HOT HALF DOZEN 7.5.22

A little over 100 submissions this week. Here are my favorite six from Jensen McRae to Lou Reed to Miranda Lambert and more

banner: Mereya Ramos

103 submissions this week

The Blue Mask album, by Lou Reed. Lou Reed has been a fixture in American popular music since 1972 with Transformer. The Blue Mask is not a compilation, but rather a confession of the driving forces behind the past 50 years of musical creativity. 12 songs that range from a paean to women to the death of Kennedy. All powerful stuff. Steam on Spotify.

Palamino, album by Miranda Lambert. An intimate, chatty album recorded with Jack Ingram and Jon Randall t on a mountain ridge near Marfa, Texas.  The 15 songs written during the past 6 years  showcase her perfect voice and her brilliant songwriting tht is in its own country universe.  On all major platforms.

Happy Girl, single by Jensen McRae. Mysterious, urgent, beautiful, Jensen McRae is a gem both as a singer and as a poet. Her music – this song in particular – will mesmerize you. It is simply stunning. Stream on Spotify

About Damn Time, single by Lizzo. Get ready to rock and dance because Lizzo will move you as she tells you to turn up the music and turn down the lights because its about damn time that …., This is a classic from a classic. On all major platforms.

Learning the Hard Way, EP by Doris Anahi. This is the  debut EP, due out  July 15 from one of Mexico’s most stunning and beautiful new talents. With a voice and composition tht evokes 1940’s blues clubs touched with romance, she is a unique, lovely  experience. Pre-order on most major platforms.  Spanish

Canción Mixteca by Mereya Ramos with  Haydée Milanés and Gaby Moreno. A dream team performs on this cover a classic song of longing for the motherland. Three voices blend perfectly with the longing, lonliness and grief. Heartbreakingly beautiful.  Spanish. Video on YouTube.

Patrick O’ Heffernan