Kevin, this week I found myself consciously crossing decades. I found myself building a playlist of very soft and mellow tunes and quite unintentionally put a song by John Prine next to a song by RAYE, and it felt right. Before I knew it Sharon Jones was queuing up Lady Wray. I had to wrestle the Spotify algorithm to do it, but that was fun all by itself. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5Jzvyuh0vULxk8f0LakMpP?si=ee0c5c2de70f4c0d
I've been listening to The Beths a lot this week. They're maybe not the most ground-breaking band in the world, but they do have cute New Zealand accents.
Don't need to always reinvent the wheel, especially if you're as good as The Beths - a top ten record for me last year! Have you heard the new single, "Watching the Credits?" Pretty great stuff!
I see your Lucious Jackson song. Very much a part of my 90s alternative music reporting :(
But, I guess the bulk of my listening was Taylor Swift. And for reasons that will be published here on my Substack! As for your Wilburys shout-out: Thank you!!!!!!
This morning I needed a healthy dose of electric blues to start the week, so I played “Midnight Stroll” by Robert Cray on vinyl. One of his best albums in my view.
That’s so cool to hear! That was around the time he released his best-selling album, Strong Persuader, so I can imagine the promo must have been huge. What I love about him is that he always manages to release very solid bodies of work, without fail. Another favourite of mine, Nothin’ but Love, is from 2012, almost forty years into his career, and is 🔥.
I give that box set a spin at least four times a year. If you haven't seen the Apple documentary, it's a must watch, and the Criterion disc with additional interviews and outtakes is worth it as well.
Kevin, I'll be up in your neck of the woods on Wednesday to see Bikini Kill at the Riverside. This show has been postponed at least three times since 2020. It's finally happening! Going to try and hit some of my favorite Milwaukee record stores as well (Acme, Shuga, etc.). Any other suggestions?
I discovered the Sweater Girls last week. Their only album came out 11 years ago, but it's a great mix of Spector Wall of Sound style fuzz and C86 Shop Assistants. Haven't stopped listening since...
I'm guessing that Luscious Jackson song was inspired by the passing of Viv Trimble? But she's not on that album, so maybe I'm wrong...sad news either way! My listening was diffuse this weekend...some classical stuff I'm writing about, a couple of 2020 albums for the latest Twitter poll (Yeaji's What We Drew and Hamilton Leithauser's The Loves Of Your Life), some bootlegs. But my daughter and I did go to "Couchella" and caught livestreams from Yaeji (good, not great performance), Boygenius (stunning, they're ready to take on the world), and Kali Uchis (commanding, with an unstoppable groove). Fun!
Correct! Mostly due to Trimble's passing, even though she's not on the record. I played Fever In, Fever Out, which led to Electric Honey, which led to a lot of this. There's also a YT clip of them playing Nervous Breakthrough on French TV that floats up in my recommendations quite a bit. It's decidedly low quality audio, but I love it.
One of my loves is folk, rock and harmonies. Two new groups came out that I really like. And one singer that reminds me of John Prine. The groups are Cymarron 615 and the hackles the singer is Bart Budwig
One of the most fun concerts I’ve seen in a long time is the Lords of 52nd St. It’s the core of Billy Joel’s band when he had all his big hits. They are amazing musicians, and put on such an incredible show. They even had a vocalist that held his own, but it was the music. They were no tribute band. These were the guys that record of the songs. If they ever come your way out there, running to go to see them.
Since Ahmad Jamal passed, I've been listing to Ahmad Jamal Trio "Ahmad Jamal At The Pershing: But Not for Me" 1958. Love the atmosphere in the recording with the glasses clinking and orders being taken. It's like a time-capsule taking you back to those smokey bars in the big cities.
Karl Blau's version of "Fallin' Rain" (by Link Wray). I'm a sucker for covers that completely reimagine the original. And it's just beautiful in general.
I’m in a rut with music. I am caught between not wanting to spin the same stuff, but not really open to anything new. Weird space. I’ve been just listening to audiobooks and continuing education webinars. 🙃
I went down the R.E.M. wormhole again, specifically "Reckoning" this week. A heavy doze of "Little America" felt right given what's going on in the world. On the new side, also enjoying Rainbow Kitten Surprise's new single, "Drop Stop Roll."
I reviewed Principia not too long ago, and really struggled with how to classify it as well. There's no shortage of jangle pop, but also a bit of...a bit of post-punk? I dunno. I wound up describing it as "their own bespoke brand of pop." Either way "Wonder" is one of my faves on the record, and It's early contender for my AOTY list.
I've really been enjoying the new Fenne Lily album 'Big Picture.' Stephen Thompson with NPR recommended it for fans of Joan Shelley, and I agree.
New (to me) music from the Garlands has been in heavy rotation this past week. Late 90's and early 00's "subdued, elegant ache" from NYC. https://garlandsnyc.bandcamp.com
Of course, I am still experiencing cognitive dissonance over both Murmur and the Violent Femmes S/T debut hitting 40 last week 😫
Newer releases: Blondshell, Daughter, FACS, Depeche Mode, The Church
Older: WuTang - 36 Chambers, DMB - Before These Crowded Streets, Walkmen - Bows + Arrows, YLT - I Am Not Afraid Of You..., Marcy Playground - Marcy Playground, Strokes - Angles, De La Soul - Buhloone Mindstate, Camel - The Snow Goose
Today, the very wonderful LIsa Hannigan. To date, 3 exquisite studio albums leading up to the 2019 'Live In Dublin' (with Stargaze) release. At times, breath taking.
Lisa's Tiny Desk performance from 2011 rounded off the mini Hannigan-fest.
(Also checked our the Boygenius TD 3 song set from 2018. Excellent)
James McMurtry. He seems to be one of those songwriters that could create a tune about anything at anytime and make it listenable (a la Tom Petty). His songs tend to be about rural living in Oklahoma/North Texas and that is eye opening, in a good way, for a Massachusetts libtard like me. My gateway was (the single) "Just Us Kids". "Choctaw Bingo" is 8+ minutes of pure fun.
P.S. - This comment section is full of rabbit holes! I could spend hours/days going down those holes. My only disappointment is that I do not have the time. Keep 'em coming!
"Haint Blue" is the wonderful new single from Irish band Bell X1; Paul Noonan has such a unique way with lyrics. And, honestly, with that voice, could sing the phone book and it would be mesmerizing. Good news!
a new album is close at hand.
Also, the new Mellencamp track "Hey God" is really good & sure to ruffle a few feathers.
Hold Steady's recent album is a grower for sure, as is the second release in a year from Belle and Sebastian.
Some older stuff, Aretha's "Spirit in the Dark" is always a good listen, Dylan "Blood on the Tracks", Josh Rouse's
"1972" , The Church "Untitled #23", Goldfrapp "Supernature" & a few more besides !
My Orville Peck obsession ramped up. Dead of Night is haunting me.
'Pony' is a new classic, but I had the hardest time getting through 'Bronco' last year. Too long and too similar, but maybe I need to revisit it!
Revisiting is a good idea but not everyone will like it for sure.
Because of Scott Hines' The Action Cookbook Newsletter, I'm now listening to both my School of Fish CDs.
If you're interested, the Abandoned Albums podcast recently had Chad Fischer on. He talks quite a bit about his time in the band. It's a great listen!
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-410-chad-fischer-musician-composer-frontman/id1600596605?i=1000604390590
Kevin, this week I found myself consciously crossing decades. I found myself building a playlist of very soft and mellow tunes and quite unintentionally put a song by John Prine next to a song by RAYE, and it felt right. Before I knew it Sharon Jones was queuing up Lady Wray. I had to wrestle the Spotify algorithm to do it, but that was fun all by itself. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5Jzvyuh0vULxk8f0LakMpP?si=ee0c5c2de70f4c0d
I'd like to check it out, but the link is broken? That's probably operator error on my part, but can you post it again just in case?
EDIT: Disregard. Definitely operator error.
I've been listening to The Beths a lot this week. They're maybe not the most ground-breaking band in the world, but they do have cute New Zealand accents.
Don't need to always reinvent the wheel, especially if you're as good as The Beths - a top ten record for me last year! Have you heard the new single, "Watching the Credits?" Pretty great stuff!
I have not! Working through their discography now.
Awesome! You’re in for a treat with their debut. ✌️
Grooving to Fat Freddy's Drop this week. That sax is wild.
https://spotify.link/KcLR4Zfv4yb
I see your Lucious Jackson song. Very much a part of my 90s alternative music reporting :(
But, I guess the bulk of my listening was Taylor Swift. And for reasons that will be published here on my Substack! As for your Wilburys shout-out: Thank you!!!!!!
https://amymcgrathhughes.substack.com
Anytime! I'm glad you liked that. Nothing wrong with a little T. Swift!
Also: Another gentle reminder that I'd love to hear more about your 90s reporting days. :)
Ah! I'll have to disassemble my Jenga brain pieces for those halycon days of alternative storytelling lol
The Wood Brothers are an excellent trio I caught in concert a year ago while on vacation. They've got a new album called "Heart is the Hero."
Listening to this as I type. Not too far in, but I like what I'm hearing!
Awesome! They've got a nice catalog of good tunes, overall.
This morning I needed a healthy dose of electric blues to start the week, so I played “Midnight Stroll” by Robert Cray on vinyl. One of his best albums in my view.
Robert Cray! In '85-'87 (ish) you couldn't go 5 minutes without hearing him on the radio in Portland. A wizard on the guitar.
That’s so cool to hear! That was around the time he released his best-selling album, Strong Persuader, so I can imagine the promo must have been huge. What I love about him is that he always manages to release very solid bodies of work, without fail. Another favourite of mine, Nothin’ but Love, is from 2012, almost forty years into his career, and is 🔥.
It's been out a few weeks now, but I still have Hualun's 'Tempus' on heavy rotation
That's a completely new band for me. Should I start w/Tempus or go with something else first?
Good question... 'Tempus' is quite different to their previous material, so perhaps start with their classic 'An Elephant Sitting Still' soundtrack. Some background on that here: https://jakenewby.substack.com/i/99275437/addressing-the-elephant-hu-bos-incredible-film-and-hualuns-soundtrack-turns-five
'wʌndərlænd' is another good starting point for their more recent sound: https://gezelligrecords.com/album/w-nd-rl-nd
Hope you enjoy
Die Spitz
https://youtu.be/5EU6Iqs4W0M
I'll take all of this you got! Great sound- need to play it somewhere besides my desk at work to get the full effect
"The Complete Matrix Tapes" by The Velvet Underground. A 36-minute version of "Sister Ray," you say? Don't mind if I do!
I give that box set a spin at least four times a year. If you haven't seen the Apple documentary, it's a must watch, and the Criterion disc with additional interviews and outtakes is worth it as well.
Thanks for the reminder. I've seen the documentary but not the xtras. That will be on my watch list, for sure. Rock on!
Don't mind if I do, either! And I'll second Glenn's recommendation of the documentary- I really enjoyed it.
Kevin, I'll be up in your neck of the woods on Wednesday to see Bikini Kill at the Riverside. This show has been postponed at least three times since 2020. It's finally happening! Going to try and hit some of my favorite Milwaukee record stores as well (Acme, Shuga, etc.). Any other suggestions?
Nice! Have fun tonight! It's been awhile since I've been there, but I've had good luck at RushMor Records.
Ugh, I meant RushMor, not Shuga. Shuga is a great store here in Chicago. Dan at RushMor is a treasure. So many stories of great hardcore bands!
Ha! I'd love to hear more about the show and what you found while crate digging.
I really love 'Faithful One', the debut album from the remarkable 22 year old pianist Sultan Stevenson https://sultanstevenson-whirlwind.bandcamp.com/album/faithful-one
Been listening to Dead Can Dance a lot this week.
Whoa! That's a name I haven't heard in awhile. Any record in particular, or just a bit of everything?
Blood, Sweat & Tears, thanks to the newest essay from Listening Sessions 🫶
Great band, great essay! Robert never misses.
I discovered the Sweater Girls last week. Their only album came out 11 years ago, but it's a great mix of Spector Wall of Sound style fuzz and C86 Shop Assistants. Haven't stopped listening since...
https://hhbtm.bandcamp.com/album/were-here
You've got my attention with that description. This sounds right up my alley!
Really been enjoying Caroline Polachek's album "Pang." Fantastic pop music!
Phenomenal record! If more pop records were like "Pang," I'd have the radio on more often!
I was super late to the Polachek party, but am here now.
Cannot recommend Blondshell more - well worth the hype and debut record of the year for me so far! Review out tomorrow ✌️ (Also, LIES!!!!)
I'm guessing that Luscious Jackson song was inspired by the passing of Viv Trimble? But she's not on that album, so maybe I'm wrong...sad news either way! My listening was diffuse this weekend...some classical stuff I'm writing about, a couple of 2020 albums for the latest Twitter poll (Yeaji's What We Drew and Hamilton Leithauser's The Loves Of Your Life), some bootlegs. But my daughter and I did go to "Couchella" and caught livestreams from Yaeji (good, not great performance), Boygenius (stunning, they're ready to take on the world), and Kali Uchis (commanding, with an unstoppable groove). Fun!
So sad to hear! That deserves a spin of Fever In Fever Out tonight.
Correct! Mostly due to Trimble's passing, even though she's not on the record. I played Fever In, Fever Out, which led to Electric Honey, which led to a lot of this. There's also a YT clip of them playing Nervous Breakthrough on French TV that floats up in my recommendations quite a bit. It's decidedly low quality audio, but I love it.
https://youtu.be/BAkwpcuU4lU
One of my loves is folk, rock and harmonies. Two new groups came out that I really like. And one singer that reminds me of John Prine. The groups are Cymarron 615 and the hackles the singer is Bart Budwig
Anyone that evokes John Prine is someone I need to hear. I'm on it!
One of the most fun concerts I’ve seen in a long time is the Lords of 52nd St. It’s the core of Billy Joel’s band when he had all his big hits. They are amazing musicians, and put on such an incredible show. They even had a vocalist that held his own, but it was the music. They were no tribute band. These were the guys that record of the songs. If they ever come your way out there, running to go to see them.
Since Ahmad Jamal passed, I've been listing to Ahmad Jamal Trio "Ahmad Jamal At The Pershing: But Not for Me" 1958. Love the atmosphere in the recording with the glasses clinking and orders being taken. It's like a time-capsule taking you back to those smokey bars in the big cities.
Oh no! Hearing so much sad news on this thread. My friend was able to see him live and loves his work.
Your friend was lucky to see him play live!
Piano covers by Chad Lawson. So very relaxing!
Karl Blau's version of "Fallin' Rain" (by Link Wray). I'm a sucker for covers that completely reimagine the original. And it's just beautiful in general.
This was the perfect vibe/groove/whatever for midmorning. Loved it.
Not for nothing, who's your favorite NHL team, and why is it the Blackhawks?
I'm a miserable Leafs fan preparing to get my heart broken again. As a Hawks fan, is it weird to see Kane in a different jersey?
Glad you enjoyed the song! I actually rambled about it a bit over here: https://aforgettingplace.substack.com/p/forgetting-place-1
It totally is!
Today's record: Andy Shauf's "Neon Skyline." A great Monday morning album.
That's a new one for me. I'll have to give it a spin!
Sam Jones EP and on, Andy's catalogue is some of Canada's best contemporary songwriting.
I’m in a rut with music. I am caught between not wanting to spin the same stuff, but not really open to anything new. Weird space. I’ve been just listening to audiobooks and continuing education webinars. 🙃
Definitely an odd space to be in! Hopefully, the webinars are good ones?
They are but they kind of make me want a full body CT to make sure I have no tumors.
I went down the R.E.M. wormhole again, specifically "Reckoning" this week. A heavy doze of "Little America" felt right given what's going on in the world. On the new side, also enjoying Rainbow Kitten Surprise's new single, "Drop Stop Roll."
I'm in that same rabbit hole, only with Murmur and Out of Time!
It's not a bad place to be... I'm throwing in some Uncle Tupelo/Wilco/Son Volt into the mix this week.
I'm in love with En Attendant Ana's new album and the track Wonder is on repeat. It's hard to classify... janglepop?
https://youtu.be/VzRy1r7IGQE
I reviewed Principia not too long ago, and really struggled with how to classify it as well. There's no shortage of jangle pop, but also a bit of...a bit of post-punk? I dunno. I wound up describing it as "their own bespoke brand of pop." Either way "Wonder" is one of my faves on the record, and It's early contender for my AOTY list.
It's here, if you'd like to read it later: https://thekevinalexander.substack.com/p/liner-notes-23march-2023
I've really been enjoying the new Fenne Lily album 'Big Picture.' Stephen Thompson with NPR recommended it for fans of Joan Shelley, and I agree.
New (to me) music from the Garlands has been in heavy rotation this past week. Late 90's and early 00's "subdued, elegant ache" from NYC. https://garlandsnyc.bandcamp.com
Of course, I am still experiencing cognitive dissonance over both Murmur and the Violent Femmes S/T debut hitting 40 last week 😫
I am too. No way either of those is hitting middle age!
Fenne Lily's "Top To Toe" is one of the most beautiful songs of love that I have ever heard.
I don't know that one- I'm off to check it out!
Vaselines and Nirvana!
A fantastic pairing!
Newer releases: Blondshell, Daughter, FACS, Depeche Mode, The Church
Older: WuTang - 36 Chambers, DMB - Before These Crowded Streets, Walkmen - Bows + Arrows, YLT - I Am Not Afraid Of You..., Marcy Playground - Marcy Playground, Strokes - Angles, De La Soul - Buhloone Mindstate, Camel - The Snow Goose
Some great records on this list!
At the tail-end of my workout listening to Europe's The Final Countdown. Appropriate!
Very appropriate! Also a good reminder for me to logoff and walk up to the gym...
Lots of sampling this week but these are all full length album listens.
Supertramp - Crime of the Century
The Flowers of Hell - Odes
Freddie Hubbard & İlhan Mimaroğlu - Sing Me A Song of Songmy
The Flowers of Hell - Keshakhtaran
Leonard Cohen - The Essential Leonard Cohen
That's a great mix!
Today, the very wonderful LIsa Hannigan. To date, 3 exquisite studio albums leading up to the 2019 'Live In Dublin' (with Stargaze) release. At times, breath taking.
Lisa's Tiny Desk performance from 2011 rounded off the mini Hannigan-fest.
(Also checked our the Boygenius TD 3 song set from 2018. Excellent)
James McMurtry. He seems to be one of those songwriters that could create a tune about anything at anytime and make it listenable (a la Tom Petty). His songs tend to be about rural living in Oklahoma/North Texas and that is eye opening, in a good way, for a Massachusetts libtard like me. My gateway was (the single) "Just Us Kids". "Choctaw Bingo" is 8+ minutes of pure fun.
P.S. - This comment section is full of rabbit holes! I could spend hours/days going down those holes. My only disappointment is that I do not have the time. Keep 'em coming!
Love James McMurtry ! Got lucky & saw him in concert last year...really good night out.
Yes, but they're the best kind of rabbit holes!
"Haint Blue" is the wonderful new single from Irish band Bell X1; Paul Noonan has such a unique way with lyrics. And, honestly, with that voice, could sing the phone book and it would be mesmerizing. Good news!
a new album is close at hand.
Also, the new Mellencamp track "Hey God" is really good & sure to ruffle a few feathers.
Hold Steady's recent album is a grower for sure, as is the second release in a year from Belle and Sebastian.
Some older stuff, Aretha's "Spirit in the Dark" is always a good listen, Dylan "Blood on the Tracks", Josh Rouse's
"1972" , The Church "Untitled #23", Goldfrapp "Supernature" & a few more besides !