Nicole Dollanganger – “Mean”

Emo prodigy Nicole Dollanganger released her debut studio album “Natural Born Losers” on Oct. 9. On her track “Mean,” Dollanganger sings somberly about cops and bondage. Her sweet, innocent vocals provide a stark contrast to the subject matter. Her distinct voice sounds heavily influenced by Grimes, her mentor and label executive on Eerie Organization.

Glass Animals & Joey Bada$$ – “Lose Control”

To continue the trend of odd matchups, Joey Bada$$ and Glass Animals (famous for “Gooey”) teamed up for “Lose Control”—for some reason. Who cares why, though? They perfectly combine Glass Animals’ sultry beats with Bada$$’s flow. Sometimes opposites attract in odd, satisfying ways.

Autre Ne Veut – “World War Pt. 2”

PBR&B staple Autre Ne Veut is back with his new album “Age of Transparency.” Highlight track “World War Pt. 2” combines a harsh vocal sample with Autre Ne Veut’s airy crooning. Equal parts upbeat and slow jam, “World War Pt. 2” can please on and off the dancefloor.

EL VY – “Paul is Alive”

EL VY is the super-duo of Matt Berninger of The National and Brent Knopf from Menomena. Their latest track, “Paul is Alive’” pairs Berninger’s signature depressing baritone with Knopf’s bright synth melodies. The lyrics are cryptic but the overall tone shows: EL VY will be a force to be reckoned with when their album drops on Oct. 30.

#FlashbackFriday
Animal Collective – “Banshee Beat”

Animal Collective’s critically acclaimed “Feels” came out in October 2005, marking this month the 10-year anniversary of the album. “Banshee Beat” tells the story of someone getting over a particularly bad breakup by retreating back to childhood swimming pools. This slow-burning track is lengthy (a bit over eight minutes), but it’s well worth the emotional build.