OneRepublic – “Love Runs Out”: This is undoubtedly one of the summer anthems of 2014. A catchy piano sample will get blood pumping for sure. I’ll refrain from making an apologetic pun here (wait…oops). OneRepublic is one band that I will willingly venture into top 40 territory for, and I’m glad I took the risk. The staccato rhythms are held back a bit by some lyrical cliches, but that’s alright. Love Runs Out is for your car radio and the masses.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OWj0CiM8WU[/youtube]

Yuna – “Mountains”: I wasn’t really sure what to expect when I checked out Yuna. Raw electric guitar riffs, complete with the side-effect noises than can be somewhat distracting are there. This is forgotten though when Yuna starts singing, who has a very unique way of phrasing her verses. Her voice is at once indie, soulful and jazzy. The video gives the impression the song was recorded in one take. I have no clue if this is true, but I’m happy to live under that illusion.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2FgI0x3aiY[/youtube]

Jessie Ware – “Tough Love”: This song is MASSIVE. My initial thought was that Ware was the female counterpart to Lo-Fang – an alternative/soul singer who made a name for himself opening for Lorde. I love the abrupt crescendo that occurs right before the bridge. This might be the most interesting pop song I’ve heard this year.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okC1XE0jX2U[/youtube]

Jon Hopkins – “We Disappear (featuring Lulu James)”: Hopkins has one of the most distinctive sounds of any electronic artist. The ambience is at once soothing and jarring. I can’t completely relax but I don’t exactly want to dance either. James’ voice is a great bonus too. There’s an underlying eerie theme going on here. You ever have a dream that’s not really a nightmare, but you wake up with an odd feeling in the pit of your stomach, knowing you’ll forget it as soon as you fully wake up? Hopkins hypnotises you into that state and extends it through the duration of the song.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7x5ewmWVvk[/youtube]

Knocked Loose – “The Gospel”: This is hardcore at its most abrasive. This is Beartooth in a garage in West Virginia. Strip away the top notch production. Throw in some passion. Throw in some spoken word. And of course, throw in plenty of breakdowns. But keep this band far, far away from Warped Tour. Please. The vibe here is anything but “scene.”

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDb55B9u5cw[/youtube]

Glasslands – “Demons”: This is the second radio single from the Icon For Hire side project. Josh’s vocals are just as strong, and intentionally abrasive at points as ever. The switches from clean to scream singing is more seamless than in the first single “Resolution.” This song soars and will appeal to many demographics. Glasslands doesn’t deserve to be pigeonholed into the “scene kid” niche like I fear it might.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyIBDe1GzFg[/youtube]

Nick D’ and the Believers – “Bang Bang”: This is without a doubt a song with potential to be come a key summer anthem of the year! I love the synth lines backed by Joseph Barker’s on point drumming. Nick D’Andrea crafted a winner here – I like how the band starts with the chorus when songwriting and then moves outward. Bang Bang is definitely my favorite of what they’ve released so far, and I can’t wait to hear more. I can hear some Passion Pit influence here…a very, very good thing.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/151895453″ /]

Alt-J – “Hunger of the Pine”: If you told me one of my favorite tunes of the year would sample Miley Cyrus and give a strong Radiohead vibe, I would have thought you were nuts. The song takes awhile to get going (no getting punched in the throat this time “Fitzpleasure” style) but the slow crescendo pays off. Bonus fact – somehow I missed that the group is a trio now. They’re none the worse for wear, though.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/154903531″ /]