Rdio Blog

Among the sonic highlights available this week are the anticipated debut albums from The X Factor winner/country crooner Tate Stevens and L.A. indie band The Neighbourhood, a set of duets between Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, and the latest from Rob Zombie, all strong evidence that there really is something out there for everyone.

We’ve lovingly crafted this New Music Weekly playlist to offer you the best of what’s out there right now. And if you want to launch a mission of discovery on your own, greet the entire batch of Rdio New Releases and get to listening!

PLAYLIST NOTES

• Michael Bublé - To Be Loved
  Yesterday the Canadian jazz crooner was hosting the Juno Awards but today he drops his eighth album, which was preceded by the single “It’s a Beautiful Day.”

• Phoenix - Bankrupt!
  Fresh from a star set at Coachella (with special guest R. Kelly), the heavenly French alt-rockers drop a fifth album of cheeky tunes like “Trying To Be Cool” and “Drakkar Noir.”

• Junip - Junip
  The Swedish indie rock trio featuring singer-songwriter José Gonzáles returns with a self-titled sophomore album.

• Snoop Lion - Reincarnated
  Ready for reggae from a legendary rap star? Snoop looks to the islands for inspiration on this album, which includes a great collaboration with his daughter Cori B. You can also follow Snoop on Rdio.

• Wild Nothing - “A Dancing Shell”
  One-man dream pop act Jack Tatum, who Pitchfork called “simply one of the best songwriters in this field,” is back to offer a taste of the forthcoming third album with this single.

This is one of those weeks where you might find yourself wishing that you had more than one pair of ears to take in all the new music at once. There are many anticipated albums that have finally emerged today, including album number six from both respected New York rapper Styles P and Portland lo-fi masters The Thermals, the hit full-length from British singer-songwriter Olly Murs, and a Nashville recording from Swedish metal act Ghost B.C..

The New Music Weekly playlist is a careful curation of the very best of this week’s offerings for your listening pleasure. After listening, don’t forget you can also choose to dive into the whole catalog of fresh cuts in the Rdio New Releases section.

PLAYLIST NOTES

• Major Lazer - Free The Universe
  Diplo’s party-heavy second album under the multi-faceted Major Lazer guise features collaborations with Wyclef Jean, Bruno Mars, Vampire Weekend’s Ezra Koenig, Shaggy, and more.

• Kid Cudi - Indicud
  The rapper slash actor’s third album (and the last for Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music label) features guest spots by hip-hop luminaries RZA and Too $hort as well as improbable pals Father John Misty and Michael Bolton.

• Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Mosquito (Deluxe)
  Karen O and company return for an exceptionally raw fourth album that exposes a darker and moodier side to the band.

• Jessie Ware - Devotion
  This debut from the soulful British pop singer who just crushed it at Coachella has already gone top five in the U.K.

• Sean Kingston featuring Chris Brown and Wiz Khalifa - “Beat It”
  The Jamaican-American singer bounces back from a near-death jet skiing accident in 2011 to deliver a taste of his forthcoming album Back 2 Life.

This week is a particularly good one for fresh and distinctive voices in music, including the debut from young French dance producer Breakbot, Swedish electro duo The Knife’s first album in seven years, the fifth solo album by indie rock star Kurt Vile, and M83’s thrilling soundtrack to Tom Cruise’s new film Oblivion.

Don’t be intimidated by the volume of what’s out there (or the volume you choose to play it at); the New Music Tuesday playlist, assisted by the Playlist Notes below, will get you up to speed with the best of the new bunch right away. And there’s even more to consider over in the Rdio New Releases.

PLAYLIST NOTES

• Paramore - Paramore
  Rdio, we’re happy to say, is the only place where you can hear the band’s genre-breaking fourth album (and first in four years) in its entirety for free. As a special bonus, Rdio listeners get the chance to hear two unreleased songs, "Escape Route" and "Native Tongue," that are only on Rdio.

• Brad Paisley - Wheelhouse (Deluxe)
  The handsome country star’s ninth album is receiving praise for its mission to earn the genre a wider audience.

• Tyga - Hotel California
  The L.A. rapper tries flying like Eagles with his third album, which features collaborations with label boss Lil Wayne, Game, and 2 Chainz.

• Jake Bugg - Jake Bugg
  The British singer-songwriter has stolen critics’ hearts with his debut album, which has already gone to the top of the U.K. charts.

• The Postal Service - Give Up (Deluxe 10th Anniversary Edition)
  It’s hard to believe it’s been a decade since Ben Gibbard, Jimmy Tamborello, and Jenny Lewis first got us swooning to their electronic pop on this platinum-selling debut.