HOT HALF DOZEN 2.29.22

101 submissions. My favorites this week. Some real stunners this week

 101 submissions this week

Outsider, album by Jackie Bristow. A high point among Bristow’s many high points, Outsider
 blends  Americana, rock, blues, urgency, romance, and joy in these 12 songs . Each is a stand-alone jewel and the entire album is an adventure into heart of a legendary talent.  Could be an album of the year. Out this Friday on all platforms.

Call Your Girlfriend, single by Maggie Szabo .  Powerful, wrenching, demanding; you cannot tear your ears away from Szabo’s cover of the Robyn song.  The pop mistress puts her heart into this devastating ballad and brings us a classic.  Stream /download on Spotify, Apple Music. Video on YouTube.

Silent Trails, album by Three Trails West. This album is a kick in the pants.
Fun, funny, and great country in songs like “Swing Me Back to Texas” and “I Get the Blues When It Rains”   –  It will make you tape your feet and laugh.  Available at https://www.3trailswest.com/music

 Lewis, single by Tianna Esperanza.  Wow.  A powerful partially spoken-word single is an homage to Lewis H. Michaux, the owner of Harlem’s historic African National Memorial Bookstore. The music is hypnotic; Esperanza’s vocals and poetry  are compelling.  This serves many listens.  Download/stream on all platforms, Video on YouTube.

Living for Nothing, single by Militia Vox.    The Queen of Darkness joins with the  orchestral rock band, The Vaticants  in an epic masterpiece anthem for survival.  It will pin you to the wall and make you rethink your existence.  Song available for streaming March 25;  video on Youtube now. Brace yourself

Make It Right, single by Sasami. From her sophomore album Squeeze, this song requires your attention to its lyrics,  and holds it with the music. Quiet, almost threatening monotone vocals moving in front of deceptively simple -sounding drumming, sound effects and  punkish distorted  guitar riffs.  Stream on Spotify.  Video on YouTube. And check out the whole album.  It’s a killer.

BONUS:  Bola de Cristal by Gaby Lagarda and produced by Ali Stone Patrick O’Heffernan