September 2014 New Music Mixtape ft. Kendrick Lamar, Prince and Mary J Blige
At CBSNews.com, we always have an ear out for the next big thing in music.
Here's a playlist of new tracks we have on repeat this month:
Kendrick Lamar: "i"
The drought is over and fans can rejoice: The first new track from Kendrick Lamar since 2012's acclaimed "Good Kid, MAAD City" is finally here. "i" is definitely different from anything Kendrick released before, preaching self-reliance and sounding a bit like a tango, in a great way:
Jessie J: "Burnin' Up"
The second single off Jessie J's upcoming album is out, and yes, it's as hot as its title suggests. The track even features a verse from 2 Chainz:
Prince:" FUNKNROLL"
Shock and excitement erupted when Prince told the world he was unleashing two -- yes, two -- albums in 2014. Now we get to hear the first track from "ART OFFICIAL AGE," out on Sept. 29. The prolific artist is as relevant as ever on this minimalist, guitar-driven banger:
Azealia Banks: "Chasing Time"
This house-infused single from Banks is her best in some time. The singer hasn't announced if she's releasing a new album yet, but with this track and last month's "Heavy Metal Reflective," we can only hope:
Mary J. Blige: "Therapy"
Blige's new ballad, which encourages seeking counseling instead of being bitter over your significant other, was co-written by Sam Smith, the voice behind "Stay With Me." Check it out for yourself:
Mary Lambert: "Secrets"
Mary Lambert is probably best known as the singer on Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' "Same Love," but this single off her first full-length album proves her career is only getting started. "Secrets" is a morale-boosting, "love thyself" track that sounds like "All About That Bass's" edgier older sister:
Hozier: "Jackie and Wilson"
"Take Me To Church" is the first single from Irish singer-songwriter Hozier, and now, another radio-friendly groove, "Jackie and Wilson." The hook is a sly reference to the late blues singer; "We'll name our children Jackie and Wilson, raise 'em on rhythm and blues." Good stuff:
Tennis: "Never Work For Free"
Tennis' latest album, "Ritual in Repeat," is a great step forward for the band. Here's a song off that release, "Never Work For Free":
Zola Jesus: "Dangerous Days"
Singer-songwriter "Zola Jesus" flew a bit under the radar with her first three LPs, but we predict her latest effort, out on Oct. 7, will hit with a larger audience. Here's the single "Dangerous Days":
SBTRKT: "NEW DORP. NEW YORK (Feat. Ezra Koenig)
Electronic producer SBTRKT (Pronounced "subtract") is coming out with his second full-length album this month. The DJ has collaborated with scores of artists, and on this track, he teams up with Vampire Weekend's Ezra Koenig for a dance song about New York City. Fitting -- Koening went to Columbia University:
Bonus- Featured album of the month: "Boyhood" Official Soundtrack
One of the best parts about Richard Linklater's simply terrific "Boyhood" film was the equally terrific soundtrack. It features songs from the 2000s, which correspond to different moments in time in the film, as well as stand-outs from Wilco, Paul McCartney and Family of the Year:
Tune in next month for another CBS News #NewMusicMixtape, and comment below with any tracks you think should make October's list!