HOT HALF DOZEN 2.28.22

101 submissions this week

Outsider, an album by Jackie Bristow. A high point among Bristow’s many high points, Outsider blends Americana, rock, blues, urgency, romance, and joy in these 12 songs. Each is a stand-alone jewel and the entire album is an adventure into the heart of a legendary talent. Could be an album of the year. Out this Friday on all platforms.

Call Your Girlfriend, single by Maggie Szabo. Powerful, wrenching, demanding; you cannot tear your ears away from Szabo’s cover of the Robyn song. The pop mistress puts her heart into this devastating ballad and brings us a classic. Stream /download on Spotify, Apple Music. Video on YouTube.

Make It Right, single by Sasami. From her sophomore album Squeeze, this song requires your attention to its lyrics and holds it with the music. Quiet, almost threatening monotone vocals moving in front of deceptively simple-sounding drumming, sound effects, and punkish distorted guitar riffs. Stream on Spotify. Video on YouTube. And check out the whole album. It’s a killer.

Silent Trails is an album by Three Trails West. This album is a kick in the pants.
Fun, funny, and great country in songs like “Swing Me Back to Texas” and “I Get the Blues When It Rains” – It will make you tap your feet and laugh. Available at https://www.3trailswest.com/music.

Lewis, single by Tianna Esperanza. Wow. A powerful partially spoken-word single is an homage to Lewis H. Michaux, the owner of Harlem’s historic African National Memorial Bookstore. The music is hypnotic; Esperanza’s vocals and poetry are compelling. This serves many listens. Download/stream on all platforms, Video on YouTube.

Living for Nothing, single by Militia Vox. The Queen of Darkness joins with the orchestral rock band, The Vaticants in an epic masterpiece anthem for survival. It will pin you to the wall and make you rethink your existence. Song available for streaming March 25; video on YouTube now. Brace yourself