June was a very quiet month for new music discoveries, so I’m going to do May and June together:

Mitski – Your Best American Girl – I discovered this on the Song Exploder podcast. It starts off simple enough, but that chorus… makes my head explode…

Young American – The Vaccines – This is a quiet side to the Vaccines I never heard before, and it’s really good. I never got into the Vaccines but I really like a lot of individual songs, so I should give them another shot.

Glimpses – Alex Ebert – This is another project from the frontman of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros. The whole album is good but this really stands out.

That’s Me Trying – William Shatner – I don’t know what to make of this. The words are fascinating. Is it ironic? Is it tongue-in-cheek? Does he know that he sounds conceited? It’s like watching a car crash…

Slow Burn – Mountain Man – I’m just so glad they are making music again. Nothing sounds like this.

Rides Through The Morning – Michael Nau – Just wait for the chorus. It sounds like it was made 60 years ago. Great sound, great song,

This Must Be The Place – Imaginary Future – I know this from the Iron and Wine version, not Talking Heads, but this is a lovely addition to the list of covers!

Hide And Seek – Amber Run – Not a patch on the original, but an interesting interpretation. Hide And Seek is the song invented a capella vocoder songs a thing, and Amer Run have their own song in that form (Blue Haze) so it’s interesting hearing their take on this.

This May playlist feels more like a collection of curiosities than something I will return to often, but that’s how it goes sometimes. On to June…

There are only two songs in this playlist but they are both pretty special:

Daily Battles – Thom Yorke, Flea – Thom once again finds those melodies that tear your heart out and leave you standing motionless staring at it.

Once I Was Loved – Melody Gardot – Hauntingly, indescribably beautiful.