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...

There is a specific frequency of liberation that Lucia captures in "Take It Off," hitting the ears with the decisive snap of a locked door finally springing open. While the UK artist has a fifteen-year pedigree, spanning stints with Sam Bailey and time behind the piano, this single sidesteps nostalgia for something urgent and strictly present-tense. https://open.spotify.com/track/6NX7Y3Ybp7nESeAr9jTvJm?si=189311ca1af846f1 The track rides on a deep, bouncy rhythmic pulse...