Mark Lanegan: Strange Religion

Mark Lanegan is an American singer-songwriter. His claim to fame was Bubblegum, but he also collaborated with Queens of the Stone Age. His voice is soaked in whiskey and cigar smoke, and aged to perfection.

Robotic Pirate Monkey (remix of Tim McMorris): Overwhelmed

Robotic Pirate Monkey is a trio of editors mixing dubstep with sampling and some upbeat funk. 

Pierce Fulton (remix of Mute Math): In No Time

This is a Pierce Fulton remix of Mute Math's "In No time." The original is spectacular, but I do love some beats. Pierce was born with a guitar in his hands, and hasn't ever put it down. Constant experimentations have led Pierce through many ventures, including, classic rock, reggae, metal, classical, house, trance, and IDM.

Imagine Dragons: Radioactive

So this one has been out for a while, but I just heard it (since I don't listen to the radio). Seriously a great combination of beats and some rock.

Imagine Dragons is an American band based out of Las Vegas, Nevada. With their launch of the album "Night Visions", the band became an explosive success because of this song. They shortly after received awards, including "Best Breakthrough Band of 2013".

Ben Howard (cover of Carly Rae Jepsen): Call Me Maybe

This song just took on new meaning. Good job; call me maybe? I've hated the original version, but English singer-songwriter Ben Howard killed what I knew about the song. He took it, and turned the direction of travel. I love the song the way he does it. It gives the song the proper feel; dirty, sleezy, one-night stands, chancy, risky butterflies that are missing from the pop version.

Kuedo: Whisper Fate

Kuedo is a project of Jamie Teasdale, formerly a member of Vex'd, of Berlin, Germany. The combination of the dissonance, steel drums, rapid-fire back beat and light bass is super pleasant to the senses. 

Steve Holy: Love Don't Run

Steve Holy is an American country music artist. I hate country music so much, and what it's become. Perhaps it isn't the music that's changed over ~10 years, but my own worldview (it has). Love, a common topic in country music, isn't quite what I thought it was as a child. This song, though, is an exception. It's cheesy, it's country, but God, it's true. 

The saving grace of this song, in my book, isn't the revolutionary sound, the experimental edge (there isn't either), but the truth to the lyrics. 

Neil Finn/Crowded House: Beautiful Life

http://neilfinn.com/2013/07/beautiful-life-crowded-house-live-at-leigh-sawmill/

Neil Finn is a New Zealand recording artist. Though his career has been fairly lengthy, and recorded diverse albums and projects, Crowded House has only been around since 2007 (unless you count the earlier run from 1986-1996 >.>). The jazzy feel to this song is it's shining star.

Agnes Obel: Riverside

The harmony between the piano and Danish Agnes Obel's voice is grand (like the piano). More and more I'm falling in love with the Scandinavian countries. The riverside is a special place, for me and for many others, I'd hope. This song is simply about what makes the riverside special to her and she's inviting you (yes, you) to accompany her there.

"Down by the river by the boats,
Where everybody goes to be alone
Where you won't see any rising sun
Down to the river we will run"

J Roddy Walston and the Business: Caroline

J Roddy Walston and the Business is a Tennessee-based rock-and-roll band that specialize in melodic catchy tunes, driven by a strong (pounding) piano and a bit of Southern accompaniment (guitar and tambourine). The lyrics are infectious, and your toe can't help but tap.

Twenty One Pilots: Holding Onto You

Twenty One Pilots is an American indie-pop duo hailing from Columbus, Ohio. The experimental fusion of piano driven schizoid pop and lyrical uplift with rap and electronics is really interesting, while remaining lyrical and meaningful instead of just being a cacophony of noises.

"Entertain my faith".

Bassnectar (remix of Nina Simone): Feeling Good

Bassnectar (Californian Lorin Ashton) is always trying new things, or putting new spins on old things. This isn't an exception, though it's a great idea. "Dude. Let's take a big band mix with heavy jazz and soul, and throw some beats and bass in the mix!!" That's a recipe for success, any day. 

Yeasayer: Henrietta

Yeasayer is an American band based out of Brooklyn, New York, who became famous after SXSW in 2007. Yeasayer describes what it does as "middle eastern-psych-snap-gospel". Even if I knew what that was, I'd likely not disagree. Live, they're a trip. I had the pleasure of doing so, and let me tell you...it's something to be experienced. 

Slow Magic: On Yr Side

Slow Magic is a serious chill-trip. Mellow just exudes from the beats. For lack of a better word, this song is dope. Somehow blending electronic beats and echoing lyrics into a mellow fashion, you can just relax with this song while feelin' it.