My favorite thing about being music might be finding those songs that you can’t get enough of–ones that sit in the sweet spot of every mix you make, and the ones that are always queued up on your iPod when someone asks, “What should we listen to now?” Three Songs To The Head is about the tunes that have  been all over my headphones for weeks now, and I apologize in advance for your own obsession that may follow hearing them. Enjoy!

“No Sheer Force Of Will” – Smokey Brights

With their first release since the 2011 full length, Can’t Rightly Say, Seattle based Smokey Brights launch a set of four seven-inch vinyl releases, the first featuring the song “No Sheer Force of Will”. A soft strum, a hammering drum beat, and Ryan Devlin’s  hushed chorus line is just a taste of what’s to come before the tune jumps off into a groove driven, Johnny Cash vibe of a verse. Saturated with this, a slammin’ guitar solo, and now the classic Smokey Brights move of creating an urge in the listener to chant along with the chorus — it’s easy to  get caught up in the feel-good jams coming from this Seattle band these days. The seven-inch also includes a new, more dancy version of “Silhouettes”, which appears on Can’t Say Rightly. See them live at the release show for the seven-inch on October 12th at The High Dive.

Listen To “No Sheer Force Of Will”

“You Go Running” – Deep Sea Diver

Deep Sea Diver was a hesitant sell for me. I wondered, “Are they good, or is it the hype that revolves around lead singer and chief songwriter Jessica Dobson’s career that’s behind their success?” Fact: Deep Sea Diver is bad ass — hype irrelevant. The song that catches my ears most and throws mine and my co-workers’ bodies around the coffee shop we work at is “You Go Running”. Upbeat, playful, and full of hooks — I dare anyone to listen to it and not instantly be sold on the Seattle giants.

Listen To “You Go Running”

“Always A First Time” – Jets Overhead

This one has been sloshing around inside the old noggin’ for a while now — one that I discovered on a favorite surf video of mine. Perfect for driving, walking, or just those moments when pondering your life needs a soundtrack. “Always A first Time” is defined by it’s laid back drum and bass grooves that sit snugly under angelic-like voices that seem to fill your speakers with a tangible bliss. I have actually found myself laughing out loud at how good this song can make me feel. See them live November 8th at The Showbox!

Listen To “Always A First Time”

– Dominic Cortese, music writer, The Monarch Review