Nightly 

Talk You Down E.P.

(Interscope)

I’m loving this four-song E.P. It’s pop, but not boring, and it keeps me coming back. This is the third E.P. for Nightly, which includes singer Jonathan Capeci, his cousin Joey Beretta, and drummer Nick Sainato. They toured with K. Flay, and that’s all I needed to hear before I checked them out. The first track, “Say Anything Else,” has me moving and grooving. It has a pulsing pop rhythm, and nothing can make me stop listening. The second, “Twenty Something,” has a slick guitar melody that Capeci sings smoothly through. His voice is very much in a boy band style, but it’s great. Watch out, Shawn Mendes. (Sorry, Mendes fans. I still love him.) The song “Black Coffee” is sweet, but I prefer the more anthem-like and addictive “No Call, No Reply.” Pop lovers, check this one out.

Brittany Howard  

“Stay High” single

(ATO)

Brittany Howard breathes right into my soul when she sings. It sounds a little silly, but there is no going back on this commentary. She is the lead singer and guitarist of the bands Alabama Shakes and Thunderbitch. Her soulful vocals are something else entirely, with lyrics that are always meaningful and sung with a certainty that is hard to describe. She is old school in a way that the new school doesn’t know how to deal with. That’s my kind of artist. Anything she attempts, she does well. I’m a little high-strung these days, so I could do well with taking her lyrical advice from this track: “Keep it cool, and don’t care what everyone is doing.” If that’s not enough to inspire a listen, then how about this: Terry Crews (Brooklyn Nine-Nine) stars in the music video for it. Need I say more? She has more music coming soon – a debut solo album titled Jaime. Be on the lookout.

Brittany Howard breathes right into my soul when she sings. It sounds a little silly but there is no going back on this commentary. She is the lead singer and guitarist of bands Alabama Shakes and Thunderbitch. Her soulful vocals are something else entirely. Her lyrics are always meaningful and sung with a certainty that is hard to describe. She is old school in a way that the new school doesn't know how to deal with. That's my kind of artist. Anything she attempts, she does well. I'm a little high strung these days so I could do well with taking her lyrical advice “Keep it cool and don't care what everyone is doing.” If that's not enough to garner a listen then lastly, Terry Crews stars in the music video for it, need I say more? She has more music coming soon. Be on the look out.