Add another hard rocking female singer to the ever-growing 2018 Bacon Top 31 list. If you’ve not yet heard of Caroline Rose, then you’re in for a real treat. The song featured above, “Money,” is what drew me in, and it’s really fun, but don’t get fooled into thinking this is what the rest of her music sounds like. This album is full of smart, gritty pop rock that will have you singing along in no time.

Rose has accomplished quite a bit for being only 28. The fabulous Loner is her third full-length, although is a sharp turn in musical direction. Her previous two albums fall more into the alt.country genres, and fell flat, critically. Loner took her four years and lots of soul-searching iteration to arrive at this joyfully sarcastic record. Watch the other videos that she’s released for the album, and you’ll see that snide satirical humor come out: “Jeannie Becomes a Mom,” “Bikini,” and “Soul No. 5.”

In addition to writing great lyrics and hooks, Rose plays most of the instruments on her album, a true prodigy of music. She also co-produced the album, along with lead singer/songwriter of the English band The Bees (otherwise known as A Band of Bees here in the states), Paul Butler. Quick-strummed guitar, staccato keys and organ, basic drums and bass guitar fill out the sound, all with her voice sung mostly through a gravel-filled filter that gives it just the right amount of grit.

This album is fantastic. It’s catchy in all the right ways, and any time I’ve played it for other people (unannounced), they usually perk up and ask “who’s this?” Give it a listen, and you, too, can be that person. Enjoy!

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13. Big Red Machine by Big Red Machine
14. I’ll Be Your Girl by The Decemberists
15. The More I Sleep the Less I Dream by We Were Promised Jetpacks
16. Joy as an Act of Resistance by IDLES
17. Hell-On by Neko Case
18. Superorganism by Superorganism
19. Living in Extraordinary Times by James
20. Thank You for Today by Death Cab for Cutie
21. Black Panther: The Album by Kendrick Lamar
22. Suspiria (Music for the Luca Guadagnino Film) by Thom Yorke
23. Merrie Land by The Good, the Bad & the Queen
24. Room 25 by Noname
25. WARM by Jeff Tweedy
26. God's Favorite Customer by Father John Misty
27. Vessel by Frankie Cosmos
28. For Ever by Jungle
29. Twerp Verse by Speedy Ortiz
30. Remain in Light by Angélique Kidjo
31. This One’s for the Dancer & This One’s for the Dancer’s Bouquet by Moonface

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