Staff Picks: Best Songs of the Week February 7th – February 13th

Our Songs of the Week column spotlights the best new tracks from the last — you guessed it — week. This edition, we’re loving new tunes from Fcukers, Brent Faiyaz, Morgan Nagler, and more.

Anjimile — “Waits for Me”

Following the more upbeat single “Like You Really Mean It,” Anjimile is slowing things down with his heartfelt new track “Wait for Me.” The song reflects on two contrasting visions. In the first verse, he looks back on his childhood growing up female and compares it to living in a dream. Then, after a stirring bridge, he revisits the same reflective structure and ponders his childhood growing up as a boy: “When I was a little boy I wanted to be real/ I wanted to feel all of the things my body wanted me to feel,” he sings. It’s a tender meditation on identity and seeking wholeness, emphasized by dueling acoustic and electric guitars and the raw quality in Anjimile’s voice. — Paolo Ragusa

Brent Faiyaz — “four seasons”

Surprise! Brent Faiyaz dropped a new album — Icon  — and it’s a welcome respite. The early standout “four seasons.” is largely carried by cascading harp plucks and sweetly-arranged strings, making for an amorous soundscape. But Faiyaz is still the same conflicted lover that we’ve heard on projects like 2020’s Fuck the World and 2023’s Larger Than Life; his dithering nature here is just as potent. “I be in my feelings in the nighttime,” he sings vulnerably, “And start saying things that ain’t true.” Brent Faiyaz is among the best at making non-commitment sound alluring. “four seasons.” doesn’t stray far from his formula of success. — Kiana Fitzgerald

Deb Never — “ARCADE”

After several years of standout releases, Deb Never has finally readied her debut album: ARCADE will arrive on May 8th, and she’s shared the title track this week. Unlike some of the more restless tunes she’s crafted in the past, “ARCADE” is warm and patient; with a palm-muted restraint and roomy, reverberant production, it’s a romantic and wistful in all the right ways. But vulnerability has always been Deb Never’s strong suit, and rather than let the instrumentation hide her emotions, she once again lets her voice take center stage. — P. Ragusa

E L U C I D and Sebb Bash — “Make Me Wise”

“Make Me Wise” is the latest single from New York rapper E L U C I D and veteran Swiss beatmaker Sebb Bash, ahead of their upcoming collaborative project I Guess U Had to Be There, set for release on March 13th. E L U C I D uses the song to continue on his singular path of enlightening the world on the areas it could improve — and there are many. “Permanently feeling a need, to cease and to exist/ Scarcity is a lie of the state/ They pairing propaganda with pie in the face,” he raps, homing in on the perilous state of the country. — K. Fitzgerald

Fcukers — “Beatback”

Uh-oh, the Banger Police called! They’ve arrested the New York electronic duo Fcukers after their new song “Beatback” made too many people go way too hard on the dance floor. Reports flooding in suggest that the duo’s sleazed-up rendition, which hearkens back to the 2000s glory days of The Neptunes and Timbaland, is too filthy for public consumption, and, according to the Banger Police, they must be stopped. Wait — I’m getting word that Fcukers have escaped police custody and will be bringing their explosive live shows to a city near you. Take heed (and get tickets here)! — P. Ragusa

Hiss Golden Messenger — “In the Middle of It”

Hiss Golden Messenger, the Americana project of songwriter MC Taylor, is set to return with a brand new album on May 1st, I’m People. As the first preview of the new set of tunes, lead single “In the Middle of It” sets an infectious, lighthearted tone. Sounding like the feeling of cruising down an open highway on a sunny spring day, the singalong nature and easy-on-the-ears instrumentation serve to make “In the Middle of It” a supremely enjoyable piece of full-band folk. — Jonah Krueger

Morgan Nagler — “Heartbreak City”

Serving as the closing track for Morgan Nagler’s upcoming debut album, “Heartbreak City” is an acoustic, melodic, two-minute ditty that derives its impact from simplicity and brevity. Lovingly lo-fi — you can literally hear the guitar clipping in moments — the cut strips everything away but the necessities, putting the spotlight squarely on the character of the production and Nagler’s dejectedly humorous, woe-is-me lyrics. Lines like “The bed is made of ice cubes/ The pillows disappeared” and “The water’s made of beer/ It’s Heartbreak City over here” are fun, absurd, and maybe even a little over the top, and yet they manage to retain an emotional weight. It’s a difficult line to walk, but Nagler sure makes it look easy. — J. Krueger 

Ojerime — “Safe”

Returning with new music for the first time since releasing 2023’s brief EP The Interludes, Ojerime wades back into the gentle creative waters that have been buoying her for multiple releases. On “SAFE,” Ojerime hypnotically calls out to her partner during a moment of uncertainty. “It’s not easy when I’m on that wave/ Messed up that ship/ You brought it back to safe,” she croons, as grounded guitar propels the song forward. Ojerime’s power lies in her ability to showcase strength in moments of softness, and “SAFE” is the latest bit of crucial evidence that underscores her duality.  — K. Fitzgerald

Robb Bank$ — “Shotta Yüte”

South Florida rapper Robb Bank$’s upcoming project RICH BADNE$$ is due out February 18th. With the album, led by the latest single “Shotta Yüte,” Bank$ aims to further connect listeners to his Jamaican roots, a task he initially set with “Eyez Red,” one of our Best Songs of 2025. Over pensive piano, palpitating drums, and a masterful sample of Aaliyah’s “More Than a Woman,” assembled by prolific Connecticut producer Genshin, Bank$ spits aggressively about his impenetrable background. “Wah gwaan yout, wya at yout/ Mi haffi rapid up di matic till mi arm blew,” he raps, expressing his desire to honor and protect his legacy by any means necessary. — K. Fitzgerald

Robber Robber — “Watch for Infection”

Especially on the singles they’ve released in anticipation of their new record, Two Wheels Move the Soul, Robber Robber have homed in on a specific sonic language, one that’s equally interested in dissonance, atmosphere, memorable hooks, and propulsive, danceable drum beats. “Watch for Infection” is yet another example, and a damn fine one at that. The vocals are distorted and deadpan, the mood is Kubrick-stare-inducing, and the dynamic structure keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout. Watch for this one. — J. Krueger 

sadie — “Arms Wide”

New York indie pop artist sadie is back with “Arms Wide,” a gorgeous meditation on apathy. “So what, so what/ I don’t really care that much,” she sings; her voice, modified with autotune, sounds slightly detached, but the song’s wash of guitars and moving chord structure suggests a much more charged emotional backdrop. “Arms Wide” is lush and dreamy — how it might feel to truly ‘give no fucks’ — but the trace of melancholy never leaves. It’s a beautiful exercise in blending contrasting ideas and a strong return to form. — P. Ragusa

youbet — “Ground Kiss”

New York up-and-comers youbet have announced a new album, and while it’s not the band’s debut, the act has opted to go the self-titled route, hinting that youbet might be something of a proper (re)introduction to their blend of indie, folk rock, and slowcore. The crackling, fuzzed-out “Ground Kiss” arrives as the project’s first single and fittingly leans into the group’s strengths. There are interesting sonic textures, sweet-as-honey melodies, and an engaging mix of softness and dissonance. It’s just as compelling as the best of what they’ve dropped thus far. — J. Krueger