188 songs, albums, and videos submitted for review
Today I am going to do something a little different. I am recommending music that is off the beaten path, experimental, a little – or a lot – away from the mainstream. Some of it may be an acquired taste, others will resonate quickly. You decide.
Me Siento Morir, single by Elis Paprika. I have known Paprika (whose real name is Erika Elizabeth Nogues) from conversations at the FIMPRO music convention in Guadalajara. When you talk with her, you know immediately she is a multifaceted woman, and her music shows it. She can switch from alt rock with a metal feel to a gut-wrenching ballad with an alt. rock feel. Me Siento Morir is the latter. Poignant with a goth sensibility, a slow beat, and a soft, feminine voice that manages to say many things beyond the lyrics. Stream on Spotify and major platforms.
Fasting, album by Juan Castanon. Every now and then, I like to listen to cutting-edge jazz, and this album is exactly that. Many people will say, “Where is the music?”, but with Fasting, that is not the point. Juan Castanon is a world-class guitarist, so he has the chops to experiment and play. Give this a listen and see if the environment he and his band create resonates with you. Stream on Bandcamp.
Dayméy Yo, EP, by Daymé Arocena. Some songs on the EP will hit you immediately, like “Cubafornia”, while others like “ Estograma” and “Como Hielo” may take a bit more listening. But in all of them, the rhythms of Cuba will motivate and move you. Stream on all major platforms
Something Beautiful, album by Miley Cyrus. Yes, I am putting Miley’s new album in this category. Some of the songs on it, like “End of the World” and “More to Lose,” have millions of streams, well within the mainstream. But others like “Pretend You’re God” and “Interlude 2” definitely require a second or third listen. I love the fact that she can straddle both the familiar and the experimental. Stream everywhere.
Bakunawa, album by Ruby Ibarra. On “Bakunawa,” a song about Filipino folklore and motherhood, Ibarra performs in English, Tagalog and Bisayat. On “7000 Miles,” she raps about her and her family’s experiences as immigrants. “My mom will make it in America”, in “Someday,” Ibarra changes the song’s refrain from “Mama, we gon’ make it here someday” to “Mama, we gon’ make it heretoday.” Rap with a message, but also with heart and musical chops. Ibarra has a winner here. The rapid language shift and in some songs very direct language may take a bit of patience, but the talent and musicality make it worthwhile. Stream on Spotify.
Hacia Dentro – En Vivo album by Rubio,. This album is an artistic experiment by Chilean artist, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Francisca Straube. It forms the final part of her latest album. In it, she combines ethereal backgrounds, a ghostly voice, and complex beats. The effect is an adventure; you never know what’s coming, but mostly, you like it. Stream it on Spotify, YouTube
BONUS. Ivonne Galaz, single Mami. The singer-songwriter from Ciudad Obregón, Mexico, has been creating her own music since the age of seven, when she first picked up a guitar — and she’s never put it down since.
Patrick O’Heffernan