Music

Missy's Music Picks for May

St. Vincent - Daddy's Home

Annie Clark, aka St. Vincent, is a formidable alternative rock talent. She writes great songs, is an emotive singer, and can play the guitar amazingly well. She has cultivated her unique sound over several albums, honing her craft. Daddy's Home was inspired by the release of her father from prison in 2019, and was again produced in collaboration with Jack Antonoff.

Van Morrison - Latest Record Project Volume 1

Available as both a single or double deluxe album set, Van's latest finds him in typically cantankerous form, railing against all manner of things in the post-COVID world. One may balk at wanting to hear his venom, but Morrison's trademark stew of rock, jazz, soul, and R&B (and featuring a large, tight band with a horn section) makes it all go down smoothly.

The Black Keys - Delta Kream

The duo of Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney seemingly can do no wrong. With a string of critically lauded, commercially successful, and much adored records, the Black Keys return to their roots. Covering the songs of Mississippi Hill Country blues musicians R.L. Burnside, Junior Kimbrough, and others, the band gets primal, raucous and earthy.

Rhiannon Giddens with Francesco Turrisi - They're Calling Me Home

Recorded over the past year in Ireland during lockdown, Giddens’ and Turrisi's latest focuses on the dual themes of missing home and mortality. The material they chose to record covers folk, classical, Italian lullabies, and more. While the subject matter may seem bleak, the pair shine brightly via Gidden's soaring vocals and the multi-instrumental skills of Turrisi.

Weezer - Van Weezer

Long time indie rock darlings Weezer return with a record that changes direction a bit: instead of jangly guitars and melodic, singalong choruses, they explore fuzz and eighties period heavy metal tones. The title being an obvious tip of the hat to Van Halen, one might assume the record to be an homage of sorts to their late, legendary guitarist, Eddie Van Halen.

Lucinda Williams - Runnin' Down a Dream: A Tribute to Tom Petty

With the 2017 passing of Tom Petty, America lost one of its most potent songwriters. Lucinda Williams pays tribute to the icon with a collection of his songs, some well known, along with some deep cuts, and featuring her crack team of musicians. This is the first album in a series called Lu's Jukebox that focuses on songwriters that Williams reveres.