Kat Edmonson turns “Lucky” into the kind of song that sneaks up and stays put. The hook lands fast, and suddenly the room feels a little brighter, a little more optimistic, and a lot more alive.
Romance
Bryan Laurier & The Lost Acres land “By Your Side” with the kind of plainspoken heart that cuts through the noise fast. A tune like this feels essential right now because it sounds unforced, steady, and alive—exactly what a good love song should do.
The xx glide in with "Angels", and the spell lands fast. Sparse, intimate, and strangely huge, it sounds like a late-night secret that somehow reaches the front of the room.
Motopony and God Damn Girl hit like a fresh bruise: bright, awkward, and impossible to ignore. If indie radio has a pulse today, this song catches it before the next sweep of the dial.
Michael Kiwanuka lands "Any Day Will Do Fine" like a fresh find you swear you should have heard sooner. The song feels immediate, soulful, and right on time, with a quiet confidence that makes it hard to skip.
The Lighthouse And The Whaler sound unusually alive on "Venice," a track that lands like a surprise favorite before the coffee gets cold. The melody feels instantly familiar, which is exactly why it matters right now.
Good Old War turns “Not Quite Happiness” into an immediate earworm, the kind that feels brand new the second it starts. Warm harmonies and easy lift make it an easy yes for right now.
Electric Youth’s “The Best Thing” sounds like the rare synth-pop single that arrives already wearing sunglasses. The hook lands fast, and the whole thing feels too polished, too sweet, and too confident to ignore right now.
Hunter Hunted hits like a wink and a shove at the same time, and “Keep Together” feels built for the moment you need a song to pull a room upright. The hook lands fast, bright, and a little defiant.
Kisses land “Funny Heartbeat” like a fresh secret worth sharing before lunch. The hook feels immediate, glossy, and a little sly—the kind of pop cut that sounds ready to take over any playlist near you.
Miner’s “Hey Love” lands like a surprise text you actually want to answer. The hook is plainspoken, but the pull is instant, and that makes it feel essential right now.
Glass Pear and “Dizzy” feel essential right now because the song lands like a surprise you actually want. The hook arrives with enough polish to sound instant and enough heart to feel earned.
The Lumineers turn “Stubborn Love” into the kind of song that sounds instantly familiar and still somehow fresh. The hook lands like a door thrown open, and suddenly the whole room feels a little less guarded.
Tyler Lyle’s “Things Are Better” lands like a small, hard-won grin. For anyone needing a bright spot, it sounds ready-made for repeat plays.
Ben Howard lands “Only Love” like a track you somehow missed until now, and suddenly everything else sounds a little flatter. The song feels immediate, intimate, and oddly larger than the room it plays in.
Sean Hayes and “When We Fall In” arrive sounding like the rare love song that actually earns your attention. The track feels immediate, a fresh pull toward something warmer than the weather outside.
My favorite Romance songs from the past year.
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Release The Sunbird lands Best Thing For Me like a clean exhale, all right when winter starts feeling worn thin. The song sounds bigger than its understatement, which is exactly why it belongs in the day’s first spin.
James Vincent McMorrow and If I Had a Boat arrive with the sort of hush that stops a room. The song sounds brand-new and strangely inevitable, like the kind of late-night discovery you replay before anyone else catches up.
The Black Keys turn "Dearest" into the kind of tune that feels instantly essential, like the record everyone should already know. The track lands with enough swagger to sound brand-new and enough heart to stick after one spin.
Craft Spells turn “After the Moment” into the kind of song that feels already essential, like you’ve been waiting all week for it to show up. The hook lands fast, the mood stays cool, and the whole thing sounds strangely current for a track that still slips by like a fresh discovery.
Derek Webb returns with “I Wanna Marry You All Over Again” and the title alone hits like a handwritten note slipped under the door. It feels immediate, a little vulnerable, and exactly the sort of song that cuts through the week’s noise without raising its voice.
Jeff Bridges sounds like he just walked in from the next room with “What A Little Bit Of Love Can Do” and accidentally made the kind of song people keep replaying. The hook lands fast, the title says exactly what the room needs, and the whole thing feels sturdier than a novelty release.
Drive-By Truckers make “Everybody Needs Love” feel like the smartest thing spinning right now: ragged, warm, and impossible to ignore. The song lands like a late-afternoon confession with good boots on.
