Pick Six is a half-dozen cool things in music, from two points of view.

Keith Harris, Minneapolis music writer:

1 "Noise Uprising: The Audiopolitics of a World Musical Revolution" by Michael Denning. In this far-reaching new book, he charts how the fledgling recording industry's worldwide search for "exotic" new sounds to market in the 1920s encouraged musicians from New Orleans to Rio to Cairo to invent new styles that allowed their listeners to hear and imagine a post-colonial future.

2 Tierra Whack, "Link." This independent Philadelphia rapper's new song is typically ingenious. The video, in which she flees Earth in a Lego spaceship, is downright genius.

3 Cheekface, "Emphatically No." On their latest album, this dry, wry L.A. indie-rock trio crams their herky-jerk tunes full of talky one-liners that precisely pin down everyday anxieties. Sample song title: "'Listen to Your Heart.' 'No.' "

Jon Bream, Star Tribune critic:

Swift

1 H.E.R., "Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon." Not only did she talk about being a published poet at age 7 or 8, writing her first song at 7 (she sang a line) and appearing at Harlem's Apollo Theater at 9 (Fallon showed a clip), but she performed her Oscar-nominated "Fight for You" from "Judas and the Black Messiah." The mesmerizing Marvin Gaye-evoking groove tune discusses different definitions of freedom.

2 Taylor Swift, "Fearless (Taylor's Version)." On this epic 26-track rerecording of her outstanding 2008 album, she has clearly matured as a singer (enhancing songs except "Fifteen"), the production is crisper, and "Mr. Perfectly Fine," an unreleased oldie, is perfectly snipey.

3 Dessa, "Terry Gross." The April (and fourth) release in her "Ides Singles Series" is a playful social commentary built around clever wordplay over a minimalist hip-hop track. In spoken word, Dessa takes shots at Tinder, vegetables and CAPTCHA. Terry Gross, the probing NPR broadcaster, is mentioned only once as a Dessa influence but makes for a catchy song title.