Best Songs We Heard This Week: Troye Sivan, Sia, Parson James + More

Happy #NewMusicFriday! Rihanna's got a few more hours to slide Anti in under the wire, but as of press time the album didn't debut today like it was rumored that it would. Were it not for her upcoming world tour and that mysterious website, we'd frankly wonder if R8 wasn't as mythical as a unicorn by now. Nurse your disappointment with this metaphorical ice pack: We've picked eight other great songs for you to listen to this week! Check out our picks in honor of the internationally-agreed-upon global release date of Friday, hand-picked by the PopCrush editors for your ears.

Speaking of playlists, Apple Music users now have another way to connect with PopCrush — you can stay up to date with all of our mixes here.

And now, on to your new favorite songs…

Troye Sivan, "Lost Boy"
At last, Troye's debut album has arrived. And while he already gave us a pretty good idea of what was to come with his WILD EP a few months earlier, Blue Neighbourhood has plenty more gems lying in wait. "Lost Boy" is one of the more immediate standouts. The somber, post-break up agony anthem is a fairly accurate representation of the album as a whole: It's atmospheric, melancholy and so, so emo. That bridge, repeated over and over again ("So, what are you waiting for? Someone could love you more...I'm just a lost boy") especially tugs at the heartstrings. Ironically, this is one confident debut by a boy who seems to have a very strong sense of sonic direction. — Bradley Stern

TOKiMONSTA, “Put It Down” feat. Anderson .Paak & Krne
L.A. DJ-producer TOKiMONSTA reunites with singer-rapper-producer Anderson .Paak, who also featured on her 2014 release Desiderium. This new collaboration with producer KRNE blends hip hop swagger with R&B melody, and just a touch of EDM when the clapping beat breaks. The track is miles away from the sparkly collab EP that TOKiMONSTA released with singer Gavin Turek in August, and I’m loving the pomp in “Put It Down.” –Samantha Vincenty

Foo Fighters, “Savior Breath”

At this point in their 20-year career, Foo Fighters are something of a comfort blanket when it comes to music — they are nothing if not consistent in their delivery of radio-ready, hook-heavy arena rock with lyrics just vague enough to apply to the Everyman. And there’s nothing wrong with that. But it’s always exciting when the band harkens back to its punchier, static-driven early days, exchanging lilting melodies for gritty guitars. So it is on the punnily titled “Savior Breath,” off Foo Fighters’ surprise gift to fans, the free Saint Cecilia EP. The song is a return to form of sorts (or at least a return to 2011’s “White Limo”), with its heavy, raucous guitars and rollicking drums. Grohl’s vocals are as punk as he’ll ever get here, garbled nonsense shouts and all. Foo Fighters may never again write a song as brazenly kickass as “Enough Space,” but “Savior Breath” comes pretty damn close. — Ali Szubiak

Foxes, "If You Leave Me Now"
Wandering piano chords, violin suited for a movie franchise’s symphony: These are the sounds of Foxes hanging on by a thread. Still, there’s hope her grip won't wane, and “If You Leave Me Now,” a new release off of the singer’s forthcoming All I Need, considers—for the first time—that her failed relationship is also license to be free. Where lead single “Body Talk” was bold and bass-heavy, she’s scaled back to delicately, intimate reflection that’s made us very ready for a peek at the rest of her diary. - Matt Donnelly

Sia, “One Million Bullets”

No one does a musical moment quite like Sia — her expert use of soaring, emotive vocals and undeniably catchy hooks has rendered her a powerhouse figure in modern pop. Her latest release “One Million Bullets” follows suit — soft, muted verses segue into an explosion of a chorus, with lyrics that suggest just a hint of vulnerability (“One million bullets could come my way / But I want you to know that / I’d take a million babe / How many would you take?”). The track’s punch isn’t as obvious as some of Sia’s past releases, but it hits just heavy enough to make an impact.— Ali Szubiak

Miike Snow, “Genghis Kahn"
It seemed unlikely to me that Miike Snow could ever outdo 2009’s “Sans Soleil,” a slow, cleansing poem that sounds the way hot whirlpools feel. I stand by the sentiment, but “Genghis Kahn,” the lead single off of the Swedish trio’s forthcoming iii, is damn good. The track, a steady, snare-heavy bopper, is like a hand-delivered note to the sometimes grating Adam Levine: This is how Maroon 5 should sound. Soulful pop with pockets of jazz sounds like it’ll be the name of the game for the group’s third LP, and that might just be the perfect next step. - Matt Donnelly

Alo Lee, "Videos"
Your new favorite shape-shifting, moody-pop singer has arrived in the form of Alo Lee. The Wyoming-born, London-based singer-songwriter has been putting out quiet, slinky rumbles under the surface for months across the blogosphere, but her newest track "Videos" is undoubtedly her biggest moment yet. Produced by Lana Del Rey/FKA twigs producer Liam Howe and written with Tom Aspaul, the song is inspired by relationships and videos of the X-rated variety — and the sultry vocals and creeping beats might just inspire some X-rated action as well for listeners. — Bradley Stern

Parson James, "Temple" (Lenno Remix)
I'd already given the soulful "Temple," from onetime PopCrush Presents artist Parson James, some repeat listens. But as James first showed the world on Kygo's "Stole the Show," his voice just sounds so good when accompanied by a dreamy electro beat courtesy of Finnish producer Lenno. — Samantha Vincenty

Next: Best Songs We Heard This Week - Kelly Clarkson, Cage the Elephant + More