You go away on your honeymoon for two weeks and the queer cowpokes keep cranking out amazing music! What the hell!!!
That’s only a good thing, and our Rainbow Ruckus column will be a little bit longer for the next few weeks to make sure we’re all caught up. Some of the songs you see today are a few weeks old, and others are piping hot. Scroll down for links to our playlists on Spotify, Tidal, and Apple Music!
Shadwick Wilde — “Without You”
Shadwick Wilde’s meditative single “Without You” highlights the more experimental pop work he’s been exploring with his band Quiet Hollers. The song is ultimately a tragic love song: contemplating the final journey we must all take alone, while basking in quiet appreciation and devotion for a loved one. Wilde’s gentle crooning is buoyed by a bubbly synth and gentle guitars: simultaneously polished and raw, “Without You” encapsulates the best and worst of our short journeys on this plane.
Jobi Riccio — “Lonely Tonight”
Hot on the heels of her Newport Folk Fest debut this past weekend, Jobi Riccio is releasing her thoughtful “Lonely Tonight.” As the summer mellows out into the fall, we need slow burners like this one. On “Lonely Tonight,” Riccio sweetly captures the ennui of being in one’s twenties without plans — learning to enjoy your own company, but yearning for somebody else’s.
CJ Lawrence — “The Closet”
Oakland artist CJ Lawrence pulls no punches in “The Closet.” This pounding acoustic blues song exhorts the listener to come out of the closet, even in spite of all the dangers the song lists. There are plenty, but, as CJ reminds us, at the end of the day, there’s much more to be gained than lost. The ballad was recorded and produced by Lafemmebear, whose remix of Reba’s “I’m a Survivor” made her the first Black trans music producer ever to earn a Billboard Top Ten.
Man of the Minch — “Run”
Scottish singer Man of the Minch leans towards the pop side of pop country, and “Run” is just the latest in a long line of bangers. As Man of the Minch mourns a lost love, his voice is buoyed by a driving synth line and layered guitars — part “Jolene,” part Sam Smith, all tied together with Man of the Minch’s unique sound.
Mr. Greg and Cass McCombs — “Wave a Flag for Harvey Milk”
In this folk song, Cass McCombs and preschool teacher Mr. Greg give Harvey Milk the folk hero treatment he deserves. McCombs and Mr. Greg have been making music together since they skateboarded as teens. That comfort and familiarity shows in what feels like a children’s song with lots of lyrical and emotional complexity. The track comes off the album Mr. Greg & Cass McCombs Sing and Play New Folk Songs for Children, out on August 18th as part of the 75th anniversary of Smithsonian Folkways Records.
Mightmare — “Can’t Get What I Want”
Sarah Shook continues to revel in their fuzzed out rock project Mightmare. The song features Shook’s trademark drawl ahead of a wall of guitars, decrying the broken state of society — or maybe just the tension between the narrator and the individual. In contrast to their work with the Disarmers, the song goes for an industrial, ’80s feel: here, Shook’s isolation feels of a piece with the swirl of Mightmare’s furious guitars and drums.
Anjimile — “The King”
Anjimile’s complex compositions reach their peak on “The King.” The cinematic song begins with a full minute of a cappella chanting before we launch into our tale of the weak against the mighty — replete with harpsichord. It’s unlike anything you’ve heard, anchored by Anjimile’s rich, throaty singing. The song speaks to Anjimile’s mastery and points to exciting work to come.
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.