Maren Morris seems like a relatively recent arrival to the country pop scene, launched to popularity by her 2016 major label debut Hero and its even better follow-up, 2019’s Girl.
I was surprised to learn that Morris independently released three albums before those, starting back in 2005. That’s a 17-year recording career for a woman who only recently turned 30. Those first few albums, two released before she turned 18, don’t seem to be available anywhere.
Former Fifth Harmony member Camila Cabello recently released her third solo album in five years. The record, titled Familia, follows up 2018’s Camila and 2019’s Romance, two Platinum-selling albums buoyed by #1 hits ‘Havana’ and ‘Señorita,’ respectively.
Inspired by the time the Cuban-American Cabello spent with her family during COVID quarantine, Familia is a full-fledged Latin pop album, embracing tropical rhythms and featuring plenty of Spanish lyrics.
I haven’t heard much mention of K-pop star Psy since 2012, when his ‘Gangnam Style’ video racked up billions of views on YouTube and turned the song into an international hit.
Psy has continued recording since then, but without another breakthrough hit. He released his seventh and eighth studio albums in 2015 and 2017.
Now he’s back with his ninth, appropriately titled Psy 9th, and might be poised for another worldwide moment.
Not too long ago, a new Belle and Sebastian album would have been cause for a massive celebration in these parts. I’ve counted the Scottish indie band among my very favorites since I first heard their music in the late 90s.
I was thrilled by all of the band’s (non-soundtrack) studio releases through 2015, when Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance dropped and continued their run of smart, sensitive baroque pop.
Today’s Random Weekend selection is a live bonus track from whatever reissue of The Grateful Dead’s American Beauty I have in my iTunes library.
I tried to find the exact one on YouTube and encountered several official releases of live performances of ‘Candyman,’ plus dozens of unofficial clips. The sheer volume of live Grateful Dead content is overwhelming.
Meet Me In Montauk 