Jamiroquai: Automaton

Returning after a seven-year hiatus, Jamiroquai’s return will make you feel nostalgic, curious or both. For some, the band’s new single “Automaton” will be their first introduction to the British funk-pop band, but their sound in 2017 is just as energetic and groovy as ever. The disco-influenced tune is focused on AI, technology and space—all themes that are reflected in frontman Jay Kay’s light-up hat. …

Kishi Bashi: Sonderlust

Still one of our favorite records from 2016, Kishi Bashi’s Sonderlust is beautifully uplifting despite its pathos. Deeply personal and yet universally relatable, the record features all the sparkle we’ve grown to expect and adore from the singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist—a tremendous blend of melancholy and joyful luminescence. And, with production help from Grizzly Bear’s Chris Taylor, this is one of Kishi Bashi’s best albums thus far.

Lily Allen: Going To a Town (Rufus Wainwright Cover)

Covering Rufus Wainwright’s stunning 2007 song “Going To a Town,” Lily Allen has remained faithful to the original, while adding her own levels of heartbreak. The accompanying video features scenes from current protests concerning Trump, Brexit, racism, islamophobia, refugees and immigration. While Allen’s version is pared-down, it delivers the same amount of pathos (thanks in part to Mark Ronson’s production) via her tender but vulnerable …