
With two astounding EPs, a tour with Imagine Dragons, countless superstar features, and some super amazing collabs with names like the Knocks under their belt, X Ambassadors have been rising to the top of the indie pack these past couple of years. Having teamed up most recently with Jamie N Commons for their latest single "Jungle," they earned themselves a once in a lifetime placement in the Beats by Dre campaign airing during the World Cup 2014. In addition, the guys also dropped the "Jungle Remixes " featuring remixes from KDrew and Great Good Fine Ok. You can pick up a copy on iTunes now. The guys are hitting the road again with Jamie N Commons for their co-headlining Into The Jungle Tour. You can buy your tickets for the Into The Jungle Tour here.
- Seinobo Sey, “Younger” - My favorite tune of 2014. This song just does it for me. Her vocals are incredible, lyrically it's simple and provocative, and the production starts very minimal and ends big. The hook itself is that perfect balance between the uplifting and the morbid. The whole "Live it up... while you can," vibe.
- Lykke Li, “No Rest for the Wicked” - It's all about that piano part. Reminds me of something Kanye or DJ Premier would sample. Fragile and ominous.
- Coldplay, “Magic” - One of the best songs these guys have put out in years. You can't really shake the knowledge that this was written at the tail end of a divorce, even though the songs stands perfectly well on its own. Ultimately, that knowledge only serves to heighten the whole gravitas of it.
- Spoon, “Rent I Pay” - Killer hook, killer vocal delivery, very, very Spoon. This song is them doing what they do best; writing blue-collar indie rock songs. Britt Daniel is one of my favorite songwriters.
- Common, “Kingdom” - This dude didn't have to make this record. He's an incredibly successful actor, probably making a decent living, with a couple classic rap records under his belt too. But he made this because album because he loves his city. He cares so much about it and wants to show the world how his city is suffering. Because the world needs to see it. It's a completely selfless, altruistic move on his part, and this song exemplifies how incredible this the whole album for me. Common is the king.
- Lil Wayne & Drake, “Believe Me” - Just so raw. Great hip-hop record. Feels like Tha Carter V is going to be one hell of an album if he's got songs like this and "D'usse" on it.
- Drake, “0 to 100” - Wooooooooooooooooo get em Drizzy
- Future & Andre 3000, “Benz Friendz (Whatchutola)” - Just love hearing three stacks spit like this again. He's got that brutal honesty in his raps that can be both poignant, and funny as hell. When we gonna get an album, Dre??
- Kan Wakan, “Moving On” - This sounds like music for the best car commercial in the world. I love the jazz fusion influences on this whole record. These guys have an incredible feel for rhythm and are so in the pocket with each other. My favorite part about this song is that Rhodes part. Steely Dan meets Adele.
- Banks, “Goddess” - Banks has really grown on me. I think she's totally finding her voice as a songwriter, and on this record specifically we start to see this. It's dark, moody, and empowering. This song is a killer.