Track of the Weekend #142: Major Lazer + MØ - “Lost” (Frank Ocean cover)

Thump goes the beat, and Major Lazer is responsible for this summer’s heaviest. Already claiming a Track of the Weekend recently, Major Lazer and are back with a cover of Frank Ocean’s “Lost.” It’s everything you want it to be, and more. Big, boisterous, hard like a boulder, Major Lazer fans will be thrilled, if they haven’t already heard it, of course!

Never stop jamming! 

Track of the Weekend #141: Years & Years - “Ties”

The grass in the fields is brittle. The sunshine pours down daily. It’s been a dry summer here in northern France, and the city of light has been the city of heat. Few acts right now are hotter than the temperatures here, but one that’s unquestionably on fire is Years & Years, an English electro-R&B group that has been steadily infiltrating the airwaves. The trio’s latest single, “Ties” capitalizes on their now-famous style: a seductive voice, expertly-constructed melodies, and some of the catchiest lyrics this side of Disney. No wonder “Ties” was the hottest track on Whyd this week. And their album “Communion” is rapidly on pace to become one of the biggest of 2015. 

Track of the Weekend #139: Kendrick Lamar - “Alright”

Is “AlrightKendrick Lamar’s most political song? It does fit perfectly well into America’s modern narrative of black vs. police. One thing is for sure, it’s another visceral experience whose music video is a visual masterpiece featuring Kendrick flying through the streets and rapping atop streetlights before getting shot by a white cop. It’s the latest in his string of hits off of “To Pimp A Butterfly” confirming what we thought all along: 2015 is the year of Kendrick Lamar. 

Thanks to Dans Ton Casque for getting this one to us! 

Track of the Weekend #137: Foals - “What Went Down”

Everyone get ready. This weekend is France’s Fête de la Musique, which is an all-day, all-night celebration of music that takes over cities on June 21st, the first day of summer. There are endless things to do, and as the hour waxes late so do the craziness, filthiness, and drunkenness. Capturing this inevitable feeling of raging is Foals’ new single “What Went Down” from their forthcoming album of the same name. Foals’ fans might be a little turned off by the rawness and clamor, but it represents a new direction for the group, one that more hardcore fans will find a welcome change, and one that’s perfect for this weekend in Paris. 

Thanks to our man le coup du lapin for dishing this one to us! 

Track of the Weekend #136: Lauryn Hill - “Doo Wop” (Poldoore Remix)

It’s been nearly 20 years since Lauryn Hill released her smash hit “Doo Wop” that catapulted her into superstardom. The question then goes: how do you remix such a powerful song? How do you respect the track and its fans, yet creatively bring it into the 21st century? Leave it to none other than our man Poldoore, who has been tearing it up recently. Modern and electronic, Poldoore’s remix provides a layer of funk while staying true to the original soul of the track. The trumpet at the end is the icing on the cake. No wonder it’s been at the top of the hot tracks all week! 

Put this track on when you’re getting ready to go out tonight, and you’ll be assured to pop it off right. 

Track of the Weekend #135: Beirut - “No No No”

Only three words can describe the situation in Paris today: Hot. As. Fuck. With temperatures soaring above 30ªC the populace has firmly planted itself outside, along the banks of rivers and canals. Rosé is flowing like the Seine. It’s a great time to be in the French Capital. So it’s total coincidence that Beirut bursts back onto the world scene with their first single in 4 years, “No No No” and it immediately shoots to the top of the hot tracks. Beirut fans will be pleased with the harmonious rounds, the use of the voice as an instrument, and of course some horns for good measure. Apparently their new album will be coming out in the fall, so we have ample time to chill in the sunshine before heading off to pick it up. 

Thanks to Maxime M (again and again!) for getting it to us! 

Track of the Weekend #133: De La Soul feat. Nas - “God It”

Soon De La Soul will be back on the scene with a new album. To tease the soulful masses, they released this little gem, and it shot directly to the top of the Whyd hot tracks this week. That’s a good sign. We can’t wait, because if their new album is anything like “God It” it will signal the return of the masters. For all the clamor and autotuning going on in hip hop today, it feels good to crank it to something that sounds like it’s already a classic. 

Thanks to Kalu for slipping this one into our streams! 

Track of the Weekend #131: RATATAT - “Cream on Chrome”

Another week in the books, and another weekend on the horizon. The minutes of the clock tick slowly towards evening. With each tock the excitement builds. Layer upon layer, until the excitement explodes into the freedom of the weekend. Summing up this feeling of building is the experimental rock duo from Brooklyn: RATATAT, back on the world scene with “Cream on Chrome.” 

For the fans of RATATAT who have known them since the days of “Loud Pipes,” you wont be disappointed with “Cream on Chrome” which carries the signature electric guitar, funky bass beat, and mathematical construction that enables RATATAT to weave stories and narratives through music with no lyrics. And that’s why it’s #1 on Whyd this week.

Thanks to Maxime M for getting his, like, 25th track of the weekend!

Track of the Weekend #129: Jamie XX - “Loud Places” ft. Romy

It’s Good Friday, which is sort of an obvious way to refer to a Friday, since most people would consider Fridays to be good. It’s like saying “Bad Monday,” you can probably just say Monday and people get the idea. 

Religious jokery aside, we’re looking forward to a long Easter weekend, some time with family, and of course some extended unwinding accompanied by great music. A perfect track for some solid relaxation comes from Whyd favorite Jamie XX, who has already held two tracks of the weekend. This time he teams up with his childhood skateboarding friend Romy for “Loud Places” which, by any objective measure, would seem like a ridiculous name for a song because of how calm it is. But by Jamie XX’s standards, this one is a thumper. 

 A big merci to Louis de Sentenac for getting it to all of us! 

Track of the Weekend #128: Major Lazer - “Lean On” ft. MØ

Spring is here for us in Paris, and the cycle of life continues it’s never ending swing. As the flowers bloom you can feel the energy in the air, the people drinking next to the Canal St. Martin, music blaring from open car windows. 

Capturing this funky moment is a track that almost became the Track of the Weekend a few weeks ago, but ascended to the summit of popularity when the Bollywood-style video came out this week. “Lean On” by Major Lazer and is a study in contrasts: between the Danish MØ and the Indian setting of the video; the electronic riffs and the poppy feel; and between the lyrics themselves:

Blow a kiss, fire a gun.” 

Thanks to Diana Tabachnikov for getting it to the Whyd community!