Billboard's Friday Music Guide serves as a handy guide to this Friday's most essential releases — the essential music everyone will be talking about today and that will dominate playlists this weekend and beyond.
This week, Lil Uzi Vert launches into a new world, The Weeknd gets edgy with Anitta, and Shawn Mendes rocks a “Heart of Gold.” Check out all of this week's picks below:
Lil Uzi Vert, Eternal Attack 2
Eternal Atake He arrived in 2020 as a breathless fusion of Lil Uzi Vert's elastic flows and prescient ideas, a rap enigma blossoming into a superstar. its sequel, which follows last year's Pink Ribbonhe returns to his predecessor at times – “Chill Bae” belongs alongside his earlier melodic masterpieces – but also steps forward with more bars, spaced-out beats and braggadocio.
The Weeknd feat. Anitta, “Sao Paulo”
“São Paulo,” the new high-powered team-up between The Weeknd and Anitta, immediately justifies its Halloween release: within the first minute, an ominous synth build is heard on Abel Tesfaye as he gasps, “Every time trying to run, you put your curse all over me.''Soon, “São Paulo” expands its attitude and shapeshifts, offering throbbing percussion and Latin flourishes while never letting go of its more eerie undertones.
Shawn Mendes, “Heart of Gold”
“Heart of Gold” is the moment Shawn Mendes' rootsy folk-rock sonic pivot meets his natural songwriting prowess: a troubled reflection on a friend who couldn't help in time, the single boasts for plenty of animation as well as the strongest hook of Mendes' recent era.
the treatment, Songs of a Lost World
With Songs of a Lost Worldthe Cure's first studio album in 16 years, Robert Smith and Co. have delivered the ideal project for longtime fans: a dust-free presentation of the goth-rock greats' classic sound, but with interesting new wrinkles, including the sweeping, 10-minute epic 'Endsong' to close the new affair.
Champion, Skrillex, Four Tet & Naisha, “Talk to Me”
Whenever Skrillex and Four Tet's names appear together on a new track, the dance world will pay attention – and sure enough, “Talk to Me,” a new collaboration with British producer Champion and singer-songwriter Naisha, represents a crazy autumnal banger, with enhanced instrumentation that rejects the notion of an overcrowded studio.
Future & Travis Scott, “South of France (Remix)”
Future's victory lap isn't over: after triumphing with his pair of Metro Boomin albums, We Don't Trust You and We still don't trust you, and then serving a solo feast Mixtape Plutothe latter project's “South of France” has received a Travis Scott remix, with the two A-listers gliding over the beat.
Megan Moroney, Blue Christmas… Duh
A few months after returning with am i okMegan Moroney makes a quick return to the ring at the start of the holiday season with Blue Christmas… Duha three-song EP featuring a pair of originals from the country star (the delicious “All I Want for Christmas is a Cowboy” and the heartfelt “Christmas Morning”), as well as a cover of “Blue Christmas.”
Editor's Pick: Ethel Cain, “Punish”
If Preacher's daughterEthel Cain's superb 2022 album, playful with the ideas of pop structure and classic American iconography, “Punish” suggests she's ready to explode all expectations for her next move: a nearly 7-minute drone song that begins with fragile beauty and builds “Punish” showcases Cain's talent while reasonably surprising listeners—always a good thing.
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