This month was surprisingly atmospheric to start with. The slow, methodical songs “It Only Has To Happen Once” and “Photograph” both have similar beats. They’re both mystical, too; “Photograph” has a shimmery, tremulous overlay, especially in the beginning.

“American Ambition” was the standout of the month. I found it randomly on Twitter, actually. The narrative is so compelling and recalls folk ballads by Crosby, Stills, & Nash or the Everly Brothers.

Speaking of Crosby, Stills, & Nash, their iteration with Neal Young appeared this month, too. “4 + 20” was a find from a book I’ve been reading, and which I’ll review soon. It’s a unique song because you can hear the pause/gulp in the middle of the narrative, which interrupts the beat.

“Is She Really Going Out With Him?” was probably the song I listened to the most after “4 + 20.” It’s whiny, sure, but incredibly catchy, too. You can’t always dismiss a song for being whiny; sometimes you have to love it for what it is.

What were your standouts? What have you been listening to lately?