Smoke Out the Window by Rick Monroe

Jason Savio

Rick Monroe is a man of many hats. On his newest effort, Smoke Out the Window, the singer and songwriter shows just how versatile he is and how he can do just about whatever he wants and still sound good. 

Monroe may have his feet in the country music arena, but they surely aren’t planted there. Sure, there are plenty of songs on Smoke Out the Window that feature a familiar country twang, but most either flirt with other genres or outright embrace them without restraint. 

“Cocaine and Whiskey” is a fun, honky-tonk singalong, as is “Truth in the Story,” and they are the two numbers on this album that most closely resemble a good ol’ country vibe. But this isn’t a plain and dry country album. Monroe likes to mix it up, and he does so without fear of consequence. The title track is drenched in a funk groove, complete with a hint of Latin percussion, and “Good as Gone” has a sharp rock edge, thanks to an electric guitar kissed with distortion.

Monroe really flips the script with “I’ll Try,” a ballad that is more pop/rock than anything else and lets him show off his soulful vocal chops. He digs deep with his vocals on the similarly emotional, big, heart-heavy ballad “October.”

From the serious to the fun, the country to the pop, Rick Monroe dabbles in a little of it all and somehow manages to make it all gel together without any of it feeling disjointed on Smoke Out the Window.

For more information, visit rickmonroe.com.

Transmissions by Creation from Crisis

Jennifer Russo

There are some things I really miss. Commercials that made sense; people talking to each other instead of texting; and the music scene in the Worcester area circa 2002-2011. It was a glorious time. I think I was out three or four nights per week at shows, seeing great local bands in great venues like Tammany Hall, The Raven, Ralph’s … having a few drinks with all the friends that were also always there. There was a crazy amount of talent back then, especially in the rock and metal genres. It was a good time, with very little else to care about except getting lost in the moment and the music.

I was so happy to find Creation from Crisis … oh, okay, I didn’t actually “find” them; I have known a few of the band members longer than I will ever put down in writing. But listening to their album, I was transported back to those carefree times. It was nostalgic, but also full of unexpected techniques, which brought an experimental and modern sound through. 

I found the first track, “Neverending Sea,” to be exquisitely complex all around. When you think it’s going to speed up, it slows down. When you think it’s going to the bridge, it pulls another verse out. You can tell they were having fun with this one.

The ballad on the album, “When It Rains,” hit me pretty deeply. It’s about that place you sometimes get to in life when everything seems to be getting worse and worse, with no light at the end of the tunnel. It’s a thoughtful, pretty song. No frills, just saying what needed to be said. 

My favorite track on the EP is called “The Divine.” The vocals push into a higher range, harmonizing beautifully with well-placed screams. Guitar support and solos are obsessively detailed and timed, and the rhythm couldn’t be further from simply providing a beat – it shines.

For more, visit facebook.com/CreationFromCrisisOfficial.

Honey by Robyn

Mike Wood

It’s been eight years since Robyn released an album, and while that may not be the best practice for staying top of mind in the pop universe, her track record and past dance hits – “Call Your Girlfriend” and “Dancing on My Own” among them – are perpetually played at dance clubs across the land to serve as a constant reminder that she was never going anywhere. Not a comeback as much as recommitment to her signature sound, Robyn’s Honey exhibits her powerful pop chops once more, proving that her dance hits are not just behind her.

Honey opens with “Missing U,” a heartbreaking ballad about a longtime connection that’s been shattered. Sounds depressing, right? But, Robyn, as always, wants us to dance through our troubles –  known for her melancholy, but with beats that bring music lovers to the dance floor in droves. At just nine tracks, the album feels almost too compact to unpack all the heartbreak she sings about. Standouts include “Ever Again,” where Robyn claims resilience despite a devastating heartbreak: “Never gonna be brokenhearted / Ever again… Only gonna sing about love / Ever again.” Whether you believe her or not doesn’t matter, since she’s serving it with synth and bass that ensures you’ll dance around the pieces of your broken heart. 

When you have talents like Robyn – who wears that heart on her sleeve – wallowing works, because she’s vulnerable and emotive, but never sappy. Her songs are very real, and real emotion never feels tired because it’s authentic and personal, and it sounds so damn good. Honey is moving – to the senses, to the feet, to the soul – and it’s a dance album that plays like therapy and pop perfection.

For more information, visit robyn.com