It seems like embedding Spotify playlists has been funky for the past week. I’ve checked old posts a couple times and received error messages where the playlist should be, only to find them available again a few hours later. So just a note to check back later if it is being a bitch when you first read this post.

“True Blue” – boygenius
Music fans rejoiced last Friday when the supergroup boygenius released three new songs, one featuring each of its members on lead. At least of the first batch, Lucy Dacus’ effort is my favorite. But I’m sure when their new album arrives, Phoebe Bridgers and Julien Baker will have something to say about that. The new albums seem slow to roll out this year. In my running list of ones I’m looking forward to, there are only four accounted for at the moment. Three of them, including boygenius’, will arrive March 31. That’s kind of weird.

“Rice” – Young Fathers
I don’t know much about this band. I do know they’re Scottish, although two of the members were either born in Africa or have African parents. Globalization FTW! I don’t recall if I’ve heard their music before. But after finding this, I’m definitely going to be listening to and learning about them more.

“Smash the Machine” – Babe Rainbow
OK, if you’ve been following along with these playlists and tracking my music tastes long enough, you should know this band is from Australia based on its sound without me having to say a word.

“Dress” – Softcult
This is the first band that I discovered on The Bridge that I’m hearing new music from on my own. So kind of a big moment? Anyway, this is a deceptive song. It’s bouncy and light, and a departure from their normal shoegazey sound, but is deeply serious lyrically.

“Jet Fighter” – The Three O’Clock
Speaking of The Bridge, another old song I discovered on the Sonic Spectrum show. This band was part of the Paisley Underground movement of the ’80s, most famous for spinning out The Bangles.

“Under the Milky Way” – Lilly Hiatt
I don’t usually go for covers of my most favorite songs. But I’m just fine with Hiatt’s version of The Church’s 1988 classic.

“Judy’s Staring At The Sun” – Catherine Wheel with Tanya Donnelly
One of my favorite collabs of the ’90s, featuring a band that should have been massive and the terrific lead singer of Belly. I’m sure I heard it at some point, but I do not remember this mix of the song, which gives Tanya Donnelly the lead vocals in the second verse. Spotify just threw a Belly song at me, so I may have to dive into their catalog today.