Another week, another crop of new music to obsess over. Isn't that always how it goes? But with so many great new albums to look forward to until the end of the year, it's tricky to keep up. Here's your weekly dose of tunes to set the weekend off right.
1. "All I Ask" by Adele
Written by Adele and Bruno Mars, this is a truly stunning tearjerker of a song. It sounds vaguely reminiscent of Rizzo's "There Are Worse Things I Could Do" from Grease, but goes way deeper into the echelon of breakups that will tear you apart. Take this quiz before you listen to it...or the rest of the album, for that matter. You gotta be emotionally stable for this stuff.
2. "Live Young Die Free" by Fletcher
We premiered this song yesterday, and haven't stopped listening to it ever since. Fletcher is a force to be reckoned with, and this upbeat anthem is the perfect track to play when you need a little boost of self-esteem.
3. "So Long" by Leon Bridges
Leon may only be 26 year old, but his music throws it back to years gone by. Play this when you visit your family for the Thanksgiving holiday — it's the kind of tune that transcends the generations, and will instantly chill anyone out.
4. "Act Like You Love Me" by Shawn Mendes
Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello have finally teamed up on their much-anticipated duet — and it is so awesome. But this bonus track from Shawn's rerelease of "Handwritten" is just as heartbreaking as anything Adele put out this week. Shawn knows how to strum both the guitar chords and our heartstrings, and listening to him plead with someone to stay just one more night before it's goodbye forever will make you want to stay with him endlessly. (Come to think of it, we're sensing a trend in music.)
5. "Hoping for Snow" by the Vamps
Are you dreaming of a white Christmas? So are British boy rockers the Vamps. But there's something they want even more than a fluffy white blizzard – and it's y-o-u. Listen closely, and you can even hear references to another holiday classic...
6. "Last Christmas" by Carly Rae Jepsen
Yep, you guessed it! It's "Last Christmas," that delightful Wham! song that has been remixed by Taylor Swift, Glee, and Ariana Grande alike. Carly Rae's version is truly delightful, though, adding in a few more '80s references to really send it up to the original.
7. "I Loved You" by ILoveMakonnen
The second EP from the artist, this effort is just as weirdly hypnotic and low-key as his breakthrough party hit, "Tuesday." Of all the songs, though, "I Loved You" is the most mesmerizing, and it's interesting to hear him contemplate the highs and lows of no longer being with his ex. If you need to snap yourself out of your Adele-induced funk, this song will definitely do the trick.
8. "Don't Forget About Me" by Cloves
This is a moody ballad — gosh, that's a theme this week — from 19-year-old Australian Cloves (a.k.a. Kaity Dunstan). The whole EP, XIII, will put you in a trance in a way that's vaguely reminiscent of Lana Del Rey...and if that's not enough for you, the girl is seriously gorgeous.
9. "Heart Is Full (Remix)" by Miike Snow feat. Run the Jewels
The original track came out a few weeks ago from this Sweden-based trio, but the remix features the Run the Jewels duo and is ultimate proof that sometimes, five heads are better than one.
10. "Trouble" by Cage the Elephant
Equal parts Mumford and Sons and the White Stripes, Cage the Elephant seamlessly fuses folk and rock in a way that just feels right. It's the perfect song to listen to as you sip a pumpkin spice latte warm, seasonal beverage and head off for a weekend of early holiday shopping with your friends.
Related: Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello Can't Let Each Other Go in Their New Music Video
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