Favorite Females

Three of my favorite female artists all have albums releasing this Spring. Eleanor Friedberger's Personal Record will be out June 4. The first single "Stare at the Sun" is available now for download.

Lissie, who is all over the place at SXSW, will release her next album in "early summer." Love her. And Laura Marling will release "Once I Was An Eagle" on May 27. So talented of a singer, especially for one so young.

Cannot wait for these releases!

Chick Music

Ingrid Michaelson
Rachael Yamagata
Missy Higgins
A Fine Frenzy
Jesse Baylin
Feist
Basia Bulat

Sometimes, you just need a lady's voice.

Kate Miller-Heidke

Kate Miller-Heidke has a new album out. "Ride this Feeling" is out free over at Amazon. Check her out if you like Eleanor Friedberger, Ellie Goulding, or Katie Herzig.

Rebecca Ferguson: The Next Adele?

Itunes and KCRW both featured free tracks from Rebecca Ferguson, who could be described as the next Adele or Amy Winehouse or Duffy or the next female superstar chanteuse. She has a gorgeous, sexy voice and was a runner-up on the X Factor. I think she will be big here--Adele has been so over-played, and soul and sexy swagger always does well.  And her debut album, "Heaven," is really fantastic.

Girl Stuff

Lots of good stuff streaming this morning at NPR Music. First, Sarah Jaffe.  There are many great female artists like Sarah Jarosz, Katie Herzig, St. Vincent, and Sharon Van Etten to compare her to, and I'm looking forward to playing her latest often.  And another female artists, Norah Jones, is also about to release her latest.  Finally, I'm anticipating Sea of Bees as well.  Three albums by three female artists. Hopefully that's a good sign for the work week.

Audra Mae

I'm really enjoying Audra Mae and the Almighty Sound. So soulful. Amazon released "The Real Thing" as a free single this month, and it inspired me to check out some of her earlier work along with the new self-titled album.  Neat piece of trivia? Her great-grandmother was in the Gumm sisters, and the youngest member turned out to be Frances Gumm, better known as Judy Garland. I am a fan of her cover of the Black Keys "Ten Cent Pistol."  Compare her to Lissie.

Tift Merritt

I think I checked a few weeks ago, but I didn't find much Tift Merritt on Spotify.  Yes, I do think I use the word "terrific" too often, but it is wisely used in this instance. "Write My Ticket Home" is a fun track, and I like "Engine To Turn" from my ipod. Good stuff for  Friday!!!!!

Sarah Jaffe

Paste is now streaming the new Sarah Jaffe, which sounds like a CD to bridge the gap between her album last year and another upcoming one. She does a slowed down cover of Cold War Kids' Louder than Ever, which is a favorite tune of mine from earlier this year.

There are not as many new releases this week, though I see Jens Lekman and Clap Young Hands Say Yeah. And Pearl Jam Twenty. Two decades since Pearl Jam (and Nirvana!) came out?

New Music Monday

The new Wilco is streaming at NPR music. Need another listen or two before I write my short review.

Via a recommendation, I was streaming Jenn Bostic and Jane Lui earlier. Good female stuff. Bostic is sort of a Sara Bareilles/Sarah McLaughlin mix. Jane Lui is softer and dreamier.

Still really, really liking the new Blind Pilot. One of the best CDs of the year by far.

Laura Marling

Laura Marling has a new album out, and itunes had her song "Sophia" as its freebie for the week. It starts slow and then builds up, great tune. She's young, only 21, but she's already made a name for herself.

What other female singer/songwriter types have I been a fan of over the years? Sort of the Lilith crowd?  Rachael Yamagata, Anna Nalick, Basia Bulat, Chantal Kreviazuk, Dawn Landes, Eleanor Friedberger, A Fine Frenzy, KT Tunstall, Sarah Jarosz, Sharon Van Etten, and Tift Merritt come to mind. There are "commercial" acts like Kelly Clarkson and Pink that are gutsy, too.  But seriously, we need these guys on the radio. Sara Bareilles and Adele are great, but already overplayed. Time for some fresh sounds!