5 Songs We Can't Stop Listening to is a collection of our newest favorite songs. And Every week we ask an artist that we love to tell us about the music they love.
Listen to the whole thing in the player below.
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1. Franz Ferdinand picks “Kola” by Damien Jurado
For the first song of the week, we always an artist we love to tell us about a song that they love.
This week, our guest is Franz Ferdinand. A band from Glasgow, Scotland, in 2004 they released their self-titled debut album. It garnered them worldwide acclaim and audience. Their fifth studio album is “Always Ascending.” Franz Ferdinand is playing in Milwaukee on April 30th at The Rave. I’m here with Bob Hardy of Franz Ferdinand.
Justin Barney: Bob, what is one song right now that you can’t stop listening to?
Bob Hardy: Well, one song that I’ve been… well, according to Spotify my most listened song of the year is a song called “Kola” by Damian Jurado.
Justin Barney: Oh, yeah!
Bob Hardy: Yeah, I heard it for the first time when we were actually on tour in the states earlier in the year. I was in my bunk on my tour bus listening to this podcast while falling asleep, and then he came on and performed acoustically, so I’ve been sitting in my bedroom at home playing it myself on my guitar.
Justin Barney: To be your number one most listened to song of the year, what keeps you coming back to it?
Bob Hardy: His voice is just kind of amazing! There’s so much emotion in it. I’m a big fan of that kind of acoustic songwriter thing, but partly because it’s so different from we do as a band. When I do listen to music for fun, I tend to listen to things that are very different from what we’re doing because it’s kind of like, feels like, something different, and it’s like cleansing my ears.
Justin Barney: For sure.
Bob Hardy: Yeah, it’s just the simplicity of his voice. One man sitting with an acoustic guitar who can take you somewhere so… in your mind. You know? Music can transport you, and it’s just like so powerful.
- “Kola” was released in 2016 on Damien Jurado’s album, “Visions Of Us On The Land.”
- Listen if you like: folk, Tallest Man on Earth, Iron & Wine
2. Marlon Williams – “What’s Chasing You”
Marlon Williams is a crooner. There was this time when all we had was crooners. Right at the beginning of recorded music the first real popular musicians were crooners. It was all people wanted to hear, was this deep, resonant voice singing love songs softly into your ear.
I never lived through that era, but there is a part of that that is in me. There is a part of me that wants to hear that. There is something about that that is still appealing. There is something about that that is timeless and enduring. Which is why I think that I love this song by Marlon Williams so much.
- Marlon Williams new album, will be out on February 16th, via Dead Oceans
- Listen if you like: crooners, love songs, Sinatra
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3. KT Tunstall picks “22 (Over Soon) by Bon Iver
Sometimes we pick first the song of week, but sometimes we an artist that we love to tell us about a song that they love.
Today, our guest is KT Tunstall from Edinburgh, Scotland. In 2004 she released the song “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree.” In 2016, she released her latest album, “Kin.”
Justin Barney: KT, what is one song you can’t stop listening to?
KT Tunstall: The one song I cannot stop listening to is “22 (Over SOON)” by Bon Iver.
I heard this album, “22, A Million,” soon after it came out. Now and then, I’ll get an album that I just cannot stop listening to on repeat, and often you’ll get hooked from one song- or maybe two or three.
This is definitely one of those magical albums where I just wanted to listen from beginning to end over and over and over again. I think what I particularly love about Bon Iver’s style is that he manages to kind of sing like a soul singer, but in such a contemporary setting of the environment, of the music that he makes.
There’s so much emotion in how he delivers what he’s singing. Even if it’s affective, it just feels like it’s coming from a very, very authentic place and describes me straight away. I love it.
- "22(Over Soon)" was released in 2016 on his album, "22, A Million."
- Listen if you like: S.Carey, Field Report, Wisconsin
4. Bruno Mars feat. Cardi B – “Finess”
Justin Barney: I’m here with DJ and Community Stories producer, Nate Imig. Nate, what are you listening to?
Nate Imig: Well I love when I get to come in and just class up your segment. Last time I picked a Wham! song, and before that I believe it was Katy Perry.
Justin Barney: So what do we have today?
Nate Imig: So Bruno Mars, one of my favorite pop artists. You know, you hear his music and you cant deny that he is a talented man. He’s got everything going on an he’s working with Cardi B on this song. It’s all over pop radio and streaming, and I’m unapologetic with my love for it.
Justin Barney: So, could you explain Cardi B to people who don’t know who Cardi B is?
Nate Imig: She is one of those people that you have to watch to fully appreciate. She used to have a reality show on VH1. She’s got a very entertaining point of view and personal voice.
I heard that she was discovered because a producer heard her yelling at her boyfriend, or some guy she was dating on the phone, and the way that she was yelling at this dude on the phone, the producer was like, “She’s got a voice.”
And this song, how can you listen to this without smiling? You’re rolling your eyes, but I don’t care. This is Cardi B and Bruno Mars.
- "Finesse" was released as a single on January 4th, 2018
- Listen if you like: Pop, the 90's, lots of Grammy awards
5. Superorganism – “Everybody Wants To Be Famous”
This is the second single released from what will be the debut Superorganism album, and I am obsessed with this song and this band.
Nobody is making music like Superorganism. They are on another level. They are in a league of their own.
Production-wise they are insane. Orno, on vocals has this kind of talk/sing delivery that sounds kind of flat, but the production is super hot, so it creates a perfect balance. There is also something about it that just sounds fun.
I love this band. I can’t wait for the album to come out. This is Superorganism.
- Superorganism's debut album will be out on March 2nd, via Domino.
- Listen if you like: I don't know the Flaming Lips? Something totally original, fun