Our Favorite Songs Right Now: Arcade Fire, Thundercat and More
Artists are responding to these crazy times in a myriad of ways, from righteous resistance to sardonic black comedy. Sample the whole spectrum on the latest Rolling Stone playlist, which ventures from Arcade Fire and Mavis Staples' dark new anthem to Thundercat's glorious yacht-rock summit.
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Arcade Fire and Mavis Staples, “I Give You Power”
Arcade Fire released a surprise single the day before Donald Trump was inaugurated, teaming up with veteran soul singer Mavis Staples for a darkly quaking dance-rock call to community and resistance in scary times.
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Missy Elliott feat. Lamb, “I’m Better”
Missy doesn't grace us with her future-freak presence nearly enough. But here, she's at her best, shouting out Scandal and her "dudes in Orlando" over a sci-fi slow-glide beat and rocking mirror-shade lip gloss in the eye-popping video.
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Father John Misty, “Pure Comedy”
Mankind gets a sidelong spanking in this bitter shot of glitter-soul nihilism. It's like Elton John via Randy Newman.
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Elliott Smith, “I Figured You Out”
The late indie-folk icon was a master of fragile Lennonesque gorgeousness, and this bonus track from a new reissue of his 1997 masterwork, Either/Or, reminds us why he is so missed.
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Nikki Lane, “Jackpot”
Fashion-designer-turned-country firecracker Lane is a little like Loretta Lynn if she'd ever had a booze-hound rockabilly phase. "Jackpot," from her great new Highway Queen, is a trip to Vegas you won't forget.
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Priests, “JJ”
"Who ever deserves anything anyway/What a stupid concept," Katie Alice Greer yowls. But Priests' surf-y punk rock makes getting hosed by life feel kinda awesome.
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Thundercat feat. Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald, “Show You the Way”
Genre-defying L.A. bassist-producer Thundercat brings on a pair of Seventies soft-rock smoothies, and yacht-soul magic ensues. Hilariously weird, and chill as hell.