We at 5280 get so many pitches from local and regional musicians, it can be hard to know what to do with all of them. But two arrived this week that deserve our—and your—immediate attention.

The first one is Youth on Record’s Sessions, Volume 1. YoR isn’t a band, per se, but an organization that helps Denver-area underprivileged kids learn music basics—from producing to mixing to performing—and find their own voices in every sense of the word. Co-founded by the Flobots’ Stephen “Brer Rabbit” Brackett, the group has discovered so much talent that it decided to compile the teens’ work into a seven-track, multi-genre album that goes heavy on the rock, soul, and R&B. The record’s title suggests that this will be merely the initial offering from YoR’s stable of promising youngsters, so buy it here (you can also volunteer or make a donation), sit back, and enjoy.

On the other end of the experience spectrum sits The Motet, Denver’s nearly 20-year-old funk/soul/R&B combo. The group will release its latest EP, Totem, on July 8th (pre-order it here), but they whet our aural appetites by releasing the record’s first single last week before heading out on a summerlong national tour—which includes a Red Rocks show on July 22. The single, Damn!, is available now for streaming on Soundcloud. It features the band’s signature old-school grooves and is destined to land on many a barbecue or block party playlist.