HOT HALF DOZEN 9.27.23

From Black Pink to a Tiny Desk Concert with J Noa, we have 6 great songs from over 240 submitted this week

245 songs albums, videos submitted this week for review

_{Banner: J Noa and her band recording at NPR}

Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, single by Black Pink.  BP has hit it out of the park again. High energy/soft touch bass groove,  rising melodies and their usual personal story lyrics and lush spot-on production. Fun and addictive to listen to.  Stream on all major platforms

Tenochtitlán, single by Mon Laferte. After a long intro, LaFerte gets down to it in this song named after the Aztec capital of Mexico. Her soaring voice rides a moving jazzy beat and choir-like backup, electronic elements and even samples taking you through an adventure of self-value and societal evaluation. The song move through several sophisticated changes and personal conversations with you . The effect is energetic and surreal, as only she can do. Stream on all major platforms. Spanish.

Keep Up, single by Go Betty Go.  The influential Latina punk quartet has released its first music   since 2015, and the first since guitarist Betty Cisneros’ cancer diagnosis.   Their precise musical talent, especially in percussion, is as good as ever. They have smoothed out some of their rougher punk edges while upping the energy level. And of course, the lyrics are pointed and personal.  Video on YouTube; stream on all major platforms.

Lo que No Hablas, single by Rubio. “Rubio” is  the artistic experiment of renowned Chilean artist, drummer and producer Francisca Straube. Lo que No Habla combines her softly feminine vocals with experimental forms and electronic accents in a gentle, almost jazz-like song that grabs you with hooks and an electronic drum beat and rising crescendo and solo guitar. Magnificent. Video on YouTube. Stream on Spotify. Spanish.

 Crumble, single by The National ft. Rosanne Cash.  From the indie band  The Nationals’ Laugh Track album, “Crumble” is a melding of alt-county  and  romantic ballad. The addition of Rosanne Cash’s female voice contrasts to the deep male county voices for a perfect blend. Emotional, addictive. Stream on all major platforms.

MONO, album by K.Flay.. K.Flay is an acquired taste but with the listening time, a good one to acquire. She approaches the world from a unique perspective and keeps that perspective in her music. The LA-based singer, now deaf in one ear, plays with words and phrases like puzzle games in her lyrics while encasing them in other worldly – or maybe just inner worldly – electronic scaffolding. The opening song,  “Are You Serious” deals with the discovery of her deafness,  and expresses the frustration many of us feel with modern corporate medicine. From there, she traverses a landscape that borders on punk, slips into pop-rock,  but always remains unique. Listen and learn.  On major platforms.

Tiny Desk Concert by J Noa. A 17-year old Dominican rapper moves her words with speed, grace and confidence. This is a unique video recorded in NPR’s Tiny Desk closet-sized studio crammed with her 9-piece band. She is a rising talent with skill far beyond her years.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwDRLLPuOA4.

Patrick O’Heffernan