New Music Friday - 10/29/21

It’s New Music Friday – Here are today’s picks of the week, a song and an album that have caught my attention. Enjoy!

Today’s featured single is “The Hardest Cut” by Spoon

Spoon have announced a new record (their 10th) arriving early next year, Lucifer on the Sofa. Bandleader Britt Daniel's described the album as “the sound of classic rock as written by a guy who never did get Eric Clapton.” I get some Black Keys feel from the track, the driving bass line with crunching guitars. But it’s always Daniel’s voice that draws me in for a Spoon song. He’s got a swagger in his voice, a confidence and it shines through on this first track.

Today’s featured album is Ocean to Ocean by Tori Amos

It’s always a good day when Tori Amos puts out new music. Amos describes her sixteenth (!) album as “a sonic potion that would give people hope and make them feel.” Her voice is strong as ever, with a beautiful touch of fragility. There is always so much emotion in her songs. Her piano playing has always been out front, but it seems to take a supporting role on her latest. It’s a full-band effort with a solid rhythm section – this feels like a bigger sound than in years past. The songwriting comes out of years of self-reflection (maybe too much according to Amos). From grief and loss to kinship and love, Tori invites us into this deeply personal journey. Check out the track “Speaking With Trees”