HOT HALF DOZEN 2.29.22

Outsider, 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 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, 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 tape 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

BONUS:  Bola de Cristal by Gaby Lagarda and produced by Ali Stone

About Patrick O'Heffernan

Patrick O’Heffernan is co-host of the LA-based, nationally syndicated weekly program, Music FridayLive! and is a music reviewer for online magazines Vents, The Hollywood Progressive and MusicJunkie. He has also co-hosted a national political talk show, The Fairness Doctrine, and hosted the “Uplinks” media segment on Saturday All Things Considered on NPR. He holds a PhD in International Relations from MIT, has been awarded an Emmy, four Addy’s, and a Webby-Honors, among other awards. He has published 5 books and ghost-written others. A project he co-launched, the North Asia Nuclear Free Zone, was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in 2005. He serves on the Board of Netroots Nation.

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