Rumberas, album by Las Migras. This is not so much an album as it is an adventure, a trip through many musical landscapes and flamenco environments. Las Migras – Carolina Fernández “La Chispa”, Marta Robles, Alicia Grillo, and Laura Pacio – bring together a variety of great singers like Rosalyn and Viva Sucia and Loli Morena in eclectic and powerful styles that fuse rumba, flamenco, fusion, world music and traditional music, and love song. This is the groups sixth studio album, and shows us why they have three Latin Grammy nominations. Stunning. Available on Spotify and most major platforms. Spanish.
Jericho, single by Mindy Smith. Dream country with twangy guitars and out-there lyrics, travelling on a swirling sea of spooky riffs, background singers, and swinging, swaying effects. The result is amazing, hypnotic, driving, urgent, comforting. Brilliant writing, production and performance. If you don’t know country, this is a great place to start – you will be forever hooked. Stream on all major platforms.
Quirnsave, album by El Dusty. El Dusty has a way with rap and hip hop that is unique. It is melodic, clear, and familiar, like old shoes. This album is the Salinas, CA, based Cumbia Urbana group, in a collaborative remix project with El Dusty titled “Reanimación.” Even though you may not understand the Spanish, you will know what the subject is. Fun and definitely for repeat. Stream on Spotify and major platforms. Spanish.
Me Hiciste Quedar Mal, single by iLe. iLe’s first solo single since the release of her acclaimed album ‘Nacarile. which included the Latin GRAMMY-winning single “En Cantos. This time she is layering her smooth lyrics over a melodic structure that adds accents and sparkles to her story, moved along by a persistent but gentle beat. She holds you with the lyrics and then moves you to the next line with her chorus. Really brilliant the way she can put a soft, yet unbreakable hold on your ears. Spanish. Stream on Spotify and major platforms.
Impossible Dream, album by Aaron Lazar and many friends. A little Broadway music if you please. The Impossible Dream is a benefit album for actors and others with ALS and it features a stellar cast led by singer Aron Lazar with Christine Noll, Kristin Chenoweth, Lin-Manuel-Miranda, Josh Groban, Kris Angelis in the choir, and many more. If you love Broadway, you will love it, and even if you don’t, it’s fun. Stream on Spotify and major platforms.
Protection, single by Colin James (ft Lucinda Williams). Solid, perfectly done, good old-fashioned blues – mostly. The addition of Lucinda Williams’s female vocals gives it a second dimension and a little more “blues urgency”. This is one you can put on repeat for the day. Stream on major platforms.
BONUS. Public playlist on Spotify. Cardinals at the Window, album of 100 songs by 100 artist
