HOT HALF DOZEN. March 15, 2022

205 submissions this week

The Sun Is Shining Down, album by John Mayall. As classic blues as they get as only Mayall can do it. The album features Mike Campbell of the Heartbreakers, Marcus King, Buddy Miller, Carolyn Wonderland, Scarlet Rivera, Jake Shimabunkuro, and Melvin Taylor. Stream or buy on all major platforms.

Classic Objects, an album by Jenny Hval. Norwegian singer/songwriter creates a pop album that is both intriguing and hypnotic.  Each song is a stand-alone classic, but the entire 8-song album is a body of work that will last. Stream on Spotify and all major platforms.

Hola Impostora, single by Francisca Valenzuela. Francisca goes funky, Latin style. Wow! This song rocks and rolls, flirts, seduces,  and grabs you by the collar, and makes you dance. Stream on Spotify, Apple Music, deezer, and Tidal

Oro Negro, single by Andrezka. Black gold is the oil of her native Venezuela, but in her song, it is the immigrants and their creativity and culture.  At once mysterious and urgent, it delivers a powerful message with steel drums, overdubs synths, and flutes, and her direct, powerful voice Buy, stream on all major platforms;  video on YouTube.

Finish Line. Video and single by Elton John and Stevie Wonder. From his 2021 # one album The Lockdown Sessions, Elton John and Stevie Wonder share the music video for their collaboration ‘Finish Line’,  recorded in 1977.  Just as good today as the day it was cut.  Available everywhere.

Misery and Gin, single by Layla Tucker.  Covering  Merle Haggard is always risky, but especially so for a woman in country, even Tanya Tucker’s daughter. The 22-year-old Tucker pulls it off and pays tribute to her hero and friend so beautifully that I think Merle would have loved it. I certainly do. Download/stream on all major platforms

BONUS.  Penelope by Flor de la Toloache on the  Floracita Rock -ERA album.  The Latin
Grammy-winning mariachi does it again, this time in a kind of languorous Latin R&B. 

SPECIAL NOTE: Riot Fest launches online sales to raise funds for Ukraine. 100% of the proceeds donated to two organizations supporting life-saving measures in Ukraine. https://riotbrand.org/  And Crudos 2.0 produced a bilingual theme of protest and empowerment in support of the Ukrainian people entitled RESISTE UKRAINE, available on all platforms