Friday Music Drops, 07/17/2026
Introducing a new series of posts that I'll likely abandon after just this
SIXTH entry: it's Friday Music Drops! The idea is that every Friday I
will listen to the handful of new release songs my Spotify account recommends to
me based upon my previous listens and write my quick, off the cuff thoughts on
each, without really doing any research, so that these posts are as pure as
possible. Here we go!
Trophy Wife -- "Alone"
There wasn't a lot of love in this piece last week, but holy cow, I love this song! "Alone" is a moody, brooding, atmospheric rock track, featuring a hypnotic bassline and female vocals. The song broods and builds, like storm clouds casting greyness before the clouds break and the song climaxes in a noisy, emotional downpour. Great song!
Genevieve Stokes -- "Moon Walker"
Another song I love! This is from Stokes' just released, phenomenal new album, Hiding Places. Like the majority of the album it's taken from, "Moon Walker" is fueled by haunting vocals, pianos, and strings. Between the high quality of the album and the striking artwork, Ms. Stokes needs to get this album out on vinyl, ASAP. I'll be the first to buy.
Beck -- "In the Night"
This is another song from whatever folk-tinged album Beck is soon to release. All acoustic guitar, sweeping strings, and Beck's plaintive voice, "In the Night" is more of a mood piece than the last single, "Ride Lonesome," though I really enjoy it, and wow there's some real synchronicity between the first three songs this week!
Ron Kenoly -- "I Have Hidden Your Word"
I have spent the majority of my adult life playing contemporary worship music in front of a lot of different people, but admittedly, outside of a handful of songs, I am not at all a fan of the genre and would much rather listen to hymns or Gregorian chants. An exception is Ron Kenoly, whose singular, funky, yet atmospheric gospel sound, which generally featured incredible musicianship and inventive songwriting, always stood out for me. Kenoly sadly passed away earlier this year, but it looks like he was working on some project centered around Psalm 119 at the time of his death...or maybe this is just old, unreleased material that is coming to popular light. Whatever the case, "I Have Hidden Your Word" is super chill, and features Kenoly's aged, but still rich voice meditating on a passage from the longest book in the Bible.
Finally, apropos of nothing, here's Stephen Wilson Jr. performing the song, "Gary," live at 2026 Big Slick.
Trophy Wife -- "Alone"
There wasn't a lot of love in this piece last week, but holy cow, I love this song! "Alone" is a moody, brooding, atmospheric rock track, featuring a hypnotic bassline and female vocals. The song broods and builds, like storm clouds casting greyness before the clouds break and the song climaxes in a noisy, emotional downpour. Great song!
Genevieve Stokes -- "Moon Walker"
Another song I love! This is from Stokes' just released, phenomenal new album, Hiding Places. Like the majority of the album it's taken from, "Moon Walker" is fueled by haunting vocals, pianos, and strings. Between the high quality of the album and the striking artwork, Ms. Stokes needs to get this album out on vinyl, ASAP. I'll be the first to buy.
Beck -- "In the Night"
This is another song from whatever folk-tinged album Beck is soon to release. All acoustic guitar, sweeping strings, and Beck's plaintive voice, "In the Night" is more of a mood piece than the last single, "Ride Lonesome," though I really enjoy it, and wow there's some real synchronicity between the first three songs this week!
Ron Kenoly -- "I Have Hidden Your Word"
I have spent the majority of my adult life playing contemporary worship music in front of a lot of different people, but admittedly, outside of a handful of songs, I am not at all a fan of the genre and would much rather listen to hymns or Gregorian chants. An exception is Ron Kenoly, whose singular, funky, yet atmospheric gospel sound, which generally featured incredible musicianship and inventive songwriting, always stood out for me. Kenoly sadly passed away earlier this year, but it looks like he was working on some project centered around Psalm 119 at the time of his death...or maybe this is just old, unreleased material that is coming to popular light. Whatever the case, "I Have Hidden Your Word" is super chill, and features Kenoly's aged, but still rich voice meditating on a passage from the longest book in the Bible.
Finally, apropos of nothing, here's Stephen Wilson Jr. performing the song, "Gary," live at 2026 Big Slick.
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