seen the release of groundbreaking R&B from artists like Frank Ocean, Miguel, and How To Dress Well, the soulful London singer Jessie Ware's debut is just as striking. An undoubtedly sophisticated pop record, Devotion features incredibly crisp, smooth production that subtly draws in the listener coupled perfectly with a strong female vocal presence working together to deliver a striking sound.


Melody's Echo Chamber - Melody's Echo Chamber 
While Tame Impala's mastermind, Kevin Parker, will receive endless praise this year for his band's sophomore release, Lonerism, the production work he contributed to Parisian singer Melody Prochet's debut album under the name Melody's Echo Chamber would be a crime to miss. The pop sensibilities of the singer paired with the expansive sound of Parker's production is easy to get lost in and is highly reminiscent of bands like Stereolab and Broadcast. From a sonic standpoint, the album is one of the most intriguing debuts in recent memory and pushes the dream-pop genre forward while looking back and giving a nod to its undeniable influences.


Joey Bada$$ - 1999
In one of the strongest overall years for hip-hop in recent memory, Brooklyn native, Joey Bada$$, released a seemingly out of nowhere debut entitled 1999 that rehashes the sounds of early 90's New York hip hop with boom-bap production and energy filled rhymes. While it may be easy to write off this debut as merely the sum of its all too obvious influences, the style is so perfectly executed that its easy to see why the 17 year old New Yorker was drawn in by these sounds in the first place. This record more than anything, hints at incredible promise for a teenage rapper with the ability to bring gritty, raw energy back into hip hop without sacrificing the smooth flow that first made hip hop such a crossover success.