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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, I’ve got new Superchunk, some squirrely Ministry, and a track about the show “Severance.” All that and more!
Now it’s your turn.
What caught your ear this week? Any 2025 releases or shows you’re excited about?
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Ministry! I have not considered them in years- though I prefer the pre-industrial Al Jorgenson.
My theme this week is "The DJ needs to drop a deuce". Epic songs of the early 70s that let them “take care of business” and maybe call their mothers or smoke a j. Nothing under 5 minutes.
Saw Ministry a few times but didn't connect the Ministry that opened for Depeche Mode, with the band that released Land of Rape & Honey until a friend informed me.
I'll check out the Ministry. I was a big fan of the Muses back in the day (Saw them live in 86/87). I need to give the new song a few more listens. Not that warm on it - but I like them loud - like Limbo or Hook In Her Head
** Perfume Genius 'Glory' - An angel having a nervous breakdown. Kate Bush x Jeff Buckley
** Jetstream Pony 'Bowerbirds & Blue Things' The Go-Betweens ditch the poetry and start chain smoking cloves & listening to Joy Division. Kevin, I think you'll love this?
* Hermanos Gutiérrez 'Sonido Cosmico' - Laid back, cosmic spaghetti western. Ry Cooder x Khruangbin
* Dean Wareham 'That's the Price of Loving Me' - Bittersweet, nostalgic and in it's own Galaxie with a new, similar Luna and missing a Brita. Bonus, there's a song about boats. I like boat songs.
* Destroyer 'Dan's Boogie' - Dark yet warm. Enigmatic, eclectic & one of his best. Bowie x Father John
I just checked out the first few songs on the new Perfume Genius and Wareham records last night. Looking forward to hearing more. Jetstream Pony sounds intriguing!
Yeah, I like those guys, thanks. Do you know Opez? There's an Italian duo who were doing this kind of vibe back in the mid-2010s. I like both of their records.
* Floodlights - Underneath. I think I learned about their last record here. The new one is very good -- as one review noted, they land between Gang of Youths and Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever.
* Nick Cave - Spotify best-of + live videos on YouTube. I've long admired Cave, but I have never loved his music. He's coming here in late April so I'm trying to decide if it's worth going. Still on the fence, especially since we have a lot of concerts coming up.
* Ry Cooder - Music By Ry Cooder. It rained like hell yesterday so it was good day to sit by the our living room window that overlooks the park, write, and listen to instrumental music. This is a very good mid-90s compilation that draws from 11 of Ry's soundtracks.
* Simon & Garfunkel - "Mrs. Robinson." This song came in conversation and I ended up obsessing over it on repeat for a morning. Off the top of my head, I'd put it my pantheon of best-written songs with Wichita Lineman, Waterloo Sunset, and My Favorite Things.
I'm always glad when Kevin's playlist has more stuff on it I don't recognize than I do. Have a great week!
This past weekend, I went back to Sam Smith’s ‘The Thrill of It All’—which I think is his best album tbh. Front-to-back soul with stunning vocals & fantastic storytelling.
It’s also the album I kept on repeat during the first months of the pandemic, so apparently it’s my audio comfort blanket during chaotic times. 🥴
Highlight of last week’s releases was the new single from Black Honey - Psycho. It’s fair to say I am a little obsessed. Dehd, Divorce and Overpass have all had extensive listening as I had back to back to back gigs over the weekend. Enjoyed Wishing Well by Beverly Kills and When Youth Fades Away by Somebody’s Child but they both need a bit more listening to be sure.
Made this playlist which reflects some of the above and what else I’ve been listening to:
Shoutout Nexus records IG who put me up on Second Sleep Records. Japalm by Hampar Soum is both disquieting and immensely pleasurable: https://hamparsoum.bandcamp.com/album/japalm
I am getting into boxes from moving three years ago. Packed then and never played is a 1998 Portland shelter benefit comp called Dogma For The Secret Agent. Slackjaw does The Human League ~ Don't You Want Me.
New for retail: The Sexy '80s comp. Turning Japanese, I Want Candy, Digging Your Scene. I have decided that I can bear Sexy+17 if I pretend he's singing Sexy+70.
Honestly, Slackjaw was the only band I know. It is well-designed, but i don't know the label, Bland?. The panel under the cd has a meybe 3k word story by Eric from Slackjaw in .5 font. Did punks always assume their vision would stay young? I will post an image on Notes.
Also! Thanks much for your collab on a personal playlist! I did not expect such attention from two experts I respect. The bands I know track perfectly and I will esp listen to the ones I don't. Reminding me of China Crisis made my day, my week. After getting into another box I realized I'd add The Auteurs and Momus. My definition of twee is more along the lines of precious and precocious Britishism. In America I think of it maybe more as simple, sincere like Calvin Johnson's sweet sides on K Records or Scout Niblett. Thanks again!
Listened to the new album by Exploding Flowers and really enjoyed it, imagine a Paisley Pop album with a bit more Psychedelic flourishes and some piano, organ, vibraphone and glockenspiel thrown in the mix and with Rachel Love doing some backing vocals
Also been listening to lots of The Times and Edward Ball as we prepare our next compilation tribute - he really was an amazing musician that covered several genres from laid back Instrumentals with the band Sand to electronic dance with his band Love Corporation and his My Bloody Valentine phase with The Teenage Filmstars and his mod/Freakbeat stuff with The Times.
You Can't Hurry Love - The Supremes
Warpaint
Sharp Pins - I Can't Stop
Maria Somerville - Garden
Jefre Cantu-Ledesma - The Milky Sea
Weatherday - Hornet Disaster
John Glacier, Sampha - Ocean Steppin'
Sharp Pins are brilliant 👌
Hornet Disaster is on my "to listen to" list for today.
Ministry! I have not considered them in years- though I prefer the pre-industrial Al Jorgenson.
My theme this week is "The DJ needs to drop a deuce". Epic songs of the early 70s that let them “take care of business” and maybe call their mothers or smoke a j. Nothing under 5 minutes.
Robin Trower, “Too Rolling Stoned” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xpu66oLjWmk
The Faces, “I Know I’m Losing You” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqeTIpjv6kE
Yes, “Yours Is No Disgrace” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nx_GIji9EGw
The Allman Brothers, “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hd66VD1zm9M
Traffic, “The Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQRuu_PghAk
King Crimson (Greg Lake Version), “21st Century Schizoid Man” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgP_3suB4e8
Hey nice. I really like old Ministry too, and didn't discover them until like the 2010s!
The "new" record is pretty solid.
Saw Ministry a few times but didn't connect the Ministry that opened for Depeche Mode, with the band that released Land of Rape & Honey until a friend informed me.
It was a helluva pviot, for sure.
I prefer pre-industrial Ministry as well! Look for a bit more on their new record from me later this morning (Wednesday).
I'll check out the Ministry. I was a big fan of the Muses back in the day (Saw them live in 86/87). I need to give the new song a few more listens. Not that warm on it - but I like them loud - like Limbo or Hook In Her Head
Predictably: the new Lucy Dacus, and the cover of Dancing in the Club by MJ Lenderman,.
Here for it!
Predictably: the new Lucy Dacus, and the cover of Dancing in the Club by MJ Lenderman,.
Good morning from a blooming left coast. Here is what is filling my ear canals:
1. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1knJSMzp6SWo8aUh3W2hVo?si=185b128efb7c4c4e
2. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/71PrDfTT9eNSnK4nHDJCqx?si=e0bb9ce738d44b54
3. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1EpiZRrzSeuNAh?si=0507e8dabd454961
The Weekend List consists of the albums I listened to over the last week end.
Have a great week of good tunes.
Thank you, Jon!
For those of you scrolling the comments, be sure to check out Jon's photography. It's fantastic.
Thanks!
NEW & SHINY
** Perfume Genius 'Glory' - An angel having a nervous breakdown. Kate Bush x Jeff Buckley
** Jetstream Pony 'Bowerbirds & Blue Things' The Go-Betweens ditch the poetry and start chain smoking cloves & listening to Joy Division. Kevin, I think you'll love this?
* Hermanos Gutiérrez 'Sonido Cosmico' - Laid back, cosmic spaghetti western. Ry Cooder x Khruangbin
* Dean Wareham 'That's the Price of Loving Me' - Bittersweet, nostalgic and in it's own Galaxie with a new, similar Luna and missing a Brita. Bonus, there's a song about boats. I like boat songs.
* Destroyer 'Dan's Boogie' - Dark yet warm. Enigmatic, eclectic & one of his best. Bowie x Father John
I just checked out the first few songs on the new Perfume Genius and Wareham records last night. Looking forward to hearing more. Jetstream Pony sounds intriguing!
I think you might enjoy Hermanos Gutiérrez given you listened to Ry Cooder last week.
Yeah, I like those guys, thanks. Do you know Opez? There's an Italian duo who were doing this kind of vibe back in the mid-2010s. I like both of their records.
https://opez.bandcamp.com/music
I've added them to my 'listen this week' pile. Thanks!
Thanks for this, Dave!
great list thanks
Off the back of that description I am now off to check out Perfume Genius!
I sure hope my descriptions are accurate... either way, enjoy.
Enjoyed the Dean Wareham album, very laid back. Ordered the Jetstream Pony album but it has not arrived yet. Like your description 👌
With a description like that, I'll have to love it! I'm on it.
For no reason at all, I've been kinda holding off on Wareham. Maybe I just miss Galaxie 500? I dunno. Definitely want to check it out, though.
My week's highlights:
* Floodlights - Underneath. I think I learned about their last record here. The new one is very good -- as one review noted, they land between Gang of Youths and Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever.
* Nick Cave - Spotify best-of + live videos on YouTube. I've long admired Cave, but I have never loved his music. He's coming here in late April so I'm trying to decide if it's worth going. Still on the fence, especially since we have a lot of concerts coming up.
* Ry Cooder - Music By Ry Cooder. It rained like hell yesterday so it was good day to sit by the our living room window that overlooks the park, write, and listen to instrumental music. This is a very good mid-90s compilation that draws from 11 of Ry's soundtracks.
* Simon & Garfunkel - "Mrs. Robinson." This song came in conversation and I ended up obsessing over it on repeat for a morning. Off the top of my head, I'd put it my pantheon of best-written songs with Wichita Lineman, Waterloo Sunset, and My Favorite Things.
I'm always glad when Kevin's playlist has more stuff on it I don't recognize than I do. Have a great week!
The Floodlights record is fabulous. I like it more with each listen. Current favourite is Horses Will Run.
I'm glad I found some new stuff for you this week! That's no easy feat. :)
Moody Blues and Riot.
Currently listening to Billy Joel's, The Bridge on cassette!
This past weekend, I went back to Sam Smith’s ‘The Thrill of It All’—which I think is his best album tbh. Front-to-back soul with stunning vocals & fantastic storytelling.
It’s also the album I kept on repeat during the first months of the pandemic, so apparently it’s my audio comfort blanket during chaotic times. 🥴
https://open.spotify.com/album/3TJz2UBNYJtlEly0sPeNrQ?si=et2-wOMYQjOXbUE7PJDiyg
Hapshash and the Colored Coat - Western Flyer (1968)
Highlight of last week’s releases was the new single from Black Honey - Psycho. It’s fair to say I am a little obsessed. Dehd, Divorce and Overpass have all had extensive listening as I had back to back to back gigs over the weekend. Enjoyed Wishing Well by Beverly Kills and When Youth Fades Away by Somebody’s Child but they both need a bit more listening to be sure.
Made this playlist which reflects some of the above and what else I’ve been listening to:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/24GnJSyMUZMOZ0dCsOwY8u?si=4MXLy7ItRtGfEs1aei8Svw&pi=K4AHf056Svuts
Great to see Deacon Blue on a playlist. Haven’t listened to Real Gone Kid for a very long time!
Me either! Last week, worked on a piece with Chris Dalla Riva, and it sent me down some fantastic rabbit holes.
Right on! Thanks for the playlist, Lou!
I don't know why, but the theme from The Jefferson's popped in my head the other day and I stumbled onto this looking for it on Spotify. Damnit Welcome Back, Kotter! https://open.spotify.com/album/0sB8MGdKpUejyXpdADRxj3?si=M5YAyDzERmGjZtrmJ1WRJA
Lucy Dacus - Forever Is A Feeling https://open.spotify.com/album/2PedUC4azy5ywqWp8gVVrs?si=Wv7y5hZLQO-X47ZqE7bpSg
Edwyn Collins - Gorgeous George https://open.spotify.com/album/4HBLunZ4GQjnraimqR77Ir?si=XHRmZoPrS3iLY5vWN3Q1ng
Dolly Parton's 1993 release (on vinyl) - Honky Tonk Angels
Lol. Welcome Back Kotter's theme is a next level earworm!
Currently obsessed with Lola Young.
Wilco - A Ghost is Born
Shoutout Nexus records IG who put me up on Second Sleep Records. Japalm by Hampar Soum is both disquieting and immensely pleasurable: https://hamparsoum.bandcamp.com/album/japalm
Reissues of old Dolorian albums from the 90s by Peaceville have been sick walking music. https://peaceville.bandcamp.com/album/when-all-the-laughter-has-gone
How have I never heard of Sad Lovers and Giants?
https://sadloversgiants.bandcamp.com/album/lost-in-a-sea-full-of-sighs
Sad Lovers and Giants were amazing and I think Cherry Red released a compilation of their songs a while back 👌
Thanks for these!
Steven Wilson, The Overview is a prog love letter
King Missile (hint hint)
No. F'ing. Way!
If this means what I think it might, my podcast feed just got a whole lot better!
Hi everyone! Early 80s Isley Brothers for me this weekend and this morning 😊
A perfect way to start the day!
I am getting into boxes from moving three years ago. Packed then and never played is a 1998 Portland shelter benefit comp called Dogma For The Secret Agent. Slackjaw does The Human League ~ Don't You Want Me.
New for retail: The Sexy '80s comp. Turning Japanese, I Want Candy, Digging Your Scene. I have decided that I can bear Sexy+17 if I pretend he's singing Sexy+70.
I just went and looked at the tracklist, and that comp sounds awesome! I wonder how I missed it?
Honestly, Slackjaw was the only band I know. It is well-designed, but i don't know the label, Bland?. The panel under the cd has a meybe 3k word story by Eric from Slackjaw in .5 font. Did punks always assume their vision would stay young? I will post an image on Notes.
lol. Good question!
Also! Thanks much for your collab on a personal playlist! I did not expect such attention from two experts I respect. The bands I know track perfectly and I will esp listen to the ones I don't. Reminding me of China Crisis made my day, my week. After getting into another box I realized I'd add The Auteurs and Momus. My definition of twee is more along the lines of precious and precocious Britishism. In America I think of it maybe more as simple, sincere like Calvin Johnson's sweet sides on K Records or Scout Niblett. Thanks again!
Dean Wareham-That’s the Price e of Loving Me. Released last week. Also lots of Oasis.
Mott The Hoople, and a bunch of other stuff. https://weatheredmusic.ca
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy - Why Me - is a neat video.
Some healing ambient for the soul: https://whitelabrecs.bandcamp.com/album/yonder
And then some deep and heavy hiphop: https://backxwash.bandcamp.com/album/only-dust-remains
Besides that, here's last week's real quick review:
- destroyer 7
- perfume genius 6.5
- aya 7-7.5
- backxwash 8
- bryan ferry 6.5-7
- dj python 7
- sandwell district 9
- annie a 7
Listened to the new album by Exploding Flowers and really enjoyed it, imagine a Paisley Pop album with a bit more Psychedelic flourishes and some piano, organ, vibraphone and glockenspiel thrown in the mix and with Rachel Love doing some backing vocals
https://explodingflowers.bandcamp.com/album/watermelon-peacock
Also been listening to lots of The Times and Edward Ball as we prepare our next compilation tribute - he really was an amazing musician that covered several genres from laid back Instrumentals with the band Sand to electronic dance with his band Love Corporation and his My Bloody Valentine phase with The Teenage Filmstars and his mod/Freakbeat stuff with The Times.
Thank you, Wally! Exploding Flowers sounds right up my alley. I'm on it!
Just discovered your page! Here is some of my current listening tracks...
Aly and Fila's "Future Sound of Egypt" Episode 900
Faint - Linkin Park
Breaking the Habit - Linkin Park
Please Don't Leave Me - Phil Lynott wih John Sykes
Nicky Elisabeth - A State of Trance Episode 1194