From The Gulley From The Gutter

Terry Lynn “Streetlife” – Terry Lynn’s music is mostly comprised of harsh, overbearing tones, but it also has a thrilling bounce and throb that adds excitement and physicality to her unrelentingly bleak lyrics. It’s not a revolution in sound — many others in dancehall, hip hop, and other genres have hit a similar balance — but rather a perfect calibration of style, persona, and texture. “Street Life” comes off like a cage match between the singer and the song, with the music ratcheting up its tension and putting up an abrasive front as Lynn strikes with her confident, venomous voice and mechanical precision. (Click here to buy it from Terry Lynn.)

Elsewhere: In case you missed it the first time, or maybe didn’t believe me, but Michael Stipe is still answering questions about his lyrics on my Pop Songs site. If you have any questions for him, send them on in — he’ll be doing this through the middle of next week.