Jill Barber - "Broken For Good"

I was hesitant at first. I LOVE Barber's voice, but while the breathy style suited itself to her turn as a chanteuse perfectly; when I read that "Broken For Good" "harkens back to the glory days of Motown" I had to pause. Having just listened to "Broken For Good" a half-dozen times in a row, I'm not sure why I ever doubted her. The song is anchored by the bari-sax and Barber's own vocals play out in the lower register of her range and play on her smooth delivery while the backing vocals are contrastingly sharp. Listen to the early highpoint of "but this time" at the 1:09 mark and become convinced that Barber was born for making music like this. If you're not convinced, wait til the 1:30 mark when the strings soars while Barber glides. Fool's Gold will be out June 17 on Outside Music. Can't wait to hear the rest.

HIGHS - "Summer Dress"

It's beautiful outside in Winnipeg and has been for a couple days. Finally feel like we're turning a corner toward summer. THIS song is perfect for right now.

Strand Of Oaks - "Shut In"

While the bass drum is insistent, that gravel-voice emphatic and the guitar a hot squall, what really sells me on this song is the rolling toms followed up by sparse chords pounded out on an old piano at the 2:47 mark. Such a cathartic release after everything builds.

Naomi Shelton & The Gospel Queens - "Sinner"

Don't worry. If there's a hell below, we're all gonna go. Maybe sinners Naomi Shelton & the Gospel Queens can be the house band.

Cold Specks - "Absisto"

She may be encouraging you to simmer down, but after listening to this scorcher that's gonna be difficult. So's the wait til August when this sophomore record drops.

White Lung - "Face Down"

I used to own the same model of Volvo, but in red. And it had a clock with hands and a hand-crank sunroof. Man do I miss that car. It was just about as cool as White Lung.

Fatima - "Do Better"

Maybe she can do better, but you won't do much better than the lead-off track to Fatima's new record, Yellow Memories. Stunner.

Greyhounds - "What's On Your Mind?"

Slept on this one for a minute - Greyhounds new record Accumulator was sent to me week before last, but somehow I just overlooked it in the ensuing days. Put it on this afternoon and I'm hooked. Chances are when you listen to the opener, "What's On Your Mind?" (below) you will be too.

Curtis Harding - "Keep On Shining"

The cover art is pretty accurate. You're going to need a smoke after this album gets done with you. Harding honed his chops backing up Cee-Lo Green, but on Soul Power he comes into his own. Cop "Keep On Shining" below and grab a lighter for afterward.

Billy Moon - Young Adult

"King of the Sun" and "Video Girls" are my Monday jams. It's that and the coffee that are keeping me going today.

Apollo Brown - Thirty Eight

Cancel your plans for the weekend. If you didn't hear this record when it dropped earlier this week, there is nothing you should do beside sit your butt down with a good pair of headphones and this album. I actually posted about Apollo recently, and the Cigarette Burns EP did feature two-tracks that are included on Thirty Eight, but there are eighteen fresh cuts and "All You Know" and "The Answer" are worth listening to again.