Jordan Rakei, courtesy.

For this week’s Tuesday Tracks, we bring retro symphonic soul by Jordan Rakei, euphoric alt-rock by Good Neighbours, melancholic slice of life portraits by Pedro the Lion and Phosphorescent, moody guitar pop by Victoria Bigelow and electronic soul by Tim Atlas.

Good Neighbours, “Keep It Up” — Let’s kick the week off with a song that sounds straight from 2014. This rousing alt-pop track follows Good Neighbours’ buzzy tune “Home.” Jangling piano chords convey encouragement. Rolling drumming propels the song forward. It sounds sort of like Foster The People or MGMT, but maybe with more handclaps. It’s joyful through and through.

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Victoria Bigelow, “The Kids” — On the chorus of her latest track, Victoria Bigelow’s dusky voice warns us that “kids are not all right.” With an introspective tone reminiscent of Mazzy Star, she gives us glimpses into a child’s life. While the vignettes she paints are shadowy, this song is too upbeat to sound depressing. Upcoming EP Songs for No One Vol 2 is out May 10.

Pedro the Lion, “Modesto” — David Bazan of Pedro the Lion delivers an incisive first-person narrative that makes for an entertaining and earnest song about the city of Modesto. It has lyrics like, “At first I got a vacuum cleaner salesman job/ For men I later recognized in Glengarry Glen Ross.” The chorus is simple and cathartic. I can imagine how Bazan felt when he had his Great Realization about the role that Modesto played in his life. Spoiler: it’s where it all started musically for him.

“Modesto” is taken from Pedro the Lion’s upcoming album, Santa Cruz, out June 7. He’ll also perform in San Francisco at the Chapel on July 23.

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Phosphorescent, “Wide as Heaven” (stripped-down version) — This one is a slow-paced acoustic song that’s as contemplative as it gets. Singer-songwriter Matthew Houck’s voice has been described as a “sun-cracked tenor” and this folky version of “Wide as Heaven” showcases his captivating vocals that so many discovered on “Song for Zula.” He also delivers intriguing metaphors: “Time is a raven/ With a beak of blood.” At times he sounds searching, at other times he sounds wry. The questions he asks are profound. At least, he makes them sound so. His newest Phosphorescent album, Revelator, is out now.

Tim Atlas, “Just A Baby” — Oakland-born singer-songwriter Tim Atlas released this sun-splashed and synth-drenched track with elements of bedroom pop and neo-soul. It sounds inviting, a little funky and very colorful, with flute flourishes and an infectious chorus. Overall, the song feels like a chill summer’s day. This is Atlas’ fifth Tuesday Tracks appearance—a number we like to point out from time to time.

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Jordan Rakei, “Friend or Foe” — We’ve talked about Jordan Rakei before when he blew up at SXSW in 2018. I’ve been a fan of his since I listened to the Tom Misch remix of “Midnight Mischief.” On this track, he proselytizes over symphonic orchestration, including a brass section and choir. The second half of the song is woozy and reminds me of a party winding down. It’s an ambitious track that’s got it all and just works. His new album, The Loop, is set for release May 10.

Sery’s pick: I’m a huge fan of Curtis Mayfield and James Blake, so I get why I was drawn to “Friend or Foe” by Jordan Rakei. This is an excellent song about trying to find peace with those who’ve passed or otherwise left us. It’s a subject to which I think most everybody can relate.