Michael Cera feat. Sharon Van Etten: Best I Can

A truly delightful track, “Best I Can” by Michael Cera and featuring the vocals of Sharon Van Etten pops with digital wonder. Cera made the song for the upcoming film “Dina,” and brought Van Etten (who he met by chance at a bar) in as a collaborator. Cera’s work features a Roland Jupiter 4 synthesizer, drum machine and a little bit of magic.

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Music from the inimitable Lizzo, Bibio, Blu & Exile, Ásgeir and more this week

Blu & Exile: Constellations A decade after the release of their acclaimed boom-bap debut album Below the Heavens, the glorious duo Blu & Exile have dropped a new tune. The boppy “Constellations” will appear on their new record (a prequel for their debut) In the Beginning: Before The Heavens, which will feature 14 tracks from their 2007 recording sessions. The song is typically Blu & …

Mavis Staples: If All I Was Was Black

The title track from Mavis Staples’ forthcoming album (out 17 November), “If All I Was Was Black” confronts not only racism the singer faced in her eight decades of performing, but also the violence she witnesses today in racial conflict. Written in collaboration with longtime friend and Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy, the track (and the album’s other songs) aims to “bring us all together as …