New Music, Emerging from your Local Scene
Squirrel Flower (aka Ella Williams) recently released the first single, "Unravel", from her forthcoming EP, "Planet", which is due out via Polyvinyl on January 28th.
"Unravel" is a cover of the classic 1997 song by Bjork, and was released along with another track from the EP called "Ruby at Dawn".
Williams is planning a tour this Spring that will be taking her across the US and around the world. You can catch her performing at Schubas on February 20th with Christelle Bofale.
Michele Thomas has released the first single and opening track, "No More", from her forthcoming album The Assumption which is due out on January 18th.
This is a blend of Gospel, Soul, and Jazz as Thomas pulls from her roots as the daughter of Preacher to bring forth an inspirational message.
For this project she is joined by Darren Scorza (Drums, percussion & organ), Clark Sommers (Bass), Neal Alger (Guitar), Chris Mahieu (Piano, Rhodes & Wurlitzer), Jeff Hedberg (Trumpet), Chris Greene (Alto & Soprano Saxophones), and Davin Youngs (Background Vocals).
Jordanna has released a new album called "The Full Story". The new project features contributions from Mother Nature, Yasmine Mifdal, and DJ SKOLi, and it pulls together several of her past single with a handful of outstanding new tracks.
One of our favorite tracks on the album, "untitled (chicago)", was released back in October of 2020 and is accompanied by the video below.
Singer and Producer Lance Skiiiwalker has released the second installment in his new EP series, "Tales From The Telescope Chapter 2: Internal Shine"
The five song EP kicks off with a collaboration with his labelmate SiR called "Peso", but the EP’s lead single features a contribution from Mia Gladstone. The new single is called "Save My Number" and is accompanied by the video below.
Camp Edwards recently released a new single and video called "Autumn", and take it from someone who has visited this band’s namesake you must check it out in Autumn.
You can catch Camp Edwards at Schubas on December 29th with The Fundamental Kink and Stellar West.
David M. Stowell recently released his debut full-length album, A Raven In Flight, via Ravenslake Music Productions.
This is filled with vintage electronic rock with several prog rock flourishes. For this project Stowell recuited the talents of David Taylor II and vocalists Lizzie Crowe (of Cheshire Moon), Rhiannon’s Lark, and Sunnie Larsen.
Thomas Comerford has released a new single called "Steel Trap". This is the first new music we had from him since the release of his 2021 album, Introverts.
For this recording he is joined by Dan Ingenthron (bass guitar), Tom McGettrick (pedal steel guitar, electric piano), Kip Rainey (electric guitar), Erik Sowa (drum kit), and Bethany Thomas (voice).
Jon Patrick Penick has released a new festive single called "You, Darling". This is the first new music from singer/songwriter since the release of his 2019 album, All That We Send.
HOT TRACKS/HOT TAKES: Josephine Network “I Feel Like Rain” (release date: 12/03/21)
ELEVATOR PITCH: Donna Summer’s “I Feel Love” meets Sylvester’s “I Need Somebody To Love Tonight” meets Ann Peebles’ “I Can’t Stand The Rain” meets Arthur Russell/Loose Joints’ “Is It All Over My Face?” with a dash of Steely Dan’s “Peg” thrown in for extra flavour—presented to the public with 3 count ‘em 3 alternative mixes available on limited edition cassingle to be found exclusively at Sam Goody’s Records & Tapes and also for order on the Josephine Network’s Glamcamp page (which redirects you to NYC-based “art pop cassingle label” Paris Tapes) if you’re too lazy to hit the mall.
KEY LYRIC: “Your love, your love is like water / one drop and I’m dripping wet”
PAST IS PROLOGUE: For an appetizing sample of Josephine’s pre-solo-artist musical career, check out Velveteen Rabbit’s “I Wanna Be Your Woman” below (sample lyric: “so lemme be your woman / and you can be my woman too”)
MUSICAL PROFICIENCY: Junk shop glam slop. Drag yenta boogie rock. Yiddish-infused power pop. Gently-strummed “AM Gold” soft rock. Keyboard-driven Captain Fantastical melodic bops. Girl-group harmonizing in attractive frocks. And now, blissed-out sunshine-pop disco romps. Who is a Yenta today? https://www.jta.org/2020/02/04/opinion/who-exactly-is-a-yenta-these-days Captain Fantastic:
MORE RECENT WORKS: Josephine’s debut LP Music Is Easy was released in early 2020 on Dig! Records. It’s been described elsewhere as walking “the line between sincerity & camp, with a stellar set of songs that’ll grab every rockin’ lover and true believer in pop music from the last half-century by the ears, rattling whatever’s left in-between them, and restoring their dormant faith in music—with ease and a wink.”
And just this year, in March, also on Dig! Records, Josephine Network released a collaborative album with Hershguy. It’s called Stocky Tunes and on Bandcamp it’s described as “a celebratory rock’n’roll smorgasbord of far-reaching sounds and sonic bedlam…[that doubles] down on the adventurous and genre-shirking spirit of their solo efforts [with] lyrics comprised of ribald Yiddish slang of yore (“Cockamun”, “Punim Pisher”, etc.) beside modernized protest songs of the day (“Walk Out Loud” and “This is Track 11”—FUCK 12!!!)" which as a music journalist who is always looking to report the cold and hard truth, I must point out here is actually track 4 on the record.
IN CLOSING: Personally, this writer wouldn’t mind if Josephine explored a little further down the “I Feel Like Rain” path on a subsequent EP or even a full LP, because this is such a groovy, vibey-yet-upbeat, danceable-yet-introspective, life-affirming tune. But the one thing that we can probably depend upon from Ms. Network is that there’s no telling where she’ll go next musically. And that’s always a good thing for an artist in this writer’s book. (Jason Lee)
R&B vocalist and songwriter Adam Ness has released his debut full-length album, Sagittarius, Vol. 2. The album’s lead single features the assistance of Durand Bernarr and called "Houzkatz".
The Screaming Stars has released his latest album, For The Fallen, the follow-up to 2017’s last of the black-haired, big-eyed girls.
This is the solo project of Tyler Ritter of shalloboi and it finds him exploring to the complex edges of ambient and drone music. This collection was recorded over the last three years in Chicago and Kansas City.
Beach Bunny has released a festive new single called "Christmas Caller". This single comes just weeks after the band’s latest hit single "Oxygen" dropped. You can hear both fantastic songs below.
Lili Trifilio and crew will be performing a sold show at The Riv on December 18th with Miloe and Jodi.
