Frank Ocean - "Sweet Life"

With all the hype this week over R&B upstart and Odd Future member Frank Ocean's account of falling in love with another man and the surrounding discourse over what does it mean for hip-hop/the way we come out/the way we talk about coming out/what coming out even means, etc., it's easy to forget that Frank Ocean is not just a headline or the subject of Twitter debate but a crazy talented, gets-down-deep-into-your-guts R&B singer. We would recommend enjoying this breezy summer track off his upcoming album, Channel Orange and not getting caught up in subtext that may or may not be there. Ocean will aso appear on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon this Monday, July 9th. 

Nas feat. Amy Winehouse - "Cherry Wine"

This awaited posthumous duet is subtle, but will haunt your listening sessions. It's still a little eerie to hear Winehouse's voice on a new track, but Nas treats it with care and the result goes down smooth, but mostly just makes us miss Amy and her powerful, powerful vocal chords, although they are a bit subdued here. Additionally, at least one more Amy Winehouse record is reportedly in the works; while Nas' Life Is Good drops July 17th. 

Father John Misty - "Do You Realize??"

When the A.V. Club asked former Fleet Fox J. Tillman, now performing as Father John Misty, why he chose the Flaming Lips' "Do You Realize??" for their Undercover show, he said he picked it because he wanted something he could "knock out of the park" instead of merely perform. Challenge accepted, achievement unlocked. Father John Misty's debut album, Fear Fun, came out in May and is also fantatic.  


Father John Misty covers The Flaming Lips

Mazzy Star - "Fade Into You"

No, this song isn't new at all. We just remembered how great it is. Sorry we're not sorry.