Josh Gilligan, Photo: Emory Brown. Josh Gilligan’s new album, Party of One, almost turned out very differently, and might not have been made at all. The Florida-born, Nashville-based singer-songwriter started recording songs in a studio with session musicians before he realized it was all wrong. Party of One Josh Gilligan…

“Star Wars: Skeleton Crew,” courtesy Disney. Excitement, eagerness and a little bit of fear; this is what the kids in “Star Wars: Skeleton Crew” feel when they accidentally blast off their planet on an old pirate starship. But this is also how composer Mick Giacchino felt when he was…

DragonWulf (Eman Esfandi), courtesy. This week’s column has synth-pop by DragonWulf (actor Eman Esfandi), alt-pop by Leo Lauren, highlife music by The Cavemen, grunge by BERRIES, troubadour rock by Josh Gilligan and power pop by Ben Kweller. Leo Lauren, “Damage Drop-Off Site” – This dancey alt-pop track by L.A.…

Mogwai, courtesy Steve Gullick. This week on Tuesday Tracks, we bring you post-rock from Mogwai, Americana from Frank Viele and Gold Star, blues from Joanne Shaw Taylor, pop from Leigh Nash and shoegaze from Wisp. Frank Viele, “Trainwreck” – This rousing Americana rocker is about those reckless relationships that…

Yola, courtesy Valeria Rios. This week we bring you Americana from Mindy Smith, samba by Rogê, blues from Larkin Poe, synth-pop by Zimmer90 and Skateland, soul from Yola, power pop from Crash Harmony and folk by Sunsetto. Mindy Smith, “Jericho” – Americana darling Mindy Smith’s last album was 12…

Sarah Kinsley, courtesy. Sarah Kinsley thought that maybe after college she would work in the music business, but she didn’t think being a musician full time was in the cards. Then “The King” unexpectedly blew up online in 2021, and that changed everything. Kinsley majored in music theory at…

Mondo Cozmo, courtesy. Josh Ostrander, better known as Mondo Cozmo, has been working on a dream, to borrow a phrase from Bruce Springsteen. When it comes to the music industry, Ostrander has experienced it all, from signing a label deal to being dropped, breaking up a band and going…

Wunderhorse, courtesy. This week is mostly all about summery folk rock, with songs from Emily Frembgen, Theo Kandel, Joseph and TORS, but we’ve also got rock from Wunderhorse and soul from Jeremie Albino. Emily Frembgen, “Are You Listening?” – This country-tinged folky charmer is all about not being too…

Lake Street Dive, courtesy. Akie Bermiss says Good Together, the new album by Lake Street Dive, is all about joyful rebellion against the heaviness of the world right now. The band knew it wanted to focus on keeping the music fun, according to the keyboardist and vocalist. Lake Street…

Nikka Costa, courtesy Bobbi Rich. This week we bring you an enchanting Celtic ode from Rose Betts, a dance banger from Nikka Costa, a gentle piano ballad by Jennifer Castle, an elegant arrangement from Alex Izenberg, cinematic pop by Sarah Kinsley and an Americana rocker by Kevin Gordon. Rose…