Frontwomen

The Cranberries, Sarah Jarosz, Patty Griffin, and PJ Harvey

But we still remain

And we’ll come back again

And again, and again, and again, and again

-The Highwomen

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Happy Friday swappers! This week we’re excited to share some of the female artists/frontwomen we come back to again, and again, and again, and again.

Stick around for the Bonus Track. We’ve invited a writer from the BEST COAST to tell you about one of the GOATS according to Kurt Cobain.

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Zombie by the Cranberries (Jonathan)

This almost was my pick for our Irish themed newsletter last week, but will do nicely for this week’s ladies’ spotlight. The Cranberries, who formed in Limerick, Ireland, would be nothing without the powerful vocals of Dolores O'Riordan leading the group. O'Riordan, who died in 2018, gave us the early 90’s hits Zombie, Dreams, and Linger.

Also available on Apple Music.

Hometown by Sarah Jarosz (Ben)

I still remember listening to Sarah Jarosz’ 2011 Follow Me Down album on a CD. “Ring Them Bells” was (and still might be) my favorite of her songs. As her music has expanded, she stays in my cycle of chill, bluegrassy tunes. “Hometown” is Jarosz at her best - it’s an easy listen and a common story. Her voice is pure and longing. If you are looking for more rock or “feels” in your music—she’s not your draft pick, but you might be surprised by the character of her acoustic-driven sounds.

Also available on Apple Music.

Rain by Patty Griffin (Kody)

I was telling my wife the other day how Patty’s music takes me to another world where my anxieties are vaguely remembered. If you listen to her, you too will forget yourself as you step into the “burgundy shoes” of someone else “making pies” or “gliding on the old trapeze.”

My favorite Patty song is “Rain.” Buckle up. It’s one of her saddest songs, yet it somehow evokes comfort that someone else can articulate the hurt, longing, and striving you’ve likely experienced on this earth.

Also available on Apple Music.

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SWAPPERS: This thing works best when we hear from you! Who is your favorite female artist or frontwoman? Reply to our email or leave a comment. We’ll always respond.

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Bonus Track: PJ Harvey, "Good Fortune" by Matthew Rasmussen

If you came of age in the late 90s and had an itch to move to New York immediately after college, it was likely watching Friends or SATC which influenced you. For me, however, it was the video to PJ Harvey's single "Good Fortune," which was in heavy rotation on MTV2 in 2000. It featured Polly Jean headed out for a night on the town -- she's carefree and confident, exuding the kind of infinite, spontaneous joie de vivre which only comes with city living. And the song. THE SONG! It has the bounce of great hair and hints at the mysteries of Polly's time living in New York while making the record. Did she take a lover? What happened to the two of them? Ever the recluse, Polly doesn't kiss-and-tell, but she sure hints at a romantic tryst across the entire album. Ugh, to be young and in love in New York -- is there any greater sensation? 

Speaking of the album -- which is utterly, jaw-droppingly terrific -- "Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea" sounds just as fresh today as it did 23 years ago (!!) She'd never sounded this commercial or radio-friendly before, and she certainly never would again -- but somehow, it's *this* record in her canon that sounds the most timeless. The record won Polly the prestigious Mercury Prize, and to this day she remains the only artist to win a second one. It's also been included twice now on Rolling Stone's recurring "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" list. 

Fun fact: Kurt Cobain listed PJ's debut record, "Dry", among his favorite albums of all time. When Nirvana was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the surviving members asked Peej to fill in for Kurt on vocals, to which she declined. CAN YOU IMAGINE?! "Thanks, but no thanks Dave Grohl. I'm good." What a goddess. I'd tell you with a straight-face that Polly is one of our single greatest rock-and-roll musicians alive and working today. I bet Kurt would agree with me. 

Also available on Apple Music.

Matthew Rasmussen is a writer in LA. He has written episodes for the sci-fi show “The Expanse” and recently finished a coming-of-age novel. His first CD was Ace of Base’s “The Sign” and the song most likely to get him on the dance floor is Michael Jackson’s “Pretty Young Thing.”

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Thank you for reading The Music Swap! Catch all of the songs recommended by Ben, Jonathan, and Kody here (Apple Music too).

-TheMusicSwap