The previous release from Jessie Baylin was 2015’s Dark Place, an aptly named album for a collection of songs with a fittingly dark vibe. She recently announced her follow-up will be available in April in the form of Strawberry Wind, a record made with longtime producer Richard Swift with a conscious effort to make the album accessible to kids.

According to this Garden & Gun interview, she wrote the songs under the influence of Roger Miller and early Beatles songs. From listening to the first single, “Dream Catcher”, it’s clear that she’s still writing Jessie Baylin songs but pulling out from the darker realm of her previous record.

The official video for the song speaks directly to that vibe, as it features an animated world of fun characters frolicking during dream time.

Honestly, the song doesn’t feel like it was composed for kid’s at all but the presentation lends itself to that vibe. On the whole, Baylin’s voice continues to be soothing and melancholy, no matter what the intended audience.

Must give credit where credit is due, local pop punkers Vista Blue teamed up with Connecticut-based The Zambonis to release a split entirely about the sport of curling. Yes, the timing with the Olympics was intentional and, yes, they’re capitalizing on the absurdity of everyone’s favorite ice bowling sport.

The songs are straight forward rockers with a bit of doo-wop harmonies. It’s like a modern day sock hop inspired by Weezer. Not your typical offering but, hey, neither is curling!

The Grape Lung EP from Gram Ash is a scant four songs but manages to dig deep into some well executed psychedelia in its runtime. The pace is a refreshing combination of upbeat drumbeats, exploding guitars and thick basslines all mixed with drowsy vocals.

The last two tracks of the release take a more subdued route, going as far as delving into contemplative spoken musings. Typically this is not something I’d endorse but Ash pulls it off.

For those unfamiliar, D. Striker is a country western act that only performs on Friday the 13th. These festivities are entitled “The RR Party” and D. Striker himself creates a zine for every performance and a setlist of often humorous, completely legitimate, classic country tunes.

This forthcoming April 13th, 2018 will be a Friday and you can catch D. Striker over at Dee’s Country Cocktail Lounge. In the meantime, you can partake in his latest single, “Take Your Time“, a road song featuring some blaring horn parts, fancy guitar work and gang vocals.

As with all things D. Striker, there’s a perfectly amusing air to the whole thing. The song is fun. The video is fun. The whole damn thing is fun. Look at this gif! Or this one! If that’s not fun, I don’t know what is.

Joe Pisapia is likely best known for his production work with Ben Folds, The Silver Seas or Drew Holcomb (among others) but he’s an accomplished songwriter in his own right. His 2015 album Nightvision is a densely layered collection of songs that runs the gamut of introspective melancholy songs to explosive all-out rock numbers. With his latest, Connection, he reigns in the stylistic variety for a more laser-focused, no less dense, pop experience.

The word “pop” in this context can be a bit misleading; as it’s not referencing some sugar coated musical treat manufactured to prick at your earworm sensors but, rather, it’s a style of music that is hook laden and memorable but isn’t a rock record with searing guitars and driving drums. It’s a softer, gentler, record of confessions and observations but still catchy.

Pisapia has a mild Randy Newman vibe sometimes; both in vocal quality and in penchant for song quality. The record is a worthwhile listen from top to bottom but if I had to guide you through some convincing highlights I’d say start with “Feels So Good To be Understood” for a frolicking piano number cut with Jon Brion guitar warbles, dive into “Beautiful Re-arranger” for a pleasant instrumental diddy and give “Nashville Melancholia” a spin for some soaring melodies.