Freshly Squeezed, Vol. 82: Hayes Carll, Athena, Kisos, Model Child & more

Welcome to Freshly Squeezed, a weekly new music playlist: spanning country, pop, EDM and urban, mainstream and other.

The American dream has certainly lost much of its luster these days. No longer is it sparkling white fences lining a quaint mid-western town. In 2019, it’s sharpening your self-worth and wielding it for change, as a warrior unsheathing his sword for combat. Americana trend-setter Hayes Carll explores that theme throughout his new album, What It Is, out today, and his jaunty, bright uptempo, aptly called “American Dream,” casts both the sullenness of the journey through this weary life and the beauty that can still be uncovered from beneath six-feet of dirt and hate-spewing demons. “Spit and polish the ancient story / Love and glory, gold and greed / Nothing changes, even if it wants to / We go down into the American Dream,” Carll sings in lonesome tones, not necessarily weeping for the decayed state of humanity but spotlighting its toxicity.

Flighty pop newcomer Franke leans into the side-pocket of materialism, encased in hues of watery blue and orange, with his new offering, “pay for LOVE.” His debut EP, Internet Heartbreak, engages with matters of the heart, washing away the bitter taste of past romances and dances in the moonlight. “LOVE” is a considerably languid piece seeking to explain how he was driven to woo an ex with lavish gifts. “Girl, you can use to more than me,” he considers before the bass pummels the speakers in nervous ticks. “Are you scared there are things you can’t afford?” he probes beneath the surface for some emotional currency that has led them both down a dead-end backroad.

Sarah Buckley tugs her acoustic guitar along in the dirt for her first-ever cut. “You’ve Got Me” is dipped in a snarling Bobbie Gentry bent while also working to enveloping the listener with a fleecy production shimmer. “I can sign up to a life like this,” she sputters amidst a funkadelic flurry. “But there’s something in your eye that I’d always miss.” Then, mischievous pop upstart Layto unties his hands with a majestic piece called “The Way,” from his new EP, The Low Boy, unveiling a delightfully metallic melody and foot-stomping percussion.

The new roster also includes: Annalia, Ashe, Athena, Kisos, Fly by Midnight, Sam Setton, Boo Ray, SUMif, Minka, Chandler Juliet, Francis Moon, Model Child, Gillian Welch, Simon Curtis, The Cactus Blossoms and many more.

In all, we’ve got 50 new songs to bop along to as you ready for the impending three-day weekend. Leggo and let music.

Each playlist will be refreshed every Friday morning/afternoon. We reserve the right to update anytime during the week, so make sure you bookmark this page.

Take a spin:

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