Good morning! Welcome to each of you who joined us this week! You’ve landed at what was recently described as “the nicest place on the internet.“ Looking for a place to share the music you love with like-minded people? You’re in the right spot.
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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:
Now it’s your turn.
What caught your ear this week? Any luck crate digging? Some yard sale finds? Are there any upcoming releases or shows you’re excited about?
So whatcha got? Share your thoughts in the comments!
📻📻📻
P.S. Have you seen this yet? Some of your favorite music writers got together and wrote about your favorite records. Check it out!
Couple here I don't know -- will check out the Exits and Tanukichan. In the shameless plug lane, we just got our Top 30 of 2024 so far (with 6 other records coming from favorite songs) up this weekend. Had many of them in heavy rotation. https://3albums6oldguys.substack.com/p/top-30-records-of-2024-so-far
Immediate feedback. Tanukichan. Wow. Had missed this project. Getting me through my morning bus ride and love it. What in the world with the Bay Area these days? Insane how many great bands are out there.
But will also give a shout for "the kids are alright." We mentioned Birthday Girl DC on our Top 30 list, and their EP gets better with every listen. https://birthdaygirlmusic.bandcamp.com/album/dirtier. But will also shout out the new Lifeguard single, now on Matador. Clear the Chicago group are taking a step up, despite also being teenagers. https://lifeguardband100.bandcamp.com/album/ministry-energie. Their previous releases also remarkable -- their first when they were 16, I think? And we're lucky in DC -- Birthday Girl plays tonight (for free at Ft Reno), and Lifeguard plays tmw night. Amazing to see not only the youthful energy but the level of veteran songcraft from both.
Love it -- so good. I did a longer write-up of their 2023 full length here. Hard to go wrong with band members whose last names are MacKaye and Canty. And that doesn't even count the drummer, who's also really excellent and a bit of a hidden weapon. https://3albums6oldguys.substack.com/p/hail-to-dc-birthday-girl-the-paranoid
Ekko Astral - Pink Balloons via 3Albums6OldGuys. Started with Holocaust Remembrance Day on Bandcamp and finished with Pink Balloons on the fruit platform. I am a fan. Uwu Type Beat is where I wanna live when i grow up.
Font - Strange Burden. Found singles via socials, album out on Friday 7/12. This could be a treat. Post punk?
The Voidz - Like All Before You singles. 2024 the year of new music that just won’t end (I don’t want it to end, fwiw). New singles means firing up Tyranny and The Voidz. Great soundtrack to a Tuesday morning!
KING GIZZARD & THE WIZARD LIZARD - Flight b741. I’m not excited, you are excited. Wait, i am looking at myself in a mirror on a Tuesday morning. Confirmed: I am excited. Le Risque is not a risky click. Vinyl pre-order in; August 9th get here quickly…
ORB - Tailem Bend. NEWNEWNEWNOTOLD. Oh man, I thought I might like this record. Neigh; I love it. Worth the long break since TWO THOUSAND EIGHTEEN.
Thee Oh Sees - SORCS 80 singles. Added Earthlings. John Dwyer and I agree; two drummers is always better than one. SORCS 80 is showing some promise.
Truck stop sludge:
Hum - Downward is Heavenward. My god, The Algorithm, put Green to Me in my ears. So i visited this great album again. It’s got some crunchy bits.
Toadies - No Deliverance, Feeler, Hell Below/Stars Above. Partook in a late afternoon brain squeeze to these records three. Big ups to the following songs: I am a Man of Stone, No Deliverance…just put on No Deliverance the album. Feeler is great too. Hell Below/Stars Above is damned good. Listen to all three; it’s a good idea.
Arctic Monkeys - The Car. Excellent follow up to my fave AM record; Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino. Ok, had to listen to TVHaC for good measure as well. Two of my absolute favorites back-to-back. Lounge feel for both.
Meatbodies - Flora Ocean Tiger Bloom. It feels like this record came out 3 years ago, not 3 months ago. So much good stuff being released. Anyway, FOTB is a ripper.
Thom Yorke - assorted solo works. The Eraser + Tomorrows Modern Boxes + Anima and a handful of soundtracks. If you are like me, and you suffer from Irregular Rhythm; take one Thom Yorke. Problem solved; thanks, Thom Yorke!
Glad you're enjoying ekko astral. Pumped to see them Sunday here. Enjoy it more each time. Make fun of Bon Iver in the first song? I'm in. Will check out Font - don't know them. Glad you gave a shout to Meatbodies (love them) and Thee Oh Sees. So good. My friend Brian did a great post on them last year - https://3albums6oldguys.substack.com/p/osees-cable-ties-and-14-classic-songs
I got "Drowning In Dreams" by Kat Hasty in the mail this weekend. She's a singer-songwriter type from West Texas who basically just released her music online during covid. She's been getting a slow but steady following in the Red Dirt scene.
NEW & EXCEPTIONALLY SHINY - What a week of delicious discovery. In no special order, it's all great.!
* Majak Door 'Fantasy Camp' - Psychsurf? Think The Stone Roses + Hoodoo Gurus(@ ½ speed).
* Color Green 'Fool's Paradise' - The Jayhawks + well... The Stone Roses once again. What can I say, it's what I hear, how bout you?
* Cassandra Jenkins 'My Light, My Destroyer' - Likely on my AOTY year list just like her 2021 album was.
* Big Special 'Postindustrial Hometown Blues' - If you like Yard Act & Idles...
* LA Priest 'La Fusion EP' Earworms galore and just takes me to a happy place.
* The Lovely Eggs 'Eggsistentialism' - Where are the... unique bands these days? Here's one! Bonus , Fridmann produced.
* Guided By Voices 'Strut Of Kings' - I'm not certain yet but excited to listen a few more times. Meanwhile, #41! Perhaps they'll title the next one Life, The Universe & Everything.
POLISHED GEMS
The Jayhawks 'Tomorrow The Green Grass'
The (International) Noise Conspiracy 'A New Morning, Changing Weather'
Great picks. Lovely Eggs record is great, and I am definitely enjoying Color Green. Given multiple Jayhawks references - have you tried Ahem? Indiecast recently shouted them out, and they very much channel the Jayhawks, combined with the Replacements. https://helloahem.bandcamp.com/album/avoider
I was wracking my brain trying to remember the name The Jayhawks, though I pictured the album and had piece of the name, 'Green Grass'. Unfortunately initially I hit a dead end with The Outlaws.
Funny that others hear Jayhawks as I'm never certain of my references given it's so subjective. Will check out 'ahem' - thanks for the tip!
Add my voice to the chorus of superlative glowing praise for Sean Lennon's remix of Mind Games. I spent the weekend deep listening and came away in love with this album in a way I've never before been able to connect with a complete solo John album (rather than just individual tracks). I know it's a bit of PR hype on Sean's part when he says it's a masterpiece, but he's not that far off -- I don't think it's quite a masterpiece, but the remix reveals a tight, beautifully written, recorded and produced album, like cleaning from the years of grime from a statue of a golden Buddha. Or rather a golden Lennon.
IMO, Mind Games joins Paul's Off the Ground as the solo album that got away in is time and deserves a serious reassessment -- all the more so by John having written and recorded it in a matter of a week or so, which is more of a thing than it might seem, given John does not have Paul's ability to write and record so easily. He always had trouble writing quickly on his own and he was self-producing here, which he also wasn't comfortable with. (It doesn't hurt that the presence of... others... is minimal in the studio outtakes and in the production overall.)
I love that Sean did multiple "mixes" of the Nutopian National Anthem. 😎
Sean's mixes pull out things I hadn't heard before that make this whole album sparkle, and I want to single out the outtake of Meat City for the guitar riff and the groove that's not audible in the final mix. I wish they hadn't covered it up in the overdubs, but even so, and even if none of this rises to Fab level, (which it doesn't) this is John without the bullshit, John who loves rock and roll. The real John, including the passing references to Locomotion and Keep Your Hands Off My Baby in the final section.
I dig seeing the new Public Service Broadcasting on the playlist. They're so clever and they've mined that approach without getting stale.
My week was about:
* Mark Guiliana - MARK. If you're not familiar with Mark, he's best known in the rock world for playing on Bowie's last record and for playing with St. Vincent for the last few years. He's very well-known in jazz and electronic circles as a composer and one of the best drummers in the world. I've had the good fortune to study drumming and composition with him since the beginning of the pandemic. I flew to LA to see his first solo show and that series of shows was part of the journey to this record. I love it musically and it's a special one for me emotionally. Check it out -- it's not a drum throwdown!
* The Silencers - A Letter From St. Paul. I was taken with the song on last week's playlist and am glad I spent time with the record. I don't know how these guys escaped me, as I was a senior in college when the record came out and my favorite college radio station surely would have played them. Thanks for the tip, Kevin!
* Music documentaries: I wound down three straight nights with music documentaries on The Minutemen, Fugazi, and The Mekons. All highly recommended. That led me to revisit favorites by all of them.
* Health & Happiness Show -- I saw a great Alejandro Escovedo show last week -- he's 72 and still great! -- with James Mastro, formerly of The Bongos and Health & Happiness Show (and longtime leader of Ian Hunter's band) on lead guitar. I spent more time than usual with H&HS who are probably the most underrated band in my world. They have just three records -- start with Tonic and move to Instant Living. They should've been much bigger.
Alejandro ended with a cover of Mickey Newbury's "Just Dropped In." I realized I'd never heard the original and only knew the Kenny Rogers version from The Big Lebowski. Check it out -- the production is far out for a country song in 1968.
* Last, at the urging of a friend and bandmate, I revisited Drive-By Truckers, who I haven't paid attention to since Decoration Day over 20 years ago. They're still not totally my thing but I was glad to dig into some newer-to-me records, especially Brighter Than Creation's Dark. I saw them when Jason Isbell was in the band -- they were good but deafeningly loud.
Looking forward to the playlist and everyone's recommendations. Have a great week!
The Silencers were great, their song Scottish Rain is an undiscovered treasure for many folks. I discovered them after their previous band Fingerprintz ended - they were also a great band and saw them twice, once opening for XTC and they were great live.
Another week of long overdue listens... been finally doing a deep dive into Aphex Twin beyond "Selected Ambient Works." I think "Richard D. James Album" might be his best project.
I'm also really digging Zach Bryan's new album, "The Great American Bar Scene." Been diving into his catalogue, which has spiraled into Chris Stapleton, Patsy Cline, and Skeeter Davis.
This week I dug out REM’s Document album on a whim. I haven’t listened to that album in years. Dropping the needle on that vinyl was just as magical as pushing play on that tape deck all those years ago. Simply a fantastic album and my favorite REM.
Then on Saturday while walking our local Pride festival, a friend reminded me of Robert Palmer’s 80’s single Looking For Clues and that has been fun ear worm.
Somewhere during the week I got This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody) stuck in my head. I asked Alexa to play it and I probably had the title wrong, so she played random Talking Heads and I listened all day long! And then the next day as well.
Then listened to Veruca Salt’s American Thighs a few times on repeat after reading Mark Nash’s Alphabet Soup: the N Tracks. It’s one that I go back to a lot and one of my top favorites. A friend had just played Volcano Girls on touch tunes while we were out the day before.
The stripped down take 1 is one of my favourites... if only for imagining a nervous John playing it for Paul and George Martin for the first time and having Paul reassure him it was brilliant. <3
Do you know of any covers that should be on this list? I might reject a suggestion if I don't like the band doing the cover, but I'm open to check 'em out if you think they're good.
I was just thiking about that. There's probably at least one somewhere, but I know of no good covers of Strawberry Fields for probably obvious reasons -- that so much of what makes that song what it it is, beyond the songwriting and John's voice, is the brilliant production, the two takes glued together, one at a slightly slower speed to match the key. That's so miuch a part of it.
Los Fabulosos Cadillacs does my favorite version so far. I think it's actually very good! Todd Rundgren's version is all right. Definitely nowhere near as good as the original and mostly derivative but I have fun listening anyway.
I'm happy when anyone records a version of any Beatles song* becasue it continues to extend the legacy and show the insanely widespread influence. And every once in awhile, a cover comes along that finds something in a Beatles song that wasn't in the original. Not often, but just every once in awhile - it's like searching through the vinyl at a tag sale. You never know...
*with the exception of the Bee Gees. That was just.... no.
PS The best Fab song by far to do the version playlist with is One After 909. The first version appears on the earliest extent recordings we have of them practicing at Forthlin Road, and there are multiple attempts at recording it during their Beatles years, then it appears in the Rooftop Concert and in Get Back and then again in Paul's solo work. It's the only Beatles original that spans the entire span of their career from beginning to now.
I can see that! It's definitely not one of my favorite Beatles songs, but that's not the most important thing for a playlist like that, where you get a sense of the actual writing process.
It's not a bad cover per se, although I might need to hear it a few more times before including it on a playlist like this. It might be better than the Todd Rundgren one I already have anyway, so thanks for this research candidate!
It has been a week of diving into mostly older music. This is partially inspired by a great book by Steven Hyden - Twilight of the Gods: A Journey to the End of Classic Rock. For a great history of what growing up with Classic Rock has been like this is a great reminder of what we love, its highs and lows, and how it has changed. Highly recommended!
I’ve never listened to Phish much before and Steven Hyden has a great essay on how he came to love the band.
Phish did release a new album last week - Evolve. I’ve also dived into Farmhouse, Billy Breathes, Rift, Junta, and Hoist. Lots of great stuff here. If anyone has recommendations on the live music, please let me know where to start.
Good afternoon (or morning to you). Travelling at the moment but I think my first spin when I get back home will be "Erotica" or "Bedtime Stories", or probably both. Just need that punch.
Some of the songs in my "On Repeat" Playlist right now include "Shake It" by Iain Matthews, and "Heaven" by The Psychedelic Furs. There's also a Stiv Bators song I don't recall playing randomly thrown in.
A recent episode of Bandsplain got me in a Buffalo Tom rabbit hole and reminded me how much I like their stripped down cover of "Heaven." Such a great song.
I've been down a bit if a Psychedelic Furs rabbit hole myself! I'm debating whter or not to drive to Milwakuee and see them on their tour. "Heaven" is a favorite.
Also, the new album Lustre by The Buoys which is really very good.
I also made myself a spirit-lifting playlist to counteract the somber summer weather we are having at the moment which has been played a lot this last week. It’s made up of songs which induce joy (in me at least!)
So the other day I saw a Note about it being the 30th anniversary of Nas' classic album Illmatic.
This is a safe space, right ?
*whispers*
I never heard this album until I saw that note.
I blame my two homies in my college suite for giving me the impression at the time that every single active rapper resided somewhere on the space time continuum between Compton and Long Beach. Why were we not listening to this guys? I depended on you two for my rap exposure just like you depended on me to be old enough to buy the beer.
If you haven't listened to this before , don't reply to me or acknowledge anything. Just quietly find the album, mash that play button, and thank me later. Its the missing link between Wu Tang Clan and Mos Def.
Loving the latest from Cassandra Jenkins (My Light, My Destroyer) which I’m already pretty sure will make my AOTY list this year as her last did in 2021
Also enjoying the following recent releases:
- Ahadu by Esy Tadesse
- How Will I Live Without a Body? by Loma
- It All Comes Down To This by A Certain Ratio
- Lives Outgrown by Beth Gibbons
And been spending some time with some older albums:
Retail play now: BB King and Clapton ~ Riding With The King
Curiosity: I played Harold Budd from The White Arcades track 5 and liner notes say "'Algebra of Darkness' is taken from 'Composite Text' by William S. Burroughs and is used with his estate's permission." And while there is a chapter in Naked Lunch called "Algebra of Need", there are no search results saying he ever said or printed the phrase "Algebra of Darkness." There are no lyrics. The cd is dated 1988 and Burroughs didn't die until 1997 so why 'the estate'?
Sorry about the long delay in writing. I spent most of June in the hospital with influenza then I was discharged and admitted again! What a summer.
I finally am getting back into my groove, slowly.
I finally fixed the Hole in my Roof with Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s Club Band; a long overdue addition. Marvin Gay’s Greatest Hit’s covers dust about every that I could everything I can think of. Quad City D.J.s, a fun and offbeat choice; Public Enemy’s Greatest Hits Misses may have me annoying some neighbors; Paul McCartney’s 2-disc Back in the U.S. (live); and there’s a Bob Dylan disc floating around here where he performs both alone and with epic performers like Tom Petty, George Harrison, and Neal Young.
Also-and I promise I'm not making this up- I went down a DEEP Quad City DJs rabbit hole after seeing Alizé mention on another Substack (they mention it in C'Mon n' Ride It (The Train)).
Mapping the Sky (hint, hint - Wednesday) and a GREAT new Mix n' Match episode with Terry Barr (second week in a row - drops Tuesday). Hoping everyone is staying cool. Word.
This week I’ve been listening Blitzen Trapper’s 100s and 1000s, Millions and Billions. I read the lead singer works with people with psychosis when he’s not working on music. I wonder if that’s how some of his lyrics are so other-worldly.
I am in head-down writing mode, so have been playing a handful of albums on repeat:
- Stomp Talk Modstone - Pure Purple Pool. My favorite Japanese shoegaze band that hasn't put anything on Spotify in 3 years dropped a new 20-track album on Bandcamp yesterday. Try 'Artificial' for your first taste. https://stomptalkmodstone.bandcamp.com/album/pure-purple-pool
- The Reds, Pinks & Purples - Mountain Lake Park. This all instrumental album from Glenn Donaldson is perfect for those early mornings when I am the only one up in the house.
- Anything Tuareg in the evenings. I usually can't listen to music with lyrics while writing, but add a different language with non-stop drum rhythm and I'm in. The new Mdou Moctar album Funeral for Justice is a perfect example.
Over the weekend I was listening to some of my favorite Harry Nilsson songs and during Cuddly Toy, I decided to make this playlist. It’s eventually going to be a very long list of songs where singers make the fake trumpet vocal sound. Nilsson was great at it.
No new records listened to last week, but I did catch a new earworm - Paris Paloma's "labour". Although I've heard it in the past and thought it was decent, I heard it again while doing some work on an MRC (medical reserve corp) document and something clicked inside of me. Then when I came home I saw the music video for it, and it was pretty powerful.
Mal Waldron & Jackie McLean LEFT ALONE ‘86, Luis Melodia Perola Negra (1973) & Sun Ra SOMEWHERE ELSE (out-takes from Blue Delight/Purple Night sessions)
Was just talking with a friend about how good "Falling Down the Stairs of Your Smile" is.
I've been listening to Johnny Blue Skies, dipped my toe into that latest Eels, went back to some albums from 2020 that I dug (Nick Piunti & the Complicated Men, Ivan & Alyosha, The Beths), and still can't shake Redd Kross or Sadler Vaden.
Kevin, always a pleasure to visit this, though one should never try to follow through on every link because, factually, there are not enogh hours in the day! I am wondering/requesting: any reason you couldn't also put up your playlist on Qobuz, just given the recent conversations and the fact that I know you are on the platform? My Spotify account is now officially ad-ridden given that I made the switch and teh less I listen to sh*t ads the happier my life is. Cheers!
I haven't been able to embed anything from Qobuz, though that might be operator error on my part! Will try to at least share a link and see how it goes.
Embedding is currently not possible (see my post on the subject) but knowing what I do, contact Kenn over there and he'll lead you through linking to a hard image (he may help create one for you even) or a button. I'd love to have that option of listening on Qobuz, truly. Cheers and tahnks.
Kevin- Hi- well, I’m arriving home from a seemingly all-day ER visit to get a catheter replaced. It was not a pleasant experience. I started passing blood. Blech! Scary! It was put in a week ago during what became my now fourth recent hospital stay.
I can’t seem to catch a break. I knew I was in trouble when my thought processes eroded quickly and I heard things incorrectly and just couldn’t make a simple decision. Driving myself to the hospital was probably not a good decision either, but I got there and then l ft later in the week, only to run into trouble today with the catheter and a new infection.
This is the Summer That Wasn’t.
Since the Beginning of June it’s been nothing but bad hospital stays for long periods that just had me not able keep myself writing anything. At one point I was going to post and just couldn’t finish my thoughts.
I never thought I’d be hiding at the end of July in my Wintertime sweats gazing out the window with the A/C running at 73.
Eventually I hope to be listening and writing again about music. I don’t know that there’s ever been a time that I’ve not cared so much about music and TV. WEIRD. I don’t like that, but whenever I get through whatever my body is deciding to do, I know I will be back on the the glorious path.
Oh Margaret, I'm sorry to hear this! This has not been a very good summer for you. I hope today finds you feeling a little bit better, and on your way toward a full recovery.
I love it.
Couple here I don't know -- will check out the Exits and Tanukichan. In the shameless plug lane, we just got our Top 30 of 2024 so far (with 6 other records coming from favorite songs) up this weekend. Had many of them in heavy rotation. https://3albums6oldguys.substack.com/p/top-30-records-of-2024-so-far
Immediate feedback. Tanukichan. Wow. Had missed this project. Getting me through my morning bus ride and love it. What in the world with the Bay Area these days? Insane how many great bands are out there.
Right? If you liked this, check out her 'Gizmo' record from last year.
wow this Tanukichan is fantastic. Thanks for the tip!
Of course! I’m glad you’re digging the sound.
Alicia Keys - Fallin'
Gorgeous!
But will also give a shout for "the kids are alright." We mentioned Birthday Girl DC on our Top 30 list, and their EP gets better with every listen. https://birthdaygirlmusic.bandcamp.com/album/dirtier. But will also shout out the new Lifeguard single, now on Matador. Clear the Chicago group are taking a step up, despite also being teenagers. https://lifeguardband100.bandcamp.com/album/ministry-energie. Their previous releases also remarkable -- their first when they were 16, I think? And we're lucky in DC -- Birthday Girl plays tonight (for free at Ft Reno), and Lifeguard plays tmw night. Amazing to see not only the youthful energy but the level of veteran songcraft from both.
Giving Birthday Girl s/t a spin right now, so far so good!
Love it -- so good. I did a longer write-up of their 2023 full length here. Hard to go wrong with band members whose last names are MacKaye and Canty. And that doesn't even count the drummer, who's also really excellent and a bit of a hidden weapon. https://3albums6oldguys.substack.com/p/hail-to-dc-birthday-girl-the-paranoid
They also got a lot of focus in this recent NYT profile of Mary Timony as mentor -- https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/26/arts/music/mary-timony-washington-dc-mentor.html
Birthday Girl and Lifeguard are both fantastic!
Willie Hutch - I Chose You.
and I like the way UGK featuring OutKast used it in their song - Int'l Players Anthem
Good morning from San Diego
1. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1knJSMzp6SWo8aUh3W2hVo?si=17d6898a08f84767
2. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/627aLiTKOjoWAfyqcdqQie?si=353799a67d744195
3.https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1EpiZRrzSeuNAh?si=3193c21fceb94b27
Best Coast!
Doja Cat unfortunately
Oh no! For an upcoming article?
No, road tripping with my wife. We have a driver chooses the music rule.
Ah, gotcha. We have that same rule.
Fresh POTS:
Ekko Astral - Pink Balloons via 3Albums6OldGuys. Started with Holocaust Remembrance Day on Bandcamp and finished with Pink Balloons on the fruit platform. I am a fan. Uwu Type Beat is where I wanna live when i grow up.
Font - Strange Burden. Found singles via socials, album out on Friday 7/12. This could be a treat. Post punk?
The Voidz - Like All Before You singles. 2024 the year of new music that just won’t end (I don’t want it to end, fwiw). New singles means firing up Tyranny and The Voidz. Great soundtrack to a Tuesday morning!
KING GIZZARD & THE WIZARD LIZARD - Flight b741. I’m not excited, you are excited. Wait, i am looking at myself in a mirror on a Tuesday morning. Confirmed: I am excited. Le Risque is not a risky click. Vinyl pre-order in; August 9th get here quickly…
ORB - Tailem Bend. NEWNEWNEWNOTOLD. Oh man, I thought I might like this record. Neigh; I love it. Worth the long break since TWO THOUSAND EIGHTEEN.
Thee Oh Sees - SORCS 80 singles. Added Earthlings. John Dwyer and I agree; two drummers is always better than one. SORCS 80 is showing some promise.
Truck stop sludge:
Hum - Downward is Heavenward. My god, The Algorithm, put Green to Me in my ears. So i visited this great album again. It’s got some crunchy bits.
Toadies - No Deliverance, Feeler, Hell Below/Stars Above. Partook in a late afternoon brain squeeze to these records three. Big ups to the following songs: I am a Man of Stone, No Deliverance…just put on No Deliverance the album. Feeler is great too. Hell Below/Stars Above is damned good. Listen to all three; it’s a good idea.
Arctic Monkeys - The Car. Excellent follow up to my fave AM record; Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino. Ok, had to listen to TVHaC for good measure as well. Two of my absolute favorites back-to-back. Lounge feel for both.
Meatbodies - Flora Ocean Tiger Bloom. It feels like this record came out 3 years ago, not 3 months ago. So much good stuff being released. Anyway, FOTB is a ripper.
Thom Yorke - assorted solo works. The Eraser + Tomorrows Modern Boxes + Anima and a handful of soundtracks. If you are like me, and you suffer from Irregular Rhythm; take one Thom Yorke. Problem solved; thanks, Thom Yorke!
Interesting interview with REM’s Mike Mills: https://youtu.be/VRfhX-XAIiY?si=RvA86iShBj88Jkn1
Going to check out the Toadies and Arctic Monkeys - I’ve listened to the album AM a lot, but somehow have managed to miss the rest of their catalog.
Hope you like what you find!
Arctic Monkeys have so many great albums! Enjoy
Always informative, and I find at least 3 I lke from you every week. thamks
Lots of new-to-me stuff to check out. Thanks!
Glad you're enjoying ekko astral. Pumped to see them Sunday here. Enjoy it more each time. Make fun of Bon Iver in the first song? I'm in. Will check out Font - don't know them. Glad you gave a shout to Meatbodies (love them) and Thee Oh Sees. So good. My friend Brian did a great post on them last year - https://3albums6oldguys.substack.com/p/osees-cable-ties-and-14-classic-songs
Now, this is a list!
I got "Drowning In Dreams" by Kat Hasty in the mail this weekend. She's a singer-songwriter type from West Texas who basically just released her music online during covid. She's been getting a slow but steady following in the Red Dirt scene.
New to me like her
That's a new one for me; I'll check it out here shortly!
NEW & EXCEPTIONALLY SHINY - What a week of delicious discovery. In no special order, it's all great.!
* Majak Door 'Fantasy Camp' - Psychsurf? Think The Stone Roses + Hoodoo Gurus(@ ½ speed).
* Color Green 'Fool's Paradise' - The Jayhawks + well... The Stone Roses once again. What can I say, it's what I hear, how bout you?
* Cassandra Jenkins 'My Light, My Destroyer' - Likely on my AOTY year list just like her 2021 album was.
* Big Special 'Postindustrial Hometown Blues' - If you like Yard Act & Idles...
* LA Priest 'La Fusion EP' Earworms galore and just takes me to a happy place.
* The Lovely Eggs 'Eggsistentialism' - Where are the... unique bands these days? Here's one! Bonus , Fridmann produced.
* Guided By Voices 'Strut Of Kings' - I'm not certain yet but excited to listen a few more times. Meanwhile, #41! Perhaps they'll title the next one Life, The Universe & Everything.
POLISHED GEMS
The Jayhawks 'Tomorrow The Green Grass'
The (International) Noise Conspiracy 'A New Morning, Changing Weather'
Cop Shoot Cop 'Release'
Looking forward to digging into your list. Haven't revisited that INC record in too long -- thanks for the reminder.
Great picks. Lovely Eggs record is great, and I am definitely enjoying Color Green. Given multiple Jayhawks references - have you tried Ahem? Indiecast recently shouted them out, and they very much channel the Jayhawks, combined with the Replacements. https://helloahem.bandcamp.com/album/avoider
I was wracking my brain trying to remember the name The Jayhawks, though I pictured the album and had piece of the name, 'Green Grass'. Unfortunately initially I hit a dead end with The Outlaws.
Funny that others hear Jayhawks as I'm never certain of my references given it's so subjective. Will check out 'ahem' - thanks for the tip!
There's also a song 'Tomorrow The Green Grass' which is not on the album 'Tomorrow The Green Grass'. Kinda like Houses Of The Holy
Strut of Kings is growng on me. I think part of that is that with each release, I come in with ever growing expectations
Add my voice to the chorus of superlative glowing praise for Sean Lennon's remix of Mind Games. I spent the weekend deep listening and came away in love with this album in a way I've never before been able to connect with a complete solo John album (rather than just individual tracks). I know it's a bit of PR hype on Sean's part when he says it's a masterpiece, but he's not that far off -- I don't think it's quite a masterpiece, but the remix reveals a tight, beautifully written, recorded and produced album, like cleaning from the years of grime from a statue of a golden Buddha. Or rather a golden Lennon.
IMO, Mind Games joins Paul's Off the Ground as the solo album that got away in is time and deserves a serious reassessment -- all the more so by John having written and recorded it in a matter of a week or so, which is more of a thing than it might seem, given John does not have Paul's ability to write and record so easily. He always had trouble writing quickly on his own and he was self-producing here, which he also wasn't comfortable with. (It doesn't hurt that the presence of... others... is minimal in the studio outtakes and in the production overall.)
I love that Sean did multiple "mixes" of the Nutopian National Anthem. 😎
Sean's mixes pull out things I hadn't heard before that make this whole album sparkle, and I want to single out the outtake of Meat City for the guitar riff and the groove that's not audible in the final mix. I wish they hadn't covered it up in the overdubs, but even so, and even if none of this rises to Fab level, (which it doesn't) this is John without the bullshit, John who loves rock and roll. The real John, including the passing references to Locomotion and Keep Your Hands Off My Baby in the final section.
https://open.spotify.com/track/3KD8f0lZmInyGokM36NQHz?si=2a748690ec1f4d92
And if like me you prefer to listen to album packages like this by listening to the mixes for each song all in a row, there's a playlist for that --
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4nn6ygmNbrv08PLjSEZ98z?si=1960e06f624e435a
That's quite an endorsement! After reading this, I'll definitely be giving it a listen.
I dig seeing the new Public Service Broadcasting on the playlist. They're so clever and they've mined that approach without getting stale.
My week was about:
* Mark Guiliana - MARK. If you're not familiar with Mark, he's best known in the rock world for playing on Bowie's last record and for playing with St. Vincent for the last few years. He's very well-known in jazz and electronic circles as a composer and one of the best drummers in the world. I've had the good fortune to study drumming and composition with him since the beginning of the pandemic. I flew to LA to see his first solo show and that series of shows was part of the journey to this record. I love it musically and it's a special one for me emotionally. Check it out -- it's not a drum throwdown!
* The Silencers - A Letter From St. Paul. I was taken with the song on last week's playlist and am glad I spent time with the record. I don't know how these guys escaped me, as I was a senior in college when the record came out and my favorite college radio station surely would have played them. Thanks for the tip, Kevin!
* Music documentaries: I wound down three straight nights with music documentaries on The Minutemen, Fugazi, and The Mekons. All highly recommended. That led me to revisit favorites by all of them.
* Health & Happiness Show -- I saw a great Alejandro Escovedo show last week -- he's 72 and still great! -- with James Mastro, formerly of The Bongos and Health & Happiness Show (and longtime leader of Ian Hunter's band) on lead guitar. I spent more time than usual with H&HS who are probably the most underrated band in my world. They have just three records -- start with Tonic and move to Instant Living. They should've been much bigger.
Alejandro ended with a cover of Mickey Newbury's "Just Dropped In." I realized I'd never heard the original and only knew the Kenny Rogers version from The Big Lebowski. Check it out -- the production is far out for a country song in 1968.
* Last, at the urging of a friend and bandmate, I revisited Drive-By Truckers, who I haven't paid attention to since Decoration Day over 20 years ago. They're still not totally my thing but I was glad to dig into some newer-to-me records, especially Brighter Than Creation's Dark. I saw them when Jason Isbell was in the band -- they were good but deafeningly loud.
Looking forward to the playlist and everyone's recommendations. Have a great week!
Alejandro is such a genuinely lovely dude. His violin player Susan taught my niece.
He really is. My band opened for him years ago and he was so kind to us.
Very cool about Susan! I've always loved her playing. I saw her a few times with Alejandro and also with Poi Dog Pondering.
Love Poi Dog Pondering!
That's a name I haven't heard in a long time.
I'm really happy to hear that you liked The Silencers! Such a good/underrated band!
The Silencers were great, their song Scottish Rain is an undiscovered treasure for many folks. I discovered them after their previous band Fingerprintz ended - they were also a great band and saw them twice, once opening for XTC and they were great live.
Very cool!
Another week of long overdue listens... been finally doing a deep dive into Aphex Twin beyond "Selected Ambient Works." I think "Richard D. James Album" might be his best project.
I'm also really digging Zach Bryan's new album, "The Great American Bar Scene." Been diving into his catalogue, which has spiraled into Chris Stapleton, Patsy Cline, and Skeeter Davis.
This week I dug out REM’s Document album on a whim. I haven’t listened to that album in years. Dropping the needle on that vinyl was just as magical as pushing play on that tape deck all those years ago. Simply a fantastic album and my favorite REM.
Then on Saturday while walking our local Pride festival, a friend reminded me of Robert Palmer’s 80’s single Looking For Clues and that has been fun ear worm.
My favorites this week:
Stonefield - As Above, So Below
Holy Fuck - Deleter
R.E.M. - Document (not the only one here either!)
Nick Cave - Push the Sky Away
Bikini Kill - Pussy Whipped
Purple Rain
That's quite a mix! I'm here for it.
Document's a rare record that sounds both of it's time and timeless. Maybe that's just me? I dunno. Either way, I love it.
Agreed. It holds up very well.
Somewhere during the week I got This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody) stuck in my head. I asked Alexa to play it and I probably had the title wrong, so she played random Talking Heads and I listened all day long! And then the next day as well.
Then listened to Veruca Salt’s American Thighs a few times on repeat after reading Mark Nash’s Alphabet Soup: the N Tracks. It’s one that I go back to a lot and one of my top favorites. A friend had just played Volcano Girls on touch tunes while we were out the day before.
Can't go wrong with a day or two of random Talking Heads tracks. Alexa knew what she was doing. :)
Exactly! I was thoroughly enjoying it!
Hey Kevin! Here are some new tunes I've been listening to while traveling through the Mediterranean:
Spirit in My Heart - Lenny Kravitz https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZKOkmYEncA
It's Not a Crime - Pet Shop Boys https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrTrf98vuks
Shakshuka - SPINN https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOQOBUlxtnM
Take Me Back - Foster the People https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6wOmpAEeyE
Some great stuff here! I hope the trip is going well!
Max Richter Spaces for me. While I don’t feel he can out a foot wrong I think the build on Says has just never been beaten
Here's a playlist I'm working on this week(ish): Strawberry Fields ForeverS:
https://www.pandora.com/playlist/PL:170494673196942052:74638688
The stripped down take 1 is one of my favourites... if only for imagining a nervous John playing it for Paul and George Martin for the first time and having Paul reassure him it was brilliant. <3
I bet there were chills.
Do you know of any covers that should be on this list? I might reject a suggestion if I don't like the band doing the cover, but I'm open to check 'em out if you think they're good.
I was just thiking about that. There's probably at least one somewhere, but I know of no good covers of Strawberry Fields for probably obvious reasons -- that so much of what makes that song what it it is, beyond the songwriting and John's voice, is the brilliant production, the two takes glued together, one at a slightly slower speed to match the key. That's so miuch a part of it.
Los Fabulosos Cadillacs does my favorite version so far. I think it's actually very good! Todd Rundgren's version is all right. Definitely nowhere near as good as the original and mostly derivative but I have fun listening anyway.
I'm happy when anyone records a version of any Beatles song* becasue it continues to extend the legacy and show the insanely widespread influence. And every once in awhile, a cover comes along that finds something in a Beatles song that wasn't in the original. Not often, but just every once in awhile - it's like searching through the vinyl at a tag sale. You never know...
*with the exception of the Bee Gees. That was just.... no.
PS The best Fab song by far to do the version playlist with is One After 909. The first version appears on the earliest extent recordings we have of them practicing at Forthlin Road, and there are multiple attempts at recording it during their Beatles years, then it appears in the Rooftop Concert and in Get Back and then again in Paul's solo work. It's the only Beatles original that spans the entire span of their career from beginning to now.
I can see that! It's definitely not one of my favorite Beatles songs, but that's not the most important thing for a playlist like that, where you get a sense of the actual writing process.
I dunno if this qualifies as "good," but I liked it when it came out:
https://open.spotify.com/track/4LKfcu9xLaZ6HLtTTCez5u?si=f35f0e188a1d4046
FWIW, their Red Hills Road is great as well.
It's not a bad cover per se, although I might need to hear it a few more times before including it on a playlist like this. It might be better than the Todd Rundgren one I already have anyway, so thanks for this research candidate!
You bet! I know I used to have it on cassingle. I wonder if I still do?
I think I had more seven inch records than cassingles, but I definitely had more full albums on tape... and of course, mixtapes were everything!
It has been a week of diving into mostly older music. This is partially inspired by a great book by Steven Hyden - Twilight of the Gods: A Journey to the End of Classic Rock. For a great history of what growing up with Classic Rock has been like this is a great reminder of what we love, its highs and lows, and how it has changed. Highly recommended!
I’ve never listened to Phish much before and Steven Hyden has a great essay on how he came to love the band.
Phish did release a new album last week - Evolve. I’ve also dived into Farmhouse, Billy Breathes, Rift, Junta, and Hoist. Lots of great stuff here. If anyone has recommendations on the live music, please let me know where to start.
Led Zeppelin - I, II, IV, and Physical Graffiti
Wilco - the new EP Hot Sun Cool Shroud
Ten Years After - A Space In Time
Free - Tons of Sobs
I am extremely late to the Phish party, and I'm still not sure I'm 100% there, but man, are they growing on me.
Thanks also for the book rec!
Good afternoon (or morning to you). Travelling at the moment but I think my first spin when I get back home will be "Erotica" or "Bedtime Stories", or probably both. Just need that punch.
We all need a little Madonna in our life!
Exactly!
Some of the songs in my "On Repeat" Playlist right now include "Shake It" by Iain Matthews, and "Heaven" by The Psychedelic Furs. There's also a Stiv Bators song I don't recall playing randomly thrown in.
A recent episode of Bandsplain got me in a Buffalo Tom rabbit hole and reminded me how much I like their stripped down cover of "Heaven." Such a great song.
Yes!
I've been down a bit if a Psychedelic Furs rabbit hole myself! I'm debating whter or not to drive to Milwakuee and see them on their tour. "Heaven" is a favorite.
Cocteau Twins--which you'll see in your Riff inbox if you haven't already!!!
I did indeed! It's a great story.
Evening from Norwich, UK. Here's my Recent and Decent playlist this week: https://open.substack.com/pub/recentanddecent/p/recent-and-decent-29?r=1z6rnh&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
But also, I've been listening to a lot of The National!
Thanks for the link, Matt!
Really been enjoying this new(ish) album by Reyna Tropical
https://reynatropical.bandcamp.com/album/malegr-a
Loving this one from The Beaches https://open.spotify.com/track/7Jc79lucvYoqo3YA44EG8f?si=BEcDfjm9QH64wV_0n8ftIQ&context=spotify%3Aalbum%3A0vVu40KngnoIprNWsy7Chv
Also, the new album Lustre by The Buoys which is really very good.
I also made myself a spirit-lifting playlist to counteract the somber summer weather we are having at the moment which has been played a lot this last week. It’s made up of songs which induce joy (in me at least!)
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7w2Gyn75bUaTWUPXdH49AW?si=XX_DN7e4SZua-U7Coc1KCw&pi=e-cw_CY6VETeeX
Love this playlist, Lou!
Thank you!
Roy Acuff and Jerk With A Bomb
https://wordpress.com/post/weatheredmusic.ca/6676
So the other day I saw a Note about it being the 30th anniversary of Nas' classic album Illmatic.
This is a safe space, right ?
*whispers*
I never heard this album until I saw that note.
I blame my two homies in my college suite for giving me the impression at the time that every single active rapper resided somewhere on the space time continuum between Compton and Long Beach. Why were we not listening to this guys? I depended on you two for my rap exposure just like you depended on me to be old enough to buy the beer.
If you haven't listened to this before , don't reply to me or acknowledge anything. Just quietly find the album, mash that play button, and thank me later. Its the missing link between Wu Tang Clan and Mos Def.
Nas is rarely in the converation of hip hop greats, but he should be.
Just updated my playlist Reflect & Relax Cafe and this is these were chosen:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6EcLhgESeOBX3Fvfxt8SH4?si=fhNg6HuvTt69zjLDVmbtAQ&pi=e-oNsHrKbdRAe5
Perfect timing as always, Marc! Thank you for this.
Loving the latest from Cassandra Jenkins (My Light, My Destroyer) which I’m already pretty sure will make my AOTY list this year as her last did in 2021
Also enjoying the following recent releases:
- Ahadu by Esy Tadesse
- How Will I Live Without a Body? by Loma
- It All Comes Down To This by A Certain Ratio
- Lives Outgrown by Beth Gibbons
And been spending some time with some older albums:
- Hats by The Blue Nile
- Dusty in Memphis by Dusty Springfield
- Love by The Cult
I, too, have been enjoying Beth Gibbons' latest album.
It's hard to go wrong with Dusty in Memphis !
Some great stuff here, Mark! I've been meaning to listen to Gibbons' record, and I didn't realize ACR had a new one out!
Retail play now: BB King and Clapton ~ Riding With The King
Curiosity: I played Harold Budd from The White Arcades track 5 and liner notes say "'Algebra of Darkness' is taken from 'Composite Text' by William S. Burroughs and is used with his estate's permission." And while there is a chapter in Naked Lunch called "Algebra of Need", there are no search results saying he ever said or printed the phrase "Algebra of Darkness." There are no lyrics. The cd is dated 1988 and Burroughs didn't die until 1997 so why 'the estate'?
Good question! Anyone here know the answer?
Sorry about the long delay in writing. I spent most of June in the hospital with influenza then I was discharged and admitted again! What a summer.
I finally am getting back into my groove, slowly.
I finally fixed the Hole in my Roof with Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s Club Band; a long overdue addition. Marvin Gay’s Greatest Hit’s covers dust about every that I could everything I can think of. Quad City D.J.s, a fun and offbeat choice; Public Enemy’s Greatest Hits Misses may have me annoying some neighbors; Paul McCartney’s 2-disc Back in the U.S. (live); and there’s a Bob Dylan disc floating around here where he performs both alone and with epic performers like Tom Petty, George Harrison, and Neal Young.
First, I hope you're feeling better!
Also-and I promise I'm not making this up- I went down a DEEP Quad City DJs rabbit hole after seeing Alizé mention on another Substack (they mention it in C'Mon n' Ride It (The Train)).
Mapping the Sky (hint, hint - Wednesday) and a GREAT new Mix n' Match episode with Terry Barr (second week in a row - drops Tuesday). Hoping everyone is staying cool. Word.
It is offically "Midwest hot" up here. New A/C is working overtime!
Speaking of cool (heh), I'm looking forward to listening to Pt. 2 today!
Ran across this just last week, kinda like Delta Spirit on 11.
https://friko.bandcamp.com/album/where-weve-been-where-we-go-from-here
This week I’ve been listening Blitzen Trapper’s 100s and 1000s, Millions and Billions. I read the lead singer works with people with psychosis when he’s not working on music. I wonder if that’s how some of his lyrics are so other-worldly.
Good question!
I am in head-down writing mode, so have been playing a handful of albums on repeat:
- Stomp Talk Modstone - Pure Purple Pool. My favorite Japanese shoegaze band that hasn't put anything on Spotify in 3 years dropped a new 20-track album on Bandcamp yesterday. Try 'Artificial' for your first taste. https://stomptalkmodstone.bandcamp.com/album/pure-purple-pool
- The Reds, Pinks & Purples - Mountain Lake Park. This all instrumental album from Glenn Donaldson is perfect for those early mornings when I am the only one up in the house.
- Anything Tuareg in the evenings. I usually can't listen to music with lyrics while writing, but add a different language with non-stop drum rhythm and I'm in. The new Mdou Moctar album Funeral for Justice is a perfect example.
New Stomp Talk Modstone you say?
(immediately logs off. Goes over to Bandcamp)
Over the weekend I was listening to some of my favorite Harry Nilsson songs and during Cuddly Toy, I decided to make this playlist. It’s eventually going to be a very long list of songs where singers make the fake trumpet vocal sound. Nilsson was great at it.
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3c6lk4Tm6isG1rISdZGjTr?si=PEvRf42LRQWlcqkEvkyoAQ&pi=u-KKb6H_uZR8iE
Ha! That's my kinda concept.
I have had the new Vince Staples album (Dark Times) on repeat since it came out - it’s an amazing fusion of rap/R&B.
No new records listened to last week, but I did catch a new earworm - Paris Paloma's "labour". Although I've heard it in the past and thought it was decent, I heard it again while doing some work on an MRC (medical reserve corp) document and something clicked inside of me. Then when I came home I saw the music video for it, and it was pretty powerful.
Love it when an old track hits in a new way!
Charlie Daniels Band - Just one track over and over again, Drinking My Baby Goodbye, because I have to play it and sing it at an upcoming show....
Mal Waldron & Jackie McLean LEFT ALONE ‘86, Luis Melodia Perola Negra (1973) & Sun Ra SOMEWHERE ELSE (out-takes from Blue Delight/Purple Night sessions)
Keeley- Inga Hauser
Paladin - Bad Times
A lot of Dead Moon
John Lennon - Mind Games box set... all of it, over and over.
Dead Moon forever!
Was just talking with a friend about how good "Falling Down the Stairs of Your Smile" is.
I've been listening to Johnny Blue Skies, dipped my toe into that latest Eels, went back to some albums from 2020 that I dug (Nick Piunti & the Complicated Men, Ivan & Alyosha, The Beths), and still can't shake Redd Kross or Sadler Vaden.
So, so good! It’s been rattling around in my head all week!
Kevin, always a pleasure to visit this, though one should never try to follow through on every link because, factually, there are not enogh hours in the day! I am wondering/requesting: any reason you couldn't also put up your playlist on Qobuz, just given the recent conversations and the fact that I know you are on the platform? My Spotify account is now officially ad-ridden given that I made the switch and teh less I listen to sh*t ads the happier my life is. Cheers!
I haven't been able to embed anything from Qobuz, though that might be operator error on my part! Will try to at least share a link and see how it goes.
Embedding is currently not possible (see my post on the subject) but knowing what I do, contact Kenn over there and he'll lead you through linking to a hard image (he may help create one for you even) or a button. I'd love to have that option of listening on Qobuz, truly. Cheers and tahnks.
Kevin- Hi- well, I’m arriving home from a seemingly all-day ER visit to get a catheter replaced. It was not a pleasant experience. I started passing blood. Blech! Scary! It was put in a week ago during what became my now fourth recent hospital stay.
I can’t seem to catch a break. I knew I was in trouble when my thought processes eroded quickly and I heard things incorrectly and just couldn’t make a simple decision. Driving myself to the hospital was probably not a good decision either, but I got there and then l ft later in the week, only to run into trouble today with the catheter and a new infection.
This is the Summer That Wasn’t.
Since the Beginning of June it’s been nothing but bad hospital stays for long periods that just had me not able keep myself writing anything. At one point I was going to post and just couldn’t finish my thoughts.
I never thought I’d be hiding at the end of July in my Wintertime sweats gazing out the window with the A/C running at 73.
Eventually I hope to be listening and writing again about music. I don’t know that there’s ever been a time that I’ve not cared so much about music and TV. WEIRD. I don’t like that, but whenever I get through whatever my body is deciding to do, I know I will be back on the the glorious path.
Take care.
Oh Margaret, I'm sorry to hear this! This has not been a very good summer for you. I hope today finds you feeling a little bit better, and on your way toward a full recovery.