Last updated on February 16, 2022
1. “Look See” – Ryan Dugre. A delicate, mysterious acoustic guitar rumination that (I swear this is a compliment) sounds like a six-string version of a Legend of Zelda jam. Highly recommended.
2. “White” – I Just Came From the Moon. This is a fluid, effortless mash-up of ambient, trip-hop and jazz that ends up sounding like a thoughtful post-rock piece. Lots of attention was paid to getting the tension and pensiveness just right.
3. “The Prophets in the City (Arrival, Balance, Discipline, Joy)” – The Bogie Band ft Joe Russo. A blood-pumping mix of jazz, hip-hop horns, funk, and groove. This is 8:46 of 100% work from this crew, a never-stops-going collaboration that gives and gives.
4. “Moving Further Than Before” – Talmont. Triumphant horns, hip-hop drums, funky bass, and more create a swirling, enthusiastic vibe. Martha Gibbons’ powerful voice is the cap on the excellent track, giving it an old school soul feel.
5. “The Bell Tolls for You” – J.D. Wesley. The raw soul of singer Wesley weaving his heart through “The Bell Tolls For You” generates a magnetic pull into the monochromatic universe that producer, engineer, and videographer Tyrone Corbett of Corbett Music Group creates. A multifaceted industry veteran, Corbett and fellow songwriters Clarence Penn and Joseph Guida collaborated on this track of haunting lyricism: both transcendent and hopeful. Like Sam Cooke’s “Change is Gonna Come,” Wesley’s spiritual vibe elevates the already outstanding imagery in this track. –Lisa Whealy
6. “Baby’s Breath” – Great Lakes. Warm, comforting alt-country that evokes the great early Dawes records. The vocals are earnest and easy. The guitar tones here are just absolutely perfect. The backline thrums excellently. It even has a magnificent guitar solo! What more can you ask for in an alt-country song?
7. “Radium Girls” – Charming Disaster. Elia Bisker and Jeff Morris return to grace the universe with their eclectic artistry: this one a danse macabre wrapped in stunning theatrics that elevate the poetic musicality. The duo teases audiences with this delightful immersive experience from the upcoming album Our Lady of Radium. The Marie Curie-inspired, stop action-type animated feel the video portrays lends itself to a horror story feel. The clock’s incessant time-keeping partnered and juxtaposed against a simple bass line points out how each moment slips past us, despite our frantic efforts to show up. Look for all of Bisker and Morris’ projects here: Charming Disaster | Funkrust Brass Band | Sweet Soubrette. –Lisa Whealy
8. “Manatee” – Russ Kaplan+7. An elegant, complex piano composition that balances composerly attributes with the songwriter’s ear for melody.
9. “Ode to Joy – Recomposed” – Nick Box, Alicia Enstrom. A beautiful, unexpected composition that leads the listener on an orchestral three-minute journey before announcing the triumphant, iconic theme.
10. “Comfortable Loneliness” – Hello Meteor. I’m not sure if vaporwave has a positive or negative connotation anymore, but I love the stuff. The faux-classy synths indicative of vaporwave meet serious Teen Daze-esque chillwave vibes for a very good time. Very relaxing and lovely.
11. “Angel” – DJ Python. 10 minutes of subtle groove with flecks of tropical house, ’80s synth, vaporwave, and more. Carefully rides the line between dance and meditation. Or: why not both?