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Dec 6, 2023
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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Nice! It's great to see you over here, btw.

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Dec 6, 2023
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Kevin Alexander's avatar

That's a killer list, and thank you for the link!

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Andrew Smith's avatar

Kevin, do you craft a playlist to start every week and sort of let those songs play a few times through?

Playlists are definitely the mixtapes of today.

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

It's the other way around--it's more of a recap. At the end of the week (or my week, anyway), I take a look at everything that I've either been playing a lot, or otherwise caught my eye, and start putting it all together. Then I pare it down to 10 tracks and try and sequence it like a regular record, right down to a Side A & Side B.

Sometimes, I think that order only makes sense in my head. I do play it a couple of times through, and then (of course) tweak it a bunch of times before posting.

That aside, I 100% agree with you; playlists are the 2023 equivlent of mixtapes!

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Andrew Smith's avatar

thanks! That's cool to see a little behind the curtain.

I have a lot of "shuffle" stuff - listening to random stations - and then I'll sort of get an idea to make a playlist so I can hear whatever niche all at once, in a particular order. I love being able to chain songs together that are better than a random listen.

I'm sure I've forgotten about 10x more music than I know, so the stuff that makes it to a playlist is probably very familiar by now.

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Marc Carrasco's avatar

I also try to make a sequence of the tracks when curating the playlist. Not a precise rule for sorting, just the sequence that works in my head. Somtimes a good segue comes from the sound, others are the lyrics that complete a story. For me, it’s the most difficult part of making the playlist, but also the most funny.

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Same! Mostly, I just hope people get it.

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3Albums6OldGuys's avatar

Just posted this on our site - spending a lot of time with Tele Novella and the Bug Club, along with a few from Shane. https://3albums6oldguys.substack.com/p/from-ireland-to-texas-shane-macgowan

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Right on, and thanks for the link!

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Danny Anderson's avatar

I've been getting a lot of inspiration lately from an unlikely source, the German Psychobilly band Mad Sin, and their shockingly inspirational number "9 Lives" https://youtu.be/JG8oc87oncs?si=RKG4RAn-9Yf3hVhk

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Jack Roscoe's avatar

I'm really enjoying the new Therapy? album which was recently released: https://open.spotify.com/album/5AiJdGeontowGTYZGZAfjl?si=tx2U_CpwR-S45auZUS5o5g - in a strange quirk of fate, Andy Cairns (singer/guitar) was a parent during my time as a high school principal - I never chatted to him about music as it didnt seem fair whilst he was waiting at a parents' evening!

My Spotify Wrapped was pretty much as expected... Hamish Hawk topped for a second year running (due to his superb album, Angel Numbers); the ubiquitous Ms Swift was No.2 (mainly I think because I spent a good part of the year listening to her songs whilst I was writing my own - well, that's my excuse!!)... 3rd was the brilliant Dave Hause, whose 'Drive Like It's Stolen' I picked up when we were in SF on honeymoon (from Amoeba, naturally).

I'm starting writing the material for Album Two - and it's gonna be a much darker and heavier affair - already shaped a thematic playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2FijyXkNSBnSTstmAiWnEV?si=43455dfc48774aff - NOTE - the album will be called 'Wanderers on Seas of Fog' with a cover by the same artist who did the cover for 'Out of the Woods' based on Friedrich's iconic work of German Romanticism...

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

I think I answered on Notes by accident, but what a small world that Cairns was a parent at your school. And congrats on getting the second record underway !

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Jack Roscoe's avatar

Thanks Kevin... I’m hoping to create Exile on Main Street for the 21C 🤔😁

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Paul Boardman's avatar

Revisiting | Courtney Barnett, The Double EP: A Sea Of Split Peas

Reviewing | Radiohead back catalog for a piece I’m trying to write.

Odd | Anemone by The Brian Jonestown Massacre, 3744 James Road by The Groundhogs and Chips Ahoy by The Hold Steady.

Also posted my friend his latest mix CD, which I also put on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7k02xcEyEIU7dt0P4YsYHs?si=m6gKNQwHSKW16m2f5Gdyug&pi=e-C37B5-8cRJ-n

This is something I’ve done for him, going back 25+ years.

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Courtenay Barnett made her way into my playlists this week as well. 'Depreston' is one of my faves.

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Paul Boardman's avatar

The album Courtney did with Kurt Vile is brilliant. Perfect Sunday morning listening.

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Yana Bostongirl's avatar

Madonna - I Want You

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Nice pick, Yana!

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Eric Pierce's avatar

Christmas music, of course! :D

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Of course!

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Dave Purcell's avatar

Great call on The Rave-Ups! I put that song and a few others on so many mixtapes back in the day.

My week was full of:

- Peter Gabriel - I/O - The rare late-period classic!

- Lots of Pogues in honor of Shane McGowan's passing. I was fortunate to see The Pogues three times, the first in '89, and they were brilliant every time. 💚

- A handful of Calexico's tour-only CDs that I was finally able to track down.

- Jack Roscoe's record. Well done, mate!

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Kiley Larsen's avatar

Had high expectations for Peter Gabriel and it’s even better than I’d hoped it would be! Need to listen to the other two mixes of the album.

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Dave Purcell's avatar

Looking forward to exploring the different mixes as well. I'm a big fan of Tchad Blake so I was excited to see that he did the Dark-Side mixes.

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Kiley Larsen's avatar

Love a lot of Tchad Blake’s work behind the boards as well! Didn’t know this is THE Dave Purcell of Radio Free ABQ - small world out here in the high desert!

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Dave Purcell's avatar

'Tis! Small world, indeed. Nice to cross paths out here. I didn't connect your name to your label earlier.

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

These are the best kind of connections!

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Inverted Pyramid's avatar

Joey Burns gave a wonderful tribute to Shane McGowan.

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Dave Purcell's avatar

I didn't know about that and just found it. That was lovely, thanks for mentioning it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Byujq6MCQ6U

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

I *still* haven't heard the recorded version of i/O. I need to change that ASAP. The tracks sounded fantastic live, so I can only imagine how they'll sound on record.

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ric leczel's avatar

I find I'm starting my days with one of two songs - Texas Sun or Sandusky - but if you want a cool Christmas song - try this one from The Band

https://open.spotify.com/track/0rib9hiYy1NWL0w8BUYgmd?si=b4f1cd00607c4ee1

https://open.spotify.com/track/24ntSW3QVJzR79lHAAOTaY?si=117a8ecce57d4512

https://open.spotify.com/track/4vQqLw6NwBhxMxAZQW42Vs?si=e80a712bd81e4f48

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

I'm on it! Thanks man!

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Glenn Cook's avatar

Nice list! Love seeing Frightened Rabbit, and the back to back of Nada Surf and Rilo Kiley was a treat.

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Frightened Rabbit came courtesy of Mallie Hart, as did the Rave Ups. I hadn't heard the latter in forever, and a mention of them sent me down a fun rabbit hole.

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Glenn Cook's avatar

I became a Frightened Rabbit fan thanks to a friend’s shared playlist many years ago. Tragic end for them. There’s a tribute album, Tiny Changes, that features a great cover of “Heads Roll Off” by Craig Finn. Check it out when you get the chance.

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Sterling Bennett's avatar

Just discovered and been listening to Jackie Venson all week.

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Kenn Richards's avatar

I'm really enjoying the new "lost" Bobby Keys LP Lover's Rockin. which came out on Friday. https://open.spotify.com/album/7Kx3Z2i1xpCgPVLJhfobeb?si=bYX34WchTtmvdYu5zTHnDg

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

This is a new one for me. Thanks for getting it on my radar!

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Christopher Bradley's avatar

Someone on Instagram posted a bargain bin find of The New Cactus Band "Son of a Cactus" which sent me down a rabbit hole into earlier Cactus releases. So I have been boogie rockin' all week long.

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Those are the best kind of rabbit holes!

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Senor Fix's avatar

Great playlist with a fantastic vibe throughout! Tanukichan is stellar eh? New Mascis is exciting.

This week involved reviewing outliers for AOTY including:

The Murder Capital - Gigi's Recovery

Nabihah Iqbal - Dreamer

JIM - Love Makes Magic

Catatonic Suns - S/T

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Stellar indeed! I like 'Gizmo" more and more with each listen.

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Jen Zug's avatar

I discovered the band Young Fathers this weekend - Bryan put on an in-studio video from KEXP and they were amazing. Added them to my rotation for the week.

I’m also fully immersed in my 17 hours of Christmas music playlist:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/44Usd82OXFgULTLpzPZzrI?si=DJ5kfafyRcKwKE672KWv_g&pi=u-mR4nuTn6SKyx

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Jen Zug's avatar

Here’s the Young Fathers link: https://youtu.be/_yHfko6Kz6k?si=2sfxWQ8MLkJtorI1

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

310 songs?! Wow! That's pretty awesome.

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Jen Zug's avatar

I changed it up last year -- removed a bunch of Neil Diamond Christmas albums, added John Legend, etc.

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Jim Ruland's avatar

End Forest

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Kiley Larsen's avatar

I’m mostly like you listening to all of the year end stuff over the past few weeks to finally have the final 50. Peter Gabriel and Harp (Tim Smith of Midlake’s record that has taken him a decade to make) are throwing a late curveball in those rankings as they’re both very phenomenal.

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

I'm leaving peter Gabriel out on a technicality. I've heard the album, but only played live. A weird scenario, but I'm already struggling to prune things down, so this was an easy (if odd) call to make.

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Reuben Salsa's avatar

Best start revising that list buddy! No room for Young Fathers - I Saw ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPyC0JUfZrU )? Or any BoyGenius (Not Strong Enough is the ANTHEM OF SUMMER! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIX_ouNJsTs )?

I loved Billy Eilish What Was I Made For? this year. Beautiful tune and so unexpected.

And then there was this glorious tune....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSY3i5XHHXo

UK Rap resurgence with a latin spin....breathtaking.

AND AND AND....the return of BLUR!!!!!!

Finally, here's a nod to K-Pop with NewJeans Supershy... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArmDp-zijuc

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Man, I've revised my list a bazillion times already! BTW, I dropped the ball on Music League, but I haven't forgotten!!

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Reuben Salsa's avatar

Looking forward to the invite! Perhaps you should have a two part top ten?

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

It'll be split into two, and then there'll be some honorable mentions...and some records that were also notable...and EPs... lol. There was a LOT this year.

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Marcus Meeks's avatar

Newish:

The Ratboys, The Window (really like this album)

Older: (it was very much a 90s weekend)

Tuscadero, The Pink Album

Velocity Girl, Live Show plus Simpatico and Copacetic albums

Wilco, Summerteeth

Charles Mingus, The Black Saint and Sinner Lady

Herbie Hancock, Empyrean Isles

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

The Window is fantastic, as are both Velocity Girl records. Love that you got to see them play! 'Summerteeth' is far and away my favorite Wilco record.

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Faith Current's avatar

I'm on a bit of a Leonard Cohen binge, mostly his later work after his voice aged and he stopped being folkie guitar guy. I hadn't heard Live in London before and it's a thing of transcendent beauty and my new favourite Cohen album.

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Transcendent is a great way to describe a lot of Cohen's songs.

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Rick Ellis's avatar

I'm on one of my periodic attempts to convince someone to release a Nuggets-style set of 70s-90s Chicago pop rock, so I've been diving deep into that stuff this week (maybe I need to start a Substack devoted to that).

The Bad Examples were always one of my favorite bands of the era. Fronted by Ralph Covert, the band sounded like some Midwestern harder rockin' version of Squeeze. The closest thing they had to an actual hit was "Not Dead Yet," which was covered by Styx.

This live version of "Bad Girl" is much better than the proto punk version released on their first cassette. It's slowed down and you can imagine this being a hit at the time. They were a great live band and this was always a highlight.

Weirdly, while The Bad Examples weren't a huge commercial success, Covert released a number of successful "Ralph's World" albums, which basically sound like Bad Examples songs with kid-friendly lyrics.

https://youtu.be/-909pLFfdyI?si=k6HggrVAbll7-xIj

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

I would 100% read that Substack! Just putting it out there.

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Stygi's avatar

Soundtrack from the newest Hunger Games 🎶🐦‍⬛🐍 (I saw the movie yesterday and 💯 recommend it) https://open.spotify.com/album/2yHTMVFGHODKJOjVL1hLgk?si=LUg3ZcA3TMCRSsbB6z55lw

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Pete Riddle's avatar

As a R.E.M. superfan, yesterday's NYT profile of Michael Stipe and his solo project is simply lovely, and I read the entire thing twice. Non-paywalled link:

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/03/magazine/michael-stipe-solo-album.html?unlocked_article_code=1.DE0.PzwL.o30MDUb6lnEM&smid=nytcore-android-share

If hanging out backstage during performances by Patti Smith and The National here in Cincinnati is helping him move this project along, he's welcome to visit here anytime 😁

On a shorter timeframe, Sleater-Kinney and Middle Kids are running neck and neck for my most anticipated releases of January 2024. The new video from Middle Kids may be my favorite pregnancy announcement music video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvPCm8cD6kw

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Marcus Meeks's avatar

If Stipe’s comment about Buck’s guitars in the NYT piece is any indication, his solo album may be more Reveal than Life’s Rich Pageant.

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Dave Purcell's avatar

Good to see another Cincinnatian out here, Pete! (Even if I moved away 2 1/2 years ago ;->.)

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

I've saved it to read tomorrow at work. Not sure why I'm waiting. lol.

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Marmi's avatar

I love that you have J Mascis and just hearted it on my Spotify! 🦖 Been listening to Micky Dolenz sings REM and George Harrison thanks to some of your recent pieces. Also Manics ofc since I mention them a couple of times in my best of lists that I just published in The Riff 😃

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

That was a great read, btw! For anyone scrolling the comments, you can check out Marmi's article here: https://medium.com/the-riff/my-top-10-best-of-2023-pop-culture-lists-bf1c24f99875

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Kristin Tweedale's avatar

So much Christmas music here. I've been obsessed with the new Jason Derulo Christmas song, and it's been on repeat all weekend. https://open.spotify.com/track/6VUHVDpHctDMY0nhtSSzIt?si=9440660541024b5f

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Oh, I need to add that to my Christmas(ish) playlist!

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Andres's avatar

Happy Mondays! SOS Band, Mariah’s Xmas music (for the 678854345th time), Luther Allison, and looking forward to receiving my copy of Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino. Because variety, right? 😅

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Variety indeed! :)

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Mark Nash's avatar

Been listening to a bunch of my favorite 2023 releases as I try to get my top 50 list in order. I’m hoping to start the 2023 AOTY posts later this week

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Right on! I'm looking forward to seeing what made the cut.

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Ian Paul Sharp's avatar

Peter Gabriel - ‘i/o’ Dark-Side Mixes. It’s a masterpiece (posting more about this later).

And today I’ve listened to a couple of tracks from Charlie Parker with Strings (1950!) because it was recommended by Robert Fripp in a video.

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Jeremy Shatan's avatar

True Love...that was peak Hovvdy for me, kind of lost touch since then. Weekend listening was mainly taken up with recording my podcast and then having to listen back to it, the most painful part of the process. But I've also been working my way through and around potentials for the Top 25 - Youth Lagoon, Water From Your Eyes, etc. - as well as the vinyl I picked up a week ago. Finally played the Armageddon album - what a RUSH, one of the hardest hard rock/prog albums of the 70s. Keith Relf's last project and he went out with a BANG. Also filling my ears with tons of reggae (Burning Spear, Protoje, etc.) and hip hop (Earl Sweatshirt, Guilty Simpson, etc.) as I work on a massive roundup of reviews.

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Just seeing the names you've mentioned has me looking forward to checking out your list!

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Dusty Wright's avatar

No better album this year than Ian M. Bailey's third effort We Live In Strange Times. All the songs were co-written by the very righteous Daniel Wylie (Cosmic Rough Riders).

<https://open.spotify.com/album/3mX7veRarz3OoYeX46dXsI?si=r0OKm54vQRKMVnoe494NYw>

My full review is forthcoming and will be shared on my Substack page TALES & RANTS (https://dustywright.substack.com) and at CultureCatch.com.

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Mallie Hart's avatar

I'm late to the discussion, but I'm really enjoying this EP. Let me know what you think!

https://open.spotify.com/album/5avJrMRasFXRE0db6UwEHm?si=CN5iWKBUSHunH_bCCzwguQ

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

I like it; the whole thing has a nice slinky groove to it. 'Riot Vans' especially.

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jeleonard193's avatar

Went down memory lane, researching "The Big Ball" which was one of the Warner/Reprise Loss Leader albums. This particular gem was from 1970 but I didn't hear it until my brother bought it at a flee market circa 1975. Unbelievable collection of artists, but the song that blew me away in 1975 was Captain Beefheart's "Ella Guru". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sew2ybdrTLY

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Shaggy Snodgrass's avatar

More Robert Jon and The Wreck, to prep for my show opening for them this Thursday; and also the new single from Bessemer Saints that I'm waving around to promote that show.

Listen to Come Find Me by Bessemer Saints on #SoundCloud

https://on.soundcloud.com/x8vRS

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

It's gonna be great!

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Definitely a good track for the party!

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Norman's avatar

TV Death

The God, The One and The Devil

Pink Floyd

The Piper at the Gates of Dawn

Harry Nillson

Nillson Schmillson

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Justin Steiner's avatar

It's the time of year when I try to listen to everything one more time, as well as finding albums I may have missed. I also bought music on Bandcamp Friday that I hadn't heard at all and am happy with the results - Anna Hillburg, Somerdale, and Erik Voeks & The Ghosters.

To sum up...I'm all over the place!

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Same here! Not the worst place(s) to be, though. :)

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Justin Steiner's avatar

Nope!

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Dusty Wright's avatar

Have you listened to Feist's latest record? Top 5 album for me.

https://open.spotify.com/track/213igZFz9j49zbHnPqpZvR?si=f5cc7a1eff50409f

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

I haven't, but I'll change that ASAP!

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Bret Heller's avatar

Steve Marino - Too Late to Start Again....just found this record, and I’m really enjoying it!

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

I really got into that record as well!

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