1. “Look Out!,” Peach Pit (2021)

The Vancouver group released a new album, “From 2 to 3,” on Friday, March 4, and “Look Out!” was released as one of the album’s singles. This track continues the soft, chilled-out and storytelling sound that the quartet is known for, with a more acoustic twist. Romantic angst and yearning for a past love intertwine to create a melancholic, introspective sense of lyricism over a cheerful acoustic tune. 

RIYL: Wallows, Hippo Campus, No Vacation

2. “A Dream With A Baseball Player,” Faye Webster (2021)

Atlanta native Faye Webster sings to her hometown Major League Baseball team’s feature player, Ronald Acuña Jr., on her album “I Know I’m Funny Haha.” Webster, an emerging artist, smoothly interpolates slinky R&B rhythms, saxophone accents and breathy vocals layered with raw emotion and uncensored storytelling. The dreamy, light synths bring humor into the often emotional topic of unrequited love. 

RIYL: Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Daucus, Big Thief

3. “Snowglobe,” Black Country, New Road (2022)

“Snowglobe” made its official debut as a single off of Black Country, New Road’s sophomore album, “Ants From Up There,” and stands at over nine minutes long. The repetitive lyrics help the song drive home its central point as the drums slowly take over and devolve the song into a beautiful madness. The steady vocals by frontman Isaac Woods paired with discordant drumming sounds like a flirtation between delicacy and magnificence.

RIYL: Slint, Have A Nice Life, black midi

4. “Counting Sheep,” Shakey Graves (2018)

Alejandro Rose-Garcia, better known by stage name Shakey Graves, strays from his cult-followed past of acoustic Americana in this track. “Counting Sheep” diverges from that standard and debuts the album, “Can’t Wake Up.” The track is nearly five minutes long, filled with atmospheric synth, raw emotional vocals and longing lyrics. Far from Shakey Graves’ past discography, the track creates a fuzz that holds a new level of intensity that fades just as quickly as it came.

RIYL: Milky Chance, Houndmouth, Mt. Joy

5. “Dance Yrself Clean,” LCD Soundsystem (2010)

The powerful opening track to LCD Soundsystem’s album “This is Happening” breaks down the limiting barriers of traditional dance and electronic music, while toying with the listener’s expectation of song structure. Coming in at just under nine minutes, the track holds tension until the last possible second and releases it in a grandiose way.

RIYL: Destroyer, The Avalanches, TV on The Radio

6. “Stoned Again,” King Krule (2020)

London singer songwriter Archy Marshall, known as King Krule, bends genres between indie, soul, rock, rap and post-punk with his unique knack for abstract sonic collage. His witty poetic lyricism catches the listener, and therapeutic vocals filled with unresolved rage prove his abilities to pour indescribable emotions into a three minute track.

RIYL: Blood Orange, Yves Tumor, Bakar

7. “Vision,” Earl Sweatshirt, Zelooperz (2022)

Earl Sweatshirt’s new album “Sick!” shows a new side of the Chicago rapper’s discography, proving to be his most concise and urgent delivery to date. Earl Sweatshirt and Zelooperz have collaborated on previous tracks, with an undeniable chemistry producing lively energy. The new album shows Earl Sweatshirt in a more mature, intuitive light. His music is self-assuring and unafraid to bend rules.

RIYL: Odd Future, Freddie Gibbs, Vince Staples

8. “Mad,” Solange, Lil Wayne (2016)

Solange Knowles’ most celebrated album “A Seat at the Table” explores themes of racism, womanhood, sexuality and the complexities of relationships over 21 R&B and Soul tracks. “Mad,” featuring Lil Wayne, finds Solange delving into subjects of Black emotional vulnerability. It follows the interlude “Dad Was Mad” where her father, Matthew Knowles, recounts his childhood experiences of racism.

RIYL: Janelle Monáe, Aaliyah, Lauryn Hill

9. “Silver,” Caribou (2014)

Canadian composer Dan Snaith released “Our Love” in 2014. The album is filled with electronic dance songs dealing with love, relationships and heartbreak. The album is lyrically and emotionally direct. However, it is masked by experimental techno synths. With “Silver,” listeners often hear the danceable sound before the lyrics, only to realize the message of raw vulnerability conveyed within the chorus. 

RIYL: Tame Impala, Grizzly Bear, Animal Collective

10. “AMERICAN HORROR STORY,” EARTHGANG (2022)

EARTHGANG, the Atlanta-based rap duo, shared “AMERICAN HORROR STORY,” the first single from their sophomore project “Ghetto Gods.” The duo trace the carnage of the Black American experience from the first slave ship to gentrification. They make room for light-hearted boasting, but there’s an overarching theme of anxiety at the heart of the track that’s summarized on the hook.

RIYL: JID, Smino, Spillage Village

11. “Guillotine,” Pi’erre Bourne (2019)

Pi’erre Bourne is best known for producing rap tracks and for his work with Playboi Carti. “Guillotine” comes from one of Bourne’s solo albums, “The Life of Pi’erre 4.” Despite the apparent simplicity of the track, the vocals are layered with complexity proving Bourne to be just as talented a rapper as he is a producer. 

RIYL: Playboi Carti, Yung Nudy, UnoTheActivist

12. “Earth,” Mac Miller, Future (2013)

“Earth,” was a track originally cut from Mac Miller’s sophomore album “Watching Movies with The Sound Off,” but later released alongside live recordings entitled “Live From Space.” The R&B song pays homage to the women keeping rappers grounded throughout their career and features a rare instance of Future singing over a soul beat, rather than synths, autotune or booming 808 drums. 

RIYL: Kid Cudi, Pusha T, ScHoolboy Q

13. “Footsteps in the Dark, Pts. 1 & 2,” Isley Brothers (1977)

“Footsteps in the Dark” has been sampled by countless popular songs, such as “It Was A Good Day” by Ice Cube or “Them Changes” by Thundercat. The signature track was originally meant for gloomy sets but has become an essential beat for slow jam ballads. The poetic lyrics provide an introspective experience for the listener, and can be enjoyed at any time of the day.  

RIYL: Ice Cube, Jimi Hendrix, Thundercat