I’m fortunate to be able to explore and enjoy the music scenes of two cities – Boston and Dallas. Artists from both have released some exceptional music this year. Here are a few favorites. Love it local.
Borges takes no prisoners on her latest release, cranking up the guitars and unleashing a feisty collection of songs that bristle with attitude.
Key Tracks: House on a Hill, Lucky Rocks, Let Me Try It, Are You Still Taking Them Pills, Get As Gone Can Get, I Can’t Change It
Additional Twangville coverage of Sarah Borges: Sweet Caroline – A Special Boston Playlist, Readers’ Pick: Sarah Borges & The Broken Singles – Love’s Middle Name, Sarah Borges Gets Fired Up with ‘Good and Dirty’ and Happy Valentine’s Day: Radio Sweetheart from Sarah Borges
Quiet & Peace is a great example of how rockers can age gracefully. The tension that has long been a cornerstone of their music remains strong, accompanied by thoughtful lyrics that capture a more mature reflection on their lives.
Key Tracks: All Be Gone, Overtime, Roman Cars, Lonely Fast and Deep, In the Ice, Least That We Can Do, Only Living Boy in New York
Additional Twangville coverage of Buffalo Tom: The Berkshires Seemed Dreamlike – A Special Boston Playlist (Part 1) and Monday Morning Video – Pearl Jam with Bill Janovitz.
Singer-songwriter Naseem Khuri and his Kingsley Flood band mates infuse their music with intelligence and a strong point-of-view, not to mention melodies that shift effortlessly from bar-room sing-alongs to scorching rock.
Key Tracks: Fifth of July, Still So Still, Little Man, Bottom of the Barrel, Not Right Yet, Carry On Fine
Additional Twangville coverage of Kingsley Flood: The Berkshires Seemed Dreamlike – A Special Boston Playlist (Part 2), I Will Remember Massachusetts, Part 2 – A Special Boston Playlist and Hazy Shade of Winter – A Special Boston Playlist.
The Wolff Sisters are a welcome new voice, or rather collection of voices. Sisters Rebecca, Rachael, and Kat serve up songs that recall The Band, made all the richer by their enchanting family harmonies.
Key Tracks: Leave This Town, Bad Rain, When It All Goes Bad, Up In Wellfleet
Additional Twangville coverage of The Wolff Sisters & Last Cavalry: Sweet Caroline – A Special Boston Playlist.
I don’t have a motorcycle. If I did, however, Las Cruces would surely be my riding soundtrack. The album rumbles with a freewheeling attitude that only gets better the more you crank up the volume.
Key Tracks: Bakersfield, Old Glory, Devil Slide, Three Chiefs, Downtown
Additional Twangville coverage of Buckley: The Berkshires Seemed Dreamlike – A Special Boston Playlist (Part 1) and Just Another Band Out of Boston: A Special Boston Playlist.
What’s not to like about a band that takes its name from the family home brew? All the better when their debut album is chock full of great pop songs that range from (not surprisingly) bar room sing-alongs to wistful Americana.
Key Tracks: Orion, Garage Sale, Warning Shot, Wet a Line, Where’s the Fire
Additional Twangville coverage of Pedigo’s Magic Pilsner: Deep Ellum Blues – A Special Dallas Playlist.
Fort Worth’s Cut Throat Finches bring together infectious guitar-driven pop with lyrics that offer a pointed indictment of the toxic discourse that plagues the world today. Yes, the album title is ironic.
Key Tracks: New Age, Blushing, You Don’t Write, God on Our Side, Save Me
Additional Twangville coverage of Cut Throat Finches: Tanked Up on Elm Street – a Special Dallas Playlist.
About the author: Mild-mannered corporate executive by day, excitable Twangville denizen by night.