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...

Can a winding river be hopeful? By its very nature, it doesn’t know where it might encounter calm, rapids, or an abrupt tumble into the abyss of a waterfall. Yet, as I pressed play on Jacre's latest offering, "Just Hold On", I’m reminded of rivers with their relentless journey—steady but vibrant, deliberate yet turbulent, all flowing toward eventual peace. This single pulses with that...