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Bryan Ruby and Ty Herndon — “The Standouts”
Bryan Ruby’s not afraid to make waves. He is the first pro ball player to come out while active (in the indie leagues) and now he’s setting his sights on Nashville. (PS, you can hear Rachel interview him on queer baseball podcast Batting’ Around!) “The Standouts” is one of Ruby’s best songs to date, and this version finds pioneer Ty Herndon joining Ruby on vocals.
Jobi Riccio — “Sweet”
There’s a certain Sapphic swagger that just hasn’t translated into the twee romance of popular lesbian artists like girl in red. Jobi Riccio more than makes up for it on “Sweet,” a Skynyrd-esque rejection of being meek and socially acceptable. Riccio’s wry, soft-spoken delivery is its own kind of sweetness — and it packs a spicy punch.
Brittany Ann Tranbaugh — “Almost Ready to Make Friends”
Philadelphia’s Brittany Ann Tranbaugh has been releasing music at a steady clip, and her newest single reconciles a betrayal — maybe. As the title, “Almost Ready to Be Friends,” suggests, the narrator’s not quite there yet. The song is gentle and meandering, doubling back on itself as the narrator struggles with anger, grief, and forgiveness. There are no easy answers here: just the process of becoming.
Boy Golden — “Mountain Road”
Winnipeg’s Boy Golden revels in smashing the past and future together into an alternate timeline. “Mountain Ride” gives us a glimpse at what’s to come in his upcoming EP For Jimmy. “Mountain Road” imagines the most holy pilgrimage of all: leaving the confines of your youth to meet new people, becoming forever changed. Boy Golden sets this tale as old as time to a retro vibe that feels at home in 1993 and 2023 all at the same time.
Desert Mambas — “In the Middle”
As Desert Mambas readies the release of their new EP …But It’s a Dry Heat…, they demonstrate country music’s power to tell trans stories. “Stuck in the Middle” is Bailey Moses’ attempt at describing their gender identity, coming to terms as a trans nonbinary person. The song is a driving groove, incorporating elements of power pop and country music into a dreamy road song with an uncertain path and unknown destination — just confidence in the ride.
Listen to this playlist on Spotify!
Thanks to Elliott for making a parallel list on Apple Music!
Listen to the parallel list on Tidal.
Missed a week? Thomas Inskeep is generously keeping an archive of all music featured on this Spotify playlist.