7. The Doors: Light My Fire

The top songs, albums and artists influencing an incredible year in music

This souped-up remix of Kendrick Lamar’s hit, “Bitch Don’t Kill My Vibe,” makes for the ultimate party anthem. Lamar’s Good Kid, M.A.A.D City album was released toward the end of 2012 but he dropped the original version of this single in March 2013. A song on daily repeat at CH HQ, it seems Jay-Z loved it as much as seemingly everyone else when he surprised …

Jose Gonzalez: Stay Alive

Matthew Dear's Tears for Fears, Outline Artists' creative series, South Africa hits Brooklyn and more in our look at music this week

Gothenburg, Sweden’s Jose Gonzalez is known for his comforting vocals and stripped-down acoustic sets that buzz with energy. It’s been a few years since Gonzalez released new solo material, so we were happy to see his latest release “Stay Alive” pop up on the internet as part of the soundtrack for Ben Stiller’s new film, “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.” While the new tune’s …

Matthew Dear: Pale Shelter (feat. Tegan and Sara)

Matthew Dear's Tears for Fears, Outline Artists' creative series, South Africa hits Brooklyn and more in our look at music this week

British rock duo Tears For Fears haven’t released an album since their 2004 reunion for Everybody Loves A Happy Ending but they have offered some pretty epic covers of younger artists like Arcade Fire and Animal Collective, showing that New Wave is still elegant and relevant. Matthew Dear and Tegan and Sara return the favor by reinterpreting the band’s 1983 single “Pale Shelter” into a …