Good morning! Welcome to each of you who joined us this past week! You’ve landed at what was once 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? How are your AOTY lists coming along? Any upcoming releases or shows you’re excited about?
Oh, and I can’t get enough of the Cold Cave song on your playlist. Much exploring needed. Missed them when they opened for The Cult last year. Bit of a regret that I missed both bands.
Another new EP, this time by Des Foley's band Acton Bell. He has played in several Irish bands before including Crumb (the other REM sounding Crumb) and The Sewing Room -
Yes it is and the song "More Time" is a gorgeous lazy Sunday afternoon song and reminds me a bit of REM and what they might of sounded like if they were on Sarah Records 😊
Marillion dropped two new concert albums from the Marillion Weekend at Port Zelande in 2023 a couple weeks ago. My copies arrived last Tuesday. They're brilliant recordings and great set lists.
The Saturday show from the Marillion Weekend had already been released as a live record of their newest album, "An Hour Before Its Dark."
The new albums, "The Remains of the Weekend" are the Friday and Sunday shows of the weekend. Both are brilliant, but the Sunday show is full of a lot of stuff they don't play live very often, so it's absolutely delightful.
I also picked up the "Live in Plovdiv" recording from the Steve Rothery Band. If you haven't heard Rothery's "Ghosts of Pripyat" album, it's worth checking out. One of the best instrumental records I've heard in ages, and it's only seven songs so it's just perfect for an afternoon.
Ooh - I like this Crows. Playlist locked & loaded and out the door. Thanks.
NEW & SHINY:
**** Our Girl 'The Good Kind' - Think Warpaint, Big Moon (naturally) & PJ Harvey. Heck it was ''produced 'in collaboration with John Parish". It's a whole lotta good, as in AOTY good.
* Brad Shepik 'Human Activity: Dream of the Possible' - Jazz? Also helpful after the election but in a calming manner.
* Willie Nelson 'Last Leaf on the Tree' - Fantastic selection of mostly covers that are given new life thanks to Willie & excellent production.
* Neva Dinova 'Canary' - Lush, fuzzy, grand, rock n roll. Deals with heavy topics but the music is cathartic.
* La Femme 'Rock Machine' - I found myself dancing about the room with an overbite and occasional air guitaring. Then swaying and smiling. Then... well, it's an eclectic album.
I’m very much enjoying the Pet Shop Boys cover of All the Young Dudes along with All the Young Remixes
New Damiano David tracks have caught my attention, especially the video for born with a broken heart (file under “Boppy Breakups”) and I don’t hate Panic Attack by Halsey.
What I’ve been listening to on repeat this week: Tracy Chapman’s self titled album, and Pink Pony Club by Chappell Roan after her SNL performance, it’s been hopelessly stuck in my head.
Also, made a playlist of Disintegration and Songs of a Lost World, and Homesick followed by And Nothing is Forever is perfection.
The Cure's new album 'Songs of a Lost World.' I've done an outside Substack Cure retrospective, so had a boatload of this band going on in the background. Also Reeves Gabrels is an acquaintance from long ago; I will post my 'long ago' interview with him on Substack, sometime! ::: crosses fingers :::
* Some records that feel like fall to me now that the leaves are finally changing in Albuquerque: Tragically Hip (Fully Completely), Kathleen Edwards (Total Freedom), Jeffery Foucault (The Universal Fire), and Petty & The Heartbreakers (Damn The Torpedoes...more of a summer album, really, but it fit).
* I can't remember what pointed me to the Vulgar Boatmen's You & Your Sister, but I'm glad I revisited it.
* The Cure's new one.
* Jim Nothing - Grey Eyes, Grey Lynn -- Excellent Church-esque jangle pop from NZ, thanks to a recommendation from Add To Wantlist.
I’ve found myself going back to Bonny Light Horseman’s double album “Keep Me on Your Mind/See You Free”. It’ll definitely be on my AOTY list this year just not sure where yet.
Another AOTY, Cassandra Jenkins’ “My Light, My Destroyer” has also been on heavy rotation.
Other listens:
• The Cure - Songs of a Lost World
• Common Saints - Cinema 3000
• Emily Barker - Fragile as Humans
• Fontaines D.C. - Romance
• Tess Parks - Pomegranate
• Rosinha de Valença - Um Violão em Primeiro Piano
I know I'm preaching to the choir here, but Matt Zeigler recently took a look at "Romance" and made a pretty solid case of why it'll likely be on a bunch of AOTY lists come year's end.
I’ve only just come around to this album recently. Didn’t connect with it back when it first came out. I think I’d have liked it a LOT more if I hadn’t heard their earlier albums. I had to get over the fact that, no matter how much I loved 2019’s Dogrel, their sound has been evolving since then. So I recently started listening to it with a “beginner’s ear” like I’d never heard any of their music before and it’s REALLY been growing on me.
Hi Kev and fellow readers! I’m enjoying an album called “Anyway I Can” by British soul/R&B artist Elmiene. Giving me some serious Maxwell vibes and I don’t say this lightly!
Widespread Panic Open's "Hailbound Queen" with "King Baby", a biting dagger right to the heart of our situation. In the words of U2, "Outside it's America." "Hailbound Queen" is a great new effort from the wonderful jam band. Willie Nelson's "Last Leaf On The Tree", well, it's appropriately placed for a man who has watched so many of his peers move on.
Nice! I don’t listen to a lot of metal these days either. But I wrote about ‘Round and Round’ last week, so I dipped into the past to do a little ‘research’ :)
Last Friday I went up to my record store to do some retail therapy because...well...last week. I'm there enough that the workers know me. When I walked in, they said "hey we haven't seen you in a while. We got a bunch of Star Wars records in a collection we bought and we set them aside for you." So I picked out the 4 that I didn't have. And as a thank you picked up a couple full price albums as well. Currently listening to Old 97's - Graveyard Whistling which was a Friday purchase.
I know I could save money buying new vinyl on Amazon or Target or Walmart. But this is why I buy at brick and mortar stores as much as possible. It's worth spending a few extra bucks to support a local business and getting to know the people behind it. Jeff Bezos isn't setting aside random Star Wars vinyl for me.
Really enjoying the new Moin LP. Not their best, at least after several listens. If you’re new to Moin check out their 2021 effort “Moot”. A great mostly instrumental album.
The Wanderer Edit - No More Hiding. I have to do a full review on this, but this is beautiful (possibly my favorite release of 2024 so far). It highlights one person's journey through being disabled.
The sounds off of this aren't too dissimilar to Aurora and other artists in that realm (especially the final track, "Trust Issues").
No repeat listens this week.
AOTY update: so far, listened to 13 releases. There's still quite a number of releases I want to go through - we broke the weather's Restart Game being a notable one. In terms of full length albums What Happened to the Heart? by Aurora is my favorite at the moment.
Two fantastic EPs released on Friday: Vol. 2 by Former Champ and Headache by Girl Scout.
Last week featured my first proper listen of Good Boy by ARXX as I caught their live show on Thursday. The album is a lot of fun and the show was great. I also saw Deadletter last week (incredible show) and have been revisiting their debut, Hysterical Strength. That one will definitely be on my AOTY list.
Oh, and We Are Scientists are back on tour this Sunday so I treated myself to a listen of all ten albums back to back on Saturday. Happy Days!
Fantastic list for not so fantastic times! Any list with "Assimilate" on it is alright by me. One of my all time fave industrial tracks.
Not for nothing, I went to a record show this weekend and almost picked up a copy of Neubaten's Halber Mensch, but grabbed a different record instead. Kinda kicking myself now, tbh.
Nothing new to report but I have been watching Slipknot's former drummers Joey Jordison and Jay Weinberg live drumming videos the past few days. It is amazing how fast and coordinated they were.
yes, you should check them out, kind of cutting edge. Some newer bands might even credit them as a influence.... But that is just my humble opinion. However, you have seen the music I listen to, so my opinion should be taken lightly.
The big new set of Faces appearances on the BBC has reawakened the awareness that they were THE great rock and roll band of the 70s (not you know who). They were far too shortlived. And Ronnie Wood was never again as great after he joined you know who. Or Rod the Mod either.
Same feelings here! I enjoy the new one too, so maybe it’s time to go back and review the catalog.
Ha! Definitely an added bonus.
Where Do Broken Hearts Go - Whitney Houston
Just had “Didn’t We Almost have it All” come on.
Oh, and I can’t get enough of the Cold Cave song on your playlist. Much exploring needed. Missed them when they opened for The Cult last year. Bit of a regret that I missed both bands.
I'm glad you're enjoying it!
Nice one, Yana!
Finally got round to Romance - Fontaines DC. Been smashing it all morning.
So good! I have a feeling it's gonna be a on a lot of AOTY lists here soon.
Hey hey. Here's my week's playlist. Do excuse the accompanying expletives. https://open.substack.com/pub/recentanddecent/p/recent-and-decent-46?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=1z6rnh
Haha. No worries! of course, now I gotta go see what "twazzock" means. :)
Here are a few new releases that I've been enjoying:
A new jangly Americana EP by The Leading End -
https://theleadingend.bandcamp.com/album/panama-city-used-cars
Another new EP, this time by Des Foley's band Acton Bell. He has played in several Irish bands before including Crumb (the other REM sounding Crumb) and The Sewing Room -
https://actonbell.bandcamp.com/album/silver-city
A new song by favorite Peter Hall, taken from an upcoming album -
https://peterhallmusic.bandcamp.com/track/sometime
And one more, another New Order cover by Si Farrier -
https://sifarrier.bandcamp.com/album/fic123-by-fictionary-2
Acton Bell's "Silver City" is incredibly catchy!
Yes it is and the song "More Time" is a gorgeous lazy Sunday afternoon song and reminds me a bit of REM and what they might of sounded like if they were on Sarah Records 😊
Linda Ronstadt, Hurt So Bad
Doves, Catch the Sun
The War on Drugs, Oceans of Darkness
That Doves track is fantastic!
Still loving the mixes by Tinzo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhX7FTJ0Ukk
Nice!
Marillion dropped two new concert albums from the Marillion Weekend at Port Zelande in 2023 a couple weeks ago. My copies arrived last Tuesday. They're brilliant recordings and great set lists.
The Saturday show from the Marillion Weekend had already been released as a live record of their newest album, "An Hour Before Its Dark."
The new albums, "The Remains of the Weekend" are the Friday and Sunday shows of the weekend. Both are brilliant, but the Sunday show is full of a lot of stuff they don't play live very often, so it's absolutely delightful.
I also picked up the "Live in Plovdiv" recording from the Steve Rothery Band. If you haven't heard Rothery's "Ghosts of Pripyat" album, it's worth checking out. One of the best instrumental records I've heard in ages, and it's only seven songs so it's just perfect for an afternoon.
https://open.spotify.com/album/0HhlRX41UtIttBIudv0HG1?si=2nJqh_jlR5y6SWx82Um9xw
Rothery's a new name for me; I'm on it!
Marillion's founder and lead guitarist. Very much in the David Gilmour vein of players. Outstanding talent.
Porno for Pyros Rocktober Greatest Hits vinyl release.
Ooh - I like this Crows. Playlist locked & loaded and out the door. Thanks.
NEW & SHINY:
**** Our Girl 'The Good Kind' - Think Warpaint, Big Moon (naturally) & PJ Harvey. Heck it was ''produced 'in collaboration with John Parish". It's a whole lotta good, as in AOTY good.
* Brad Shepik 'Human Activity: Dream of the Possible' - Jazz? Also helpful after the election but in a calming manner.
* Queen Of Jeans 'All Again' - Lovely indie rock... sheesh, labels!?
* Willie Nelson 'Last Leaf on the Tree' - Fantastic selection of mostly covers that are given new life thanks to Willie & excellent production.
* Neva Dinova 'Canary' - Lush, fuzzy, grand, rock n roll. Deals with heavy topics but the music is cathartic.
* La Femme 'Rock Machine' - I found myself dancing about the room with an overbite and occasional air guitaring. Then swaying and smiling. Then... well, it's an eclectic album.
I'm glad you're digging that Crows track!
I saw La Femme's first single but haven't caught up with the rest yet. Will fix that ASAP.
I’m very much enjoying the Pet Shop Boys cover of All the Young Dudes along with All the Young Remixes
New Damiano David tracks have caught my attention, especially the video for born with a broken heart (file under “Boppy Breakups”) and I don’t hate Panic Attack by Halsey.
Halsey is underrated.
She was nutz at primavera sound a couple yrs ago.
Good Day from the left coast. Here is what has been in my ears of late:
1. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6sJoXDZT0fCIbCgGr8hDMI?si=d5214f160db74cc8
2. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1knJSMzp6SWo8aUh3W2hVo?si=4bdd382a04d848ed
3. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/71PrDfTT9eNSnK4nHDJCqx?si=a99a1809a73b4c80
4. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1EpBbYmYjaqNaa?si=902d149e083c45cd
Have a great week !
Great lists as always, Jon. Thank you!
What I’ve been listening to on repeat this week: Tracy Chapman’s self titled album, and Pink Pony Club by Chappell Roan after her SNL performance, it’s been hopelessly stuck in my head.
Also, made a playlist of Disintegration and Songs of a Lost World, and Homesick followed by And Nothing is Forever is perfection.
Oh, nice! Both of those make for a good combo.
this ones bending my ear lately - despite our perceived differences, all we want is a life worth living
https://open.spotify.com/track/4sXy83TSw4e6lRqV5XH2oj?si=48a91cf93d124a26
100%.
Great track, Ric!
The Cure's new album 'Songs of a Lost World.' I've done an outside Substack Cure retrospective, so had a boatload of this band going on in the background. Also Reeves Gabrels is an acquaintance from long ago; I will post my 'long ago' interview with him on Substack, sometime! ::: crosses fingers :::
Here it is, just published this morning:
https://www.culturesonar.com/the-cure-is-back/
Thank you! As a "superfan," I'm looking forward to reading it.
I keep coming back to Tightrope by Magenta Wave, a new band from Seattle. Nice guitar solo at the end. https://open.spotify.com/track/6Tm1vUst6Ydxu4byjluy8l?si=d33377cb22864660
And to keep my playlist a bit varied: the IMHO brilliant cover 'Wicked Game' by Abraham Alexander https://substack.com/home/post/p-151327221?source=queue&autoPlay=false
That Magenta Wave track is fantastic!
My week was about:
* Some records that feel like fall to me now that the leaves are finally changing in Albuquerque: Tragically Hip (Fully Completely), Kathleen Edwards (Total Freedom), Jeffery Foucault (The Universal Fire), and Petty & The Heartbreakers (Damn The Torpedoes...more of a summer album, really, but it fit).
* I can't remember what pointed me to the Vulgar Boatmen's You & Your Sister, but I'm glad I revisited it.
* The Cure's new one.
* Jim Nothing - Grey Eyes, Grey Lynn -- Excellent Church-esque jangle pop from NZ, thanks to a recommendation from Add To Wantlist.
Have a great week, everyone!
Love Total Freedom. I want some new Kathleen Edwards!
Church-esque jangle pop sounds like just what I need!
I’ve found myself going back to Bonny Light Horseman’s double album “Keep Me on Your Mind/See You Free”. It’ll definitely be on my AOTY list this year just not sure where yet.
Another AOTY, Cassandra Jenkins’ “My Light, My Destroyer” has also been on heavy rotation.
Other listens:
• The Cure - Songs of a Lost World
• Common Saints - Cinema 3000
• Emily Barker - Fragile as Humans
• Fontaines D.C. - Romance
• Tess Parks - Pomegranate
• Rosinha de Valença - Um Violão em Primeiro Piano
• Soccer Mommy - Evergreen
Would love to see them live sometime, I’ve highly rated all their albums
I know I'm preaching to the choir here, but Matt Zeigler recently took a look at "Romance" and made a pretty solid case of why it'll likely be on a bunch of AOTY lists come year's end.
https://cultishcreative.com/p/sunday-music-fontaines-d-c-romance
I’ve only just come around to this album recently. Didn’t connect with it back when it first came out. I think I’d have liked it a LOT more if I hadn’t heard their earlier albums. I had to get over the fact that, no matter how much I loved 2019’s Dogrel, their sound has been evolving since then. So I recently started listening to it with a “beginner’s ear” like I’d never heard any of their music before and it’s REALLY been growing on me.
Hi Kev and fellow readers! I’m enjoying an album called “Anyway I Can” by British soul/R&B artist Elmiene. Giving me some serious Maxwell vibes and I don’t say this lightly!
Maxwell vibes, you say? That's definitely got my attention!
Yes, imho. You can hear the influence there.
Widespread Panic Open's "Hailbound Queen" with "King Baby", a biting dagger right to the heart of our situation. In the words of U2, "Outside it's America." "Hailbound Queen" is a great new effort from the wonderful jam band. Willie Nelson's "Last Leaf On The Tree", well, it's appropriately placed for a man who has watched so many of his peers move on.
After beating the crap out of "Truth is Out of Style" earlier in the week, today is a Bill Withers kind of day.
A lovely day, even?
And now it's back in my head again!
Black Flag – Damaged
Violent Femmes – Hallowed Ground
Ratt – Out of the Cellar
Metal isn't usually my wheelhouse, but "Lack of Communication" is an all-timer.
Nice! I don’t listen to a lot of metal these days either. But I wrote about ‘Round and Round’ last week, so I dipped into the past to do a little ‘research’ :)
Last Friday I went up to my record store to do some retail therapy because...well...last week. I'm there enough that the workers know me. When I walked in, they said "hey we haven't seen you in a while. We got a bunch of Star Wars records in a collection we bought and we set them aside for you." So I picked out the 4 that I didn't have. And as a thank you picked up a couple full price albums as well. Currently listening to Old 97's - Graveyard Whistling which was a Friday purchase.
I know I could save money buying new vinyl on Amazon or Target or Walmart. But this is why I buy at brick and mortar stores as much as possible. It's worth spending a few extra bucks to support a local business and getting to know the people behind it. Jeff Bezos isn't setting aside random Star Wars vinyl for me.
Love this! 100% worth the extra couple of bucks.
Bad Religion
Always a good time for BR!
Really enjoying the new Moin LP. Not their best, at least after several listens. If you’re new to Moin check out their 2021 effort “Moot”. A great mostly instrumental album.
They're a new name for me. Will check out "Moot" ASAP.
Something new, well new for me, that really grabbed me today that @Stephan Kunze posted that was beautiful, simple, and yet complex.
https://substack.com/@stephankunze/note/c-76831219?utm_source=notes-share-action&r=hcm2e
Oh man, that was a ride!
New listens this week:
The Wanderer Edit - No More Hiding. I have to do a full review on this, but this is beautiful (possibly my favorite release of 2024 so far). It highlights one person's journey through being disabled.
The sounds off of this aren't too dissimilar to Aurora and other artists in that realm (especially the final track, "Trust Issues").
No repeat listens this week.
AOTY update: so far, listened to 13 releases. There's still quite a number of releases I want to go through - we broke the weather's Restart Game being a notable one. In terms of full length albums What Happened to the Heart? by Aurora is my favorite at the moment.
Will you be publishing an AOTY list? If so, please feel free to share it here!
Dave Alvin's The Great American Music Galaxy
The Flatlanders 2021 release Treasure of Love
Jazz great Sonny Clark's excellent album, My Conception
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard's 2021 release, Flight b741
That's a great mix, Billy!
Favorites of the past week:
Pissed Jeans - Why Love Now
Poison Idea - Feel the Darkness
Ray Baretto - Acid
Rickie Lee Jones - Pieces of Treasure
Jawbox - For Your Own Special Sweetheart
Porter Ricks - Biokinetics
The Roots - Illadelph Halflife
Ambulance ltd. - self titled
POISON IDEA! Hell yeah.
Also, can I just say that a list with PI, Rickie Lee Jones, and The Roots all in the same place is my kinda list.
Two fantastic EPs released on Friday: Vol. 2 by Former Champ and Headache by Girl Scout.
Last week featured my first proper listen of Good Boy by ARXX as I caught their live show on Thursday. The album is a lot of fun and the show was great. I also saw Deadletter last week (incredible show) and have been revisiting their debut, Hysterical Strength. That one will definitely be on my AOTY list.
Oh, and We Are Scientists are back on tour this Sunday so I treated myself to a listen of all ten albums back to back on Saturday. Happy Days!
Happy days indeed! I'm really digging the new Girl Scout EP as well.
After a heavy week of world news... My Black Planet playlist to help cheers things up :) https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5DlJlFj5NOKtzAJQCvzZno?si=86bab9d2fccb475d
Fantastic list for not so fantastic times! Any list with "Assimilate" on it is alright by me. One of my all time fave industrial tracks.
Not for nothing, I went to a record show this weekend and almost picked up a copy of Neubaten's Halber Mensch, but grabbed a different record instead. Kinda kicking myself now, tbh.
Always go witht he gut! First instinct is usally the one to trust!
Lol. I know! I know!
(sigh)
next time...
Nothing new to report but I have been watching Slipknot's former drummers Joey Jordison and Jay Weinberg live drumming videos the past few days. It is amazing how fast and coordinated they were.
James McMurtry
This is in the vein of We Can't Make It Here and Cheney's Toy and Operation Never Mind
https://youtu.be/4L_0ixgxfEk?si=JZ3DQcqS2ESmbUma
A couple of newer tunes I've really gotten into this past week:
But Not Kiss - Faye Webster https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsdH_1EpDv0
CRUCIFIXXX - The Dream Eaters https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftKW_wKTfVM
Both are new ones for me. Thanks for getting them on our radar!
Joy Division and... Oh crap, what is that other band....New something.
Lol. I can't think of it either, but I hear they're pretty good! Should I check 'em out?
yes, you should check them out, kind of cutting edge. Some newer bands might even credit them as a influence.... But that is just my humble opinion. However, you have seen the music I listen to, so my opinion should be taken lightly.
I'm not usually into politics, but the election in the USA was too entertaining not to comment on.
The usual suspects are here, Todd Rundgren and King Crimson
The long read is here: https://weatheredmusic.ca/2024/11/12/45-52-dedicated-to-donald-trump/
Good read as always, Norma! I hope we see more of Tom Morello in the coming months. I have a feeling we're gonna need him.
Zombieland - Jake Bugg
Tomorrow Morning - Blue Nile
Beyond Belief - Lambchop
The big new set of Faces appearances on the BBC has reawakened the awareness that they were THE great rock and roll band of the 70s (not you know who). They were far too shortlived. And Ronnie Wood was never again as great after he joined you know who. Or Rod the Mod either.