First Listen: New and Missed Music for 17 June 2022

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Artist: Caregiver
Album: Bathing in Yesterday's Fires
Quick Thoughts: Caregiver came into my list late this weekend, and the last thing I expected was to be blown away so quickly. There's an urgency and emotion to this that demands attention, setting it apart from other singer-songwriter fare, and each song feels as memorable as the one before it. Just a wonderful album and another contender for best in recent memory.
Songs of Note: "First Love," "Everything," "Reason," "Myself"

Artist: TDJ
Album: TDJ123
Quick Thoughts: I wanted to highlight this as another album I loved this week, even though it serems more aggressively for me than a lot of other albums. This is a throwback to 1990s-style dance/electronic music, and it more than whets my appetite. If you're here for a good time? Check this one out.
Songs of Note: "Addictive/Predictive," "Live On (Without You)," "Sway (The Places She Goes)," "Lalala (Want Somebody)," "Underwater"

Artist: Silver Lake 66
Album: The Space Between Us
Quick Thoughts: Silver Lake 66 does some honest roots music, and the new album continues along that trend. They're the right level of polish to go along with some very solid songwriting, and I wanted to highlight this one this week because it's really its own country-esque thing. Worth your time.
Songs of Note: "Bun E. Carlos," "I-5 Drifting," "Let Your Heart Break"

Artist: Pharis and Jason Romero
Album: Tell 'Em You Were Gold
Quick Thoughts: I love everything this duo does, and the latest album sings with the same folky trajectory. When these two are on, there are few who can touch them, and songs like "Sour Queen" and "Going to Town" deserve to get more notice. Plenty of room on the bandagon, so check this one out.
Songs of Note: "Sour Queen," "Train on the Island," "Been All Around This World," "Going to Town"

Artist: Pollyanna
Album: Slime
Quick Thoughts: Pop punk at its finest. It's just grungry and abrasive enough to retain its punk rock flavor while providing enough hooks to stick around long after it finishes up. I don't have all that much to say about it, but I didn't want this one lost in the shuffle.
Songs of Note: "Pixie," "Mars," "Pasadena," "Relationship Anxiety"

Artist: Alice Merton
Album: S.I.D.E.S.
Quick Thoughts: Alice Merton is huge in Europe, and this album gives us stateside people a taste as to why. It's great pop music, to be sure, but it has an additional edge to it that makes the listen that much more interesting. "Hero" in particular is a song that I expect will be in heavy rotation for some time. Make time for this.
Songs of Note: "Loveback," "Island," "Same Team," "Blindside," "Hero," "Vertigo"

Artist: Jamie Drake
Album: New Girl
Quick Thoughts: Jamie Drake is a little bit jazz, a little bit pop, a little bit folk, and she moves so effortlessly between the genres that it's often surprising about how well it works. In a busy week, find time for this, and don't let the great production value deter you.
Songs of Note: "Easy Target," "It's a Wonderful Life"

Of note:

* RY X - Blood Moon (Bon Iver-esque.)
* Horse Jumper of Love - Natural Part (Some great moments throughout.)
* Bartees Strange - Farm to Table (Great melodic efforts here.)
* The Dream Syndicate - Ultraviolet Battle Hymns and True Confessions
* Deliluh - Fault Lines
* Foals - Life is Yours
* J Rocc - A Wonderful Letter
* Shoko Igarashi - Simple Sentences
* Flasher - Love is Yours
* Old Moon - Cities of the Plain
* Time Wharp - Spiro World

EPs:

* Harvey Causon - Vertebrae
* Girl Ultra - EL SUR
* Kassi Valazza - Highway Sounds
* The Bobby Lees - Hollywood Junkyard
* The Goddamsels - Wayward Daughter
* Revelators Sound System - Revelators
* 0171 - Welcome Back to My Channel
* Retirement Party - Retirement Party
* Eli Olson - Midnight Show
* Hazel English - Summer Nights
* Jillette Johnson - Normal Kid
* Auntie Flo & Sarathy Korwar - Shruti Dances
* Kassi Valazza - Highway Sounds
* Amy Dabbs - Four Track Mind EP

Live albums/Compilations/Reissues:

* Tirzah - Highgrade
* Air Texture VIII

Also out:

* Duke Deuce - CRUNKSTAR
* Hercules & Love Affair - In Amber
* Erica Banks - Diary of the Flow Queen
* Logic - Vinyl Days
* Perfume Genius - Ugly Season
* ZORA - Z1
* Sound of Ceres - Emerald Sea

On Repeat...

Liam Kazar - "Shoes Too Tight"

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Photo by Alexa Viscius This may be Liam Kazar's debut single, but the Chicago based musician already has an impressive resume, having worked with Jeff Tweedy, Chance the Rapper, Steve Gunn, Daniel Johnston, and others. "Shoes Too Tight" features childhood friend Spencer Tweedy on drums, Lane Beckstrom on bass, and Ohmme on vocals. It's an absurdly fun and groovy little song that is a party waiting to happen. What he gives us here is a timeless song that could truly have been released any time since the 1960's (ok... maybe not the 80's...) There are elements of classic rock, 60's crooners and R&B, indie rock, modern Americana... it's really just packed with everything in a cohesive song that maintains the vibe the entire way through. You can watch the video for "Shoes Too Tight" below. For more on Liam Kazar, check him out on Instagram and Twitter . He's also raising money on his Bandcamp for Constellation and The Hungry Brain. ...
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Dutch ReBelle - "GOONIEZ"

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How is Dutch ReBelle not a national superstar at this point? The Boston MC just released "GOONIEZ," and I know I'm a bit out of touch with current mainstream hip hop, but this song is absolutely killer. It's a stripped down hip hop song that has this futuristic space age sound to it. Plus, ReBelle's flow is unsurpassed. You can't listen to her and not be completely sucked in. The song has a feel reminiscent of classic Missy Elliott. As much as I love that we can still see Dutch ReBelle in smaller Boston venues, "GOONIEZ" proves she should be playing much larger venues nationwide very, very soon. You can watch the video for "GOONIEZ" below. For more on Dutch ReBelle, check out the artist's website . 
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The Freqs - "Witch"

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Photo via Facebook When you're a rock band from Salem, MA, you have to have at least one song about witchcraft. The Freqs have fulfilled their obligation with a banger of a song. "Witch" is this giant monster of a song, filled with fuzz and strained, screaming vocals. This is the type of song that doesn't usually exist in this century. It's giving me some serious 90's flashbacks, like if Hum got aggressive or Alice in Chains decided to do some damage on the college charts. As great as the vocals are in "Witch," what's really drawing me in is the instrumental break down that takes over about halfway through. This is the kind of song to make the hipsters and the headbangers equally excited. You can listen to "Witch" below. For more on The Freqs, check out the band on Facebook and Instagram . The Freqs · Witch
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