1. Field Mouse — “The Order of Things”
Field Mouse is having a moment. The Philly-via-Brooklyn indie rockers played to an enthusiastic hometown crowd at the Boot and Saddle on Thursday, celebrating the release of their great, deliciously ‘90s-indebted "Episodic" LP. For my money, this driving, mid-tempo hookfest is the album's standout; its peppy, harmonized verses switching gears for Rachel Browne’s concise, relatable chorus lament: “I’m tired / and I want to take up space.”
2. Father John Misty — “Real Love Baby”
It’s unclear whether Philly’s ready to forgive Josh Tillman following his, um, questionable behavior at XPoNential Fest last month (and subsequent Twitter feud with our man Tim Showalter of Strand of Oaks), but if anything can convince us to make nice, this is probably it. His new single is the simplest, sweetest thing he’s ever penned: a starry-eyed love paean worthy of the Eagles, blissfully devoid of his typically overwrought irony and angst. It’d make for a perfect slow-swaying summer festival sing-along. Oh, wait…
3. Ariana Grande — “Into You Remix" feat. Mac Miller / “Into You” (Lyric Video Version)
4. BROOKZILL! feat. Count Bass D — “Saudade Songbook”
Between the suspiciously Olympics-synergistic timing and that painfully hokey portmanteau band name (i.e. Brooklyn + Brazil), there’s plenty to be dubious of here. But the first track from this new collaborative project, featuring hip-hop legends Prince Paul and Ladybug Mecca (of Digable Planets) plus Brazilian MC Gorila Urbano, turns out to be pretty damn delightful — even, dare I say, funky fresh. In this heat, at least, it feels like a cool breeze (on the rocks), straight out of 1993.