Boys Don’t Cry - Sarah Rose (Indie Rock) This record is quite timely with respect to modern day social commentary on the topic of toxic masculinity. In her indie rock midtempo jam “Boys Don’t Cry”, Sarah Rose serenades a man in her life by telling him it’s ok for him to connect with his feelings. Despite its modern message, there’s an 80s sensibility to this anthemic number, which gave us vibes similar to a Belinda Carlisle ballad—maybe a B-Side to “Heaven is a Place on Earth”. With passionate, soaring vocals, the track truly comes alive as the bridge leads into the outro, delivering a real ‘lighters up’ moment. We think this one would be great to hear live—we imagine it inevitably becomes an audience sing-along.

Best Lyric: “It’s ok to cry. Whoever said boys don’t cry?”