Hello and welcome! Are you unable to contain your excitement for the holidays? Do you need something to make you stop thinking about what presents you’ll be (maybe) getting? Then welcome to V’s new music round-up, where we tune you into some of the week’s biggest and best releases, whether they be singles or albums.

Here’s this week’s top picks:

Music to Be Murdered By – Side B by Eminem

Another surprise album from Slim Shady himself, his second of 2020, giving Taylor Swift a run for her money. The album serves as an extension of his earlier Music to Be Murdered By, featuring 36 tracks (!) and several guests like Dr. Dre, Ty Dolla $ign, and Skylar Grey. With Eminem, rest assured, you’re getting a few tales with these new tracks.

McCartney III by Paul McCartney

Sometimes, legends aren’t able to sustain over time. And sometimes, they’re Paul McCartney, and they’re able to consistently produce exhilarating new music. The third in his McCartney series (coming 50 years after his debut McCartney), the album was recorded during lockdown and features complete instrumentation via the artist himself.

“Better Off Dead” by jxdn

From TikTok to Spotify, jxdn has been able to handle the transition a lot better than some other artists, especially with more vulnerable tunes like this one. This alt-pop song talks about a relationship that brings out the worst in the singer and how it messes with their head, and features Lauv and blackbear as songwriters and Travis Barker on drums.

“World” by Lonr.

“I just want the world to know,” Lonr. sings/raps on this tune, part confession, part pump-up anthem. Taking a trap beat and adding a lot more emotional heft to it, the singer-songwriter continues on the trend of darker, more open-hearted tracks for the season. Where are all the holiday jingle-jangles?

“Last December” by Good Charlotte

There we go! Good Charlotte returns with their first bit of new music in two years. The timing of the track coincides with the 20th anniversary of the release of their self-titled debut record and is fittingly introspective, looking back at all the regrets and things we’ve lost while also feeling grateful for the life we have.

“2020 Christmas” by Dominique

So keeping the darker Christmas themes in mind, this particular song listens like a Christmas and Halloween mash-up, one that gets real about how the holiday this year probably isn’t that optimal for a lot of people. The singer and producer brings sinister sounds and traditional Christmas bells and whistles to a song that shouldn’t work but does effortlessly so.

“Build a Bae” by Muni Long ft. Young Bleu

Don’t get it twisted, Muni Long needs for you to have the credit scores and essentials necessary to give her the kind of life she wants, and that’s what she strives to embody in “Build a Bae.” A song rampant with luxury and excess, it features Long’s confident flow and a build-a-bear theme that should be the main selling points.