From the next big student of soul in Brother Wallace to the jazz poetry experiments of Joy Harjo and Esperanza Spalding, Fresh Picks is here again to help you find your next favorite song!
We've also got Willem Dafoe Fan Club's moody debut and tracks from Allman Brothers Band family Oteil Burbridge & Lamar Williams Jr., Allison Russell (ft. Kara Jackson, Denitia, Explore! Pop Choir), and The Lone Bellow.
In Picks of '76, our CEO/General Manager Sarah Bignall talks Queen's A Day at the Races.
Check out this week's suggestions from Asst. Music Director Malachy Koons, Volunteer Coordinator Dan Gannon and CEO/General Manager Sarah Bignall.
Albums
Album of the Week: Brother Wallace - Electric Love
Delivering on the promise of five killer singles stretching back to November 2025, Electric Love is the highly anticipated debut from Georgia soul singer Brother Wallace. It's everything you want in soul music: the grittiness of Southern soul, the sweetness of Motown, the sweaty gospel of Sam Cooke and the piano riffs of Ray Charles' R&B. Love songs, protest music, uplifting themes, sparse ballads and rowdy rave-ups, Brother Wallace can do it all. -MK
Willem Dafoe Fan Club - Be My Muse
Hollis Sparhawk, Noah Ruona, Angel Marshall and Kenny Bressler make moody and somber music that draws from shoegaze, ambient and minimalist slowcore sounds. Like the best bands in this style, Willem Dafoe Fan Club understands that it's not just about creating an intensely heavy atmosphere, but using that feeling to make the melody and harmony shine that much brighter. Start with "Sunshine Girl," "Falling Faster" and "Come Around," but be sure to take the time for a full front-to-back listen. -MK
Joy Harjo - Insomnia and Seven Steps to Grace
While you may know Harjo best as the 23rd United States poet laureate (the first Native American to hold the honor), the Muscogee artist has paired her poetry with music since the early '90s with her band Joy Harjo and Poetic Justice. Her latest release sees her working with acclaimed jazz bassist Esperanza Spalding on Insomnia and Seven Steps to Grace. It's a seamless fusion of spoken word, jazz and funk, that will appeal just as much to fans of each individual genre as to lovers of experimental genre blending. -MK
Singles
Oteil Burbridge & Lamar Williams Jr. - "Hush"
Jack Johnson meets Taj Mahal on this bouncing-in-slow-motion song. Bass player and multi-instrumentalist Burbridge links up with vocalist Williams Jr. for this wonderfully chill offering. This track is off their new LP The Offering, which was recorded in Iceland — thus the chill. Oteil Burbridge was a longtime member of the Allman Brothers band as well as Dead and Company, and Lamar Williams Jr. 's dad was also an Allman Brothers bassist, but they are clearly seeking to carve out their own distinctive sound. Jam band meets southern soul! -DG
Allison Russell - "Cold April"
Three singles in and it's clear that once again, Canadian singer-songwriter Allison Russell will be drawing from a variety of areas on her upcoming third solo album In the Hour of Chaos, due out July 10. After the modern R&B "Rainbows" and the folk-rock "No Springtime," "Cold April" is a cheerful little indie-pop number that references memories of her mom singing Prince's "Sometimes It Snows In April" when she was a child. The song is brought to life by actual children — the Explore! Pop Choir — and Kara Jackson and Denitia. -MK
Lone Bellow - "Common Folk"
With three acoustic guitars and three harmonizing voices, The Lone Bellow shares a stirring song celebrating people like you and me. They Showcase the every day feats of getting up, doing the work that needs to be done and taking some pride in the fact that you (we) are not half steppin'. The group recently made their Grand Ole Opry debut, and it's no wonder: Lone Bellow has something to say and they do it so wonderfully. -DG
1976 Album
Queen - A Day at the Races
On Dec. 10, 1976, Queen released A Day at the Races, the much‑anticipated follow-up to A Night at the Opera, the album that gave us “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Sonically, this album is kind of all over the place, but that’s part of what makes it fun. You get full‑on operatic moments like “You Take My Breath Away,” mixed with classic rock tracks such as “Long Away” and “Tie Your Mother Down” that feel like a return to Queen’s earlier sound.
One thing I really enjoyed about listening to this album again straight through was being able to pick up on which member was behind each song. Brian May’s tracks tend to lean into guitar‑heavy, classic rock sounds, while Roger Taylor’s songs are often more unserious and playful. Freddie Mercury’s songs really stand out, whether they’re big and bold or more heartfelt and emotional. There’s an effortless quality to his voice that makes those moments hit even more, especially on tracks like “Good Old‑Fashioned Lover Boy.”
“Somebody to Love” and “Tie Your Mother Down” are easily the standout tracks and biggest hits on the album. While A Day at the Races isn’t my favorite Queen album, it’s still a really solid and enjoyable listen. When you look at the albums that came after it—News of the World and Jazz, which I’d argue are some of Queen’s best work—this record feels like an important stepping stone. Overall, A Day at the Races helps cement Queen as the rock gods they would go on to become. -SB
