What better way to kick off a weekend than with new music? Fridays are always chock full of the latest songs and albums ready to be the soundtrack to everyone’s antics, and here you’ll find some of the week’s standout releases. Whether you’re ready to spin an anticipated song from a favorite artist or just take a look at what’s out there, there are a whole lot of tunes to dive right into. Who knows—maybe you’ll find your next obsession.
Underøath
“Let Go”
Underøath is letting loose on “Let Go”. The first song since last year’s Voyeurist picks up right where they left off in a fresh fashion, combining the melodic tendencies of Erase Me and the technicality of Disambiguation—it’s the best of both worlds for every kind of Underøath fan.
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Hawthorne Heights
“Lucerne Valley”
There is far more life to “Lucerne Valley” than there probably is in the rural desert town that the song is named after. Hawthorne Heights’ latest single is one of their catchiest/poppiest in years but they still make room for some signature screams they’ve been known for over the past 20 years.
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Owl City
“Vitamin Sea”
Owl City’s at his best on “Vitamin Sea”, a vacation-core song that can’t be listened to without a smile on your face. His latest songs from his new album have been fairly unique but this one is a back-to-basics Owl classic with a great hook and a fun vibe—and you don’t need much more from Adam Young than that.
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The Word Alive
“New Reality”
The Word Alive knows how to make a radio rock song better than anyone else in metalcore. The chorus on “New Reality” can soar through stadiums, and the breakdown is heavy enough to even out what is such an accessible hook.
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Jxdn
“Friends With Benefits”
Jxdn gets the band back together for his first single of the year. The band, of course, consists of regular collaborator duo Travis Barker and Andrew Goldstein. They co-write/produce “Friends with Benefits”, a toe-tapping pop-punk adjacent tune that brings Jxdn out of his comfort zone while still sticking to his strengths as a musician.
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Bearings
“Scenery”
Bearings has been a band to watch in pop-punk for a while now but it seems like they could be joining the ranks of genre heavyweights in no time. “Scenery” is an immediate earworm in standard Bearings fashion and the chorus is one you’ll find yourself humming all year long.
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Demi Lovato
“Stay Alive”
Demi Lovato’s return to rock with her latest record was not a phase. “Stay Alive”, from the upcoming Scream movie, follows in its footsteps but takes far bigger strides. It probably has to do with Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda co-writing, as his ear for huge-sounding rock songs helps really make this track pop. You almost wouldn’t mind getting chased by a murderer as long as “Stay Alive” was playing in the background.
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Miley Cyrus
“Flowers (Demo)”
Count on Miley Cyrus to make demos that are better than some artists’ final versions. The so-called demo version of her mega-hit “Flowers” is more of a stripped-down/alternate version than a rough cut, but it still puts her track in a new light. If the original is made for the dance floor, this one’s for the nightcap.
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Other new releases:
The Weeknd – After Hours (Live at SoFi Stadium)
Kingdom of Giants – Wasted Space
J-Hope – “On the Street”
Macklemore – Ben
Illenium – “Insanity”
Portugal. The Man – “Dummy”
Metallica – “If Darkness Had a Son”
Grandson – “Eulogy”
Beach Weather – Pineapple Sunrise
Boygenius – “Not Strong Enough”
Arlo Parks – “Impurities”
Daisy Jones & The Six – “Let Me Down Easy”
Jax – “Cinderella Snapped”
Steve Aoki, Galantis, Hayley Kiyoko – “Hungry Heart”
King Princess – “The Bend”
Masked Wolf – “6ft Deep”
Kali Uchis – Red Moon in Venus
Slowthai – UGLY
