Kevin Bronson on March 16th, 2022

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Singles roundup: Hear the latest from Mondo Cozmo, Lucius (feat. Brandi Carlile & Sheryl Crow) and the Palms …

MONDO COZMO, “Electrify My Love”

Mondo Cozmo’s third album, “This Is for the Barbarians,” comes out April 8, and main man Josh Ostrander is doing his damnedest to put the pandemic in the rear-view mirror. “Electrify My Love,” the follow-up to “Meant for Livin’” and “Feel Good,” is the album’s opening salvo. Like the first two singles, you can think of it as a rock inspirational — here, choir vocals and a repeated chorus collide with a crush of buzzing guitar and rave-ready electronics. “‘Electrify My Love’ was the last song to make the record, but it was specifically written to be the first song on the album,” Ostrander says. “We wanted the long musical intro to have a calming effect and the opening lyrics to be of comfort. ‘Good evening everyone, I hope this finds you well.’ A sincere check-in on everyone after what we have all been through. I love how the chorus punches ya in the heart. I think it is the perfect opening track.”

LUCIUS, “Dance Around It”

Speaking of the pandemic and its residual baggage, Holly Laessig and Jess Wolfe — aka Lucius — suggest you “Dance Around It.” The follow-up to “Heartbursts,” “Next to Normal” and “White Lies,” it feels like the big reveal from their third album, “Second Nature.” out April 8. The song features Brandi Carlile (who with Dave Cobb co-produced the album, and with whom Lucius are touring this summer, including June 24 at the Greek) and Sheryl Crow. It features a rubbery beat and, yes, a chorus that can lift you off the floor. Of the song, the duo says: “In many ways ‘Dance Around It’ cracked the intention for the entire record, to dance through the darkness. To take what may have been isolating and internal, and instead, make it loud, and put it on display — give it legs to dance. When we brought it to the studio, we asked our dear friends and collaborators (pinch me) Sheryl Crow and Brandi Carlile to sing with us; they were so present and instrumental during the writing and recording of our record – and hearing them sing on this track felt like dancing through that last part of a dark tunnel.”

THE PALMS, “Fire

The Palms — Johnny Zambetti and Ben Rothbard, once of Terraplane Sun — have released their first single since their 2020 sophomore album, “Charlie.” The onetime purveyors of blues-rock have settled comfortably into their more pop-oriented sound. While their new single, “Fire” simmers more than blazes, there’s a tasteful muted guitar that underlines the conflict in the chorus. Yes, there’s a lovely sky tonight, but, “The world is on fire / and people are raging.” Just forget that somewhere in the background, somebody is singing “Whoo-hoo.”