2. Sheer Mag: “Playing favorites”
Energetic punk rock band Sheer Mag has been a staple in Philadelphia's indie scene for years thanks in part to their reputation as a stellar live act. But the group's recorded output is also excellent, a streak that is expected to continue on “Playing Favorites,” their third LP, out March 1. This jangly, soulful title track showcases, among other things, the power of lead singer Tina Halladay. voice. (Listen on YouTube)
3. Brittany Howard: “red flags”
A few months ago, I recommended Brittany Howard's fast-paced funky “What Now,” the title track from the Alabama Shakes frontwoman's second solo album. The next single, “Red Flags,” delves into the more melancholic and meditative side of his versatile sound, at least until he lets it rip and hits a high note that lifts the song even higher. “What Now” comes out on February 9. (Listen to it on YouTube)
4. The Smile: “Friend of a Friend”
On January 26, The Smile, the side project of Radiohead members Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood, along with former Sons of Kemet drummer Tom Skinner, will release their second studio album, “Wall of Eyes.” I like the subtle twists and turns of this piano-driven single, which features Yorke's squeaky but soulful vocals dancing around Skinner's jazzy percussion. (Listen on YouTube)
5. Mary Timony: “Dominoes”
I'm a fan of almost every band Mary Timony's been in: '90s space rockers Helium, indie supergroup Wild Flag, power-pop revivalists Ex Hex. However, in the more than 15 years since she released an album under her own name, I've missed her unique perspective as a solo artist, so I'm looking forward to the upcoming “Untame the Tiger,” which will be released on 23 of February. In “Dominoes,” in the form of a relatively simple pop song, she manages to explore a variety of complex textures and emotions. (Listen on YouTube)
6. Julia Holter: “The Girl in the Sun”
When you press play on a new Julia Holter album, you know you're about to embark on an odyssey. Maybe it's a double album that uses bird sounds to approximate the squawking cacophony of modern life (like their 2018 release, “Aviary”); perhaps it's her own expanded performance of the MGM musical “Gigi” (“Loud City Song,” from 2013); perhaps it's a surprisingly accessible collection of chamber pop (“Have You in My Wilderness,” released in 2015). “Sun Girl” is a kaleidoscopic song from her upcoming album, “Something in the Room She Moves,” out March 22, and sounds like the beginning of another immersive and unexpected sonic journey. Consider my bags packed. (Listen on YouTube)
