The Hot Sheet

Music

The House by Katie Melua — With her fourth album, Melua proves again what a versatile artist she is, this time entering into a world that is paradoxically both darkly profound and lightheartedly lovable. Going from the quiet haunting metaphors of “Red Balloons” to the retro Connie Francis vibe of “Plague of Love,” Melua refuses to be defined by a single genre. Other notable songs include the jazzy number “Moment of Madness,” the surprisingly pop track “A Happy Place,” and the international hit “The Flood.”

“Hurt” by Our Lady J — What do you get when you mix songwriting by Nine Inch Nails, a legacy by Johnny Cash, and ethereal vocals à la Imogen Heap? The next brilliant incarnation of Trent Reznor’s “Hurt,” in which Our Lady J evokes the bittersweet beauty of the lyrics. A steady beat and delicate piano arpeggios also energize the song to anthemic proportions. “Hurt” is the debut single from Our Lady J’s in-progress album, The Gospel Electric. The artist, who has received high praise from musicians such as Dolly Parton and Jake Shears, begins a mini-tour of the U.K. August 9. Purchase the single here.