Descending

By Tool

An album 13 years in the making couldn’t have been more hyped up before it’s release. Personally, it’s quite difficult to pick one track out of this album but Descending has all the makings of a timeless Tool classic. It’s got a great balance between incredibly melodic sections that lead to heavier riffs all playing around with rhythmic mastery in a way no one else can. A 13-minute track might seem daunting but with so much going on, there’s more than enough to digest for the ardent prog fan.

John Mayer (Shutterstock)

Guess I Just Feel Like

By John Mayer

A nice change from the more experimental pop John Mayer has been giving us in the last couple of years. The song has a country aesthetic to it that evokes a sense of openness, starting off slow with just the acoustic guitar and the refrain, building up to a wider soundscape by the verse. It all culminates in a tasteful, bluesy guitar solo that brings it all home.

Lana Del Rey (Shutterstock)

Doin’ Time

By Lana Del Rey

A track that starts off with the hook from a jazz standard from the 1940s is sure to leave a mark. Doin’ Time is a massive deviation from what we might’ve come to expect from Lana Del Rey, as well as from the rest of the NFR album. The entire album is a masterpiece in my opinion. However, getting to hear Lana spit rhymes while also holding onto the inherently melodic chorus, is new ground. Subverting expectations seems to be the mantra with the albums of late.

Billie Eilish (Shutterstock)

Bad Guy

By Billie Eilish

Around 791 million views on YouTube, six Grammy wins and all the critical and commercial success one can think of for an 18-year-old. There’s not much to say with this one, the hook is catchy enough to last hours if not days. It’s slight deviation from what we’ve perhaps expected from Billie. But as a sign of things to come, this one is certainly very promising.

RADWIMPS performing in 2016 (Wikipedia)

Grand Escape

By RADWIMPS ft. Toko Miura

If you haven’t had the fortune of discovering Makoto Shinkai’s work yet, start off with the music. After having scored for the ultra popular film Your Name in 2016, RADWIMPS bring their usual musical energy backed by symphonic orchestration into a more contemporary 4/4 electronic beat. It starts off with a piano riff that’s quite characteristic. However, the second half of the track features a horn section and full-fledged choir. The entire OST is worth checking out along with the film or course.

Mark Ronson (Shutterstock)

Nothing Breaks Like a Heart

By Mark Ronson ft. Miley Cyrus

Is electronic-country a genre yet? A track that starts off with a string arrangement that makes you feel like it’s the Wild West but all that transforms once the four-on-the-floor kick drum comes in during the verse. In between the layered acoustic guitar riff and the dance clap sample used in the rest of song, you can’t decide if this song is more old school or contemporary. Miley Cyrus shines in what is possibly one of the best tracks of the year. Would definitely like to hear more from this duo.

Deep Phoenix is a fingerstyle guitarist, and a member of the folk band, Whale In The Pond