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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, it is again overindexed on new (like, brand new) releases from the likes of OSEES, San Gabriel, and Field Hospitals—always a good thing! There are also a couple of faves from
Save the date! The date for this month’s Album of the Month Discussion will be on Sunday, the 24th, at 4 PM Eastern. This month’s discussion will be led by Vancouver-based Jessica Lee McMillan, whose previous presentation on Stereolab’s Dots and Loops was one for the ages. This time around, we’ll discuss Special Beat Service by The English Beat. These are always fun, but will be better with you there!
As some of you may have seen, I recently wrote about a Best Record of 1989 challenge and noted that I'd be occasionally writing some of these up.
I've started doing some quick hits of each match up and posting them directly to the page here. There's probably some typos. Check 'em out and let me know your thoughts! Chin wags & hot takes welcome! Sharing and restacks always appreciated.
Also: As most of you have seen, I am a huge fan of the music 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.
I’m thrilled to share this exclusive offer for 2 free months. Not an ad, and there’s no catch. Just hella good sound quality, solid recommendations tailored to your tastes, and editorials well worth your time.
Great playlist - I love Street Eaters and am enjoying the new one. Bummed to be missing the show they're playing in DC. Same with Osees and Field Hospitals.
Loving the Motherfuckers album! Second time in the last 5 days I've had somebody mention this to me. The band, mention the band, not calling me a motherfucker....
* Momma - Sincerely. A former bandmate with impeccable taste recommended this and I'm digging it so far even if my tolerance for the return of 90s alt-rock sounds and styles is running thin. ;-)
* Various Artists - Songs In The Key of Z. Pitchfork's Sunday Review was about this collection of outsider artists (from Jandek to Captain Beefheart to Shooby Taylor, "The Human Horn"). That sent me down a path of reading about some of these artists and listening to more of their music. It's a fascinating topic and it's hard to know if/when you're being conned (especially with Jandek). Here's the review:
Happy Monday everyone! Still reeling from Morcheeba's amazing concert last Thursday with fellow Substacker and friend Mark. Spinning their records since then. Most will be familiar with their early work, but just to say their latest efforts (from most recent to oldest: Escape The Chaos, Blackest Blue, and Blaze Away) deserve a shot too. The band just keeps getting better.
The show was awesome, and experiencing it with Mark was everything! We’ve met up several times in the last year or so and it’s definitely been one of the top highlights of my Substack life. We always have a blast.
- In my opinion Sting's best album, 1993's Ten Summoner's Tales. How can anything with Vinnie Colaiuta on drums not be good? Do yourself a favor and carve out 1:16 and watch this to see world class musicians making world class music.
Thanks for the live Sting link, I've never seen that. Looking forward to watching that later. That's such a great record -- it's a Saturday morning go-to for me. Vinnie makes playing in odd time signatures feel so seamless!
I have a couple of Guerrero's early records -- I didn't realize he was still at it. Will check this out!
My worst nightmare scenario; I get a call from Sting's management asking me to come out and play some Sting gigs and Sting wants me to play some parts just like Vinnie......check this out: https://youtu.be/pBxxH-fGNqI?si=z1eAlb3f_rytpn17
Many years ago I was attending a Summer NAMM in Nashville when it was still held at the old convention center downtown. Gretsch was having a press conference to announce the return of Vinnie to the brand from Yamaha and they were releasing that first edition white kit with black hardware. Rich Watson, who was with Modern Drummer magazine at the time, asked if I was going and of course I acted like I totally knew all about it, so I "snuck in" with Rich. We were in a small conference room and there were only about 8 people there including Vinnie, Fred and Dina Gretsch. The white "Vinnie kit" was set up in the front of the room and there was a basic table with a mic. Fred and Dina spoke then turned it over to Vinnie who spoke on why he left Yamaha, etc... Vinnie never played a lick, but at the very end of the press conference Vinnie said, "any questions", and somebody jokingly said, "How do you play in odd time so easily?". Vinnie picked up a pair of sticks and played a 5 stroke roll on the table top and that was it. Now, I can play a 5 stroke roll and you can play a 5 stroke roll, but for some reason when Vinnie played that 5 stroke roll it didn't sound anything like the 5 stroke roll that I play.
About an hour after that presser wrapped I was walking back in the convention center from grabbing lunch and Vinnie was walking out the same door I was coming in. I quickly asked Vinnie for a picture and he obliged as he was trying to get his Marlboro cigarette lit. One observation of that day was all the lesser unknown's running around dressed like rock stars trying to stand out and Vinnie was dressed in a pair jeans with stains on them, a pair of Timberland work boots and a blue Polo shirt. There was construction going on for the Bridgestone Arena across the street and Vinnie could've easily been mistaken for a worker on the arena and not the world class musician that just wrapped a world tour with Sting. Total respect and what a legend!
Fantastic story, thanks for sharing! Very cool that you had that experience. Even though his playing is perfect, it still feels so human and I can't say that about some other amazing drummers.
I'm fortunate to have seen Sting with Omar Hakim, Manu Katche, and Vinnie, as well as The Police (Stewart's my biggest musical influence). I got briefly depressed after the Blue Turtles tour, telling my girlfriend I could never be half as good as Omar, so why bother trying. I learned to deal with it by the time I saw Manu and Vinnie. 😂
I love soundtracks, and they don’t get much better than Hans Zimmer. His most recent ones were a bit ‘meh,’ and I was starting to think his peak had passed, until he released the soundtrack for the F1 movie. It’s like Giorgio Moroder on steroids. A classic in the making, and one I’ve had on repeat ever since I first heard it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhX_Woa3kVA
If you aren't familiar with IQ, they're a slightly more Genesis-y version of Marillion. Came up at the same time with Marillion, but stayed more consistently prog leaning toward King Crimson and Genesis, but still keeping that 80s and 90s neo-prog vibe. Great stuff.
At the moment I'm listening to Kathleen Edwards' Voyaguer, as I've been going through her catalogue in advance of her latest album, Billionaire, arriving on Friday. Voyaguer is by far the album of hers I've listened to the least. I remember reading a review that threw me off of even trying it out when it was first released. Stupid, because it's good. "Mint" is a song I'm sorry it took me so long to know and appreciate.
I've been going through her catalog as well. I finally have a chance to see her in late October -- can't wait. "Change The Sheets" is one of my favorite songs of the last decade. Here's a great live version from Letterman if you've never seen it:
I liked the San Gabriel track! The name caught my eye since I grew up in the SG Valley in SoCal. But apparently there's also a San Gabriel River in Texas that the singer named himself after. Thanks for the recommendation Kev!
Been listening to Dolly Parton and the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack, really good and fun movie too. Lives up to the hype if you haven't checked it out yet!
How Deep Is Your Love - Bee Gees
Solid pick, Yana!
Great playlist - I love Street Eaters and am enjoying the new one. Bummed to be missing the show they're playing in DC. Same with Osees and Field Hospitals.
New Osees seems to be growing on me with each listen.
Over at 3albums6oldguys, we have a new piece up - https://3albums6oldguys.substack.com/p/6ogs-on-ogs-clipse-lulu-and-motherfers. A review of the new Clipse, a revisit of the infamous Lou Reed/Metallica collaboration, and the new instrumental/psychedelic/groove project in DC called Motherfuckers JMB & CO, involving a member of Animal Collective, a former member of GWAR, and a local DJ here. Album is a fascinating listen and have had it on repeat - https://motherfuckersjmb.bandcamp.com/album/music-excitement-action-beauty
Loving the Motherfuckers album! Second time in the last 5 days I've had somebody mention this to me. The band, mention the band, not calling me a motherfucker....
Right on! Thanks for the links.
Also enjoying a few new releases:
-- Editrix: https://editrix.bandcamp.com/album/the-big-e (can't get enough of this one; if you miss Shellac, this one is for you)
-- Teethe: https://teethe.bandcamp.com/album/magic-of-the-sale (gorgeous slowcore)
-- Shaki Tavi: https://shakitavi.bandcamp.com/album/minor-slip (more shoegaze)
Thank you for including us! It's a genuine honour.
And since you asked: I've just discovered (much to my shame) Lou Reed's 1998 live album 'A Perfect Night in London', which is GREAT.
I dig this song! Congrats from a fellow indie musician. Reminds me of Thus Love a bit in a good way.
Oooh, I dig Thus Love! Compliment accepted. Where can I find your stuff?
My most recent record, released in November, is under the name Radio Free ABQ on Bandcamp and all the streaming services. Thanks for asking!
Would be helpful if I included a link!
https://linktr.ee/radiofreeabq
Of course! Thanks for letting me share it with everyone here.
My other favourite band, Black Honey, released their fourth album, Soak on Friday and it’s their best yet! Absolutely love it and it’s pretty much impossible to call favourites - nothing on there misses! This one is fantastic! https://open.spotify.com/track/4D0hYCPnsxQ26P8hQF2v1p?si=u5v5dHRGQHGwcCo3FHnzdQ
My week was about:
* Momma - Sincerely. A former bandmate with impeccable taste recommended this and I'm digging it so far even if my tolerance for the return of 90s alt-rock sounds and styles is running thin. ;-)
* Various Artists - Songs In The Key of Z. Pitchfork's Sunday Review was about this collection of outsider artists (from Jandek to Captain Beefheart to Shooby Taylor, "The Human Horn"). That sent me down a path of reading about some of these artists and listening to more of their music. It's a fascinating topic and it's hard to know if/when you're being conned (especially with Jandek). Here's the review:
https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/various-artists-songs-in-the-key-of-z
* Steve Reich - various. I put a Steve Reich box set on shuffle for a couple hours last night. Strangely soothing.
Looking forward to Kevin's playlist and your picks!
Reich's "Different trains" was in the Best of 1989 Challenge not too long ago. It's quite the record.
https://open.substack.com/pub/thekevinalexander/p/the-best-record-of-1989-day-56-46?r=3cbf2&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
Happy Monday everyone! Still reeling from Morcheeba's amazing concert last Thursday with fellow Substacker and friend Mark. Spinning their records since then. Most will be familiar with their early work, but just to say their latest efforts (from most recent to oldest: Escape The Chaos, Blackest Blue, and Blaze Away) deserve a shot too. The band just keeps getting better.
Hope the show was awesome! Can I just say how cool it is that the two of you have met up in real life?
The show was awesome, and experiencing it with Mark was everything! We’ve met up several times in the last year or so and it’s definitely been one of the top highlights of my Substack life. We always have a blast.
Going through an Icehouse phase today! Been listening to a few of their songs from the 80s, they're so great.
Underrated for sure!
Good Morning from St James/San Diego. Here is what has been in the air:
1. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3wBlm9P7dw8ZMh4DgXzNcJ?si=0aae825cf91c46bc
2. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1knJSMzp6SWo8aUh3W2hVo?si=96c57f6f1751452c
3. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1EpiZRrzSeuNAh?si=6c581aa1bc0240d2
Have a great week.
JP
Thank you, Jon!
Stumbled upon this cool record from Korea: "Crumbling" by Mid-Air Thieves.
Really been digging the new JID and Tyler Childers albums
I've tried, but I just can't get into Tyler Childers. New album is great musically but for some reason when Tyler starts to sing it looses me.
Sean and Zander
- From 2011 Revelator by Tedeschi Trucks Band.
https://open.spotify.com/album/3nvebrk47Qs9bTipgUgup7?si=4_8P9_rJQ9mM7ERdAdRT3g
- In my opinion Sting's best album, 1993's Ten Summoner's Tales. How can anything with Vinnie Colaiuta on drums not be good? Do yourself a favor and carve out 1:16 and watch this to see world class musicians making world class music.
https://youtu.be/-KgJFeoDNJY?si=vN6DTTtEXi959jXC
- I have this one on vinyl and it gets a good amount of rotation on my turntable. David Bowie's excellent 1970 release, The Man Who Sold the World.
https://open.spotify.com/album/4h9rWFWhgCSSrvIEQ0YhYG?si=IrTLLRL3SGqV_brGrMpPKg
- Skateboard legend Tommy Guerrero's latest single, Tone of the Blade.
https://open.spotify.com/album/3qqCT3q65FxTSRHNRc7hxt?si=b5GLfyOsShaTk1hUcCAjpg
and Guerrero's excellent album Sunshine Radio from 2021.
https://open.spotify.com/album/6Wi9sRhakEvFAjAVnSPztI?si=2IPQcrFETTuadt8qEt_eSA
Thanks for the live Sting link, I've never seen that. Looking forward to watching that later. That's such a great record -- it's a Saturday morning go-to for me. Vinnie makes playing in odd time signatures feel so seamless!
I have a couple of Guerrero's early records -- I didn't realize he was still at it. Will check this out!
My worst nightmare scenario; I get a call from Sting's management asking me to come out and play some Sting gigs and Sting wants me to play some parts just like Vinnie......check this out: https://youtu.be/pBxxH-fGNqI?si=z1eAlb3f_rytpn17
Many years ago I was attending a Summer NAMM in Nashville when it was still held at the old convention center downtown. Gretsch was having a press conference to announce the return of Vinnie to the brand from Yamaha and they were releasing that first edition white kit with black hardware. Rich Watson, who was with Modern Drummer magazine at the time, asked if I was going and of course I acted like I totally knew all about it, so I "snuck in" with Rich. We were in a small conference room and there were only about 8 people there including Vinnie, Fred and Dina Gretsch. The white "Vinnie kit" was set up in the front of the room and there was a basic table with a mic. Fred and Dina spoke then turned it over to Vinnie who spoke on why he left Yamaha, etc... Vinnie never played a lick, but at the very end of the press conference Vinnie said, "any questions", and somebody jokingly said, "How do you play in odd time so easily?". Vinnie picked up a pair of sticks and played a 5 stroke roll on the table top and that was it. Now, I can play a 5 stroke roll and you can play a 5 stroke roll, but for some reason when Vinnie played that 5 stroke roll it didn't sound anything like the 5 stroke roll that I play.
About an hour after that presser wrapped I was walking back in the convention center from grabbing lunch and Vinnie was walking out the same door I was coming in. I quickly asked Vinnie for a picture and he obliged as he was trying to get his Marlboro cigarette lit. One observation of that day was all the lesser unknown's running around dressed like rock stars trying to stand out and Vinnie was dressed in a pair jeans with stains on them, a pair of Timberland work boots and a blue Polo shirt. There was construction going on for the Bridgestone Arena across the street and Vinnie could've easily been mistaken for a worker on the arena and not the world class musician that just wrapped a world tour with Sting. Total respect and what a legend!
Fantastic story, thanks for sharing! Very cool that you had that experience. Even though his playing is perfect, it still feels so human and I can't say that about some other amazing drummers.
I'm fortunate to have seen Sting with Omar Hakim, Manu Katche, and Vinnie, as well as The Police (Stewart's my biggest musical influence). I got briefly depressed after the Blue Turtles tour, telling my girlfriend I could never be half as good as Omar, so why bother trying. I learned to deal with it by the time I saw Manu and Vinnie. 😂
Manu is a great player! Love Omar, too!
Thanks for all of these, Billy! Looks like I have some homework to do!
RIP to the legend Terence Stamp, blasting The Kinks & The Smiths for the neighbors this morning.
They're both great bands; your neighbors will thank you. :)
I love soundtracks, and they don’t get much better than Hans Zimmer. His most recent ones were a bit ‘meh,’ and I was starting to think his peak had passed, until he released the soundtrack for the F1 movie. It’s like Giorgio Moroder on steroids. A classic in the making, and one I’ve had on repeat ever since I first heard it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhX_Woa3kVA
This is fantastic! Thanks for getting it on our radar, Pe!
John Prine & Procol Harum & https://weatheredmusic.ca
Always a good time for a little John Prine!
First full length album from this Hamilton, Ontario band.
3D House of Mayhem
https://www.doctortongueband.com/
One of my favorite trip-hop groups is Morcheeba. Their album, "Big Calm," should be in everyone's collection. Skye Edwards, what a voice.
Blue Öyster Cult's first album - "Cities On Flame..." "Transmaniacom MC" "Workshop of the Telescopes"
Tim Buckley - Greetings From LA "Move With Me" "Get On Top" "Nighthawkin"
Wishbone Ash - Argus "Sometime World" "Blowin' Free" "Time Was' "The King Will Come"
Queens of the Stone Age debut - "If Only" "Regular John" "Mexicola"
Triumvirat - Illusions On a Double Dimple [Stop what you're doing, sit down, have a beer, and listen to the whole album]
Great list. You listen to some groups/music I'm not very familiar with. I'm enjoying it.
I'm happy to hear it, Bob! Hopefully you found a couple of new faves in there.
I finally sat down to listen to IQ's new album "Dominion."
Solid. First few spins didn't knock my socks off, but IQ albums usually grow on me exponentially over time.
That's a new one for me; I'll cue it up here after lunch!
If you aren't familiar with IQ, they're a slightly more Genesis-y version of Marillion. Came up at the same time with Marillion, but stayed more consistently prog leaning toward King Crimson and Genesis, but still keeping that 80s and 90s neo-prog vibe. Great stuff.
Hey Kevin! Here are some new album tracks I've been into this week. https://danpal.substack.com/p/new-music-additional-tracks-from?r=lru5s
Thanks for these, Dan! I'm really digging that Paul Weller track.
Just discovered Rickie Lee Jones! Killer vibe
Nice! You are in for a heckuva fun time.
At the moment I'm listening to Kathleen Edwards' Voyaguer, as I've been going through her catalogue in advance of her latest album, Billionaire, arriving on Friday. Voyaguer is by far the album of hers I've listened to the least. I remember reading a review that threw me off of even trying it out when it was first released. Stupid, because it's good. "Mint" is a song I'm sorry it took me so long to know and appreciate.
I've been going through her catalog as well. I finally have a chance to see her in late October -- can't wait. "Change The Sheets" is one of my favorite songs of the last decade. Here's a great live version from Letterman if you've never seen it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PdAfJlyCN0
Great song and I had not seen that version before - thanks for sharing it!
I liked the San Gabriel track! The name caught my eye since I grew up in the SG Valley in SoCal. But apparently there's also a San Gabriel River in Texas that the singer named himself after. Thanks for the recommendation Kev!
Been listening to Dolly Parton and the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack, really good and fun movie too. Lives up to the hype if you haven't checked it out yet!