Spring sounds
A new playlist to get you jumping up off your couch
No lie, these last few months have been a slog. It’s been cold, isolating and dark (metaphorically and literally). But the arts will return! While concerts won’t be in full swing this month, they might be by mid-summer. To tide you over while you wait for that first first punk, hip hop or classical concert, here are a few Songs of Spring.
“Writing on Water,” Jen Kearney
Mass. singer-songwriter Jen Kearney spent a few years in London honing her craft and touring Europe. She returned in time for the pandemic to shut down the live music business. She wrote this soul ballad/modern anthem after hearing about what our health care workers were living through. Smart, sad and beautiful, “Writing on Water” serves as a great introduction /reintroduction to a local musician with a towering voice and sharp song craft. Watch out for a new Kearney LP in mid-tolate 2021.
“Whatcha Say,” Chris Walton
This Boston soul ace released a new EP last month and all three groovy tracks deserve a spin. But “Whatcha Say” is a straightup triumph. Walton does a great job riffing on the R&B styles from Sade to John Legend across the EP. But on this standout he gets weird with jazzy keys and drums, a cool-but-danceable beat, some ’70s funk and freaky guitar.
“Last to Know,” Rice Edmonston
Guitar and lots of it! You may know Rice Edmonston as the drummer for Darkbuster, Juliana Hatfield, Stars Like Ours and others. But he also plays guitar, loud, ringing guitar. Oh, and he writes and sings. On his first solo song in two decades, Edmonston puts all of his skills to use on a huge, hooky, washed-in-reverb rock song.
“Better Better,” Devil Love
Guitar and lots of it (again)! Yes, we need even more guitar — these days we need more of anything fun and wild. Devil Love’s new single (with a video coming next month) would work perfectly as a split 7” with Edmonston’s “Last to Know.” It’s just as huge, hooky and full of overdriven electricity. P.S. the whole Devil Love LP, “Broken
Things,” will scratch any indie rock itch.
“THS,” Jon Hope
Rhode Island hip hop artist Jon Hope raps like a scholar, poet and champion.
His voice can bounce through tongue-twisters that reference classic hip hop jams while playing with modern, electro-touched production. Hope’s hope is tempered by reality, bolstered by resilience and full of wisdom. Start here, then dive into new album, “Hope All is Well.”
“Non-Dramatic Breakup Song,” Linnea’s Garden
Linnea Herzog made wonderfully dancy disco punk and completely undancy dirty rock with Powerslut. Now fronting Linnea’s Garden, the singer-songwriterguitarist punches right down the messy middle power pop. with This catchy, one positively bops like an early ’60s sock hop anthem while doing the unimaginable: pulling the drama out of an ending relationship, gasp!