The Fortnightly Playlist, March 24th, 2024

Oh man, I really love this edition. Really discovering some good stuff lately.

Let’s talk about this new Tennessee Freedom Singers tune. Allison Russel organized this project, and the song features a ton of great artists. Brittany Howard, Brandi Carlile, and Emmylou Harris to name a few. I’ll be watching for more from this project for sure.

I just heard the new Mary Timony album, Untame The Tiger, this week. It apparently dropped back in February, and this is 100% incredible. Had to include this track “No Thirds” with this awesome guitar work weaving through it. I think this is a record that’ll have some staying power with me.

Other favorites this edition include New Age Healers, Metz, Salt Cathedral, and TORRES.

Tracklist:
Brittany Howard – To Be StillNew Age Healers – The Spin Out
Pearl Jam – Running
Mdou Moctar – Funeral For Justice
Les Amazones D’Afrique – Flaws
Salt Cathedral – Terminal Woes
Warpaint – Common Blue
Ghostly Kisses – Keep It Real
TORRES – Artificial Limits
Metz – Light Your Way Home
Waxahatchee – Burns Out At Midnight
Tennessee Freedom Singers – Tennessee Rise
Mary Timony – No Thirds
Little Simz – Torch
Middle Kids – Your Side, Forever
Yard Act – Petroleum
English Teacher – R&B

The Fortnightly Playlist, March 3rd, 2024

I’ve had rock-heavy playlists recently, and there’s just been some really good rock albums out lately. IDLES, TORRES, Sheer Mag, Middle Kids, J Mascis, and a bunch of others just really grabbing my attentions. This edition feels a little more varied. Little Simz, Brittany Howard, Samory I, Ghost Funk Orchestra, Les Amazones d’Afrique, and Duncecap helping balance things out a lot.

Does Brittany Howard sound more like Prince than any other artist making music right now? I mean this in the best way. Brittany makes music in a way that makes me think she can do anything. There aren’t really boundaries on what can sound good when done by her. Funk, prog rock, old school soul/R&B, rock’n’roll, hip hop are just the elements she works with to make Brittany Howard music. This is what makes me think of Prince. He did a ton of different things, and it always came out as Prince. Howard’s new album, What Now, feels like she’s really got a masterpiece. It feels like she’s outdone herself, and I’ve loved her music before now.

Okay, so let’s talk The Joy Formidable. Now this new song actually came out back in September, but I missed it for a bit, and then I wanted to fit in the full version of it. Yes, there is the just-under-4-min version for the radio, but that 15-minute epic version is well worth the listen. The Welsh trio gave us a few singles last year, but whether there is an album coming seems unknown at this point. Their 5th and most recent album, Into the Blue, was released back in October of 2021. Hoping to find out more soon.

Tracklist:
Ghost Funk Orchestra – To The Moon!
Brittany Howard – Power to Undo
Samory I, Lila ike  – Outside
SPRINTS – A Wreck (A Mess)
Car Seat Headrest – We Looked Like Giants
Middle Kids – The Blessings
The Beths, Pickle Darling – Brand New Colony
Omni – INTL Waters
Mega cat – Rat Fight
Les Amazones D’afrique, Alvie Bitemo – Mother Murakoze
Little Simz – Far Away
Duncecap – Thanksgiving
Lime Garden – Pine
Adia Victoria – Went For a Ride
Ducks Ltd. – Harm’s Way
Sheer Mag – Tea On The Kettle
TORRES – Life as we don’t know itIDLES – Monolith
The Joy Formidable – Share My Heat