Some songs grab you by the collar, but "Not Country Enough For You" sneaks up on you. It starts quiet, almost hesitant, before wrapping around you like a heavy blanket. The immediate vibe is one of late-night introspection, the kind of feeling you get when you are driving alone with the windows down and nowhere to be. It is a track that demands your attention...

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...