Country/Folk – Concert: 12/20 – Chris Young @ Toyota Oakdale
Max McNown, one of my new favorite artists and someone who has featured on this weekly in the past, released a brand new EP titled “Both Sides of the Blade (EP)” this weekend. The project, consisting of 10 songs, is basically a brand new album for the up-and-comer. McNown is no stranger to releasing EPs. According to Spotify, he has recorded multiple. I discovered McNown a couple of years ago with his first EP, “A Lot More Free,” but didn’t dive into his music until his early 2025 album “Night Diving.” Off that album, I loved the title track, but I also loved “Better Me For You (Brown Eyes),” which has quickly ballooned to one of his most popular songs. My personal favorite song from McNown is his newest rendition of “Turned Into Missing You,” which features Avery Anna, one of my personal favorites. The song might even end up in my top five for Spotify Wrapped. McNown is no stranger to frequent releases either, as this year alone he has put out two albums, seven singles, including the Anna feature, and this most recent EP. He adds all that on top of the two albums and one EP he released in 2024. He seems to be all about getting a ton of new music out for his new fanbase, as he has quickly become one of the most-streamed names in the genre, with nearly 10 million monthly listeners. As for the EP itself, it seems like a lot of the same from McNown. His voice is infectious, and it helps make his music the same way. Some of my personal favorites included the title track, “Window In The Wall” and “From Me To You.” There is also a sweet song titled “97,” where McNown sings about growing old, and what people’s perception of him is going to be if he gets to reach the title age. It’s a meaningful song about growing up, getting older and not caring about others’ perception of you, which are all things people struggle with. In the very near future, I plan to do a true deep dive into all of his music, just like the new entry. I have a feeling I will like or love nearly all of his songs, as his voice is just that good, and his lyrics are even better.
Jessie Murph is one of the most controversial names in the genre. She and her music are very suggestive, scandalous and not for the faint of ear. But in the wider country community, she is still considered a part of the genre, despite her sound that bends pop/rap and country. After releasing “Sex Hysteria,” her third album in two years, this weekend she put out a deluxe edition, featuring eight brand new songs. I have known of Murph for about a year now, as her songs “High Road” with Koe Wetzel and “Wild Ones” with Jelly Roll were frequently on country radio. However, I never listened to her music. So, when she released “Sex Hysteria,” I decided to do a deep dive into all of her music, listening to her entire discography in one afternoon. Though a lot of the songs on her old album were not my favorite, I was able to find some gems. Mainly “Someone In This Room (feat. Bailey Zimmerman) on “That Ain’t No Man That’s the Devil,” and “The Man That Came Back” on “Sex Hysteria.” This deluxe is a lot of the same. There are some songs I like, and some I don’t particularly care for. I really like “Wildflowers and Wine,” “Outside” and “Certain Kind of Love,” and I don’t care for “Forever (feat. 6LACK) and “No Chance.” Murph sings a lot about her mother, both in “The Man That Came Back” and “Wildflowers and Wine.” The way she paints in the songs is that she was a single mother with an abusive husband, and she overcame a lot to see Murph succeed. You can tell songs like these have a lot of meaning to Murph, which I can appreciate. A very solid deluxe to a very solid original album, and I’d bet some of these songs will become very popular among her fans.
In my hunt this fall to find artists that sound and have similar-ish music to Zach Bryan that aren’t Zach Bryan, two of the names I found were Sam Barber, who I now love, and Kashus Culpepper. Relatively new to the country scene, releasing his first music to streaming in 2024, Culpepper has one of the most unique voices in the genre, and it’s one I LOVE. His voice is raspy, like Bryan’s, and his music totally fits what I was looking for this fall. Like Murph, I have known Culpepper for about a year now, and I’m honestly surprised it took me this long to really dive into his music. “In Her Eyes” is really, really good. His voice really shines in the song, which I appreciate, and I think it’s one of the best he’s released yet. The song is yet another single off his upcoming album “Act 1.” The album’s tracklist is already up, and it features 18 songs, eight of which have already been released. When the album drops early next year, it will likely end up on the weekly, so stay tuned.
Global – Concert: 12/22 – Ireland with Michael LIVE @ Timothy Dwight College (New Haven)
“Little Miss” taking over your playlist is here! GIRLSET has made their first comeback since their rebrand debut with Commas, and we are LOVING the new vibe! The girls radiate a sense of confidence and maturity that truly shows the work they’ve put in to get this far. Bringing back the early 2000s girl group energy in full force, “Little Miss” has the catchy vocals and the addictive dance to loop its way into our Spotify Wrapped with only a month left! JYP has mastered the art of marketing a new song by giving us the teaser a whole two weeks before the song is released to build suspense and excitement. The song and dance became a huge trend across TikTok, reaching far past the initial K-pop fandom that JYP is known for, with other global groups like Say Now participating in the dance. A fun play on the British brand from the 1980s, Mr. Men, the memes following “Little Miss __” made a rise within the past two years, and GIRLSET had the perfect opportunity to bring it back into the spotlight with their latest single.
Following the release of his single “DIVE IN” back in September, Nonso Amadi has made his full EP release under the name “TO CRY A FLOOD.” With six songs, including “DIVE IN,” Amadi has made his 2025 release a heart-stopping array. Across the project, he leans into warm percussion, soft falsetto lines, and minimalist production that highlights his songwriting. The EP moves between reflective slow-burn tracks and brighter, rhythm-driven moments, creating a cohesive sound that feels both global and deeply personal. It’s a strong showcase of Amadi’s evolution as an artist and an easy fit for late-night playlists or genre-blending sets.
Swedish Singer-songwriter Skott has made her return with “Edge of the Earth,” an indie-pop song that has an ethereal and dreamy feel to it. The song speaks of an undying love that waits through any kind of circumstance to be reconnected. This is my first discovery of Skott, but her enchanting and soft vocal tone is one that reminds me of Faye Webster or dodie in a way. I would 100% recommend this song to anyone who is a fan of Hozier; it fits a similar vibe to the “Wasteland, Baby!” album, with a unique twist to it. “Edge of the Earth” is the kind of song you would hear in an animated or fantasy film, and sounds like everything out of Booktok’s dreams for a soundtrack. Most popular for her song “Overcome,” released in 2022, Skott has been releasing dreamy and magical music for almost ten years, and not a single album cover is anything less than a stained-glass masterpiece. Her artistry shines through all aspects of her music.
In a world of artists trying to conform to the trending sound, it is comforting to see an artist like Oscar Maydon embrace his own style and mold it to keep fans wanting more. “Me Amola” is a song about a girl who is so caught up in your head that you cannot help but be annoyed and excited. The lyrics talk of an exciting experience where you are so in love that you cannot even decide what to do with yourself. Maydon is an artist who hails from Mexicali, Mexico, and made his musical debut in 2020. His debut, a single titled “De La Nació,” caught the attention of Latin fans and music lovers alike before signing with Rancho Humilde in 2021 and releasing his debut studio album “GXLE.” Since then, he has released two other albums, “DISTORSIÓN” in 2023, and “Rico o Muerto: Vol 1” this past June. With the release of “Me Amola,” a potential new chapter opens for Maydon, and I am excited to see where it takes him.
Oldies – Concert: 2/7 – An Evening with Bret Michaels @ Mohegan Sun
November 15th, 1992
It is my honor to introduce everyone to a band possibly known as a one-hit-wonder, Ween, with their third album, the first to be professionally produced at Elektra, “Pure Guava.” This album, while still being true to themselves, the best friends Dean and Gene Ween (not their real names) from Pennsylvania kept the bedroom-experimentalist style and had a single US hit off this album, “Push Th’ Little Daisies.” Arguably, a screamo-adjacent band at one point really shows the extreme pushes of genre limits and really how weird they can get music to sound, but they pull most of it off with their electric drum beats, synth, and badly tuned guitars. Between the hyper-energetic bass pulses, there is some tenderness, like the song “Sarah,” which is shoegaze and spacey, and “Loving U Thru It All,” although spooky, has sweet lyrics, “Springtheme” reminds me of Erykah Badu, and even Appalachian folk with “I Saw Gener Cryin’ In His Sleep.” Unfortunately, there is a ton of barely listenable music like “Mourning Glory” that has so much static and hiss that it’s not distinguishable. This album can come off as very nonsensical and maybe even deranged to those who listen to select songs, but underneath all this experimental sound, which sounds like it came out of a basement. Its pop underlays are perfectly constructed, but are so foreign to the music world that they can be thought of as alien-like. Unfortunately a lot of the bands that I have talked about in the past have had to sacrifice some of themselves for commerciality and fame, but Dean and Gene double down on their originality, and in their future albums they funnel their uniqueness into more polished and ambitious albums, and even their most famous song, “Ocean Man” came out of them being able to test and dip their toes into so many genres. A lot of Ween’s albums are abnormally long, their debut album having 29 tracks and Pure Guava at a more reasonable 19. I recommend “Big Jilm,” “Don’t Get 2 Close (2 My Fantasy),” “Sarah” and “Reggaejunkiejew.”
November 16th, 1987 (dance-pop/ new jack swing)
38 years ago, Pebbles dropped the backup singer gig and stepped into her own spotlight with her debut, Pebbles. She had L.A. Reid (who she would later marry for 7 years) and Babyface produced her first album before they were household names in the 1990s as an iconic producing R&B duo because of her connections she had made as a singer in the funk band Con Funk Shun. This debut album had two top-five hits in the U.S., “Girlfriend” and “Mercedes Boy,” which were ahead of their time and hypnotized audiences with her producers’ mix of 80s soul and 90s use of R&B and polishedness that bridges the two decades perfectly. After her commercial success, however, she founded her own production company, Pebbitone, and signed a girl group called TLC in the early ‘90s and turned them into diamond-selling artists in only two years. After TLC filed for bankruptcy in 1995 (they survived this), fired Pebbles as their manager, and she got divorced from L.A. Reid, she left the music industry and found religion and founded Women of God Changing Lives Through Christ, and dropped a Gospel album 13 years after her break, “Prophetic Flows” Vols. I & II. Now a minister and using her musical talent to preach, we look back on how she set the stage for Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, and other hidden/background singers and talent to shoot for the stars and take the chance solo. Although the music industry is cruel and has left its mark on many people, like Perri “Pebbles” Reid, she is an example of a fiery talent that made her stardom, paved the way for others, and exited her life of fame to find another purpose for her voice. The whole album is only 10 songs of some of the best ‘80s beats, but if you want to hear the highlights, then I recommend “Two Hearts,” “Mercedes Boy,” “Love/Hate” and “Girlfriend.”
November 15th, 1990 (hard/alt rock)
After they released their second (and my favorite) album, “Ritual de lo Habitual,” Jane’s Addiction solidified their spot as Los Angeles alternative icons with Dave Navarro’s headlining riffs and solos combined with the vocal fry of lead Perry Farrell, outlining the future of ‘90s rock. They released “Been Caught Stealing” as a single three months after the album release and released a music video in 2009. The album is split in half, tracks 1-5 being unrelated hardcore rock songs, and the last four being in memoriam of Perry Farrell’s girlfriend, Xiola Blue, who died of a heroin overdose at 18, and one dedicated to his mother committed suicide when Farrell was four. This fact is one of the reasons that he connected to Navarro, as his mom was murdered when he was a teenager. This led to the solidification of Navarro, which would contribute to the group’s success. However, after many members of the group took their break, having their issues with heroin, and even complications from long COVID, the original lineup of Farrell, Navarro, Avery, and Perkins played Bush Hall in London in May of 2024, their first time performing together since 2010. Until September of last year, when Farrell pushed and punched Navarro on stage in Boston, leading to the cancellation of the Bridgeport show as well as the rest of the tour. In May of this year, Navarro said there was no chance the band was reuniting, and this led to him, Avery and Perkins suing Farrell for assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, and breach of contract for $10 million this July. Farrell then filed a countersuit for bullying, assault and battery and for “harassing him onstage during performances,” and libel for telling the media that he is an alcoholic and suffering from poor mental health. That’s the present of Jane’s Addiction right now, but their musical past stays pristine, and honestly, nothing could ruin this album, no matter what the bandmates are doing now.
Hip-Hop/R&B – Concert: 1/16 – Keyshia Cole @ Toyota Oakdale Theater
Tee Grizzley released a new album titled “Street Psalms” this past week, and honestly, it’s such an impressive drop. The project includes 20 tracks and runs 57 minutes long, which is basically a full-course meal in today’s rap game. Only two tracks include features, with Polo G and Rod Wave stepping in as perfect complements to Grizzley’s heavy and emotional storytelling style. My personal favorite is “In My Life,” a track that leans into that introspective, reflective tone Tee Grizzley does so well. Throughout the album, he switches effortlessly between gritty realism, emotional honesty, and confident flexes, creating a project that actually feels balanced rather than bloated. You can tell he took his time with this one; the beats are rich, the sequencing makes sense, and his delivery is sharp without ever feeling forced.
Clark Smith, an up-and-coming R&B artist from North Jersey, released a single titled “Love,” making it his fifth ever single release. Smith is known for his spookier R&B vibe, which is exactly what this song gives off. The production feels atmospheric and shadowy, almost like it glows purple, and his vocals float right on top with this haunting confidence that sticks with you. He’s experimenting more, letting his voice stretch, and crafting a vibe that feels uniquely his. For a newer artist, Smith is already proving he knows exactly who he is sonically, and “Love” is a total step forward in building the aesthetic he’s slowly becoming known for.
Dominic Fike is back with another shorter single titled “White Keys.” As many people know, I am a huge Fike girl, and I am thrilled about this release. This is his first solo single release in 2025, which has left fans excited, but of course, wanting more after his album “Rocket,” released in late August. One of the standout moments in the track is when he sings, “I thought that if I gave you all I had, I thought that it would work.” It’s such a vulnerable line, giving listeners a peek straight into his headspace and the emotional messiness he’s been sifting through. Fike has this rare ability to make simple lines feel heavy, and it brings that raw, personal touch that fans are obsessed with. This single gives the absolute Fike surf vibe, which I know for a fact I will be playing on the Jersey Shore next summer.
Rock/Alternative – Concert: 2/19 – Big Head Todd and the Monsters @ College Street Music Hall
The London-based band Picture Parlour has released their debut album “The Parlour” after a few years of releasing singles. The album is a nice mix of classic British rock and roll roots blended with a bit of the current London indie rock scene, which also has a very fresh confidence to it. Lead singer Katherine Parlour has powerful and slightly raspy vocals that pair really well with Ella Risi’s catchy and intricate guitar riffs and create a really fresh sound. The band first got together in 2022 and focused on performances first, taking time to grow as a band, and they have completely found their sound here on this album.
“All Washed Up” by Cheap Trick proves that the band is exactly the opposite and not washed up at all. The album acts as a bit of a return to roots for the band, with it carrying a classic hard rock sound throughout. The band known for hits in the 1970s and ‘80s like “Surrender” and “I Want You to Want Me” definitely has some of their classic sound on display on this album, but there is a much more modern approach to it and a lot of variety as well. There is a range from tracks like the title track are full of energy and powerful riffs, to songs like “Wham Boom Bang,” which is a much lighter and jazzier track. The album has left fans very divided, but I feel that this album is a good celebration of the band’s history that does well to show the band is still able to innovate.
“Flowers” by The Devil Wears Prada is a very raw and direct emotional album from the band, which moves away slightly from their heavier sound they have, and has been a bit more melodic. The entire album is very direct and deals with a lot of heavy topics like grief, faith and confusion. While the album is a little more emotional and melodic, that does not mean that it is not still heavy, as there is a lot of powerful guitar and aggressive vocals that make it clear that this is still The Devil Wears Prada. The album definitely serves as an introduction to new genres for the band as they start incorporating more elements of synth-metal and classic hard rock to make a slightly more accessible sound. The album is full of ambition, and if you are a fan of The Devil Wears Prada or any other metalcore, then I recommend checking this out.
Pop & Indie – Concert: 7/4 – Meghan Trainor @ Mohegan Sun
Kelsea Ballerini absolutely killed it with her latest EP, “Mount Pleasant”. The tracks are raw and emotional, reminding us to check in on each other and ourselves. Each time I listen, I have a new favorite. Ballerini manages to talk about wanting to be a mother, changing herself to please others, being jealous, and more in six songs. Something I have noticed with Kelsea’s EPs is that she doesn’t include any fun scream at the top of your lungs songs. Instead, the songs are reflections of herself and her emotions during big life experiences. I hope everyone who listens enjoys it as much as I did.
Meghan Trainor had a lot of news to release this week, including her upcoming album “Toy With Me,” set to release on April 24. She also announced the “Get In Girl Tour,” kicking off June 12 and going throughout the summer. The album’s first single, “Still Don’t Care,” is about exactly what the title says. Trainor doesn’t care what people say about her or her music. She has had some criticism in the past few years that has been personal and unrelated to her music. This song proves that she doesn’t let other people’s thoughts affect her.
Jenna Raine released her newest single, “Just 15,” and it’s perfect. She sings about having all these regrets from when she was younger and how she shouldn’t still feel bad about it because she was a different person. Her voice is gorgeous, and the lyrics to this song are so relatable. One thing I really like is that the song starts with her talking about one specific thing she feels bad about and then moves on to more that is repeated throughout the choruses. At the end, she loops back to the first thing she mentioned, and it just feels like the perfect way to wrap it up. Her other song titles reflect similar themes, so I’m excited to listen to more!
