Spoon Benders - “Nation”

The Portland band Spoon Benders released their hard-driving single “Nation” back in May this year, on their album “Dura Mater.” Powered by a riotous guitar pace and the vocals of Katy Black, the song slows the tempo in the middle for a psychedelic transition just long enough to entrance you, before throwing you right back into the sonic mosh pit for the closer.

Bartees Strange - “Boomer”

Bartees Strange takes us on a musical escapade with his single “Boomer.” He developed his musical roots growing up in the Black church in rural Oklahoma, but but embraced secular styles as he got older and eventually moved to Washington, D.C. His DIY approach is on display in the video for “Boomer,” which features him playing every instrument himself while displaying a shifting vocal range that fits perfectly with the changes of musical tone.

Bedouine, Waxahatchee & Hurray for the Riff Raff - “Thirteen”

The Big Star song “Thirteen” has been placed in the hands of Bedouine’s Azniv Korkejian, Waxahatchee’s Katie Crutchfield and Hurray for the Riff Raff’s Alynda Segarra. Together they perfectly capture the delicate tone of the original while adding an additional element with a softer vocal delivery. “We threw the idea around of doing a song together but weren’t sure what,” Korkejian said. “I was backstage in Columbia, Missouri, when I realized it was the anniversary of Big Star’s ’93 reunion show that had also taken place in Columbia. I was fiddling around with the song in my dressing room when Katie and Alynda walked in. Suddenly I remembered there were three verses to split up. We played it as an homage that night and every night after.”