"Heart Out" by Thaddeus Anna Greene
The band: A contract with ReverbNation scored the soulful rockers high-profile festival slots at South by Southwest and Milwaukee Summerfest this year. The song: A sobering reminder that the band hails from the city where police killed Tamir Rice and Tanisha Anderson, “Heart Out” bluntly confronts the human toll of police brutality. Psychedelic guitars sing and frontman TJ Maclin cries out a stark revelation of what’s at stake: “You gotta take it, ain’t nobody gonna provide for you.” reverbnation.com
"West Side Summer" by Signals Midwest
The band: In eight years, Signals Midwest has played 350 shows in 13 countries. So it’s natural the punk-indie band soul-searches on its latest full-length, At This Age. But the album isn’t an identity crisis; it finds the group displaying cascading melodies and mature, introspective songwriting. The song: “West Side Summer” is a familiar ode to Clevelanders who rely on the warm months to pack in enough good vibes to last for the rest of the drab year. The chill jam will stay in your head through fall’s cool breeze. tinyengines.net
"Bad Blood" by Welshly Arms
The band: The blues-rock band’s song “Legendary” has blown up TV spots during the Olympics and on Empire. Plus, they are on a 50-city U.S. tour with John Mark McMillan, Mat Kearney, NeedToBreathe and Parachute. The song: Sorry, T. Swift. “Bad Blood” isn’t as sweet as you make it sound. When singer Sam Getz gets “Bad Blood,” he’s mad — huffin’, puffin’, screamin’, ragin’ angry. Thundering guitars and a gospel choir sharpen this blow: “I’m made of bad, bad, bad, bad blood, at least I know where I come from.” welshlyarms.com
The artist: Since 2015, the trained opera singer and Lorain native has been temporarily living in the Netherlands. She’s made the most of the sabbatical with her third album, The Dutch Sessions, a polished, eclectic collection of tunes recorded with native Dutch musicians that cover motherhood to gun violence. The song: “I Choose Joy” breaks the disc’s carefully crafted mold. A freewheelin’ jangly banjo, Palmer’s rich vocals and the sweet giggle she lets out at the end of the song are a treat. jaclynbradleypalmer.com
"BodyFeelGood" by Marcus Alan Ward
The artist: Having released two EPs as Freeze-Tag, Marcus Alan Ward dropped the moniker and returned to his own name. Since then, he’s recorded 10 digital singles, releasing each individually. The song: “BodyFeelGood” wakes your senses. From the first groovy strums on the psychedelic guitar to the far-off high-pitched yelps, the track quickly builds into a layered mirage that sends the hips swervin’. Ward’s smooth croon has the swagger of old funk songs, yet the clash of noises and looped-in “Na Na Nas” add futuristic dimensions. marcusalanward.com
"Black Shadow" by The Moxies
The band: The rockabilly garage band scored a deal with Round Hill Music and headed south for Nashville in 2014. Working with former Cage the Elephant guitarist Lincoln Parish, the trio has let the Music City bring out deeper country tones on their new EP, Black Shadow. The song: Singer Marco Ciofani shows off a low, dark tone fans didn’t hear in the previous soda fountain fare. Blazing bluesy guitars add edge, plus the songwriting shows the boys are growing up: Lovelorn lyrics are swapped for vengeful zingers about the cold truths of life. themoxiesband.com
