After a brief hiatus, the Monday edition of Take 5 is back! Hopefully everyone is enjoying the spooky month of October so far. It’s a busy time for music and film, which means it’s a busy time here at Substream. If you’re into movies along with your tunes, you should do yourself a favor and check out another of our recurring features, Substream’s 31 Days of Halloween. We have tons of great writers giving you horror movie recommendations for the whole month of October. Speaking of recommendations, let’s get into this week’s selection of songs.
Marilyn Manson – Threats of Romance
The first Take 5 of October wouldn’t feel right without a Marilyn Manson song to kick it off. Manson’s tenth album Heaven Upside Down is one of his strongest, as he utilizes his decades of experience in crafting a fine rock album. The album’s last song, “Threats of Romance,” contains a riff that grabs you immediately, and the lyrics play to Manson’s strength of subverting the traditional tropes of love songs. The guitar solo here also fits within the song without dragging or overshadowing the whole packaging.
Lin-Manuel Miranda feat. Artists for Puerto Rico – Almost Like Praying
We covered this song on Friday, but it bears inclusion in the list. Lin-Manuel Miranda is a songwriter of the highest caliber, so of course the song is good. The inclusion of the bevy of talented Latinx performers spanning multiple generations increases both the song’s emotional impact and its already sky-high quality. If all that isn’t enough for you, the proceeds from the track are going to a great cause, helping Puerto Rico recover. Another thing we mentioned on Friday that bears repeating, you can donate directly to the Hispanic Federation’s UNIDOS relief efforts on their donation page.
Big K.R.I.T. – Keep The devil Off
Big K.R.I.T. has tossed his hat into the ring of October album releases, with his new double album 4Eva Is A Mighty Long Time dropping on October 27. With 22 songs total, the new project will definitely give us new listening material at the end of the month. In the meantime, lead single “Keep The devil Off” is brilliant. Big K.R.I.T. might be one of the most underrated rappers today, and his flow here is incredible. If the title didn’t tip you off, there are also a ton of soul and gospel flairs throughout the track. “Keep The devil Off” has the best hook you’re going to hear this month until the full double album drops.
Yumi Zouma – A Memory
After weeks of anticipation, Yumi Zouma’s new album Willowbank is finally out. In the lead up to the album dropping, the New Zealand group dropped great single after great single. One of the best tracks that didn’t get the single treatment is “A Memory.” The song is one of the strongest examples of what we love about Yumi Zouma: a dance track that will also make you cry. The jumping electronic beeps and fun beat will get you moving physically, and the lyrics about accepting the removal of someone from your life will definitely move you emotionally.
NF, Ruelle – 10 Feet Down
We’re big fans of Michgian rapper NF here at Substream. His new album Perception has been on our radar for a long time, and we’re very happy it’s finally here. It’s tough to pick out just one song to include on this list, but “10 Feet Down” ekes out the spot. It’s NF at his most vulnerable, talking about his mental health, experience with fame, and otherwise sharing his whole world with listeners. It’s well-produced while keeping the rawness that brought fans to NF in the first place. Ruelle provides a stirring and affecting hook to put a bow on top of the whole thing.
