While scanning the album releases as of 10th July 2020, I ran into Lighter by Donna Missal. I have to admit that my knowledge about her was very limited – but the music I could pre-listen just felt to be shared with you. Hope you enjoy as well.
Donna Missal – About The Artist
Donna Missal was born on 26th December 1990 in New Jersey. There are some musical roots in her family, as her grandmother was a songwriter in the 1940’s and her father partially worked as a professional musician and managed a recording studio. Her first publications were Christmas songs recorded alongside her family, but she also started to do performing and songwriting. After being quite successful for example in movie soundtracks, she recorded her debut single Keep Lying, which made it to 1.5 million streams already. Apart from solo projects, she also worked with other acts like Macklemore. Her debut album was released in 2018. It is called This Time. Her style is a quite unique mix of Pop, R&B and Alternative Rock. Lighter is Missal’s second album.
Donna Missal – Lighter – Track by Track
The ten song album lasts 38 minutes.
1. How Does It Feel
Especially if I run into music by an artist I do not know too much much about, the first song or songs of an album / EP give you that kind of feeling: good or bad? Donna Missal definitely grants me an easy choice here: good! The track feels very modern, intense, atomospheric. I like her singing. Smiling for now 🙂
2. Hurt By You
While the first track of the album was rather on the modern pop side, there is a stronger portion of rock music in here. Still a great radio track with very melodic vocals.
3. Carefully
If you want to leave
Do it carefully
When you’re handling things
Go easy
If you wanted to lie
You don’t need to try
To be mean to me
Do it carefully
Third song, third very different atmosphere: this song is very melancholic and deep. The singing in this track is really cool, wide range from deep sound in the verses to quite high, powerful, a bit of angry-sounding vocals in the chorus. Wow!
4. Best Friend
Okay, I like the introducing trio of songs, but Best Friend is my best friend so far.It just catches me so much. Very intense track.
5. Slow Motion
Piano, acoustic guitar, Donna Missal – that’s all what it need to compose Slow Motion. Nice atmosphere in this one.
6. Let You Let Me Down
Let You Let Me Down was one of the songs which have been published before the album – and the fans loved it with great reviews. I like the song and it was one of the reasons why I decided to present Lighter to you. But now, I have to say: others are even better. The good thing about all that is: the album is very versatile so far – so I am sure, there is the right song for you as well.
7. Bloom
Bloom again has very limited instrumentation and thus focuses very strongly on Missal’s lyrics. However, this song is not having the deep, melancholic character of Slow Motion. Nice!
8. Just Like You
I was tempted to feel that this could be the first song which I don’t enjoy fully – but the chorus of this quite alternative rock-alike sounding Just Like You is just too good. This lady is just doing a good job – no argue against it.
9. Who Loves You
I just enjoy the range of sounds which are on Lighter – Who Loves You is another cool track with a very own atmosphere. Thank you!
10. I’m Not Ready
The album concludes with the 5:20 minute track I’m Not Ready. And it is such a great song again, touch of rock, reminds me strongly of Heather Nova, for example.
Donna Missal – Lighter – Spotify
Here is Lighter on Spotify:
Donna Missal – Lighter – My View
Wow! This is one of these kind of albums where I like to wake up early on a Friday morning for. I did not know Donna Missal just two weeks ago, when I finalized the 10th July 2020 album planning. I felt that she is a lovely artist after two, three tracks of Lighter already – and after listening to the full 38 minute album, I am just in love. Great vocals, very versatile songs and writing. Sometimes she does it the very simple and traditional way, other songs feel so modern. But I just cannot name a weak song of that album. This is how you deserve to make it to my top rankings – Top Pick!, definitely.
Flyctory.com – The Best in Media
Here are all media reviews of products which have been awarded with the Top Pick! award:

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Joe Leila – Breathing EP

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mxmtoon – rising

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Dana Fuchs – Borrowed Time

Stephen Jay – Vita Beata

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Axel Rudi Pell – Lost XXIII

Cole Swindell – Stereotype

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Ann Doka – House of Change

Circle of Friends – The Garden

Ian Noe – River Fools & Mountain Saints

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Tiffany Woys – All About Love EP

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The Dogs – El Verdugo

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Rolo Tomassi – Where Myth Becomes Memory

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Emma Longard – Quieter Pt. 2 EP

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Lordi – Humanimals (from: Lordiversity)

Roxette – Joyride (30th Anniversary Edition)

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AHI – Prospect

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Emily Scott Robinson – American Siren

Skinny Lister – A Matter of Life and Love

Dave Hause – Blood Harmony

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Alcatrazz – V

Ryan Hurd – Pelago

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The Record Company – Play Loud

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Billy Strings – Renewal

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Mickey Guyton – Remember Her Name

Wolfgang Petry – Auf das Leben

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Charley Crockett – Music City USA

Peter Maffay – So Weit

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Rage – Resurrection Day

The Vaccines – Back In Love City

Samantha Fish – Faster

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Echo Bloom – Wake

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Freakstorm – Storm Inside My Heart

Beatrice Egli – Alles Was Du Brauchst

Ray Wilson – The Weight Of Man

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James McMurtry – The Horses And The Hounds

Annie Chops – Level Up

Jayne Denham – Wanted

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Clare Dunn – In This Kind Of Light EP

Perlregen – Drei

Chris Young – Famous Friends

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Jim Lauderdale – Hope

Grizfolk – Grizfolk

Ryan Kinder – Room To Dream

Clay Walker – Texas To Tennessee

Los Lobos – Native Sons

Jolina Carl – Mexican Overdrive

Ida Mae – Click Click Domino

Sarah Straub – Tacheles EP

Gary Kemp – INSOLO

Eliza Shaddad – The Woman You Want

Helge Schneider – Die Reaktion – The Last Jazz Vol. II

Lauren Jenkins – Miles On Me, Part 1 EP

The Wallflowers – Exit Wounds

LANCO – Honky-Tonk Hippies EP

Riley Green – Behind The Bar EP

Kat Eaton – Talk To Me

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Meghan Patrick – Heart On My Glass

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Jim “Kimo” West – Ka Honua Maluhia (Peaceful World)

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Karlie Apriori – Seelenpassagier EP

Kylie Morgan – Love, Kylie EP

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Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real – A Few Stars Apart

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Black River Delta – Shakin’

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Levara – Levara

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Emma Moore – the table EP

Emma Longard – Quieter Pt. 1 EP

Sing meinen Song – Das Tauschkonzert Vol. 8

Durch & Durch – Nice Aber Nutzlos

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Thomas Rhett – Country Again: Side A

Priscilla Block – Priscilla Block EP

Klee – Trotzalledem

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Diane Weigmann – Die Wahrheit liegt irgendwo dazwischen

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Eric Church – &

Eric Church – Heart

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Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band – Dance Songs For The Hard Times

Jon Randall – Neon Texas EP

Canaan Smith – High Country Sound

The Fratellis – Half Drunk Under A Full Moon

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Adrian Smith & Richie Kotzen – Smith / Kotzen

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Nino de Angelo – Gesegnet und Verflucht

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Lainey Wilson – Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’

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Korpiklaani – Jylhä

Aaron Lee Tasjan – Tasjan! Tasjan! Tasjan!

Jake Hoot – Love Out Of Time EP

Jimmy Weber – Black & Blue Heart

Willie Jones – Right Now

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Chelsea Berman – Can You Just Not EP

The Dead Daisies – Holy Ground

Petric – Flashbacks

John Diva & The Rockets Of Love – American Amadeus

Aaron Watson – American Soul

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Steve Earle & The Dukes – J.T.

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Majestica – A Christmas Carol

Russell Dickerson – Southern Symphony

Granger Smith – Country Things, Vol. 2

Miley Cyrus – Plastic Hearts

Sodom – Genesis XIX

Ward Davis – Black Cats and Crows

Kameron Marlowe – EP

Chris Stapleton – Starting Over

Bläck Fööss – 5Ö

Orianthi – O

Joe Bonamassa – Royal Tea

Mira Goto – Nobody Warned Me EP

Trace Adkins – Ain’t That Kind Of Cowboy EP

The Struts – Strange Days

Benediction – Scriptures

Saltatio Mortis – Für Immer Frei

Kelsy Karter – Missing Person

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Jason Nix – Money on You EP

Dolly Parton – A Holly Dolly Christmas

The Nude Party – Midnight Manor

Terri Clark – It’s Christmas … Cheers!

Van de Forst – Unconditional

Hardy – A Rock

Lauren Alaina – Getting Over Him EP

Tennessee Jet – The Country

miu – Corona Tapes EP

Josh Turner – Country State of Mind

Jim “Kimo” West – More Guitar Stories

Lindsay Ell – Heart Theory

Lori McKenna – The Balladeer

Ronan Keating – Twenty Twenty

Taylor Swift – folklore

Kansas – The Absence of Presence

U.D.O. & The German Armed Forces Concert Band – We Are One

Olivia Lane – “Living Instead” Podcast about Artists’ Life and More

Jonny Houlihan – Hey Girl EP

Eric Paslay – Heartbeat Higher EP

Kyle Nix – Lightning On The Mountain & Other Little Stories

Bob Dylan – Rough and Rowdy Ways

Gabby Barrett – Goldmine

Lady Gaga – Chromatica

Kip Moore – Wild World

Jaime Wyatt – Neon Cross

Florida Georgia Line – 6-Pack EP

Steve Earle & The Dukes – Ghosts of West Virginia

Travis Denning – Beer’s Better Cold EP

Hailee Steinfeld – Half Written Story EP

Randy Rogers & Wade Bowen – Hold My Beer, Vol. 2

Dramarama – Color TV

Kenny Chesney – Here and Now

Hot Country Knights – The K Is Silent

Tim Dugger – Signs Of A Good Time EP

Drake White – Stars EP

The Washboard Union – Everbound

Twinnie – Hollywood Gypsy

Julia Cole – Honey Child EP

Joe Satriani – Shapeshifting

Maddie & Tae – The Way It Feels

Sykamore – California King EP

Ashley McBryde – Never Will

Brett James – I am Now EP

Made in Bolka – About the Rise of a Floorball Club

Delta Rae – The Light

Kelsea Ballerini – Kelsea

The Shires – Good Years

Lauren Alaina – Getting Good EP

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Böhse Onkelz – Böhse Onkelz (2020 Album)

Heinz Rudolf Kunze – Der Wahrheit die Ehre

Ozzy Osbourne – Ordinary Man

Seven Spires – Emerald Seas

Carly Pearce – Carly Pearce

The Cadillac Three – Country Fuzz

Richard Marx – Limitless

Celeste Kellogg – Keep It On Repeat EP

Richie Kotzen – 50 for 50

Redeye Caravan – Nostrum Remedium

Cody Hibbard – Memory and A Dirt Road

Little Big Town – Nightfall

Dustin Lynch – Tullahoma

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Cassadee Pope – Stages (with Track by Track Commentary)

Björn Heuser – Kopp voll Dräum (Nashville Recordings)

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Luke Combs – This One’s For You – The Record-Breaking Album

Miranda Lambert – Wildcard

Jon Langston – Now You Know EP

Old Dominion (Album Review)

Sylvia Aimee – Superhero EP

Chris Janson – Real Friends

Chris Knight – Almost Daylight

Brantley Gilbert – Fire & Brimstone

Sturgill Simpson – Sound & Fury

Tarja – In the Raw

Sheryl Crow – Threads

Tanya Tucker – While I’m Livin’

Tyler Childers – Country Squire

Willie Nelson – Ride Me Back Home

Bruce Springsteen – Western Stars

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Kiddo Kat – Piece of Cake (Album Review)
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