It’s Friday, and we’re back with another installment of our regular roundup of downloadable MP3 goodness, both from around the web and from our own servers. This week there’s a new track from our favorite synthpop academic, John Maus, along with chartbusters from Azealia Banks and Nicki Minaj, dark weirdness from Zambri and Lorn, a smattering of old-school punk, and a challenging, oblique lyrical masterpiece from Best Coast. In other words, there’s plenty of interesting sounds awaiting you after the jump, and since they won’t cost a penny or land you an RIAA lawsuit, as your attorneys we advise you to start downloading immediately.
John Maus — “No Title (Molly)” The line-up of Record Store Day releases is looking great this year, and foremost amongst them is a limited edition zine called Smuggler’s Way, a joint project of record labels Domino and Ribbon. The zine features 24 pages of art and contributions from artists on both labels, along with five unreleased songs — one of which is this new track from Flavorpill fave John Maus. Yay! You can download an MP3 of the track right now via Pitchfork.
Azealia Banks — “Fuck Up the Fun” We’re torn about this — we’re not exactly big Diplo fans (perhaps due to our perplexing inability to throw our phone behind our backs and catch it again), but we’re thoroughly enamored of Azealia Banks. On balance, we reckon Banks’ vocals bring this out on the positive side of the equation, even if the whole thing sounds awfully like an early MIA track. Still, make up your own mind — the track’s available via Fader.
Best Coast — “The Only Place” It gets harder and harder to believe that Bethany Cosentino was ever in Pocahaunted. Her latest single as Best Coast skates awfully close to self-parody — it’s a ditty about how simply wonderful it is to live in California, and will no doubt be soundtracking some sort of tourism campaign featuring oranges and surfer dudes any day now. You can get the song here. Afterward, we suggest you click here. Or here.
Zambri — “Hundred Hearts” Quick, here’s a handy dose of darkness courtesy of sororal duo Zambri. “Hundred Hearts” is the first single from their debut album House of Baasa, which is out in early April, and we likes it a lot. Also: is it just us or does the intro sample ’80s hit “Take My Breath Away” by Berlin? Make up your own mind via Consequence of Sound.
Nicki Minaj — “Champion” Those who are looking forward to the new Nicki Minaj record, rejoice: here is the first track to emerge from said record, a star-studded free-for-all that features appearances from Drake, Young Jeezy, and (sob) Nas. Oh, Nas. Where did it all go wrong? Get the song via Stereogum.
Screaming Females — “Expire” Also via Stereogum, here’s some shouty punk from Jersey, courtesy of the appropriately named Screaming Females. “Expire” is taken from the group’s upcoming album Ugly, which is out on Tuesday. It’s produced by Steve Albini, who sounds like a great fit for the band’s stripped-back, hard-hitting sound. Download “Expire” here.
OFF! — “King Kong Brigade” While we’re on raucous punk, here’s something from veteran Californian types OFF!, who feature Keith Morris (formerly of Black Flag and Circle Jerks) on vocals and sound like 1977 never really ended. If such things are your cup of tea, the track’s right here.
Dent May — “Best Friend” Dent May is without his magnificent ukulele these days, but he hasn’t lost his knack for mildly nerdy indie pop. “Best Friend” is a woozy piece of lovelorn for the badge-and-cardigan brigade, and it’s the first taste of his new album Do Things. Fans will have to wait a while for the record — it’s not out ’til June — but the song’s available for download right now via the Paw Tracks Soundcloud page.
Lorn — “Ghosst” Ninja Tune has long been one of the world’s more consistently interesting imprints, and two decades after Matt Black and Jonathan Moore founded the label, we’re still interested in what they’re releasing. Lorn is one of the label’s newer signings, having previously released music via Flying Lotus’s label Brainfeeder, and he makes the sort of unsettled, jittery techno that’s a fine fit for both labels. This particular track is available via Pitchfork.
Air France — “It Feels Good to Be Around You” (Memory Tapes remix) Gothenburg duo Air France announced earlier this week that they were going their separate ways, and this remix appeared on Memory Tapes’ blog along with a short heartfelt message about how Dayve Hawk will miss them. Awwww. Download it here.