By Wade Meredith • Published in Weekly Track — Mar 25, 2025 Tell My Mama That I did My Best "Death Row" by Chris Stapleton is a bleak and bluesy ballad of acceptance with a heartbreaking vocal performance, spare instrumentation, and eerie ambiance.
Weekly Track "Hot Knife" by Fiona Apple "Hot Knife" is a slow-burn build of staccato piano, thunderous timpani, and layered vocals that sounds like nothing else in pop.
Weekly Track "Psychedelic Switch" by Carly Rae Jepsen Audio ice cream with another scoop of ice cream on top. This modern disco track is a killer showcase for vocal expressiveness.
Weekly Track "When the Levee Breaks" by Led Zeppelin There's nothing like those first four bars of "When the Levee Breaks." It's the foundation of a grimy driving bluesy groove as unstoppable as the tide.
Weekly Track "Lisztomania" by Phoenix Lisztomania starts with a click and a piano chord, then the whole thing lifts. It's crisp and airy. Nothing is buried. This pop confection rewards a system that can separate midrange detail.