RIP Dolly Parton. She died Tuesday after a brief, private battle with cancer at age 80, at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville, surrounded by loved ones. Her music will always be with us, but we will miss her presence terribly.
My Guitar à la Lee, single by Peggy Lee. My Guitar à la Lee is the opening track on a newly issued five-track digital EP, built around two previously unreleased 1961 versions of “My Guitar” from Peggy Lee’s Quincy Jones sessions. It is a real pleasure, like hearing Lee in miniature: cool, conversational, and with a technically exact Spanish-like guitar. It would be a joy regardless of who sang it, but then… it’s Peggy Lee. Stream on major platforms.
Tu Lunar, single by Lasso. An intimate, nostalgic pop song about regret, memory, and the indelible small details that make a former love impossible to replace, remembered through a birthmark. Musically, it’s well-crafted, tender but not aggressive or adventurous. If you like Lasso – and thousands do – you will love it; if you don’t know him, it’s a great introduction. Stream on major platforms. Spanish
So Hot You’re Hurting My Feelings, single by Squirrel Flower. This version works because it does not try to compete with Caroline Polachek’s original version. This is an indie-rock/bedroom-pop track with a gentle but driving drum and guitars interwoven with her angelic vocals. The song skips the dazzle of the original but is much more intimate, and I think, listenable. Stream on major platforms.
River, single by Ibeyi (French-Cuban sisters Ibeyi). Not a new release but a new discovery for me. It begins in a hushed, ritual space detailed (yes, that’s the best word) with hand percussion, breath, piano, and the sisters’ voices to create an atmosphere closer to ritual sacred dancing than a pop song. But a low-end pulse creeps in, which turns the song into a minimalist R&B crossed with an Afro-Cuban spiritual that feels simultaneously ancient and modern. Remarkable, and listenable. Stream on Spotify and most platforms.
The End, a single by Flora from Kansas. The lyrics tell of a destructive love in a teen-drama breakup song—nothing new for a young rising singer. What is intriguing to me is the contrasting styles in the music. It is guitar-led pop, but it is also a controlled escalation that builds in musical power, adding drums and keyboards. She goes from flat, almost monotone, with layered, self-harmonized vocals to create the illusion of a small choir, and shifts to searing, soaring vocals. She has moved from bedroom pop and shows a great deal of promise. Listen a couple of times, and you’ll be hooked. Stream on most major platforms.
Vertigo, single by Zyanya. The first single from her forthcoming EP, No Se Puede Negar, the song fuses nu metal and pop – an interesting combination that fits the lyrical theme of turning the pain of letting go into a form of recovery. In the end, the combo is alternative-rock/pop, which works well. The drums especially move it along and provide a nice, but not too heavy, texture. The electric guitar gives it a little metal gut- grab. She has a lot of room to grow, but as a first single, this is a great start and one to put on Repeat. Stream on Spotify and major platforms. Spanish.
Estoy Bien, single by Andru. From her forthcoming EP, sonríe. The title is ironic – “I am fine” is what you say when you are definitely not fine. Musically, it is well-polished pop with the kind of vocals and melody that can stick in your head whether or not you understand the words or the irony in the title. I like that it is a texture song rather than the usual pop song with musical flourishes to give you a lyrical payoff. It moves with a fast tempo, but slow and steady enough that you can wash dishes or fix the car while you listen and be happy. Spanish. Stream on major platforms.
