TJ Howlett has officially ushered in the heavy, introspective season with his new release, "Easy Street". The Melbourne singer, songwriter, and early-90s grunge veteran bypasses modern polish altogether, choosing instead to steep himself in sultry, slow blues-rock that carries the weight of a smoke-filled room and deep-seated regret. https://open.spotify.com/album/6wLvX4vix5YygVOuQ7039p?si=aasK_0XHSAmhDNLFrh-aUw The title track maps out the murky topography of a rundown dive bar. We are observing melancholic...

Jane Marie enlists the help of Jessica Mia to deliver the private journey promised by the title "Home"—an experience that listeners can only imagine. The symbolic connection of love to the sensation of "coming home" gives the lyrics a nostalgic and accessible quality, as heard in the song. This imagery paints a picture of a welcoming, familiar place, which indicates that the journey of emotions the...