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 Dean Johnson, Eleanor Murray and Planes On Paper. Enjoy!

–Jake Uitti

I first came across Dean Johnson at Hearth Music’s Day of the Dead celebration this year at the Sunset Tavern. He sang beautiful songs with lines like, “The carwash girls of summer” and funny songs with lines like, “Muscle relaxin’, me and Michael Jackson.” He is a poignant singer, one of those folks who says aloud the things so many people think. He is candid and lovely – performing often with a simple acoustic. This song is one of many examples:

Haunting, gorgeous, all that’s in between. Eleanor Murray captures her listener and offers the salvation of song. I came across her at the Hearth Music event mentioned above. She absolutely killed the performance, having the audience shrieking. Her voice is mesmerizing, in line with Fiona Apple, Cat Power, and local powerhouses like Inly. Watch here:

Damn this song is beautiful. I’ve been writing about Planes On Paper for about a year now – they’re wonderful people with glorious voices and this new song of theirs, “Iron Boat” is a perfect example (and part of their latest EP). Incidently, they will be performing at Timbrrr Winter Music Festival this year (with Monarch favorites Prom Queen). One moment of this video and you will be gripped.