Lizzy McAlpine Finds Beauty In The Ugly

If this week’s Soundcheck isn’t an extreme indicator that fall is around the corner, I don’t know what is. Equal parts dreamy and dreary, Lizzy McAlpine and her trusty acoustic guitar always find new ways to reopen those wounds you swore were healed.

Nashville sounds good on you, Remi Wolf. If the country songs currently dominating the charts aren’t really your thing, this track and its raw, folksy groove makes for some good counterprogramming.

I can’t explain how or why, but this song makes me feel the same way I did listening to Jewel in the back of my mom’s car 20 some years ago. This type of easy listening is basically the musical equivalent of an endangered species; thank goodness someone is finally doing something about it.

Sunday I was in Dublin, and by Tuesday Fontaines D.C. had announced their return. Coincidence? I think not.

Somewhere, a director is storyboarding a car chase sequence that will eventually be soundtracked by this song. It will be exhilarating. I cannot wait.

In case you didn’t know, this is a love song. And a damn good one, too.

How do you know what you want when you’ve never had it before? That’s the question this song dares to ask. May we all find the answer without “taking the weight of someone else's bag” hung over our shoulders.

Mimi always keeps her ear to the ground, but picking Rochelle Jordan to remix this Glitter-era classic is a truly inspired choice. And here I thought I couldn’t love her more.

Finally, someone who understands summer isn’t over yet. Need to blast this in a car while I’m air-surfing out the window ASAP.

Kind of reminiscent of early-era Billie Eilish if she ever dared to pick up an electric guitar. Good stuff.