I changed out my winter tires on Saturday. Therefore, any further cold weather can be blamed on me. I’ll try to make it up with a killer Five Songs You Must Hear list.
1. Kae Tempest, Statue in the Square
Single (American Recordings)
Recommended If You Like: Open mike MC nights
Kae Tempest (formerly Kate Tempest) is first and foremost a poet who has won a series of awards over the last dozen years or so for their seven collections of poetry and spoken word performances. There are also four plays, a novel, a non-fiction book, and at least seven albums. If the groove to this one doesn’t get to you, I don’t know what will.
2. Finn Wolfhard, Choose the Latter
Happy Birthday (AWAL)
RIYL: Stranger Things
The Canadian kid from Stranger Things (and a couple of Ghostbusters reboots) is padding his resume with some solo musical work just like he did with Calpurnia and The Aubreys. The kid has some chops.
3. Flipturn, Rodeo Clown
Burnout Days (Dualtone)
RIYL: No-nonsense rock
Here’s indie rock from Frenandina Beach, Florida. There’s five of them who have already managed to play Lollapalooza, Governor’s Ball, Bonarroo, and SXSW. This single is soft and summery, which is probably welcome right about now. I could see Lana Del Rey singing this.
4. Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs, Glib Tongued
Death Hilarious (Rocket Recordings)
RIYL: Anger and rage
I love this band. Are they psych? Doom metal? Heavy metal? Noise rock? All of the above, if you ask me. The five guys in the band made an awful racket which is perfect for our confused times. You don’t sing along with their songs; it’s more like you scream along to them. Cathartic, this. You may need a few repeated listens, but trust me. These guys are great.
5. CMAT, Running/Planning
BETTER (Arts & Crafts)
RIYL: There’s a little Adele in here
The name? That’s Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, geddit? She’s from County Meath in Ireland and cut her teeth on country music (country is HUGE in Ireland) and has since expanded her sound into other genres. This is from her third album, which is due soon.
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