Sometimes, the influence of a certain artist on music developments in general or on a certain genre is only felt in years to come. On the other hand, particularly when we have artists that we can truly label as a genius, their influence is felt almost immediately.
Jimi Hendrix is certainly one case in point of the latter, himself always on the move, always experimenting, changing touches in his music, even if it is an iconic song like his ‘Purple Haze,’ a song that truly gave shape and form to what we now know as psych rock.
Yet, Hendrix, while still around, kept on, moving on, experimenting, changing the shape of his music, and coming up with new things in the unfortunately brief time he was around, something some other artists, no matter how good they are, are not able to do throughout their whole career.
Rob Moose (feat. Brittany Howard - I Bend But Never Break
As a composer, arranger, and producer, Rob Moose is that’ quiet force’ behind many big-name artists Taylor Swift, Paul Simon, Maren Morris, FKA Twigs, Joshua Bell, and The National to name just a few with whom he cooperated, going solo here, with the participation of Howard, another brilliant singer.
Bonner Rhae - Forward Address
To shine in any genre, and this includes country music, particularly as a singer, you have to have quite a brilliant song, yours or somebody else's, and some (often) subtle backing. Bonner Rhae has all those things here.
Mick Fury - Can’t Let Go
Being firmly rooted in the nineties is still not in the vogue at the moment, but Fury is trying hard to change things in that direction, and he bases that on some very solid songwriting and almost impeccable musicianship.
Blurry the Explorer - Angel Ecology
Jeremy Gustin, experimental composer, drummer, photographer, and world-traveler, the man behind this project has some exceptional collaborators here, bassist and composer Ricardo Dias Gomes (Caetano Veloso) was the first musician to join him, followed by guitarist Ryan Dugre (Rubblebucket, Joan As Police Woman), and finally the guitarist and producer Leo Abrahams (Brian Eno, Paul Simon, and the results completely match.
Julie Byrne - Summer Glass
Byrne has seemingly been absent for the last six years, but now she decides to come back in quite a style with some quite subtle (and sublime) take on electro-pop and some excellent songwriting.
Tobin Mueller - Watermelon Man
It is probably very hard to count how many artists covered this Herbie Hancock classic, but arranger/keyboardist Muller can rank among those who did it justice with this take that is so close to the spirit of the original.
Evidence of a Struggle - Alan’s Song
Chicago was and still is one of the post-rock hotbeds, and Evidence of a Struggle is firmly set to keep that tradition with some nifty, intricate guitar work and complex composition style.
Laura Wolf - Paper And Plastic
Cellists (particularly good ones) seem to have quite a penchant for experimenting beyond what some consider the confined field of classical music, and Wolf certainly goes into some uncharted (electronic and vocal) territory here, with excellent results.
Fences - No One
Singer-songwriter Christopher Mansfield, aka Fences, has been making a name for himself as an artist who has a penchant for a great melody that he can transfer into great songs, exactly like this one.
Anthony Savino - Home
If the title ‘Home’ indicates some lo-fi bedroom pop, it is not far away from the truth here, with the lo-fi element taken away and given high-quality tag in front of the bedroom pop one.
JD Pinkus & Tall Trees - Fungal Mountain Breakdown
If the title above is something you can expect from the two guys that are in Butthole Surfers and Kishi Bashi, this combo of dueling banjos might not be, but the thing gets complex with some feedback guitars and the usual studio mastery from Kramer, the guy who produced this one.
Bed - Waves
Shoegaze is alive and very well, and Ebed Moreno and his crew definitely keep the spirit of My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive, Ride, and many other original shoegaze faves quite alive here.
Igly & Hartly - Flash Bang
If you are not sure how you can characterize modern pop rock, Jarvis Anderson and his crew throw in almost everything that went on in pop, put it in a mixer, and hope for the best. This one works.
Joe Bonamassa - I Want To Shout About It
Perennial bluesman Joe Bonamassa keeps on his blue (suede or not) shoes on for this brass-laced upbeat blues workout with his guitar work and vocals shining through the excellent arrangement.
Alabaster DePlume - Child Playing in the Forbidden Ruins
Saxophonist and composer DePlume has immersed himself so deeply in the Ethipiques sound that he is starting to give it his own personal touches, coming up with some incredible stuff along the way, this one included.
Who Is She? - Thursday
Starting out like a Beach Boys intro and then turning the whole thing into some excellent twee pop (with an edge) and you definitely have to pose the question from this band’s name, or vary in into who are they, actually, with very positive connotations in either of the questions.
Liza Anne - Cheerleader
Quite a cool combo between pop, funk, and subtle (or not-so-subtle) rap with some nifty horns in the background. Will definitely work on the dancefloor too.
Saloli - Silhouette
The Kranky label has always come up with some cutting-edge ambient/post-rock artists, and Portland, Oregon pianist/composer Mary Sutton, aka Saloli, well, definitely does it slowly, and great along the way.
Emei - Scatterbrain
If you are not visiting TikTok often or at all, here is a chance to find out what can get you almost ten million listens there. And, yes, in most cases, such a number of listeners cannot go wrong, as they didn’t with this Chinese-American artist.
Ashley Sherlock - Dear Elizabeth
How can you describe a modern singer-songwriter who prefers his (or hers) electric to acoustic guitar? No description is needed, this Manchester guy does it quite effectively with this one.