New Music Monday picks for November 23, 2015

Your pre-Turkey Day New Music Monday picks are good for the ears, heart and soul: guilt-free with zero calories and filler.

Jacob Metcalf from the Dallas Family Band and Fox & The Bird has gifted us with a gorgeous soul-soother called “Ein Berliner,” a picture-perfect track for your winter playlist and a sweet taste of what you can expect when his full-length solo debut Fjord lands in early 2016. There’s also his can’t-miss album release show at The Kessler on January 22.

Easily one of the best releases of 2015, John Grant‘s Grey Tickles, Black Pressure — like his other records — never fails to amuse and throttle you to your core. The album title refers to the Icelandic term for ‘midlife crisis’ and the Turkish translation for ‘nightmare’ — a theme John Grant’s never been one to shy away from in his songbook. His past musical co-conspirators have included Midlake (who produced and backed him up on his debut, Queen of Denmark) and the Iceland Symphony Orchestra. This time he’s joined up with Dallas’ very own Grammy-winning producer John Congleton, Siouxsie & The Banshees percussionist Budgie, and star turns from Tracey Thorn and Amanda Palmer.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Zdzx1i2Zta0

Full disclosure: We can’t get enough of the San Diego songstress Andra Day, and the heart and soul she pours into every single note. Her debut solo album Cheers To The Fall is a testament to the power of Ms. Day’s playing by her own rules and making her mark, most recently alongside John Legend, P!nk, Bruce Springsteen and Pharrell on A&E’s recent Shining A Light concert.

The lasting imprint of the late Benjamin Curtis can be heard and felt all over “Open Your Eyes,” the newest track from School of Seven Bells. Alejandra Deheza went to Los Angeles to complete the band’s upcoming and final record with Beck and Nine Inch Nails producer Justin Meldal-JohnsenSVIIB – landing February 12 via Vagrant.

XOXO

Gini.