Good morning! Welcome to the first discussion thread of 2024! Looking for a place to share the music you love with like-minded people? You’re in the right spot.
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When you’re ready, joining them is easy. Just click here:
On to the music:
For those of you who are new, we kick off every week by sharing what we’ve been playing. New year, new us? Not a chance.
The playlist below is some of what I’ve had in heavy rotation:
Now it’s your turn.
What caught your ear this week? Get any records over the holidays? Any 2025 releases or shows you’re excited about?
Everywhere I turn, people are calling this an Oscar-worthy performance. I haven't seen the movie yet. Without knowing the competition, what do you think?
Hey Kevin -- not exactly "new", but I've been listening to "Wait So Long" by The Tragically Hip, one of their outtakes from their first album, Up to Here. I can see why others made the record instead, but I like the groove on this one. Some interesting twists in it as well.
"Get Back Again" is another great one. If CDs were bigger when this album came out (i.e., more room on the album), I'm guessing these two would have made the cut.
Still enjoying your rec of Apollo Ghosts last week and @SenorFix's of Whirr.
Also picked up this end of 2024 record from KEXP by Australian band Heavy Moss. Goes in lots of directions, from poppy to jazzy, with lots of fuzzed out guitar. https://heavymoss.bandcamp.com/album/dead-slow.
But maybe the best new thing I have on repeat is the end of year comp from German label Glitterbeat Records, which is somewhat mind-blowing. Stumbled on it because 2 of their albums (el-Khat and Julian Mayorga) made my year-end list (shameless promotion - https://3albums6oldguys.substack.com/p/oh-my-stars-og-brads-favorites-of), and the whole thing is incredible. From acoustic folk to massive sounding bands, covering the globe from Suriname to Bhutan to Spain to Western Sahara to a Polish-Indian collective, it's just a stunning collection that I can't get enough of. https://glitterbeat.bandcamp.com/album/glitterbeat-tak-til-2024
Love the David Byrne one; if I remember right, him and Brian Enough originally released the album as a free download with the option to pay for a physical copy, which was wild since streaming hadn't caught on quite yet!
Initially I didn't get past 1st few trks as I wasn't in the electronic, studio, compressed headspace. Kept coming up amongst friends so I returned and gradually it grew on me.
I think I'm traveling to 1990-91 this week. I want to figure out when I crept into punk rock, exactly. Oddly, Nivana and MC 900 ft Jesus both go in this group.
They most certainly do. Hard to describe what that era was like for those not yet here, but having tapes of both in the car at the same time made perfect sense.
What else was on your music agenda just before punk kinda took over for a while? If you've written about this previously, feel free to link me there - i'll dive in!
I got a great gift this year, Blue Note Review Volume 3, Truly Madly Deeplee Morgan — a great limited edition box set created and produced by Don Was. It features two LP’s, a 45, CD, booklet, and photographs. An amazing collection of jazz music from one of the best.
When people are puzzled by the fact I am such a huge fan of, simultaneously, Mariah Carey and Fantastic Negrito, I show them this track. It usually does the trick 😅
I wish I could remember where I heard of this album. I hope it wasn't here and I'm repeating someone's prior suggestion, but this weekend I listened to and will be purchasing Harmônicos by Shin Sasakubo and Fabiano do Nascimento. It's right up my alley.
I started the year off by timing the song "The Seed - Live at the Royal Albert Hall" by Aurora featuring Anna Lapwood such that the organ goes off at midnight when Aurora launches into the last chorus. It's a very brain shaking experience.
In terms of new music that I listened to over the past week I've listened to Paperwing's String Fling, which came out in 2023. It is a very ethereal album, combining classical influences with the ethereal pop music that I come to enjoy from Aurora and artists similar to her.
I went back to 2022’s Metamorphosis album by Cloud Cult. Some of the songs feel like they might be holding grief for someone lost, and some are hopeful about the future.
Mark Lanegan still tops my music track, but last week discovered an artist new to me - Ray LaMontangne. His voice is smoothly haunting and he writes some amazing lyrics. 'Such a Simple Thing' is one of my favorites, but haven't found any songs of his that I don't love.
I've gotten hooked on audio books on Spotify, so between revisiting R.E.M.'s catalog I'm also listening to The Name of This Band Is R.E.M.: A Biography and Robbie Robertson's Testimony.
I've been feasting on several best of 2024 lists lately. A few standouts include -
Lambrini Girls - God's Country (new album at 1/10/25)
Trupa Trupa - Sister Ray (not the Velvets song)
BODEGA - Tarkovski (incredibly catchy)
Red Kross - Cany Coloured Catastrophe
Mo Dotti - for anyone and you (My Bloody Valentine anyone?)
I'm reading (slowly!) Michael Azzerad's excellent book Our Band Could Be Your Life and I'm currently going through the Replacements chapter. I don't know why I never listened to these guys. I've only listened to the first three albums, and, of course, Let It Be is a standout.
BODEGA is fantastic! I'm glad to see them getting som elove here. Mo Dotti's awesome as well. Had Opaque come out a little earler (or I'd spent more time with it), it could've made a run at my top 10 of the year.
Also, let me echo Dave's commentt: Enjoy the Mats! You're gonna have a blast.
Leap Lee had the hit single "Little Arrows." Fair warning: you will have an earworm once you hear this song.
The turntable is an audio-technica AT-LP120XUSB
The speakers are Romanca R2.
I still push the music out through a Cambridge Topaz amp; it is up next for an upgrade; being on Pension, it takes time to save enough coins.
I'm not an audiophile; I enjoy listening to music, and the better the quality of the gear, the better the sound in my ears. My wife doesn't even listen to music and can hear the difference the new gear makes.
I love Deceptacon! And I’ve never heard The Open Flames before but the vocals are so reminiscent of Michael Stipe, I was instantly won over.
I’ve been listening to the excellent Peach Pit album Magpie today. I have tix to see them in April which I’m really looking forward to.
I’ve also been revisiting lots of the EPs released last year over the weekend and I’ve now compiled a list of my ten favourites. In no particular order:
So, so many great EPs! This might be a hot take, but I think they're gonna make a real comeback this year. Not that they haven't been already, but more so.
Oasis (No Way Sis) were quite high on the agenda today. It seemed like a day for getting back on track, after yesterday's weather more than anything. Started with a Saint Etienne compilation. Eminem, Taylor Swift, yeah, job done... 🙂
We kept the holiday music rolling until Jan 2 and I haven't had the energy to start going through the thirtyleven best-of playlists and articles I book marked, so the rest of the week was about:
- Blue Mountain - their first two records, Dog Days and Homegrown. A friend posted "Jimmy Carter" off of the former which led me to take a dive back into them. The records hold up well. They were incredible live in the mid/late 90s.
Absolutely! And I hear their influence all over the place. I watched a great documentary on Sky Arts a few years back about The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society. People like Paul Weller talking about how important that album was.
Hope you dig them! The main ex-couple, Cary and Laurie, were in a band in Mississippi called The Hilltops with John Stirratt, who is Laurie's twin. After band broke up, John joined Wilco and Cary and Laurie formed Blue Mountain.
Happy new year! A usual eclectic mix for me - recent plays include: Soft Cell (‘The Art of Falling Apart), Mavis Staples (esp We Get By and We’ll Never Turn Back), later era Leonard Cohen, Del Shannon (!) and exploring the back catalogue of Laura Marling…
Love seeing a track from Isolation Drills in your mix.
I've been listening to R.E.M.'s IRS albums while I was finished The Name of This Band is R.E.M. and some things that feel through the cracks last year - Mark Ward's Let 'er Rip (really good power pop), Soul Asylum's Slowly But Shirley, and Survey the Damage from Speed Circuit who feature Ryan Allen from Extra Arms on drums.
This one is for you Kevin, “Airplane “ by Widespread Panic. I believe in the power of rock and roll, I’m listening to the national treasures that are My Morning Jacket’s song “I’m Amazed” to get through the day today.
Currently on repeat the classic Sweet Jane in the Cowboy Junkies - Live @ the Neighbors Dog version. A Velvet Underground cover. Can't get enough of it.
House of the rising sun / as sung by Monica Barbaro (playing Joan Baez) in the film, “A Complete Unknown”
https://youtu.be/P2FOk2lAynk?si=dj3ng1idbn9T67NF
Everywhere I turn, people are calling this an Oscar-worthy performance. I haven't seen the movie yet. Without knowing the competition, what do you think?
Hey Kevin -- not exactly "new", but I've been listening to "Wait So Long" by The Tragically Hip, one of their outtakes from their first album, Up to Here. I can see why others made the record instead, but I like the groove on this one. Some interesting twists in it as well.
https://open.spotify.com/track/4hi07BHBhWkgDNws5Kbbq8
I'm a simple Canadian. I see The Hip, I press like.
Love the Hip
It's a great song! I'm just starting to dig into the bonus material on their deluxe releases, especially the live stuff. What a great band.
"Get Back Again" is another great one. If CDs were bigger when this album came out (i.e., more room on the album), I'm guessing these two would have made the cut.
Hey Graham--I love it! Thanks for the rec. Lots of fans of the band here in the community.
Still enjoying your rec of Apollo Ghosts last week and @SenorFix's of Whirr.
Also picked up this end of 2024 record from KEXP by Australian band Heavy Moss. Goes in lots of directions, from poppy to jazzy, with lots of fuzzed out guitar. https://heavymoss.bandcamp.com/album/dead-slow.
And this EP from LA band Crushed from Bandsplain. Shoegazey, pop-y, and even some hiphop beats thrown in but all works. https://crushedworldwide.bandcamp.com/album/extra-life.
I'm glad you liked Apollo Ghosts!
Crushed are fantastic. Extra Life was one of my top EPs of '23! You've nailed the description as well. Not sure how it all works, but it sure does.
https://thekevinalexander.substack.com/i/139861744/crushed-extra-life
But maybe the best new thing I have on repeat is the end of year comp from German label Glitterbeat Records, which is somewhat mind-blowing. Stumbled on it because 2 of their albums (el-Khat and Julian Mayorga) made my year-end list (shameless promotion - https://3albums6oldguys.substack.com/p/oh-my-stars-og-brads-favorites-of), and the whole thing is incredible. From acoustic folk to massive sounding bands, covering the globe from Suriname to Bhutan to Spain to Western Sahara to a Polish-Indian collective, it's just a stunning collection that I can't get enough of. https://glitterbeat.bandcamp.com/album/glitterbeat-tak-til-2024
Oooh this sounds awesome
The essential Julie London, specifically her first four albums. Also, Annie Ross 'Annie Ross Sings a Song with Mulligan'
NEW & SHINY:
* Gumshoes 'Bugs Forever' - Clever and catchy little pop ditties about bugs ruling the world. Amazing what one musician can create in their bedroom!
* Sister Rosetta Tharpe 'First Great Star of Gospel Music' - Going back to the source.
POLISHED GEMS:
* David Byrne 'Everything That Happens Will Happen Today' & 'Rei Momo'
* The Charlatans 'Some Friendly'
* Paul Simon 'There Goes Rhymin Simon'
Completed Part I of my favorites of 2024
https://open.substack.com/pub/senorfix/p/media-fix-2024-part-i
Love the David Byrne one; if I remember right, him and Brian Enough originally released the album as a free download with the option to pay for a physical copy, which was wild since streaming hadn't caught on quite yet!
You are correct. They were/are pioneers in so many ways.
Will be searching for Gumshoes 'Bugs Forever'
Fantastic list! With a few more spins, I think Imaginal Disk would've made my Top 10.
Initially I didn't get past 1st few trks as I wasn't in the electronic, studio, compressed headspace. Kept coming up amongst friends so I returned and gradually it grew on me.
I think I'm traveling to 1990-91 this week. I want to figure out when I crept into punk rock, exactly. Oddly, Nivana and MC 900 ft Jesus both go in this group.
They most certainly do. Hard to describe what that era was like for those not yet here, but having tapes of both in the car at the same time made perfect sense.
What else was on your music agenda just before punk kinda took over for a while? If you've written about this previously, feel free to link me there - i'll dive in!
Nothing Compares 2 U - Sinead O' Connor
A gorgeous track!
I got a great gift this year, Blue Note Review Volume 3, Truly Madly Deeplee Morgan — a great limited edition box set created and produced by Don Was. It features two LP’s, a 45, CD, booklet, and photographs. An amazing collection of jazz music from one of the best.
Oh, that sounds fantastic! I'm just enough of a jazz fan to get myself in trouble, but i think I'd have a field day with this.
Been on a little R&B kick:
- Prince - "Sign O the Times"
- Daniel Cesar - "NEVER ENOUGH"
- Celeste - "Not Your Muse"
- SZA - "SOS Deluxe: LANA"
Loving the sound of that!
Niiiice!
When people are puzzled by the fact I am such a huge fan of, simultaneously, Mariah Carey and Fantastic Negrito, I show them this track. It usually does the trick 😅
https://youtu.be/4DEDjZZKQlI?si=0Qn7g3vm5YS1tCYV
I wish I could remember where I heard of this album. I hope it wasn't here and I'm repeating someone's prior suggestion, but this weekend I listened to and will be purchasing Harmônicos by Shin Sasakubo and Fabiano do Nascimento. It's right up my alley.
That's a new one for me! I'll check it out!
Maybe it's the winter weather, but I couldn't stop listening to Radiohead.
- Kid A
- Hail to the Thief
- A Moon Shaped Pool
Pump these albums into my veins!
They are perfect winter albums, especially A Moon Shaped Pool
Who among us doesn't love a little Radiohead, amirite? :)
Off topic, but I loved your Glory Days essay (and your 'favorite year' answer).
P.S. My back is fine, but my shoulder's a bag of loose parts that will self-destruct any moment. lol.
For anyone wondering what I'm talking about, click here:
https://open.substack.com/pub/sonnyrane/p/glory-days?r=3cbf2&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
Thanks so much, Kevin! Really appreciate the kind words and linking to my piece!
By the way, my wrist and my knee would love a word with your shoulder lol.
Lol. What a state we’re all in. How’d we get here?
You won't fool children of the revolution! Love the playlist. Been reliving a revival tour of yore by listening to some Chuck Ragan and Dave Hause.
I started the year off by timing the song "The Seed - Live at the Royal Albert Hall" by Aurora featuring Anna Lapwood such that the organ goes off at midnight when Aurora launches into the last chorus. It's a very brain shaking experience.
In terms of new music that I listened to over the past week I've listened to Paperwing's String Fling, which came out in 2023. It is a very ethereal album, combining classical influences with the ethereal pop music that I come to enjoy from Aurora and artists similar to her.
Nothing new this week, but found some old doom metal that's a great listen - Dopesmoker by Sleep: https://sleep.bandcamp.com/album/dopesmoker
Perfect time of year for a little Doom Metal!
I went back to 2022’s Metamorphosis album by Cloud Cult. Some of the songs feel like they might be holding grief for someone lost, and some are hopeful about the future.
A perfect mix for (*waves hand around the room).
here's a playlist that sounds good thru headphones late at night with a lava lamp
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1E8UL7kukM2J1U?si=tYoG-ONJQNSgXIeTLLGU3g
You've got my curosity piqued with that description!
AH! The Violent Femmes "Children of the Revolution." How apropos for this Monday. Love that song.
Me too! It popped into my head, and I couldn't shake it. Probably prompted by current events.
If there are any Roddy Frame fans out there, you just might enjoy this brand new single by Armstrong -
https://armstrong2.bandcamp.com/album/a-side-somewhere-out-there-b-side-extended-twelve-inch-mix-of-cosmos-world
Big fan of frame 9and Aztec Camera). Thanks for this!
Mark Lanegan still tops my music track, but last week discovered an artist new to me - Ray LaMontangne. His voice is smoothly haunting and he writes some amazing lyrics. 'Such a Simple Thing' is one of my favorites, but haven't found any songs of his that I don't love.
https://youtu.be/6POcQ5wiUa4?si=bHUY9vNuWfkTTj9y
Trouble is also a brilliant track
Cool...I will check it out. Thanks!!
Really listened to the rapper Doechii for this first time this weekend. She's fantastic, with "Denial is a River" being a particularly fun song.
That video is really well done, and the song is a banger.
Straight banger
Hermanos Gutiérrez's new album Sonido Cósmico
Nice!
Good driving music.
I've gotten hooked on audio books on Spotify, so between revisiting R.E.M.'s catalog I'm also listening to The Name of This Band Is R.E.M.: A Biography and Robbie Robertson's Testimony.
The R.E.M. book is next up for me. I'm excited to dig in. What do you think so far?
Hello from San Diego
Here is what is in my ears currently :
1. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1knJSMzp6SWo8aUh3W2hVo?si=c8f888a26af24c41
2. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/71PrDfTT9eNSnK4nHDJCqx?si=c0708441554a4412
3. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5RSm7cSkySZxS7lG1AkMq4?si=b962424db5a8461d
Have a great week and thanks to all for all the great music leads to follow up on
JP
As always, thanks for the lists, Jon!
if you can see seasons 1 and 2 of Bad Sisters I urge you to watch.
I've been feasting on several best of 2024 lists lately. A few standouts include -
Lambrini Girls - God's Country (new album at 1/10/25)
Trupa Trupa - Sister Ray (not the Velvets song)
BODEGA - Tarkovski (incredibly catchy)
Red Kross - Cany Coloured Catastrophe
Mo Dotti - for anyone and you (My Bloody Valentine anyone?)
I'm reading (slowly!) Michael Azzerad's excellent book Our Band Could Be Your Life and I'm currently going through the Replacements chapter. I don't know why I never listened to these guys. I've only listened to the first three albums, and, of course, Let It Be is a standout.
That's such a great book. I need to reread it at some point. Enjoy the Mats!
BODEGA is fantastic! I'm glad to see them getting som elove here. Mo Dotti's awesome as well. Had Opaque come out a little earler (or I'd spent more time with it), it could've made a run at my top 10 of the year.
Also, let me echo Dave's commentt: Enjoy the Mats! You're gonna have a blast.
It's been a fun week of listening to plenty of old gold. Broke in my new turntable and speakers.
Leapy Lee
Byron Lee and The Dragonaires
Alvin Lee & Myon LeFevre
John Lennon
Gary Lewis and the Playboys
Gordon Lightfoot
Alvin & Mylon's 'On The Road To Freedom' is a superb album!
The first 3 are all new to me. I'm on it!
Also, if I can ask: what kind of turntable did you get? Asking as I'm ready to replace mine.
Leap Lee had the hit single "Little Arrows." Fair warning: you will have an earworm once you hear this song.
The turntable is an audio-technica AT-LP120XUSB
The speakers are Romanca R2.
I still push the music out through a Cambridge Topaz amp; it is up next for an upgrade; being on Pension, it takes time to save enough coins.
I'm not an audiophile; I enjoy listening to music, and the better the quality of the gear, the better the sound in my ears. My wife doesn't even listen to music and can hear the difference the new gear makes.
I love Deceptacon! And I’ve never heard The Open Flames before but the vocals are so reminiscent of Michael Stipe, I was instantly won over.
I’ve been listening to the excellent Peach Pit album Magpie today. I have tix to see them in April which I’m really looking forward to.
I’ve also been revisiting lots of the EPs released last year over the weekend and I’ve now compiled a list of my ten favourites. In no particular order:
Crush - Slow Fiction
Welcome to our Garden - Hunny Buzz
Vanity Metrics EP! - Vanity Metrics
Damage Reversal - Bridget
Wilt - Wilt
Headache - Girl Scout
Face In The Picture - Picture Parlour
Volume 2. - Former Champ
From The Night - Overpass
The Fury Tape - Dead Freights
Also, I’ve just stumbled upon this tonight which I really like.
https://open.spotify.com/album/7ha4alDi74dur70yYxY9Vm?si=rQmofwxnREKV8yeWtYR28w
Thanks for the reminder to go back to that Former Champ EP.
So good!
So, so many great EPs! This might be a hot take, but I think they're gonna make a real comeback this year. Not that they haven't been already, but more so.
I'm on a Jim Carroll re-listen today.
https://youtu.be/zRGWavWPRNM?si=m-wGKR5H0jPwe2JK
Always a good time for this one, Sherman! Heck of an earworm too.
Oasis (No Way Sis) were quite high on the agenda today. It seemed like a day for getting back on track, after yesterday's weather more than anything. Started with a Saint Etienne compilation. Eminem, Taylor Swift, yeah, job done... 🙂
A perfect mix!
Possibly! That's kind of you, Kevin!
First day back in the office for me as well. In order, my listening so far:
Eagles, ‘The Long Run’
The three new Franz Ferdinand songs
New Order, ‘Technique’
New Order, ‘Substance’
Echo & The Bunnymen, ‘Echo & The Bunnymen’
I’m enjoying the new Franz Ferdinand releases.
My local radio station has been playing Franz Ferdinand’s Audacious lately. I’m digging it.
Even if you work at somehwere like Initech, you can't go wrong with New order!
We kept the holiday music rolling until Jan 2 and I haven't had the energy to start going through the thirtyleven best-of playlists and articles I book marked, so the rest of the week was about:
- Blue Mountain - their first two records, Dog Days and Homegrown. A friend posted "Jimmy Carter" off of the former which led me to take a dive back into them. The records hold up well. They were incredible live in the mid/late 90s.
- Best-of comps from Jackson Browne and The Kinks
- Miles Davis - second great quintet records
Have a great reentry week, everyone!
I love The Kinks so much!
Same! I kind of take them for granted sometimes and forget to play them and then I'm always blown away again by how great they were.
Absolutely! And I hear their influence all over the place. I watched a great documentary on Sky Arts a few years back about The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society. People like Paul Weller talking about how important that album was.
I'll look for that, thanks for the heads up.
We were fortunate to see Ray in 2011 with The 88, a great and underrated pop band, opening the show and backing him up. The setlist was incredible!
https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/ray-davies/2011/house-of-blues-cleveland-oh-33d1fc11.html
OMG! That is a bucket list gig, right there! Super jealous.
Thanks for the recs! Blue mountain is a new one for me!
Hope you dig them! The main ex-couple, Cary and Laurie, were in a band in Mississippi called The Hilltops with John Stirratt, who is Laurie's twin. After band broke up, John joined Wilco and Cary and Laurie formed Blue Mountain.
Reading, Writing and Artihmetic. They don't come much better than this
https://open.spotify.com/album/6CmJJCI3lOn5XVZ68hP9kY?si=2_ijomgHSN6rZKgQaPTuEQ
Happy new year! A usual eclectic mix for me - recent plays include: Soft Cell (‘The Art of Falling Apart), Mavis Staples (esp We Get By and We’ll Never Turn Back), later era Leonard Cohen, Del Shannon (!) and exploring the back catalogue of Laura Marling…
Now that's a mix!
Love seeing a track from Isolation Drills in your mix.
I've been listening to R.E.M.'s IRS albums while I was finished The Name of This Band is R.E.M. and some things that feel through the cracks last year - Mark Ward's Let 'er Rip (really good power pop), Soul Asylum's Slowly But Shirley, and Survey the Damage from Speed Circuit who feature Ryan Allen from Extra Arms on drums.
Thanks! One of my fave "deep tracks" off the record. Mark Ward sounds right up my alley!
This one is for you Kevin, “Airplane “ by Widespread Panic. I believe in the power of rock and roll, I’m listening to the national treasures that are My Morning Jacket’s song “I’m Amazed” to get through the day today.
I love it! The power of rock and roll is real!
Currently on repeat the classic Sweet Jane in the Cowboy Junkies - Live @ the Neighbors Dog version. A Velvet Underground cover. Can't get enough of it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RleJ0xUSBtU
My favorites this week:
Brigitte Calls me Baby - The Future Is Our Way Out
Queens of the Stone Age - Rated R
Father John Misty - Mahashmashana
Minipop - Chances
Des Demonas - s/t
Uni Boys - Buy This Now!