Pick Six is a half-dozen cool things in music, from two points of view.
Justin Levy of Minneapolis:
1 SG Lewis, Robyn & Channel Tres, "Impact." Robyn provides her stunning and distinctive voice to a really rad single that's showing how the disc renaissance is growing with Channel Tres bringing the song into a cool R&B and house avenue.
2 Flownn, "Illuminate." This song by a new U.K. artist has a vibe throughout that just keeps you bopping with some cool vocoder effects that enhance and don't distract.
3 NAO, "Saturn." This album is rooted in your life during your Saturn return. The 2018 record is familiar enough to bring comfort but will always create some reflection in unexpected ways.
Jon Bream of the Star Tribune:
1 Amanda Shires featuring Jason Isbell, "The Problem." In this poignant single, the Americana star and her husband have a frank and challenging discussion about abortion. She asks: "Is a chrysalis a butterfly?" He sings, "I'm on your side."
2 Rhiannon Giddens, "Cry No More" video. Backed by opera singers and string players of color, she recasts this 2015 plea for justice as a powerful call-and-response spiritual with orchestral heft and a ballerina solo as an exclamation point.
