Throughout the week, we update our Best New Songs playlist with the new releases that caught our attention the most, be it a single leading up to the release of an album or a newly unveiled deep cut. And each Monday, we round up the best new songs released over the past week (the eligibility period begins on Monday and ends Sunday night) in this segment.
Taylor Swift stopped the world once again last week by surprise releasing evermore, and the strikingly spare ‘happiness’ is one of the album’s most personal and heart-rending moments. If you’re looking for holiday songs that capture the feelings of loneliness that tend to come up this time of year – especially this year – however, definitely don’t miss out on Julia Jacklin’s crushingly bleak ‘baby is nobody’s baby now’ and Porridge Radio’s wrenching ‘The Last Time I Saw You (O Christmas)’. Nashville singer-songwriter Katy Kirby previewed her upcoming debut album with the aptly titled ‘Cool Dry Place’, a track almost comforting in its stark vulnerability, while Bartees Strange offered his own take on one of the most moving songs from Samia’s The Baby, one that allows him to showcase his emotive vocals as well as his versatility. Finally, Bill Callahan and Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy shared yet another collaborative cover, a sublime rendition of outlaw country singer-songwriter Jerry Jeff Walker’s ‘I Love You’ featuring Slint’s David Pajo.
Best New Songs: December 14th, 2020
Julia Jacklin, ‘baby jesus is nobody’s baby now’
Porridge Radio, ‘The Last Time I Saw You (O Christmas)’
Katy Kirby, ‘Cool Dry Place’
Song of the Week: Taylor Swift, ‘happiness’
Bartees Strange, ‘Pool’ (Samia Cover)
Bill Callahan and Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy feat. David Pajo, ‘I Love You’ (Jerry Jeff Walker Cover)