Singles of the Month (August)

A quick pick of the best tunes of late.

By Ernest Chin

PHOTOS: Internet

Back to Back
Drake
Self-Released

Feuds are aplenty in the rap industry, but of late, none has gathered as much attention as the one between Drake and Meek Mill. Accused by Meek of engaging uncredited writers to produce his material, Drake released a quick one-two of tracks in response to the ghostwriting allegations. Back to Back sees Drake’s lyricism in full flow. Without breaking stride, he takes snipes at Meek, reserving his most pointed barbs at Meek’s choice to air his misgivings on Twitter, and his comparative lack of success. Packing a flurry of punches all under three minutes, Drake also delivers a warning: “I don’t ever wanna hear about this ever again” — and the industry best heed it.

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Mountain At My Gates
Foals
Transgressive Records

Promising that their forthcoming record What Went Down will be a “primal, intense” offering, English indie rock band Foals have duly delivered. Their latest single grows in intensity, with a raw edge seething just below their polished musicianship. The track builds up to a roaring and intense outro, a cacophony of guitar riffs, frenetic drumming, and frontman Yannis Philippakis’ voice ringing through the wall of noise. Brimming with anthemic potential, the track will undoubtedly reverberate through arenas and stadiums, and signals that the Oxford quintet are set to return with their sound bigger, louder, and surely, better than ever.

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Omen
Disclosure feat. Sam Smith
PMR/Island

Following their worldwide hit Latch, Disclosure and Sam Smith have joined forces again on Omen, a track from Disclosure’s upcoming sophomore release Caracal. Similar to their previous collaboration, Smith’s signature falsetto is paired with a groovy tune by the British electronic duo. Omen melds hi-hats, handclaps and disco-infused synths with Smith’s crooning, which rises and ebbs amid the infectious beats. Ready for the dance floor, the track is another stamp of success for their alchemic partnership, and a great teaser for Caracal, which boasts other collaborations with juggernauts such as The Weeknd, Lorde, and Miguel.

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Drag Me Down
One Direction
SyCo Records

One Direction has a knack for releasing surefire hits, but Drag Me Down undeniably carries greater significance than just another chart-topping single. The upbeat pop tune marks the beginning of a new chapter, being the first release following the departure of former member Zayn Malik. Drag Me Down revisits their pet topic of love, but its electronic and, interestingly, reggae influences help set it apart from their previous hits. Despite the changes, the resultant upbeat sound remains familiar. Fans worried that Malik’s departure would leave too big a void will find their fears assuaged — if anything, the band has shown that indeed, nothing will drag them down.