Look, we know we throw a lot of new music at you. We also know that not everyone who comes to this site has the time to be as involved with or informed about the local scene as maybe they’d like to be. So for those casual readers who either can’t or have no interest in keeping up with the parade of artists we try to cover, who may not know the difference between Bitter and Biters, we have created our TRIPLE THREAT feature. The premise is simple: Every Friday our writers will put their heads together and come up with three tracks that grabbed our attention over that week. Then we tell you why the songs are great and worth listening to. That’s it. Maybe some weeks we’ll have a guest commentator come in and share their favorites, but the format will always remain the same: three songs, some words, and we out. Enjoy.
Kathryn O’Shea – “Snow”
From the standalone single
Verily, if I told you that a bona fide star has descended here from Nashville with a banjo slung across her back, you probably wouldn’t believe me. But the moment Kathryn O’Shea’s enormous voice slips into the jaunty bustle of “Snow,” you’ll surely wonder what record label she’s gunning for. With a timbre as dynamic as Florence Welsh, the singer/songwriter strips back the sentimental mush from falling snow to tell a clever tale about getting holed in for the winter; even in just four minutes, she fleshes out a character who wrestles with more than just frozen desire. Add the Of Men and Men-like punch of drums, and “Snow” sounds destined for radio play. Granted, O’Shea has only just begun her ascent, with only a pair of unadorned sessions and this single to her name; and, like Jordan Reynolds’ Rose Hotel project, she might need a whole new posse to back her up, if her producer brother Michael Greer O’Shea didn’t follow her down. Still, you see what I mean? With those wits—and that voice!—we should expect some stellar developments from O’Shea’s camp soon. – Lee Adcock
More Info
Web: kathrynoshea.net
Facebook: @kathrynosheamusic
Instagram: @kathrynoshea
SoundCloud: @kathrynoshea
RUDY – “Roofless”
From the standalone single
It’s been a minute since we featured new music from RUDY, but don’t think for a minute the Atlanta rapper has been slacking off. Indeed, since we shared the therapeutic “Sun Shower” last November, RUDY has released a handful of singles via his SoundCloud page, the latest of which is the murky banger “Roofless.” The track finds him collaborating once again with producer Chaden who provides a gauzy backdrop built on shadowy synth chords that alternate between ominous and dreamy. In the past, RUDY has proven himself a lyricist both thoughtful and nimble, and here he peppers the cut with chest-thumping braggadocio and words of wisdom alike. – Avery Shepherd
More Info
Web: officialrudy.band
Bandcamp: soundofrudy.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @SoundofRudy
Instagram: @soundofrudy
SoundCloud: @soundofrudy
Twitter: @SoundofRudy
Yams Club – “Golden Dreams”
From the EP, Behind the Light
It’s hard to say this without sounding disparaging, but there’s a sense of freedom to Yams Club’s grooves on “Golden Dreams” that invokes classic jam bands without indulging in any monotonous psychedelia. Vocalist Jade Thames’ flowery lyricisms serve mostly to set up a series of exploratory guitar riffs, but Yams Club is at heart a pop band, so the riffs are condensed into easily digestible segments which don’t overstay their welcome. The band started writing together in high school, and the sense of wanderlust which permeates their music seems based on that strong familiarity. It’s an indisputable strength for a band who rely so much on timing and collaboration, and part of what makes “Golden Dreams” worth the Bonnaroo bits. – Russell Rockwell
More Info
Bandcamp: yamsclub.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @YamsClub