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On to the music:
For those of you who are new, we kick off every week by sharing what we’ve been playing.
The playlist below is some of what I’ve had in heavy rotation. This week, I’ve got another great single from Mama Manana Records, the latest from The Tisburys, an old favorite from my PDX days, and more!
Now it’s your turn.
What caught your ear this week? Any 2025 releases or shows you’re excited about?
Before you go: As most of you have seen, I am a huge fan of music the streaming platform Qobuz. The sound quality is second to none, and the entire UX is fantastic. Thanks to our friend Kenn Richards, you can now see it for yourself.
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** The Horrors 'Night Life' - Less eclectic and more straight dark, moody atmospheric sound then last few. This and the next on list will get heavy rotation.
** Floodlights 'Underneath' - I really like this band, and discovered them on the Substack!
** YHWH Nailgun '45 Pounds' - What did I just hear... nay, experience!? The Pop Group x Lightning Bolt?!
* Welly 'Big In The Suburbs' - Oh so British, shiny rock.
* Annie & The Caldwells 'Can't Lose My Soul' - Blistering soul that'll make you move, and move you.
* Men I Trust 'Equus Asinus' - Hushed, mellow. Settle in for quality, serene comfort. Beach House meet Cowboy Junkies.
The Floodlights album is SO GOOD! I absolutely love it. Really enjoying Men I Trust too. I love Welly but I feel the album is a little too long and maybe not varied enough. They are a super fun live band though.
Great list and thank you for getting some new names on my radar! Too early in the Am for Men I trust, but I definitely want to check that one out! Floodlights too.
Best two new releases I just got on vinyl are My Morning Jacket's "Is and Bob Mould's "Here We Go Crazy." Very looking forward to seeing Stereophonics in Chicago this weekend.
Been listening to some of my dancehall reggae favorites from the 80s for an upcoming installment of Five Faves. Also been revisiting some of my AOTY selections from recent years including Metric’s 2022 album “Formantera” and Meg Baird’s “Furling” from 2023.
* The Loft - Everything Changes Everything Stays The Same
Chalk one up for the Spotify algorithm. I've never heard of The Loft before and it's a good story: one of the first bands signed to Creation Records in '84, they were touring behind their debut single in '85 when they broke up mid-song in front of 3,000 people at Hammersmith Palais. They just reunited in their mid-60s and released their debut record, and it's really good! Smart guitar pop.
* Lots of Pogues, Waterboys, Van Morrison, Chieftains, Solas, etc. for St. Patrick's Day.
* The Mavericks and Dwight Yoakam at Miller High Life Theater
Our first concert in Milwaukee! We haven't seen the former since just before the pandemic and the latter since 1999, when I've never seen so many women scream Beatles-on-Ed-Sullivan style at an artist. The Mavericks smoked as always -- every member of the eight-piece band has killer chops (the accordion player is the Eddie Van Halen of the squeezebox), Raul's voice still sounds amazing even after his recent cancer battle, and they put on a fantastic show. Dwight's voice sounds great. While age has dimmed his burning cool stage presence from the 90s and the band is a step down from the glory days of Taras Prodaniuk and Pete Anderson, it was still a very good show.
Looking forward to your picks and the playlist. Have a great week!
Great story on The Loft. Never heard of them either but will give them a listen. Saw Yoakam and Maverick's last year and it was one of my favorite shows of 2024. I've been really digging Dwight's latest album.
Thanks for these! I'm not sure I've heard The Loft? Will change that ASAP. Also happy to hear you had a good time at the show. MKE's got a lot of great venues. Now to convince more bands to come "just" a little more west and add a Madsion date...
The new Loft album sounds amazing, I met Peter Astor briefly when I was in the UK. After the Loft Peter and Dave Morgan formed The Weather Prophets who were also a great band and worth checking out. BIll Prince went on to firm The Wishing Stones and Andy Strickland formed The Caretaker Race and was later in The Chesterfields. So Much talent in that band and a lot of great music to discover.
Kathleen Edwards has a cover of "Only Lie Worth Telling" that has been running on a loop in my brain. It's a soft, acoustic version that works beautifully. And based in part on your recommendations from last week, I've done a deeper dive into Patterson Hood's solo album. He played here Saturday, but we were at a family birthday party for my wife, so I wasn't able to go.
Listened to the new My Morning Jacket, is, yesterday. That gave me a craving for Israel Nash's Topaz from 2021 and then Tyler Ramsey's New Lost Ages from last year. I decided that was quite a few dudes with guitars and needed some balancing, so I've been on a run on women in the Americana vein. All of these albums are from 2022:
ATM Go Your Own Way on comp I made for retail. The Cranberries version on a Fleetwood Mac tribute that Mick produced except he let Delores O'Riordan produce their song. Respect.
Most on repeat Point Juncture, WA ~ Mama Auto Boss. I dunno who they are but their brand of distressed ambient fracture trips my wires. (Limited ed. 1000)
Most questions Paul Carrack ~ Groove Approved. Shouldn't something with this much Nick Lowe be epic?
I can't believe Young Lady beat French Press. French Press is sooooooooo good. Did you know that the lyrics are a phone conversation between two brothers?
Sakanaction, a j-rock band, recently came out with a new music video for their song "Kaiju". I'd never heard of the band before, but the video (and the song itself) has me hooked I think! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8dgNdJVluc
This past week I was part of a week-long residency called the Gum Sneaker Cobweb Mouth. I wanted to listen to one album per day during the residency, which I failed at, but I did listen to three albums:
Kalandra - The Line
The Rolling Stones - Sticky Fingers
Haunted Plasma - I
Of these I really enjoyed The Line (especially the song Brave New World - I can't get enough of that song right now!) and Sticky Fingers (a rock classic). The Haunted Plasma record sounded quite monotonous - sort of like drone music. I can understand why someone would like it but it isn't for me.
I came across a really cool debut single from a band called Truthpaste the other week - they have a kind of medieval folky sound mixed with some more modern and electronic elements
I am also an artist - Freddie pattern - I released a new track called Roman road two weeks ago and would love to hear your thoughts on that too!
Lol. Wait, what?
Watching and listening to the finale of “What we do in the shadows” from December. An incredibly funny and subversive show. Highly recommend!
My wife swears by this show, and I can often hear her cracking up while watching it.
Listening to Lady GaGa’s new album Mayhem and “Pillow Talk” by Sylvia Robinson.
What do you think of the new album?
Bryan Adams - (Everything I Do) I Do It For You
Nice!
Digging Cherokee & Free Range. Thanks!
NEW & SHINY
** The Horrors 'Night Life' - Less eclectic and more straight dark, moody atmospheric sound then last few. This and the next on list will get heavy rotation.
** Floodlights 'Underneath' - I really like this band, and discovered them on the Substack!
** YHWH Nailgun '45 Pounds' - What did I just hear... nay, experience!? The Pop Group x Lightning Bolt?!
* Welly 'Big In The Suburbs' - Oh so British, shiny rock.
* Annie & The Caldwells 'Can't Lose My Soul' - Blistering soul that'll make you move, and move you.
* Men I Trust 'Equus Asinus' - Hushed, mellow. Settle in for quality, serene comfort. Beach House meet Cowboy Junkies.
POLISHED GEMS
* The Green Pajamas 'Summer of Lust'
The Floodlights album is SO GOOD! I absolutely love it. Really enjoying Men I Trust too. I love Welly but I feel the album is a little too long and maybe not varied enough. They are a super fun live band though.
Great list and thank you for getting some new names on my radar! Too early in the Am for Men I trust, but I definitely want to check that one out! Floodlights too.
Cool Chicks (Can I still use that word?)
Horsegirl, “2468” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YF1odzEHAAY
Liz Phair “Whip Smart” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0ybXvKQQfI
Luscious Jackson, “Under Your Skin “ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKoppkVsNGM
Warpaint, “Champion” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duU--Cvmntg
Fazerdaze- “Little Uneasy” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szvFmW_oxeY&list=RDEMhtCXTpSR0kRFOU85AImy9A&start_radio=1
Kristen Hersh, “Your Ghost” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72xkIcsufQ4
thanks I really appreciate the links!
Love love love Kristin Hersh! This is a great list
Great list & thanks for the links!
Always a good time for a little Luscious Jackson!
„Drama Queen” from Desire’s new album „Games People Play” 👑🎶💜
https://open.spotify.com/track/0aIPTzjGD8p4NMmwO9j6Hu?si=roSu9FKATWaclCqRw_8bHA
PS. Really enjoyed today’s playlist 👌, especially „Sometimes” by Feir
Same, just picked up the EP! https://wearefeir.bandcamp.com/album/feir
Sweet! I had a chance to talk to them not too long after it came out, and had a great time. They're really down to Earth.
https://open.substack.com/pub/thekevinalexander/p/5-questions-with-feir?r=3cbf2&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
Right on! I'm glad you liked it.
Best two new releases I just got on vinyl are My Morning Jacket's "Is and Bob Mould's "Here We Go Crazy." Very looking forward to seeing Stereophonics in Chicago this weekend.
Oh man, that's gonna be a great show! Would love to hear about it at some point!
This morning I was spinning Pharrell Williams “Girl” album. Can’t believe it’s already 11 years old!
Already?! Time is just screaming by...
I know! Adele’s “Hello” single is turning TEN later this year. TEN!!
Hola from San Diego, here is what has been stuck in my ears:
1. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1knJSMzp6SWo8aUh3W2hVo?si=15938f0407704649
2. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6LCp9ndy4xaiGX0Y6q1e33?si=f45ff68adbf143db
3. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5RdBcTb0yL4yqvZWamWE6I?si=c214392c8a7e46b3
Hopefully you find at least one that you like. I appreciate all the comments made here, it broadens my listening pleasures!
Jon
As always thank you for these (and for the photography you share)!
My Pleasure
Hey from Norwich, UK. Here's my weekly playlist thing: https://open.substack.com/pub/recentanddecent/p/recent-and-decent-65?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=1z6rnh
Hello, hello! Thanks for the playlist! Getting ready to play it here shortly.
Been listening to some of my dancehall reggae favorites from the 80s for an upcoming installment of Five Faves. Also been revisiting some of my AOTY selections from recent years including Metric’s 2022 album “Formantera” and Meg Baird’s “Furling” from 2023.
On the new releases front, I’m really loving The Horrors’ “Night Life” (https://open.spotify.com/album/3L09yca8KWKT7vNzVHKyQA) and “TELL DEM IT’S SUNNY” by Greentea Peng (https://open.spotify.com/album/4XnYQphM4RxxVAFlzKjvAQ)
Nice! I'm looking forward to seeing the upcoming article.
My week was about:
* The Loft - Everything Changes Everything Stays The Same
Chalk one up for the Spotify algorithm. I've never heard of The Loft before and it's a good story: one of the first bands signed to Creation Records in '84, they were touring behind their debut single in '85 when they broke up mid-song in front of 3,000 people at Hammersmith Palais. They just reunited in their mid-60s and released their debut record, and it's really good! Smart guitar pop.
https://open.spotify.com/album/02K3fo2sFc694nAeGLiB5I?si=AXJeyFZ_TzGDRlz_vFehFA
* Lots of Pogues, Waterboys, Van Morrison, Chieftains, Solas, etc. for St. Patrick's Day.
* The Mavericks and Dwight Yoakam at Miller High Life Theater
Our first concert in Milwaukee! We haven't seen the former since just before the pandemic and the latter since 1999, when I've never seen so many women scream Beatles-on-Ed-Sullivan style at an artist. The Mavericks smoked as always -- every member of the eight-piece band has killer chops (the accordion player is the Eddie Van Halen of the squeezebox), Raul's voice still sounds amazing even after his recent cancer battle, and they put on a fantastic show. Dwight's voice sounds great. While age has dimmed his burning cool stage presence from the 90s and the band is a step down from the glory days of Taras Prodaniuk and Pete Anderson, it was still a very good show.
Looking forward to your picks and the playlist. Have a great week!
Great story on The Loft. Never heard of them either but will give them a listen. Saw Yoakam and Maverick's last year and it was one of my favorite shows of 2024. I've been really digging Dwight's latest album.
I like Dwight's new one, too, and am excited to dig in more now that we've seen him. It's impressive to put out such good work at 68!
Thanks for these! I'm not sure I've heard The Loft? Will change that ASAP. Also happy to hear you had a good time at the show. MKE's got a lot of great venues. Now to convince more bands to come "just" a little more west and add a Madsion date...
The new Loft album sounds amazing, I met Peter Astor briefly when I was in the UK. After the Loft Peter and Dave Morgan formed The Weather Prophets who were also a great band and worth checking out. BIll Prince went on to firm The Wishing Stones and Andy Strickland formed The Caretaker Race and was later in The Chesterfields. So Much talent in that band and a lot of great music to discover.
I'm planning on checking out their other projects - - glad to hear they get a thumbs up from you!
Thanks Dave and I've heard a few songs from the new Waterboys album and really enjoyed them so looking forward to hearing the new album
Kathleen Edwards has a cover of "Only Lie Worth Telling" that has been running on a loop in my brain. It's a soft, acoustic version that works beautifully. And based in part on your recommendations from last week, I've done a deeper dive into Patterson Hood's solo album. He played here Saturday, but we were at a family birthday party for my wife, so I wasn't able to go.
Would love to hear what you think of the record when you get some time.
Howie Day's 2003 release Stop All The World Now
Arc Angels self titled 1992 release, Arc Angels.
David Grissom's Way Down Deep from 2011
Arc Angels! Haven't listened to that album in a long time.
For Melancholy Brunettes (and Sad Women) by Japanese Breakfast gets a huge thumbs up from me. Really loving the duet with Jeff Bridges.
I’d also highly recommend Better Than Botox by Buddy Wynkoop for a bit of a post punk fix.
https://open.spotify.com/album/22mrOPOlw1sOS9uLfvBjly?si=hYTZnpC7SDGYeC8GaddKHA
I'm really enjoying it as well! Was curious what she'd follow Jubilee up with, and this doesn't disappoint.
"This is real" by feeble little horse and "Wait For You" by Flora from Kansas !
I only recently found Flora From Kansas, but what a great sound!
Violent Femmes to start.
Then down the Robin Trower rabbit hole.
I love it. And it was awesome to finally "meet" you on Sunday! Thank you for joining us.
Really great to be there. A little intimidating to around so many musical geniuses. Very diverse group.
Been on a Mars Volta and Deftones tear and finally getting around to MJ Lenderman and Wednesday.
Also that new Panda Bear album is really good. AOTY contender.
I haven't heard it yet! Sounds like I need to get after it.
Waxahatchee - Tigers Blood
Listened to the new My Morning Jacket, is, yesterday. That gave me a craving for Israel Nash's Topaz from 2021 and then Tyler Ramsey's New Lost Ages from last year. I decided that was quite a few dudes with guitars and needed some balancing, so I've been on a run on women in the Americana vein. All of these albums are from 2022:
Juliana Riolino/All Blue
Carson McHone/Still Life
Angel Olsen/Big Time
Caitlin Rose/CAZIMI
Courtney Marie Andrews/Loose Future
Spring break is a good thing!
It is indeed! Busy busy for aviation people, but also kinda fun.
ATM Go Your Own Way on comp I made for retail. The Cranberries version on a Fleetwood Mac tribute that Mick produced except he let Delores O'Riordan produce their song. Respect.
Most on repeat Point Juncture, WA ~ Mama Auto Boss. I dunno who they are but their brand of distressed ambient fracture trips my wires. (Limited ed. 1000)
Most questions Paul Carrack ~ Groove Approved. Shouldn't something with this much Nick Lowe be epic?
Filling in the gaps cd trades
Frank Z and Mothers ~ 200 Motels
Lou Reed ~ Sally Can't Dance
Now this is a mix!
Rush 50 super deluxe - the whole bloody thing !
Current top five on Spotify OnRepeat playlist:
Young Lady, You're Scaring Me by Ron Gallo
French Press by RBCF
Fuck Up by Sarah Shook
Miles From Our Home by Cowboy Junkies
How's It Going To Be by Third Eye Blind
I can't believe Young Lady beat French Press. French Press is sooooooooo good. Did you know that the lyrics are a phone conversation between two brothers?
I had no idea!
Every once in awhile, I play French Press and ten ask myself why I don't play it more often.
Sakanaction, a j-rock band, recently came out with a new music video for their song "Kaiju". I'd never heard of the band before, but the video (and the song itself) has me hooked I think! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8dgNdJVluc
Nice! Thanks for this.
This past week I was part of a week-long residency called the Gum Sneaker Cobweb Mouth. I wanted to listen to one album per day during the residency, which I failed at, but I did listen to three albums:
Kalandra - The Line
The Rolling Stones - Sticky Fingers
Haunted Plasma - I
Of these I really enjoyed The Line (especially the song Brave New World - I can't get enough of that song right now!) and Sticky Fingers (a rock classic). The Haunted Plasma record sounded quite monotonous - sort of like drone music. I can understand why someone would like it but it isn't for me.
I've been digging the new Pictoria Vark album.
https://pictoriavark.bandcamp.com/album/nothing-sticks
Nice! You've might've already seen it, but If Ever Your Listening recently had a great chat w/Park:
https://open.substack.com/pub/ifeveryourelistening/p/in-conversation-with-pictoria-vark-427?r=3cbf2&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
I didn't see that! I'm going to go listen to that today, thank you.
I just had her on my podcast too, haha.
https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/ycbma/episodes/Episode-122---Pictoria-Vark-e30p8gd
I came across a really cool debut single from a band called Truthpaste the other week - they have a kind of medieval folky sound mixed with some more modern and electronic elements
I am also an artist - Freddie pattern - I released a new track called Roman road two weeks ago and would love to hear your thoughts on that too!
Feel free to drop a link to your work here or let us know where we can find you!
Sure! You can find me here :) https://open.spotify.com/artist/2yOMMP3d0Fxdov7GtbrQ0U?si=acGREQMETdmyUP-f1SrDvg
I've been kind of obsessed with 'In Between Days' by The Cure lately!
It's one of their best!
RADIOHEADDDDDD