Three outrageously different types of rock that all get you to the same place — pure joy!

Blanket Approval – “Heartbreak City”
-There’s a lot of energy to this recording by Blanket Approval, a groovy beat sets the mood for this track about heartbreak. You might not think a song about that would be joyful, but the instrumentation definitely moves it in that direction. The lyrical theme is about the unique feeling of looking for something better while in the condition of being heartbroken. The snappy rhythm and overall “grooviness” of the track is the best part and I’m definitely moving while I listen to it. I hope you will give it a spin as well.

Five Hertz – “Cowboy”
-This might be a reference that doesn’t work for all readers, but if you’ve ever heard the Molly Hatchet song “Flirtin’ with disaster,” then this song will connect for sure. It’s a rock song through and through with some accessible, familiar instrumentation. While the vocal is emphatic and powerful, it doesn’t feel too strained in the upper register (which is really hard to do). The guitar solos feel bluesy and engaging, pulling the listener in to the track. Fans of southern rock and a variety of classic rock will find a lot to like about this song. Heck, I’d even say “for fans of” the Rolling Stones.

Washer Dryer – “City is an animal”
-If you’re a fan of chilled out rock style, give this track a spin for sure. It’s got a chill energy that feels adjacent to the type of folk rock we often feature here. I appreciate that it holds this tension that seems like it might explode at any minute. Maybe it’s congruent with the lyrical theme of the city as an animal, at times chill and relaxed, yet other times feral and uncontrolled. Both of the vocals on this track work really well on their own, but the blending is what I like the most on the track. There’s an intimacy and delicacy to the connection of the vocals that’s hard to find these days. The authenticity of this recording resonates as much as the lyrical message. I can’t exactly come up with a good comp, but I just want to say that folks who grew up in the 90s alt rock scene and transitioned to the folk revival of the early 2000s are going to love this song.

Image courtesy: Blanket Approval IG