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For those of you who are new, we kick off every week by sharing what we’ve been playing.
The playlist below is some of what I’ve had in heavy rotation. This week’s list once again leans more toward “deep cuts from favorite bands” territory, but we also get some killer new sounds from Saint Étienne and Lexie Hayden.
Now it’s your turn.
What caught your ear this week? Any new releases or shows you’re looking forward to?
As some of you may have seen, I recently wrote about a Best Record of 1989 challenge and noted that I'd be occasionally writing some of these up.
I've started doing some quick hits of each match up and posting them directly to the page here. There's probably some typos. Check 'em out and let me know your thoughts! Chin wags & hot takes welcome! Sharing and restacks always appreciated.
Also: As most of you have seen, I am a huge fan of the music streaming platform Qobuz. The sound quality is second to none, and the entire UX is fantastic. Thanks to our friend Kenn Richards, you can now see it for yourself.
I’m thrilled to share this exclusive offer for 2 free months. Not an ad, and there’s no catch. Just hella good sound quality, solid recommendations tailored to your tastes, and editorials well worth your time.
Note: The codes will be sent out by an actual human over the next several days. Please be patient.
Great playlist! Middle of The Road is my top "driving in the car and wishing I could play this guitar solo" song.
I'm trying to wrap my head around a mess of sketches for an experimental project I've wanted to do for ages. Last week's listening focused on chasing down reference points to help me sort it out.
• Balmorhea - All Is Wild, All Is Silent. This was a ChatGPT recommendation (!) as I sought new sounds in a certain direction. They get lumped in with post-rock, but they're mostly acoustic. It's a beautiful, calming record. The related album of remixes is good, too.
• Calexico - Travelall. This was one of many tour-only CDs they made early. This one is John and Joey at their most experimental, improvising live with Doug McCombs (Eleventh Dream Day, Brokeback), Rob Mazurek (cornet), and Noel Kupersmith (the latter two are mainstays of Chicago's underground jazz scene).
• Basic - This Is Basic. An instrumental trio from Philly put together a project to pay tribute to an obscure Robert Quine/Fred Maher record from 1984. More info here from last year's Pitchfork article (7.6).
I have been revisiting a mysterious double album from the early 1970s called "Music From Free Creek." I haven't been able to find out much about how/why it came together. But it includes both covers and originals from a super group whose members change from track. But it includes Dr. John, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Linda Ronstadt, Todd Rundgren, Moogy Klingman, Keith Emerson, Buzzy Linhart, Delaney Bramlett, Erle Doude, Stu Woods and many others.
Musically, the songs are all over the map. This one is one of my favorites, because it really leans into the late-stage Beatles sound
Good Morning from the left coast, missed last week as I was recovering from Neurosurgery. They removed a growth from my pituitary gland. What a trip that was, anyway here is what is in my ears:
Happy Monday everyone! Remember last week I mentioned the new record by Durand Jones & The Indications? Guess what was spinning on my turntable this morning 🤗
Randy Quaid by Desertshore, a Mark Kozelek project.I like the first two singles by Alex G, “Afterlife” and “June Guitar”, for his new album. I also like Davina McCall by Wet Leg it’s my favorite track released by them so far.
In books, I read a new book by John Harris , Maybe, I’m Amazed, about how his and his autistic son’s connection with music.
Love the bookends on your playlist this week, and it's nice to be back here after some time away due to a relentless work schedule. I've been humming "Never Mind" quite a bit recently; it and "Nowhere is My Home" are my favorite Replacements "deep cuts" that I put on any compilation when I'm trying to covert the newbies.
In addition to Dave Alvin's "Fourth of July," which I wrote about on Friday, last week's listening focused on James McMurtry's newest — "Black Dog and the Wondering Boy." A number of stellar original tracks bookended by two covers (Jon Dee Graham's "Laredo" and Kris Kristofferson's "Broken Freedom Song"). Favorite McMurtry cuts are the title track, "South Texas Lawman," and the beautiful but mournful "Sailing Away."
Also have been listening to the Pearl Jam show we saw in Raleigh last month, and will do so even more now following the announcement that Matt Cameron is leaving the band. Also have been on a run with Frightened Rabbit and Centro-matic recently.
- Per Kevin's excellent interview last week I checked out the PHABIES. Particularly like the band's 2022 release, Fire Seed. Thanks again Kevin for turning me on to this band.
- Sitting around a July 4th pig pickin last week I stumbled onto a fun new game. Someone was telling a tall tell and at the end they said, "Whoa, Nelly". We all though that saying was hysterical (everything's funny after 6 drinks) so I typed, "Whoa Nelly" into my Spotify search bar and found the band Whoa! Nelly. "Zombies Ate My Breakfast" and "Gaped by an Alien, Touched by an Angel" seemed to be crowd favs at the pig pickin'.
- Whoa, Nelly! reminded me of the NC based band Aether Realm. Pretty heavy stuff here - and in full transparency - the band's guitarist, Heinrich Arnold, was actually my drum student many years ago when he was a mere 10 years old, so although I'm not a big screamo/viking metal fan, I'm a little partial to these boys from that side of things. These are great musicians and they are getting some serious stage time on some large national and international stages, so always great to see a former student out there doing it professionally.
I finally got my Alexa evening unwind routine to play songs I actually like, and it reminded me of Matt Maeson, who I was obsessed with a couple of years ago! So, I went to my local record store and ordered Bank on the Funeral on vinyl. I’ve played it quite a few times since picking it up!
Just spent 2 days driving back from the Adirondack mountains in upstate NY with my parents and got to plug in my phone when I drove. Here's what I played...
Counting Crows/Butter Miracle, The Complete Sweets!
The Jayhawks/Hollywood Town Hall
Waxahatchee/Tigers Blood
The Tisburys/A Still Life Revisited
Wilco/Sky Blue Sky
Susanna Hoffs & Matthew Sweet/Under the Covers Vol. 1
Nick Piunti & the Complicated Men/Up and Out of It
I've been listening to tacks from Scratch It by U.S. Girls after it popped up as a recommended album on Tidal. Really liking "Like James Said". In a better world it would be #1 right now.
This past week I listened to the newest album from Kesha titled . (Period). It was alright, albeit very inconsistent. Red Flag is the highlight off of the album, but I almost didn't get to it - the opening track, Freedom, didn't really do anything for me and in some places was quite annoying.
I also listened to a couple of videos recorded from the opening gigs of the Oasis Reunion tour. My god is the band on point. Sure, Liam doesn't sound exactly like he did in his heyday (he sounds like a more mature early 2005 Liam) but I am certainly mad 'fer it.
A couple weeks ago I saw PARKiNG open for Lifeguard. I love the new Lifeguard album, but seeing PARKiNG live blew me away and their album, PORTRAiTS, is excellent. I highly recommend.
I only captured one video of them playing but the energy was incredible!
Jennie - Seoul City (perfect for long drives :)
Great playlist! Middle of The Road is my top "driving in the car and wishing I could play this guitar solo" song.
I'm trying to wrap my head around a mess of sketches for an experimental project I've wanted to do for ages. Last week's listening focused on chasing down reference points to help me sort it out.
• Balmorhea - All Is Wild, All Is Silent. This was a ChatGPT recommendation (!) as I sought new sounds in a certain direction. They get lumped in with post-rock, but they're mostly acoustic. It's a beautiful, calming record. The related album of remixes is good, too.
• Calexico - Travelall. This was one of many tour-only CDs they made early. This one is John and Joey at their most experimental, improvising live with Doug McCombs (Eleventh Dream Day, Brokeback), Rob Mazurek (cornet), and Noel Kupersmith (the latter two are mainstays of Chicago's underground jazz scene).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCMGiM6CCaU&list=PLtrbCVBWl4v7JyzLegCvsdDhsG6S0Ht00
• Basic - This Is Basic. An instrumental trio from Philly put together a project to pay tribute to an obscure Robert Quine/Fred Maher record from 1984. More info here from last year's Pitchfork article (7.6).
https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/basic-this-is-basic/
Looking forward to your picks!
Anything named "Travelall" is gong to get my attention! We used to have one, and I'm pretty sure it could've towed our entire block if it wanted to.
Speed aka the Australian hardcore band whose vocalist plays the flute.
Wait, what?!
https://youtu.be/i2W9IUgEDcg?feature=shared
I have been revisiting a mysterious double album from the early 1970s called "Music From Free Creek." I haven't been able to find out much about how/why it came together. But it includes both covers and originals from a super group whose members change from track. But it includes Dr. John, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Linda Ronstadt, Todd Rundgren, Moogy Klingman, Keith Emerson, Buzzy Linhart, Delaney Bramlett, Erle Doude, Stu Woods and many others.
Musically, the songs are all over the map. This one is one of my favorites, because it really leans into the late-stage Beatles sound
https://youtu.be/jQUiHwT-jFk?si=pY1Cr-b5ZxxclGaE
Oh, this sounds fantastic! I'm on it & thanks for the link!
Recent obsession: L.A. Witch
https://open.spotify.com/track/3euHZ2D8i6dsCs2U720Pyt?si=d91be4402dff452a
This is right up my alley! Thanks for getting it on my radar.
Good Morning from the left coast, missed last week as I was recovering from Neurosurgery. They removed a growth from my pituitary gland. What a trip that was, anyway here is what is in my ears:
1. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3wBlm9P7dw8ZMh4DgXzNcJ?si=a4154f74dcb84dc8
2. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1knJSMzp6SWo8aUh3W2hVo?si=0ab3e16f28c74809
3. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1EpiZRrzSeuNAh?si=91146fd2d1354f45
Have a great week Tune Finders!
I had that surgery when I was in middle school. No fun. Hope your recovery is smooth!
I am 74 and it kicked my butt
I’m sorry. Truly.
All out, optical nerve ok and benign so all good and thanks.
Great news! I hope the rest of your recovery goes more smoothly.
Every July, I spend time live Grateful Dead concerts. This year, I have been going back to 1974.
Dick’s Picks Volume 12, with the opening China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider from 6/26/74 in Boston has been in heavy rotation.
Right on! I was extremely late to the party, but I love rooting through these shows.
Happy Monday everyone! Remember last week I mentioned the new record by Durand Jones & The Indications? Guess what was spinning on my turntable this morning 🤗
Who could blame you? it's a great record!
Glad you liked it too! 😊
Randy Quaid by Desertshore, a Mark Kozelek project.I like the first two singles by Alex G, “Afterlife” and “June Guitar”, for his new album. I also like Davina McCall by Wet Leg it’s my favorite track released by them so far.
In books, I read a new book by John Harris , Maybe, I’m Amazed, about how his and his autistic son’s connection with music.
I knew Wet leg, but haven't heard this yet. The other two are new to me, and thanks for sharing them here!
Life’s What You Make It 🙌 Love this track!
I’ve been revisiting some of my favourite albums of the year so far. This playlist represents the best of that plus my favourites from a few forth-coming releases. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/111xXlnIeBKkx8aTYMw581?si=hSM92j0ESqeX5q1WcJKaeg&pi=jBuLZLMuQombL
Right on! Thanks for this, Lou! This is my post-lunch listening sorted.
Heard another great Rammstein song I have never heard of before, great riff and chorus, my favorite style of metal, along with hair.
rammstein laichzeit
Heck yeah!
Love the bookends on your playlist this week, and it's nice to be back here after some time away due to a relentless work schedule. I've been humming "Never Mind" quite a bit recently; it and "Nowhere is My Home" are my favorite Replacements "deep cuts" that I put on any compilation when I'm trying to covert the newbies.
In addition to Dave Alvin's "Fourth of July," which I wrote about on Friday, last week's listening focused on James McMurtry's newest — "Black Dog and the Wondering Boy." A number of stellar original tracks bookended by two covers (Jon Dee Graham's "Laredo" and Kris Kristofferson's "Broken Freedom Song"). Favorite McMurtry cuts are the title track, "South Texas Lawman," and the beautiful but mournful "Sailing Away."
Also have been listening to the Pearl Jam show we saw in Raleigh last month, and will do so even more now following the announcement that Matt Cameron is leaving the band. Also have been on a run with Frightened Rabbit and Centro-matic recently.
Hope everyone has a good week!
Welcome back, and thanks for the kind words! I'm glad you like those tracks.
For anyone scrolling the comments, here's Glenn's Dave Alvin article:
https://open.substack.com/pub/glenncook/p/fourth-of-july?r=3cbf2&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
- Per Kevin's excellent interview last week I checked out the PHABIES. Particularly like the band's 2022 release, Fire Seed. Thanks again Kevin for turning me on to this band.
https://open.spotify.com/album/66K61EehLULh8GiCzomKSJ?si=QviY-FxgRCeIe4uOP1xwaw
- Sitting around a July 4th pig pickin last week I stumbled onto a fun new game. Someone was telling a tall tell and at the end they said, "Whoa, Nelly". We all though that saying was hysterical (everything's funny after 6 drinks) so I typed, "Whoa Nelly" into my Spotify search bar and found the band Whoa! Nelly. "Zombies Ate My Breakfast" and "Gaped by an Alien, Touched by an Angel" seemed to be crowd favs at the pig pickin'.
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0EX70ofbGianPsmigJV3sd?si=JFMEdX-4ST67wg80AJk4-w
- Whoa, Nelly! reminded me of the NC based band Aether Realm. Pretty heavy stuff here - and in full transparency - the band's guitarist, Heinrich Arnold, was actually my drum student many years ago when he was a mere 10 years old, so although I'm not a big screamo/viking metal fan, I'm a little partial to these boys from that side of things. These are great musicians and they are getting some serious stage time on some large national and international stages, so always great to see a former student out there doing it professionally.
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0zDqgJmDuaocA7TMvJX1d1?si=WyGZ3nOsQReAgjXDvUdjBw
Right on! I'm happy to hear you're digging the band. They've got such a cool sound.
Lots of Hank Snow and a few others: https://weatheredmusic.ca
Great list as always, and thanks for the link!
I finally got my Alexa evening unwind routine to play songs I actually like, and it reminded me of Matt Maeson, who I was obsessed with a couple of years ago! So, I went to my local record store and ordered Bank on the Funeral on vinyl. I’ve played it quite a few times since picking it up!
Here are some of my recent finds Kevin: https://danpal.substack.com/p/new-music-from-sarah-mclachlan-electric?r=lru5s
Thank you, Dan!
A Whiter Shade of Pale - Procol Harum
My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue) - Neil Young, Crazy Horse
played omw to work this morning :)
Kitchens of Distinction! Nice!!
Just spent 2 days driving back from the Adirondack mountains in upstate NY with my parents and got to plug in my phone when I drove. Here's what I played...
Counting Crows/Butter Miracle, The Complete Sweets!
The Jayhawks/Hollywood Town Hall
Waxahatchee/Tigers Blood
The Tisburys/A Still Life Revisited
Wilco/Sky Blue Sky
Susanna Hoffs & Matthew Sweet/Under the Covers Vol. 1
Nick Piunti & the Complicated Men/Up and Out of It
Definitely helped the miles fly by!
I've been listening to tacks from Scratch It by U.S. Girls after it popped up as a recommended album on Tidal. Really liking "Like James Said". In a better world it would be #1 right now.
https://youtu.be/hXmjr4WlQXo?si=J4EjQ2VnMG6gGjkG
This past week I listened to the newest album from Kesha titled . (Period). It was alright, albeit very inconsistent. Red Flag is the highlight off of the album, but I almost didn't get to it - the opening track, Freedom, didn't really do anything for me and in some places was quite annoying.
I also listened to a couple of videos recorded from the opening gigs of the Oasis Reunion tour. My god is the band on point. Sure, Liam doesn't sound exactly like he did in his heyday (he sounds like a more mature early 2005 Liam) but I am certainly mad 'fer it.
A couple weeks ago I saw PARKiNG open for Lifeguard. I love the new Lifeguard album, but seeing PARKiNG live blew me away and their album, PORTRAiTS, is excellent. I highly recommend.
I only captured one video of them playing but the energy was incredible!
https://youtu.be/-w5e-vFzyw4?si=LcsbBTCZyUnAtC61