New Good Song: Two Way Street by Kimbra

Here's a new good song -- "Two Way Street" by Kimbra

Kimbra is so talented it's ridiculous. She is responsible for some of 2012's very best song, and she writes them! First, she was on Gotye's "Somebody That I Used To Know," which is still the years' best new song. Then she had "Warrior," with Mark Foster and A-Trak, which is so far one of the year's 10 best songs, not to mention one of the most durable (i.e., it doesn't get old upon repeated listens, trust me). Now the follow-up to "Warrior" is "Two Way Street," which has become her highest-charting song in her native New Zealand (No. 6).

For the sake of disclosure, I need to admit I'm actually behind the times on Kimbra's output. She actually has an ever newer song than "Two Way Street," called "Come Into My Head," which has an amazing video (that definitely channels Regina Spektor) and is also a very clever song. But for the moment, I am enamored with "Two Way Street," which is just beautiful. That transition chord into the chorus is one of the best into-chorus transitions I've ever heard. It's at 00:53. As usual, I suggest good headphones.

Enjoy!

New Good Song: Warrior by Kimbra f/ Mark Foster & A-Trak

This is currently my favorite new good song -- "Warrior" by Kimbra featuring Mark Foster & A-Trak

How I found this song -- Wikipedia. Believe it or not, Wikipedia can be an awesome source to learn about new good songs. Having adored "Somebody That I Used To Know" by Gotye f/ Kimbra, I went to each artist's discography to figure out what else they had released. This is how I discovered another of my favorite new good songs, "Easy Way Out" by Gotye, which has an incredible video, BTW. Kimbra's discography reveals that "Warrior" is a 2012 song; I looked it up on YouTube, and loved it.

What makes this song good? It's very '80s but also very today, and although I don't like '80s music particularly, that combination can be fantastic because it can yield songs that are punchy, emotional and fun, like this one. This has an incredibly catchy chorus, in-your-face instrumentals and production, and cute vocals by Kimbra. The video also isn't bad; it underlines the kind of "Pushin' me down" energy of the song. Kimbra reminds me of a cross between Katy Perry, Cathy Dennis and Cyndi Lauper.

Is Wikipedia a good source for good new songs? Wikipedia -- particularly the discography pages -- is a really nice way to find out whether a song is new, and to see if your favorite artists are releasing any new material. But this is a second or supporting step in the hunt for new good songs; it's not a first step or a destination. When I'm hunting through iTunes, YouTube or wherever, I usually have Wikipedia open on the side so I can figure out whether something is new, or to use to satisfy whatever stream-of-consciousness thoughts I may have. For example, because Kimbra reminds me of Katy Perry, I may think to look up Perry's discography and discover that her latest single is "Wide Awake," which I then can look up on YouTube. And as it turns out, "Wide Awake" is among the summer's best new good songs, which would not necessarily be obvious given that "Part Of Me," her previous release, isn't good at all.