Hello and welcome back to Three Songs to the Head where we share three songs that moved us, three songs we love, three songs we can’t get out of our heads! Today, we’re featuring Julia Massey, Stereo Embers and Smokey Brights. Enjoy!

–Jake Uitti

It’s no secret The Monarch Review loves Julia Massey and her band The Five Finger Discount. So, here is but the next chapter of our adoration! The band recently released their new album, A.L.I.T.E., which you can check out here. It’s a beautiful record, thoughtful, playful, rich with excellent musicians and style. The band, which aims to write children’s songs for adults, does just that, providing sweet sonic textures while also inspiring our mind to think about our planet, relationships with people, and the pure fun of what it would be like to hang with these Seattle creatures. Check out a lyric video from their new album here:

Robb Benson is one of the most prolific musicians in the history of music. Dude could write two songs a day from here to eternity and they’d all have their merry merit. His newest project, Stereo Embers, is a big sonic explosion, featuring Rock Tim on lead guitar, Ben Brunn on bass and a fellow named Cass Laton on drums. Their big sound is tremendous, but they’re also able to play around with subtle textures, like on this song, “Ways of the World“, from their new EP.

Smokey Brights just sold out The Tractor Tavern for their new full-length release, Taste For Blood.  The Seattle mainstays play rock and roll both smooth and pounding. They’re a versatile band with layers of sound led by Ryan Devlin, who also plays in the screaming-punk band, Hounds of the Wild Hunt. Smokey Brights title track from the new LP begins with sweet element followed by sweet element, form the crystal clear drums to the honey voice of Devlin to the keys and background OOOoooo’s. Check the band out and stream their record here.