Under Streetlight Glow

Rating 4/5
Heidi Spencer and the Rare Birds / Bella Union
Remember the name Heidi Spencer, because she looks set to be frequently mentioned in the years to come. The UK singer-songwriter’s album Under Streetlight Glow is a respectable and strong debut. A frequent wayward traveler, burgeoning filmmaker and songwriter, Spencer’s on-the-road experiences ripple through her raw songs. “Go To France” is a definite open-road, windows-down essential, while “Tried and True” injects visions of a lonely night in a motel room—an emotional and focused debut. ZA

Good Ol’ Fashioned Love

Rating 4/5
The Overtones / Warner
Sustain the rockabilly and upbeat oldies mood with this fun and frivolous release by new UK boy band and vocal harmony group The Overtones. So they don’t sound as good as the real deal (their poster boy looks help just a bit), but what they have going is their lively, almost flawless interpretations of classics like “Blue Moon,” “She-boom,” “In the Still of the Night” and “For the Longest Time.” Pop this in the car stereo on the way to work and let the (near) magic unfold. TO

The Deep Field

Rating 4/5
Joan As Police Woman / Love Da Records
American singer-songwriter Joan As Police Woman aka Joan Wasser’s third album is undoubtedly her most significant to date. The Deep Fields displays Wasser’s musical maturity with tracks like “Nervous” and “Kiss The Specifics” showcasing the versatility of her vocal prowess—ranging from raspy rock to soulful jazz. Her poetic lyrics border on timelessness and her storytelling mastery is magnified through her hypnotizing voice. ZA