Happy Monday(s)! Welcome to each of you who joined us this past week (hello, hello!)!
It’s great to have you here.
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:
Now it’s your turn:
What caught your ear this week? Find anything good while crate digging? New releases are picking up again, and lots of tours have been announced. Are there any upcoming releases or shows you’re excited about?
Was in NOLA a few years ago to see a Galactic show and check out Mardi Gras. I got hooked on the music and went down that rabbit hole then, too. Easy to do when the music's so damn good. There's a great playlist on Spotify that has a lot of Cha Wa and The Wild Tchoupitoulas along with Bo Dillos, Fi Yi Yi and Big Chief Monk Boudreaux. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6GE4GLiKGLZxsYK3Ya05O8?si=e074eee7015844c1
Thats a tune. I was listening to an old episode of Heat Rocks, where they discuss Sade's Love Deluxe. It was pointed out that album shares a similar sound to Massive Attack.
Love Holliday's voice — even the ravaged parts — and her skill in conveying the tragedies of her life to her audience. If you don't vow to become more empathetic to others after listening to her and reading about her life, there's something wrong.
Last week during my travels, I managed to hit three years record stores. Two in Toledo Ohio and one in Columbus, Ohio.
At one of the stores in Toledo, I picked up a Bikini Kill album. I listen to that several times this weekend. Reject all American is a fantastic album.
At the store in Columbus, I picked up a Robin Trower album. For earth below, has always been a highly underrated album from, Robin Trower. Needless to say, I listen to this album several times as well as a few of my other Trower albums.
And as far as my wife is concerned, going to a record store is all your fault. You see, I told her this really cool guy on substack is having trouble finding these two albums and I really need to help him out. And while I'm looking for your stuff, I just happen to find something for me along the way... win...win 🤣🤣
Thanks for the playlist, especially digging The Squalls - their GA roots shine through.
This week was a mix of old...
* Jorma Kaukonen - 'Quah'
* Grateful Dead - 'Reckoning'
* Nick Cave - 'Henry's Dream'
And new singles+ from...
* Fat White Family - 'Bullet of Dignity'
* Wussy Duo - 'Indiana Wants Me Too'
* Lo Moon - 'Water / Connecticut'
Highlights from this week's visit to the magic, ever replenishing, $1 CD bin @ local library The Alan Bown! 'S/T' & Gene Moore 'Carnival of Souls' Soundtrack
The new Brittany Howard album is mind bending. I have been listening to it a TON. It is a festival for the ears and soul. Ducks Ltd. Is some fun jangly rock, and the One Love (Marley) soundtrack is on repeat. I definitely underestimated the Madi Diaz release. It is incredible. ✌️
Haven't given the album the full listen treatment yet, but I'm very intrigued with what I've heard so far. Looking forward to spending some more time with it!
Happy Monday Kevin! I'v been enjoying a couple recent full-length releases over the last few days:
* Yama Uba's Silhouettes (24-Jan)
* Chelsea Wolfe's She Reaches Out To She Reaches Out To She (9-Feb)
There's a bunch of new releases coming in the next few months that I'm looking forward to. Here are some that I'm really excited about, with links to their bandcamp page where available.
The Last Dinner Party's debut, Prelude To Ecstasy, is still in heavy rotation. Other than that, I spent the rest of the week with quiet, meditative instrumental music as I prepared to go into the studio this past weekend to begin work on a record. Highlights there were:
- Bill Frisell and Thomas Morgan - Small Town, recorded live at Village Vanguard
- Ambrose Akinmusire, Bill Frisell, Herlin Riley - Owl Song - my favorite record of quiet jazz in years
- GoGo Penguin's Ocean In A Drop (Music For Film) and Everything Is Going To Be OK
Have a great week, everyone. Looking forward to digging into Kevin's playlist and checking out your recommendations.
Over the weekend it was a bunch of Mojo Nixon, but this morning I heard P!nk and Brandi Carlile’s version of “Nothing Compares to You.” That got put on repeat.
When I discovered there was a P!nk/Brandi Carlisle version my immediate reaction was “oh no”! Purely because Sinead made that song her own and it gives me chills every single time.
Just listened to a little Last Dinner Party yesterday after seeing them recommended in the culture study music rec comments - there’s quite a few in that monster thread I’m going to be checking out soon.
And new discovery wise, would highlight the band Guitar (not the greatest name) on the excellent Portland label Spared Flesh. Their bandcamp page has a quote saying: "Negative, angular rock that swings from post-punk to Shoegaze to nowave to something new. Glitchy, blippy weirdo jams that are arty and discordant, and have a wholly unique style and sound. Really nothing out there like this." And that's not far off. One of those records where each song sounds pretty dramatically different style-wise. https://sparedflesh.bandcamp.com/album/casting-spells-on-turtlehead
While I was working from home on Friday, I caught some of Open Mike Eagle’s twitch stream. He was playing a collection of some of his favorite indie music. A few that I found myself adding my list were:
- Outlaw Country in honor of the wild man himself, Mojo Nixon, whose tagline, "I Looove Country!" will live on forever! Over the weekend Outlaw Country played the last interviews Mojo did on the Outlaw Cruise before his passing. I actually spent time in the late 80's/early 90's on the road with Mojo opening for him in clubs on the east coast and he was a blast to be around. And it's true, Elvis Is Everywhere!
Spotify
- Finally had an opportunity to listen to Metallica's 72 Seasons in it's entirety.
- Discovered two new artists that were no ton my radar, The Red Clay Strays and Xavi
- Taught a friend about shuffles using the original Babylon Sisters track from Steely Dan's 1980 album, Gaucho, with the king of the shuffle pattern Bernard "Pretty" Purdie on drums. The same track from Steely Dan's 1995 release, Alive In America, except this time featuring the incredible Dennis Chambers on drums followed by ToTo's, Roseanna, with Jeff Porcaro on drums and Led Zeppelin's Fool In The Rain from the album In Through The Out Door. All feature incredible drum shuffles and the Babylon Sisters track with Dennis Chambers from '95 is actually inverted from the original, meaning the shuffle is on the snare instead of the usual hihat shuffle. Listen to them back to back and you'll hear what I mean.
Oh man, it was the early 90's and Elvis Is Everywhere and the video had already been out by a few years at that time. We all knew Mojo and his crazy reputation from him being a NC boy and raised in VA before he went west. At the time I was in a very popular band called Fountain of Youth that was running the regional club scene playing places like CBGB's in NYC, the original 930 Club in DC, Peabody's In VA Beach, Mad Monk in Wilmington, NC, the Attic in Greenville, NC. We had a top 5 song in the college radio charts and our management at the time was also booking Mojo and Skid. We were put on a few shows with the guys as opening acts on a couple of college festivals on the east coast. Mojo was crazy and he could definitely party. I was much younger just being out of high school and to begin with I was always a little nervous around him. Mojo seemed like a firecracker that was about to pop at any second and somebody was going to loose fingers when he did. He really was a nice guy behind that party hardy veneer. Years later I saw Mojo at a XM event in Nashville and I reminded him about those early days and he just laughed, and in true Mojo fashion made some crazy "Mojo" comments. I listened to his "Loon In The Afternoon" show daily and my daughter grew up listening with me when we were in the car. He was one of a kind.
Great memories. Thanks for sharing. I saw Mojo with The Pleasure Barons in 1993 in Houston; one of the best, craziest nights of my life. Was fortunate to interview John Doe and Dave Alvin and ask them about their memories of that tour. I lived in the Triad from 1993 to 2001 and now based in Virginia. Know many of the clubs you mentioned.
Great comment! I discovered the halftime shuffle through Purdie's incredible playing on Steely Dan's "Home At Last." Jason McGerr has a great one on Death Cab's "Grapevine Fires."
Very cool that you toured with Mojo. I got to know him when he moved to Cincinnati (where I lived then) in the late 90s. He was a sweet guy and always hilarious, especially since he often referred to himself in third person.
I didn't even think of DC's Grapevine Fires, but another terrific, well played example. Not sure what hats he's using on that tune but I love the tone of the snare and hats.
Brittany Howard's "What Now" and the Smile's "Wall of Eyes" are early contenders for my top 10 albums of 2024. (I don't care if Thom Yorke sings like he just dipped his big toe in a tub of hot water.)
Also, it has taken me too long to listen to Isaac Hayes's "Hot Buttered Soul" and I'm obsessed. Been jamming out to Bill Evans's "Sunday at the Village Vanguard" as well.
Old, but new to me: Shallow - High Flyin' Kid Stuff (h/t to Herb Sundays 102)
I also stumbled through my first case of COVID last week (one star, would not recommend), so listened to a lot of comfort music. For me, that's heavy on Over the Rhine.
There's a Twitter account that keeps using things like Shannon/Narducy as signs that REM is getting back together. He's doing it very tongue in cheek, but I also hope he's right.
I’ve been listening to Tyler Ramsey(former guitarist of Band of Horses) new album New Lost Ages. Other jams include Between Days by Red House Painters and Someone I Know by Margo Guryan.
Looking forward to digging into your suggestions tonight. I'm enjoying the new Little Simz EP, Home Counties single and have been listening to a LOT of Bombay Bicycle Club after seeing them last week.
What Happened to the Beach? by Declan McKenna. It’s not instantly grabbing me in the same way that Zeros did, but I’m hopeful that it’s a grower. I love the single “Sympathy” in any case.
Also, this track by a local Bristol band Clemencie. We saw them on Saturday and their set was indie-pop perfection! A really joyful experience.
Currently obsessed with Texana band Khruangbin. Don't know why. It's not new (but not old), possibly heard somewhere and kind of stuck with me. Seems to go well with Brazilian summer (I'm in São Paulo)
Still have the Feb. 2 releases in heavy rotation - J Mascis, Liquid Mike, The Roseline, The Paranoid Style. Now I've got Ducks Ltd. to add to the mix, plus J Robbins and Tyler Ramsey. Plus, listening to some Grandaddy in anticipation of the new one on Friday.
Was in NOLA a few years ago to see a Galactic show and check out Mardi Gras. I got hooked on the music and went down that rabbit hole then, too. Easy to do when the music's so damn good. There's a great playlist on Spotify that has a lot of Cha Wa and The Wild Tchoupitoulas along with Bo Dillos, Fi Yi Yi and Big Chief Monk Boudreaux. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6GE4GLiKGLZxsYK3Ya05O8?si=e074eee7015844c1
Sounds like my kinda rabbit hole!
Smooth Operator - Sade
Absolute classic!
Gotta check this out. I've only ever listened to "Diamond Life" but it was incredible.
I’m partial to Stronger Than Pride in the Sade discography
There are no bad songs on the Diamond Life album. But I have to be in a certain mood to drop the needle.
Same here. My favorite is "Your Love Is King."
My favorite changes each time I play that album.
Thats a tune. I was listening to an old episode of Heat Rocks, where they discuss Sade's Love Deluxe. It was pointed out that album shares a similar sound to Massive Attack.
https://maximumfun.org/episodes/heat-rocks/heat-rocks-ep-8-ernest-hardy-sades-love-deluxe-1992/
Timeless!
Classy!
At the moment, Billie Holliday: "My Man."
Her mixture of sorrow and hope (but focused on grim reality) is really unique.
Gosh Billie Holliday was incredible, what a gift to the world her music was. And what a tragedy her life was.
Yes! I wonder how much the tragedy (tragedies, really) made her great.
I think they were a necessary component.
Love Holliday's voice — even the ravaged parts — and her skill in conveying the tragedies of her life to her audience. If you don't vow to become more empathetic to others after listening to her and reading about her life, there's something wrong.
Listening to "Stars Fell on Alabama" right now. Wow.
Huge +1 to every letter of this.
Nice!
Last week during my travels, I managed to hit three years record stores. Two in Toledo Ohio and one in Columbus, Ohio.
At one of the stores in Toledo, I picked up a Bikini Kill album. I listen to that several times this weekend. Reject all American is a fantastic album.
At the store in Columbus, I picked up a Robin Trower album. For earth below, has always been a highly underrated album from, Robin Trower. Needless to say, I listen to this album several times as well as a few of my other Trower albums.
It's awesome that you're able to make these work trips into a record shopping roadshow. I love hearing about them!
And as far as my wife is concerned, going to a record store is all your fault. You see, I told her this really cool guy on substack is having trouble finding these two albums and I really need to help him out. And while I'm looking for your stuff, I just happen to find something for me along the way... win...win 🤣🤣
Lol. I mean, you're just trying to help, right? :)
Thanks for the playlist, especially digging The Squalls - their GA roots shine through.
This week was a mix of old...
* Jorma Kaukonen - 'Quah'
* Grateful Dead - 'Reckoning'
* Nick Cave - 'Henry's Dream'
And new singles+ from...
* Fat White Family - 'Bullet of Dignity'
* Wussy Duo - 'Indiana Wants Me Too'
* Lo Moon - 'Water / Connecticut'
Highlights from this week's visit to the magic, ever replenishing, $1 CD bin @ local library The Alan Bown! 'S/T' & Gene Moore 'Carnival of Souls' Soundtrack
I gotta see if any of the libraries near me has one of these. The one in our suburb does not, but there are a couple not too far from me.
After watching One Day on netflix (which I highly recommend) listening to Orange Juice - Rip it Up and The The - This is the Day
This is the Day - one of my all-time faves
"This is the Day" is my favorite new wave bop along with "Everybody Wants to Rule the World."
Can't go wrong with either!
I love Dogs of Lust from The The. I remember buying that on CD single.
One of my all time faves, along with "Infected."
Still obsessing over Leonard Cohen's 2008 Live in London.
And of course, Band on the Run Underdubbed, which hasn't left my turntable since it arrived last week!
I love it!
The new Brittany Howard album is mind bending. I have been listening to it a TON. It is a festival for the ears and soul. Ducks Ltd. Is some fun jangly rock, and the One Love (Marley) soundtrack is on repeat. I definitely underestimated the Madi Diaz release. It is incredible. ✌️
Haven't given the album the full listen treatment yet, but I'm very intrigued with what I've heard so far. Looking forward to spending some more time with it!
Just saw her play this past Friday! Incredible.
Her new album greatly exceeded my expectations and is an early contender for my top 10 albums of 2024.
Duck, Ltd - YES. Gonna dive into Brittany this week
Same on both counts!
Definitely sold these to me, cheers!
I've been meaning to check out Howard's new record, but haven't quite done it yet.
Colour Haze
At the Drive-In
J. Robbins
Beak>
Portishead
BADBADNOTGOOD
Caribou
Portishead and BADBADNOTGOOD is what's up.
This is my kinda mix!
Happy Monday Kevin! I'v been enjoying a couple recent full-length releases over the last few days:
* Yama Uba's Silhouettes (24-Jan)
* Chelsea Wolfe's She Reaches Out To She Reaches Out To She (9-Feb)
There's a bunch of new releases coming in the next few months that I'm looking forward to. Here are some that I'm really excited about, with links to their bandcamp page where available.
Real Estate (23-Feb)
https://realestate.bandcamp.com/album/daniel
Hannah Frances (1-Mar)
https://hannahfrances.bandcamp.com/album/keeper-of-the-shepherd
Jesus & Mary Chain (8-Mar)
https://thejesusandmarychain.bandcamp.com/album/glasgow-eyes
Waxahatchee (22-Mar)
https://waxahatchee.bandcamp.com/album/tigers-blood
Chastity Belt (29-Mar)
https://chastity-belt.bandcamp.com/album/live-laugh-love
Black Keys (5-Apr)
Khruangbin (5-Apr)
https://khruangbin.bandcamp.com/album/a-la-sala
Jane Weaver (5-Apr)
https://janeweaverfire.bandcamp.com/album/love-in-constant-spectacle
Jane Penny (5-Apr)
https://janepenny.bandcamp.com/album/surfacing
Phosphorescent (5-Apr)
English Teacher (12-Apr)
https://englishteacher.bandcamp.com/album/this-could-be-texas
Beth Gibbons (17-May)
It will come as no surprise that I'm very excited for the new JAMC record. Khruangbin too!
The Last Dinner Party's debut, Prelude To Ecstasy, is still in heavy rotation. Other than that, I spent the rest of the week with quiet, meditative instrumental music as I prepared to go into the studio this past weekend to begin work on a record. Highlights there were:
- Bill Frisell and Thomas Morgan - Small Town, recorded live at Village Vanguard
- Ambrose Akinmusire, Bill Frisell, Herlin Riley - Owl Song - my favorite record of quiet jazz in years
- GoGo Penguin's Ocean In A Drop (Music For Film) and Everything Is Going To Be OK
Have a great week, everyone. Looking forward to digging into Kevin's playlist and checking out your recommendations.
Please keep us posted about the record's progress!
Will do -- thank you!
Over the weekend it was a bunch of Mojo Nixon, but this morning I heard P!nk and Brandi Carlile’s version of “Nothing Compares to You.” That got put on repeat.
Have a great day.
When I discovered there was a P!nk/Brandi Carlisle version my immediate reaction was “oh no”! Purely because Sinead made that song her own and it gives me chills every single time.
And then I heard it. It’s wonderful.
I think a lot of us were dusting off Mojo's records this week. RIP.
Diddly Squat
Just listened to a little Last Dinner Party yesterday after seeing them recommended in the culture study music rec comments - there’s quite a few in that monster thread I’m going to be checking out soon.
After the Grammys, I went back to a massive playlist I made last year “All the girls I love” https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5C2HaYDVFXEW6n17IYIkG4?si=vwShOwIhQvGh2EZZDVCVbg&pi=u-NP9paxdiTL6Q
So, have been listening to that for the past few days.
This band keeps showing up everywhere I turn; it's clearly the universe telling me to get on it!
I’ve been obsessed with Jensen McRae this week:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/11dABkjSoOjcP9p3TFSNRj?si=B5Kn4RNLTciHnZOag5kayg
Jensen McRae! https://open.spotify.com/artist/11dABkjSoOjcP9p3TFSNRj?si=B5Kn4RNLTciHnZOag5kayg
Thanks for the link! This is a new artist for me (I think?).
She’s NTM as well!
Inspired by our list of Heartbreak Songs, have been back to the '59 Sound a bunch, as "Here's Looking at You, Kid" is one of my top 2 heartbreak-iest songs ever. https://3albums6oldguys.substack.com/p/valentines-day-special-18-heartbreak
And new discovery wise, would highlight the band Guitar (not the greatest name) on the excellent Portland label Spared Flesh. Their bandcamp page has a quote saying: "Negative, angular rock that swings from post-punk to Shoegaze to nowave to something new. Glitchy, blippy weirdo jams that are arty and discordant, and have a wholly unique style and sound. Really nothing out there like this." And that's not far off. One of those records where each song sounds pretty dramatically different style-wise. https://sparedflesh.bandcamp.com/album/casting-spells-on-turtlehead
Listening as I type this. So far, so good! I'm usually a sucker for anything from Portland.
Newest album by Infinity Song ✨✨✨ https://open.spotify.com/album/7nAlve26k8V9zZKAYSCI8J?si=svOlpfzLTw2LUD8e0J6mYg
The American Analog Set box arrived on my doorstep on Saturday. I spent the rest of the weekend with it. So well done.
Right on!
This is my list:
Rhapsody in Blue by Gershwin. It's the composition's 100th anniversary
Lifeforms by FSOL (30th anniversary)
Sinner's Syndrome by Moderator
Bill Frisell: East/West
Frisell's made a lot of people'slists this week. I love it.
I just received his biography Beautiful Dreamer and one of my interviews with his manager and producer is cited there.
No by Tomato Flower
In-E by Water Damage
Today’s Active Lifestyles by Polvo
Thanksgiving 3LP by Thanksgiving
Dunkel Blau by Karl Blau
Song Islands vol. 2 by Mount Eerie
I love Karl Blau’s cover of Fallin Rain
it’s a great cover! love that music video with Kyle Fields too
While I was working from home on Friday, I caught some of Open Mike Eagle’s twitch stream. He was playing a collection of some of his favorite indie music. A few that I found myself adding my list were:
• International Colouring Contest, Sterolab
• Stockholm Syndrome, Yo La Tengo
• J Smoov, Stephen Malkmus & The
He's awesome. His podcast series What Had Happened Was should be required listening. He wears his indie credentials out front.
Yes! Was going to mention that as well. I loved listening to the series with Prince Paul.
For me, listening to Dante Ross was the one I learnt so much from, as I didn’t know about him. And his book is on my wish list.
I should note that "Ana Ng" probably coulda made this week's playlist. I played it quite a few times after reading your (excellent) write up on it.
https://www.kissmesonofblog.com/p/ana-ng?r=3cbf2&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
👉🏻👈🏻🥺
Billie Eilish, Jim White, and Fontaines DC!
Saw DC Fontaines open for Arctic Monkeys last year. Cool band and great live act.
Absolutely LOVING this new EP from UK band Tiger Island: https://open.spotify.com/album/6sJz3ve4alYfeKvgfVIqFn?si=YvmWywb1Sj-7qndTWUbFSA
Look Around You is a particular highlight but the whole thing is ❤️🔥
I'm on it!
XM Radio
- Outlaw Country in honor of the wild man himself, Mojo Nixon, whose tagline, "I Looove Country!" will live on forever! Over the weekend Outlaw Country played the last interviews Mojo did on the Outlaw Cruise before his passing. I actually spent time in the late 80's/early 90's on the road with Mojo opening for him in clubs on the east coast and he was a blast to be around. And it's true, Elvis Is Everywhere!
Spotify
- Finally had an opportunity to listen to Metallica's 72 Seasons in it's entirety.
- Discovered two new artists that were no ton my radar, The Red Clay Strays and Xavi
- Taught a friend about shuffles using the original Babylon Sisters track from Steely Dan's 1980 album, Gaucho, with the king of the shuffle pattern Bernard "Pretty" Purdie on drums. The same track from Steely Dan's 1995 release, Alive In America, except this time featuring the incredible Dennis Chambers on drums followed by ToTo's, Roseanna, with Jeff Porcaro on drums and Led Zeppelin's Fool In The Rain from the album In Through The Out Door. All feature incredible drum shuffles and the Babylon Sisters track with Dennis Chambers from '95 is actually inverted from the original, meaning the shuffle is on the snare instead of the usual hihat shuffle. Listen to them back to back and you'll hear what I mean.
I want to hear more about your time with Mojo!
Oh man, it was the early 90's and Elvis Is Everywhere and the video had already been out by a few years at that time. We all knew Mojo and his crazy reputation from him being a NC boy and raised in VA before he went west. At the time I was in a very popular band called Fountain of Youth that was running the regional club scene playing places like CBGB's in NYC, the original 930 Club in DC, Peabody's In VA Beach, Mad Monk in Wilmington, NC, the Attic in Greenville, NC. We had a top 5 song in the college radio charts and our management at the time was also booking Mojo and Skid. We were put on a few shows with the guys as opening acts on a couple of college festivals on the east coast. Mojo was crazy and he could definitely party. I was much younger just being out of high school and to begin with I was always a little nervous around him. Mojo seemed like a firecracker that was about to pop at any second and somebody was going to loose fingers when he did. He really was a nice guy behind that party hardy veneer. Years later I saw Mojo at a XM event in Nashville and I reminded him about those early days and he just laughed, and in true Mojo fashion made some crazy "Mojo" comments. I listened to his "Loon In The Afternoon" show daily and my daughter grew up listening with me when we were in the car. He was one of a kind.
Great memories. Thanks for sharing. I saw Mojo with The Pleasure Barons in 1993 in Houston; one of the best, craziest nights of my life. Was fortunate to interview John Doe and Dave Alvin and ask them about their memories of that tour. I lived in the Triad from 1993 to 2001 and now based in Virginia. Know many of the clubs you mentioned.
This is fantastic! Thanks for sharing this with all of us.
Great comment! I discovered the halftime shuffle through Purdie's incredible playing on Steely Dan's "Home At Last." Jason McGerr has a great one on Death Cab's "Grapevine Fires."
Very cool that you toured with Mojo. I got to know him when he moved to Cincinnati (where I lived then) in the late 90s. He was a sweet guy and always hilarious, especially since he often referred to himself in third person.
I didn't even think of DC's Grapevine Fires, but another terrific, well played example. Not sure what hats he's using on that tune but I love the tone of the snare and hats.
As a lapsed drummer*, I'm all in on this sort of thing.
*Lapsed= Very quickly realized I was better at writing about music than playing it.
Brittany Howard's "What Now" and the Smile's "Wall of Eyes" are early contenders for my top 10 albums of 2024. (I don't care if Thom Yorke sings like he just dipped his big toe in a tub of hot water.)
Also, it has taken me too long to listen to Isaac Hayes's "Hot Buttered Soul" and I'm obsessed. Been jamming out to Bill Evans's "Sunday at the Village Vanguard" as well.
lol. Alright, alright. You've sold me; I'll check it out.
America, A Horse With No Name. Learning this one on guitar so I've played the song dozens of times.
The CYRKLE - Revival Think Red Rubber
Ball. Yes, that CYRKLE. First new album in over 50 years.
New: fuvk - say what you like
Old, but new to me: Shallow - High Flyin' Kid Stuff (h/t to Herb Sundays 102)
I also stumbled through my first case of COVID last week (one star, would not recommend), so listened to a lot of comfort music. For me, that's heavy on Over the Rhine.
I hope you're on the upswing! Here's to a fast/full recovery!
The Who By Numbers because I’ve been writing about it.
And I’ve just discovered The Bevis Frond and am diving in.
This one?
https://open.substack.com/pub/iansharp/p/who-numbers?r=3cbf2&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Yes, that’s the one 😊
Newish: Ducks Ltd. (a lot of jangle, a la Mitch Easter/Peter Buck; will open for Ratboys on their spring tour)
Old: REM LIVE! Fantastic Michael Shannon/Jason Narducy show in DC playing early REM
Elliot Smith, Figure 8
Booker T & the MGs, Green Onions
Assorted Smiths & Cure with my 12 yr old, after he announced that he and his friends like The Smiths
There's a Twitter account that keeps using things like Shannon/Narducy as signs that REM is getting back together. He's doing it very tongue in cheek, but I also hope he's right.
All four of them on the stage at the 40 Watt club last Thursday when Shannon & Narducy played there is likely the closest we’ll ever get.
I know, but ya gotta have a dream, right?
I’ve been listening to Tyler Ramsey(former guitarist of Band of Horses) new album New Lost Ages. Other jams include Between Days by Red House Painters and Someone I Know by Margo Guryan.
Really liked my first listen of the Tyler Ramsey album.
I didn't know Ramsey had anything out! Are you planning to write any of these up?
Maybe down the road.
Looking forward to digging into your suggestions tonight. I'm enjoying the new Little Simz EP, Home Counties single and have been listening to a LOT of Bombay Bicycle Club after seeing them last week.
Everything Little Simz brings out is exceptional.
Would love to hear your thoguts once you get a chance to listen. How was the Bombay Bicycle Club show?
Man, Bombay Bicycle Club were brilliant. Just sheer joy. I think I'll have to do a full review!
If you think of it, please link it here when you do!
Anything with The Spencer Davis Group or Steve Winwood is excellent!
Yes!
Hi Kevin! I’ve just updated the playlist Reflect & Relax Cafe and this is the result:
https://open.substack.com/pub/reflectandrelaxcafe/p/reflect-and-relax-cafe-56?r=tmghd&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post
Right on! Thanks for the link!
What Happened to the Beach? by Declan McKenna. It’s not instantly grabbing me in the same way that Zeros did, but I’m hopeful that it’s a grower. I love the single “Sympathy” in any case.
Also, this track by a local Bristol band Clemencie. We saw them on Saturday and their set was indie-pop perfection! A really joyful experience.
https://open.spotify.com/track/6kEYH4XoVNvxZR5DZ5xy5w?si=85Up-RMlQSKJ-FST-J-DZg&context=spotify%3Aalbum%3A3H9DhsygHyfXHS3flSTzS1
That's a new one for me. Thanks for the rec!
Man, Dancer is a great discovery, cheers!
I'm happy to hear it! Several of them were also in Current Affairs, whose 'Off The Tongue' LP barely missed my Top 10 last year.
Currently obsessed with Texana band Khruangbin. Don't know why. It's not new (but not old), possibly heard somewhere and kind of stuck with me. Seems to go well with Brazilian summer (I'm in São Paulo)
Bom dia!
Their sound is infectious (and wonderful).
Is This Real by Wipers from 1980. I heard it recently on a TV show and immediately got excited.
The Wipers rule.
Still have the Feb. 2 releases in heavy rotation - J Mascis, Liquid Mike, The Roseline, The Paranoid Style. Now I've got Ducks Ltd. to add to the mix, plus J Robbins and Tyler Ramsey. Plus, listening to some Grandaddy in anticipation of the new one on Friday.
Every time I start to write a quick reveiw of The Paranoid Style, I get tripped up trying to pick out a favorite line (or two) to cite. What a record!
I've been relistening to some Langkamer. If you like a bit of alt-country/Pavement then this band from Bristol will be your thing.
https://open.spotify.com/artist/01liH6TfxmDMkDHrUKDzFp?si=4fbB07IGSSOoVEYN16eXkw&nd=1
I like all of that. I'm in!
I think they’re starting to tour in the US, so they must have a following.
Bit late to the party to say happy Monday(s) (work has been intense). Sorry! Happy week, though!
I’ve been enjoying Mariah’s 4-LP anniversary edition of Music Box. Tons of unreleased tracks, remixes and the like.
At the risk of sounding sexist, but meant in jest: the irony of my life is being married to a man but spending all this time and money on a woman! 🤣🤣😆
Lol.
I’m all about Jensen McRae this week. Her vocals and songwriting are mesmerizing and slightly unexpected. Found her on IG like so many rising stars. ✨