Here are this week’s five songs worth listening to.

D Fine Us–Howling At The Moon

This one actually came out last year, but I missed it. It popped up in my world as the theme song for Dave Tate’s Train Your Ass Off series over at EliteFTS. D Fine Us is led by Tomer Katz and oozes delta R&B, with a modern take of electronic soundscapes as well. It’s a blend that could go horribly wrong, but doesn’t. They have a 20-minute set up as well that is worth checking out here, just uploaded this morning.

Royal Jewels–The Ground Below (Royal Blood/Run The Jewels mix)

I like Royal Jewels, I really like mash-ups and I love Run The Jewels. So, this remix is just perfect for me. I faded away from the nu-core or whatever you want to call that Korn/Limp Bizkit/Linkin Park genre, but I still appreciate the rapping over guitars stuff the Spawn soundtrack, well, spawned. Now that I type that, I probably need to go back and listen to that one again at some point today. Anyway, Run The Jewels, fresh off an Artist of the Year award, are pretty much the best thing in rap the last few years. They always sound hard, so putting them over a guitar riff instead of beats is a solid choice.

Mickey Lamantia–Ladies Love Outlaws ft. Jamey Johnson

Waylon Jennings is a tough one to cover because he was so damn good and distinct. But this one works because Mickey, a prison guard by day, and Jamey Johnson are one of the few with the gravitas in their voice to pull it off.

Jonathan Terrell–Never Make A Sound

Jonathan Terrell is an East Texas man by way of Austin now who put country on hold to front a rock band for a while. He is back to the roots now, but maintaining that rock vibe the way Chuck Ragan does. At times, he touches that Raganness with a Hayes Carll tinge in the voice as well, while sounding like an homage to Springsteen lyrics at times as well. Sounds convoluted, right? Well, it works. His new album, Westward, is currently in my top 10 for 2020.

Tomberlin–Hours (Katie Dey remix)

Tomberlin, formerly of Fairfield, made it out of this little town. And with 2018’s At Weddings album, has made it all the way to the likes of Paste, Tiny Desk and such. She followed that up with an EP this year, Projections. She’s quickly become one of the bigger deals this podunk town can lay any claim to, even if a good chunk of the fuddies in this town have no clue. Hours was on the EP this year, and the Katie Dey remix might be my favorite yet. It take’s Tomberlin’s atmospheric tone and adds a thumping trance aspect to it. No Youtube on this one, click the link to Stereogum’s feature on it.

You wander and I wonder
What you’d say
If the flower cries or fire dies
Would you stay?
For an hour

We’ll be back with five more next week. Until then, remember the immortal words…
“Songs are really just interesting things to be doing with the air.” Tom Waits