Jerry's Pick: "Girl Gang"

"Girl Gang"-Gin Wigmore

You could call it a musical kick-in-the-nuts to patriarchship. And, this song does it while wearing a pink pussy hat.

"I got fight, I got heart, I got the strength to tear it apart. I got bite, I got brains, I got the grace and power to reign."

Riding the blue wave of the #MeToo movement, New Zealand-native and LA resident Gin Wigmore has written, performed, recorded and produced the best women's empowerment anthem since we heard Helen Reddy roar in 1972.

I've been following Gin's career since I first heard that dynamic, raspy voice belting out a few lines of her "Man Like That" single as part of a 2012 James Bond/Heineken television ad. This year, she's endorsing grrrl power!

When it comes to a female fiat, there's been quite a bit of inspiration to draw from in the headlines over the past couple of years from a misogynistic president and a worldwide post-inaugural Women's March to a record number of women running for public office. Sure, there's all that, but add a few personal motives as well.

Wigmore cites a variety of issues from gender prejudice, shaming, and discrimination. She explaines to the New Zealand Herald, "When you have a big idea about something -- you're seen as being difficult, a diva, all these negative associations. And if you're a man, he's seen as a visionary with big ideas, a go-getter and a motivator."

Plus, one-year ago this month Gin became a mom for the first time. In fact, she titled her new album Ivory after her son. In an interview with Radio New Zealand, she relates, "So this project was a way to bring us together, celebrate women, realize and show the world that there is room for everyone. That there is room for all of us."

"Girl Gang" -- driven by persistent and powerful percussion -- is Wigmore's infectious, gritty, confident, uplifting yet defiant indie rock 'n' roll call-to-arms built (as she sings) on the bones of Brando. Gin calls it a sass attack and hopes it will empower women to "take a stronger stride, a louder opinion and a right to love, adore and praise who you are."

Men... step aside.

"It's a girl gang... boy, you wish you could join."

Jerry's Pick: "Soul Train"

"Soul Train"-Just Loud

A dozen years ago Justin Timberlake's musical mission statement was to bring sexy back. Now a Virginia-based musician thinks its time to do the same for funk. Leading the crusade: Just Loud.

Just Loud is not only a proclamation but the moniker of the man behind the exciting new single "Soul Train," an energetic throwback to Seventies soul and -- as you might have guessed -- one of America's longest running televised dance parties.

On his Facebook page, Just Loud explained, "The way how the generation is moving right now is way too cool, ain't got no funk. Where's the funk now? I'm asking you, 'Where's the funk?' So, with 'Soul Train' I hope we can just bring it back just a little bit. Enough with being cool. Let's bring the funk back!"

I'm not entirely sure "Soul Train" will resurrect the genre, but he's on the right track with the best example of synth-saturated soul featuring funk-filled falsetto since Prince blew us a "x x x x x, kiss" in 1985.

Along with a chugging bass-line and an energetic, infectious chorus, I also appreciated Just Loud's lyrical tip-of-the-hat to the architect of punk-funk, Rick James, and his 1978 single "Mary Jane." (I guess it could also be a nod to his all-girl R&B group the Mary Jane Girls.)

But that's not the coolest revelation of "Soul Train." Fab Five Freddie told me it's none-other than Debbie Harry reliving her Blondie "Rapture" moment with those "Harass your ass" vocal fills during the song's middle-eight.

Just Loud described "Soul Train" as "a rebellious record." Adding, "I want everyone to get up, move, and have a good time!" Whatever you say, Mr. Loud. Well, it is a definite head-bopper and -- as advertised -- could play a role in getting your caboose on the dance floor... dancing like back in the day.

"Ai, yi-yi-yi!"

As you board the "Soul Train" on the Rock ('n' Roll) Island Line, I leave you with the words of Don Cornelius by wishing you all "love, peace and sooooul!"

Jerry's Pick: "I Wouldn't Want To Be Like You"

"Wouldn't Want To Be Like You"-Sheryl Crow

When I first eyed the title to this new Sheryl Crow single I immediately assumed it was a cover-version of that classic 1977 Alan Parson Project track of the same name.

It isn't.

But, I did notice one small similarity. Both "Wouldn't Want To Be Like You"s were written about those who somehow exist without a heart or a soul. Parsons drew inspiration from science fiction author Isaac Asimov and is about robots. Crow's subject matter is instead about something way more cold... the self-serving, ostentatiously opulent assholes currently at Wall Street and in the White House. (And some, I assume, are good people.)

Conceived in an era when our government throws out terms like "alternate facts" and "fake news," Sheryl's composition seems oh so relevant. She explained to Billboard, "Wouldn't Want To Be Like You" is "about the climate of truth not being important anymore."

In an administration where gaslighting is standard operating procedure and making shit up a daily occurrence, Crow's hook sounds like it could have originated as a rallying cry at a protest gathering for the resistance.

"You tell a lie, you tell a lie, you tell a lie, that don't make it true..."

"Wouldn't Want To Be Like You" begins with a Gorrilaz hip-hoppy styled drum beat and features Sheryl occasionally rap-singing utilizing an infectious staccato cadence.

"Money is the monkey giving you a back ache... Money is the grease in the palm of a handshake..."

This isn't the first time Crow has dabbled in politics. In fact, I was a big fan of her cleverly written meeting-in-the-middle themed single "Halfway There" from last year, obviously inspired by today's bitterly divided political climate.

For me, the highlight of "Wouldn't Want To Be Like You" is the distorted guitar contributions from Annie Clark. The St. Vincent guitarist can also be heard on harmony vocals. Apparently Clark -- currently enjoying the immense success of her critically acclaimed Masseduction -- is just one of the many guests that Sheryl has invited to join her in the studio, all part of a collection of songs tabled for release sometime next year. "My forthcoming album features collaborations with many of my heroes, people who have shaped the past, present and future of music. It’s a dream lineup really."

Coincidentally, today marks the 25th anniversary of Sheryl's breakthrough album Tuesday Night Music Club which was released on August 3, 1993 and featured those Crow classics "All I Wanna Do" and "Leaving Las Vegas," pop music I consider timeless. This time around we're talking timely.