New Good Song: "Brand New Moves," Hey Violet 8.20.16

Here's a new good song: "Brand New Moves" by Hey Violet. It's fun and sexy. Enjoy!

New Good Song: "Fire Fallin," Polly A. 8.20.16

Here's a new good song: "Fire Fallin" by Polly A. As of this writing, it has fewer than 100 views, so you're getting on the ground floor. If people have taste, this will be a hit. They don't, though. The highlight here is an unusual, unexpected chord progression in the chorus. All around very nicely done, other than the too-sudden ending (a pet peeve of mine; fade-outs, unexpected denouements and interesting breakdowns are always better than cutting the song off at the end of a chorus ... it's jarring and lazy). Anyway, enjoy!

New Good Song: "Kids," OneRepublic 8.20.16

Here's a new good song: "Kids" by OneRepublic. This band's output has been a firehouse of material since they came onto the scene nearly 10 years ago with "Apologize," a sleeper hit (shamelessly credited to Timbaland, who remixed the track, "featuring" OneRepublic) that peaked at No. 2 and was No. 5 for the year on Billboard's 2008 year-end chart. (Here's the original.) They put lots of material out in the subsequent years and later exactly matched the success of their debut, when "Counting Stars" peaked at No. 2 and was No. 5 for the year on Billboard's 2014 year-end chart. It happens that those two hits also are their two best songs, although a few others have been OK. Now they're back with "Kids," their best effort at least since "Counting Stars" and possibly since "Apologize." Remains to be seen, of course, whether the public agrees. Enjoy!

New Good Song: "Give Me Tonight," Dustin Tebbutt 8.14.16

Here's a new good song: "Give Me Tonight" by Dustin Tebbutt. Enjoy!

New Good Songs: "Bleeding Heart" and "Small Bill$," Regina Spektor, 8.14.16

Here're two new good songs: "Bleeding Heart" and "Small Bill$" by Regina Spektor. Spektor is the latest in the great line of "Look me, aren't I quirky?" female singers like Kate Bush andTori Amos. She had the third-best new good song of 2006, her breakthrough and best-known track, "Fidelity." More recently she had the 45th-best new good song of 2012, "All The Rowboats," which I just re-listened to and think may have been better than I gave it credit for. She's got something for sure. These new songs are pretty good, too. Enjoy!

"Bleeding Heart":


"Small Bill$":

New Good Song: "Cheap Thrills," Sia f/ Sean Paul 8.14.16

Here's a new good song: "Cheap Thrills" by Sia f/ Sean Paul. I'm being a bit facetious by including this one because it's neither new, nor obscure enough to need to be called out in this way. It's currently the No. 1 song in the U.S. on the Billboard Hot 100. But I did want to go on record as saying that this track, which I originally dismissed, has grown on me. Sia had the second-best new good song of 2015, "Elastic Heart," as well as the 16th-best new good song of 2012, "Titanium," credited to David Guetta with Sia as a featured vocalist. "Cheap Thrills" is perhaps the most positive thing Sia has released, about not needing money to have fun (although I'm not sure how she got into the club without cash; and what is she drinking, water?). Sean Paul, incidentally, does music that generally isn't very good, although he was featured on Beyonce's "Baby Boy," the 10th-best new good song of 2003. Guess he's better in small doses. Enjoy!

New Good Song: "Cry Baby," Fickle Friends 8.14.16

Here's a new good song: "Cry Baby" by Fickle Friends. This English '80s throwback band was previously responsible for "Velvet," the 26th best new good song of 2015. "Cry Baby" is a bit faster with higher energy, but is in keeping with "Velvet" stylistically. Lead singer Natassja Shiner has tremendous capabilities on these tracks to be vulnerable while delivering performances as clear as glass. Enjoy!

New Good Songs: "Geeks," Hailey Knox 8.14.16

Here's a new good song: "Geeks" by Hailey Knox. It's a cute self-affirmation song, employing an appealing and slightly oddball chord progression and string arrangement, about outcasts getting their comeuppance. She's done a live video featuring people playing board games, but I prefer the studio version below. Enjoy!