Good morning! Welcome to each of you who joined us this past 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.
As always, I want to thank those who have recently upgraded their subscriptions. Your direct support fuels this community and makes a positive impact. Thank you!
When you’re ready, joining them is easy. Just click here:
Also, just a quick reminder that Sam Colt & I finished counting down our Top 100 records. We’ve gota running playlist for this project, and added to it each week as we went.
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? How ‘bout at yard sales? Any upcoming releases or shows you’re excited about?
Mustard is listening to the new Tyler, The Creator album. Love the worldbuilding that Tyler does with each album. This is sounding like his most vulnerable album.
If you know the name Vanessa Paradis at all, it's likely because of her contentious relationship with Johnny Depp or maybe some of her acting roles. However, she was also a very successful singer in France, having six top 10 hits. But she never really broke in the U.S., even though she is quite good. This cover wasn't a single, but I think it might be my favorite version of "I'm Waiting For The Man" https://youtu.be/-FJQQZ_sW-s?si=fGLots3hyHlkz3od
She had a hit in the UK in the late 80s with Joe Le Taxi. That’s how I know her. I must confess that I haven’t really listened to a lot else except this track from 2013 which features Carl Barat of The Libertines.
My week turned out to be all about Tchad Blake. I searched for info on recording drums in small spaces which led to a fantastic 2007 Q&A with him at a site about gear. If you don't know of Tchad Blake, check out the fantastic run of records he worked on with Mitchell Froom from 1992-2002, including records by Los Lobos (Kiko), Latin Playboys, American Music Club, Peter Case, Elvis Costello, Sheryl Crow, Crowded House, Pearl Jam, Ron Sexsmith, The Del Fuegos, Richard Thompson, and Suzanne Vega.
That led to me down a Blake/Froom rabbit hole:
* Suzanne Vega - 99.9 - One of my favorite records ever and a big influence on how I thought about mutating roots music going forward.
* Stina Nordenstam - ThIs Is Stina Nordenstam - I hadn't heard of this artist, but many in the Q&A asked about Blake's work on this record. She's a Swedish singer best known for one of her songs being in Baz Luhrman's Romeo + Juliet. It's a terrific late-night record, like 99.9's chill little sister.
* Lisa Germano - Slide - I know Lisa's work, but didn't know of this record. It's well worth checking out.
I also hung out with On Repeat favorite Matty Carlson, who stayed with my wife and I as he passed through the southwest on tour. Great time!
Kevin, crazy timing on your including Cincinnati's The Greenhornes on the playlist. I haven't thought of them in forever until yesterday, when a friend in Milwaukee mentioned going to one of Jack White's small club shows. I told her how Jack and Meg occasionally hung in Cincinnati in the early days as they were friends with the Greenhornes. Their drummer, Patrick Keeler, later became a member of The Raconteurs.
Looking forward to the playlist and the recommendations. Have a great week, everyone!
Blake's run was terrific, without question. Have you heard Tonio K's "Notes from the Lost Civilization"? It's one of the great "lost" albums (IMO) from that era, and Blake worked on that one too.
You had me at American Music Club! IMO, Mark Eitzel is one of the most underrated songwriters of our time. "San Francisco" just missed the cut for our 100 Best Records series.
Love that you and Matty were able to connect! And thank you for hosting him as well! Those IRL connections make me really happy.
As for Jack White, he played a "secret" show here in Madison as well...I'm pretty sure it sold out w/in minutes.
I have a couple of Grateful Dead’s songs in honor of Phil Lesh, “Box of Rain” and “Attics of My Life “. I also have been listening to “Lost in Space” by Luna.
Great to see one of Nick Lowe’s finest on there and the new Soccer Mommy is fab. Abigail from Evergreen was last week’s A Song For Friday. Other new things that I liked were Atlas by Charlotte Jacobs, Scheduled Explosions by 2nd Grade, and A Box of Dark Roses by Mope Grooves.
I'm digging the new Soccer Mommy as well! I think I mentioned it on your post, but I got the "listen in a park" email, but didn't think it would work, so I didn't try it. Not the first time I've made the wrong call. lol.
A new album by Smoke Bellow called Structurally Sound caught my ears last week. And I finally pieced together my favorite tracks from the two Smile albums. Here's my playlist:
I just revisited Propagandhi's "How to Clean Up Everything" debut LP. I realized I took for granted that there were bands like this out there, bands that stuck the middle finger up to the establishment and came prepared to defend their thesis through music. Seriously thoughtful and intelligent lyrics, albeit perhaps naive due to youth, but I came to an epiphany as to how fucking lucky I've been to find thoughtful punk music, especially in 1993 in particular.
Youth of Today ripped and I really liked Propagandhi as well. I think I might have a 7" somewhere. I'll have to root through my stuff and see if I still have it.
Everything old is new? The "new" Lone Justice album, a "lost" record by Susanna Hoffs, and the 50th anniversary box set of Bowie's Ziggy sessions all made my list this week.
Picked up a 3 CD box by Nick Lowe when I was in the UK and was listening to an older tribute to Nick Lowe earlier this week so cool to see him in your set this week. As for new discoveries, I just realized that David Potts from the band Monaco (also Peter Hook & The Light) has released quute a bit of music on his own as well - here is an EP:
I mean, I have to list the most obscure release possible to cement myself as a pretentious hipster. LOL. Actually, my Release Radar has just been on fire lately!
While there is a ton of stuff out there, two things are really getting me right now: "Songs For A Nervous Planet" from Tears for Fears. The four new songs are such a welcome, but the live recording is wonderful. It sounds incredible. I can't wait to see the concert film. Also, Roy Hargrove's posthumous release, "Grande-Terre"; a jazz delight recorded in the late 90's after his group walked away with a Grammy Award for Beat Latin Jazz Album for "Habana".
You had me At Greenhornes. I am enjoying the new Laura Marling, Chuck Profit, the Remasted Tweez from Slint, and still with the Tucker Zimmerman (new LP)
I've been driving a bunch lately between gigs and to some other music related events/happenings so I started picking out some music related audio books to check out on the journeys. Last week I started on Alex Van Halen's new release, Brothers. I'm about half way through the 15 chapters but it's a great tribute to Ed and the musical legacy of VH.
I was fortunate enough to attend the Country Music Hall of Fame Medallion ceremony last week in Nashville. I've never listened much to Post Malone's work but seeing his tribute to Toby Keith had me investigating his catalog, so this week I've been on a Post Malone kick. I have to mention another highlight of the ceremony for me was seeing the always incredible Rodney Crowell with Emmylou Harris and Vince Gill performing the Crowell tune, “Till I Gain Control Again,”.
Lastly, I hurried back across state lines from Nashville to catch Sturgill Simpson's benefit show for disaster relief in NC. Sturgill has become a standout favorite of mine over the last few years and his shows get better and better. If you get the chance by all means go see him live! Simpson's albums are excellent but the live shows are fantastic.
This is tangential, but Jay McDowell (formerly of BR-549) now works at the Hall of Fame, and has been sharing stories of the musicians--and music history-- he's come across over on Medium.
Halsey dropped her awaited album The Great Impersonator which I've been spinning a bunch. It's an eclectic blend of styles (18 tracks!) signalling a departure from her alt-pop roots and written about the toughest period of her life. Really digging Dog Years and Life of the Spider
Just saw the documentary - The Most Australian Band Ever - about legendary Australian punk rockers The Hard-Ons. Really great watch. Hope you can all access it one day!
I have Steely Dan on Pandora in Deep Cuts mode and it keeps sending me Sade, especially the instrumentals. Also the new Joan Armatrading album is being sent by some algorithm. And still playing Jeffrey Foucault's Universal Fire album.
We’ve been on holiday since Thursday in San Francisco so I haven’t had much chance to check out the myriad of new albums released yet. Pixies, Courteeners, Soccer Mommy and Peach Pit are all on the list.
I have listened to Pom Pom Squad which I love. I’ve also listened to Ethel Cain’s Preacher’s Daughter after reading this piece.
Thank you! It’s been an amazing week! We are just on our way to the airport now. We went to see Lime Garden at Bottom of the Hill last night and also got to see Everyone Is Dirty who I’d not come across before. They were tremendous!
Been binging all the Meat Puppets stuff from II in 1983 to Forbidden Places in 1991....Just a fantastic, impeccable batch of records. I can't think of too many bands from the SST label who were making acid inspired country cosmic desert rock. I'm sure most of your readers are familiar with II due to it's ubiquitous performances on Nirvana's Unplugged...but Up On The Sun, Mirage, Huevos are all equally fantastic.
Delara - Shahrazad. Found this artist while perusing Spotify, and Spotify suggests that she's similar to Moyka, an artist that I enjoy a lot. I suppose there is a bit similarity in the style of music they make, at least in terms of the ethos of the instrumentation, but how they achieve it is quite different. Delara has a lot of Middle Eastern influence in her music, which makes it an interesting listen. Vocals are a bit grating at the beginning but settle down once you get to track 4 or so.
I live in the Deep South, where it's hard to avoid Bro Country even if you listen to other music at home or in the car, because supermarkets and other stores pipe in the bros. So I'm grateful to the grocery stores here in Alabama that have reached into their Wayback Machines this week for the Corrs and other non-bro songs. Does any Irish singer have better vibrato than Andrea Corrs?
Lots of replaying (and playing for the first time) albums I'm considering for my end of year lists. This includes new albums by:
Replaying: Bodega, Bob Vylan, King Hannah, Lo Moon, SPRINTS, Grandaddy, The Peawees, Storefront Church, and several great ambient albums including Cowboy Sadness.
Playing first time: The Cure, Willie Nelson, Richard Swift, and the new/old Lone Justice.
OMG. I love it. TYSM for sharing it w/us.
LOL
Say You Say Me - Lionel Richie
You have the best Monday morning songs!
Right?
Smoooth!
Love that Spiral XP record. Their 2023 record "It's Been a While" was in heavy rotation.
So, so good!
The sound of my beating heart. So lame. I know.
not lame if it stops
As in your literal heartbeat? It's early, so if something flew over my head, please let me know!
Yes my literal heartbeat. In that it’s so quiet and still I can hear it
Not lame at all! I’m not sure it ever gets that quiet in my world.
New post for us that captures where we are at 6OGs - https://3albums6oldguys.substack.com/p/6ogs-from-the-heart-matthew-sweet:
-- Still obsessing over Naima Bock's "Below a Massive Dark Land" (https://naimabock.bandcamp.com/album/below-a-massive-dark-land) especially after seeing her at a small, living-room type show in DC on Saturday, along with the incredible guitar playing of Adeline Hotel (https://adelinehotel.bandcamp.com/album/whodunnit).
-- Loving the new 2nd Grade record, power pop at its finest - https://2ndgrade.bandcamp.com/album/scheduled-explosions
-- And inspired by 2nd Grade and the need to help out an artist in trouble, diving back into Matthew Sweet's catalog
The new 2nd Grade rips!
A little XTC, and a whole lot of Goth. It is the Halloween seasons, so let's embrace the holiday spirit.
Bauhaus, Type O Negative, Siouxsie and the Banshees, and more
And I might have slept in a little Echo in the bunnymen.
'Tis the season! I've found myself listening to a lot of Bauhaus as well.
Good morning from the Left Coast. First, the documentary Road Dairy on Hulu is worth the Watch.
Here is what is in my ears:
1. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1knJSMzp6SWo8aUh3W2hVo?si=793486119e904377
2. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/71PrDfTT9eNSnK4nHDJCqx?si=fedceb95a1664d11
3. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1EpiZRrzSeuNAh?si=06f17ca56c7b42f4
Killer lists as always, Jon! Thank you!
And can't recall if a rec from here, but have had this slowcore-ish band Bondo on a lot for the last week - https://bondo.bandcamp.com/album/harmonica-2
Sounds familiar, but not ringing a bell (it's also still really early here). I'm on it!
Mustard is listening to the new Tyler, The Creator album. Love the worldbuilding that Tyler does with each album. This is sounding like his most vulnerable album.
https://open.spotify.com/album/0U28P0QVB1QRxpqp5IHOlH?si=iUE_unG3R2iOWWYf8zC66A
Kevin has been remiss in not having checked it out yet. He's aiming to fix that ASAP.
If you know the name Vanessa Paradis at all, it's likely because of her contentious relationship with Johnny Depp or maybe some of her acting roles. However, she was also a very successful singer in France, having six top 10 hits. But she never really broke in the U.S., even though she is quite good. This cover wasn't a single, but I think it might be my favorite version of "I'm Waiting For The Man" https://youtu.be/-FJQQZ_sW-s?si=fGLots3hyHlkz3od
She had a hit in the UK in the late 80s with Joe Le Taxi. That’s how I know her. I must confess that I haven’t really listened to a lot else except this track from 2013 which features Carl Barat of The Libertines.
https://youtu.be/pcy4h6qrj_4?si=nXdLhJ33NWO2pkYG
My week turned out to be all about Tchad Blake. I searched for info on recording drums in small spaces which led to a fantastic 2007 Q&A with him at a site about gear. If you don't know of Tchad Blake, check out the fantastic run of records he worked on with Mitchell Froom from 1992-2002, including records by Los Lobos (Kiko), Latin Playboys, American Music Club, Peter Case, Elvis Costello, Sheryl Crow, Crowded House, Pearl Jam, Ron Sexsmith, The Del Fuegos, Richard Thompson, and Suzanne Vega.
That led to me down a Blake/Froom rabbit hole:
* Suzanne Vega - 99.9 - One of my favorite records ever and a big influence on how I thought about mutating roots music going forward.
* Stina Nordenstam - ThIs Is Stina Nordenstam - I hadn't heard of this artist, but many in the Q&A asked about Blake's work on this record. She's a Swedish singer best known for one of her songs being in Baz Luhrman's Romeo + Juliet. It's a terrific late-night record, like 99.9's chill little sister.
* Lisa Germano - Slide - I know Lisa's work, but didn't know of this record. It's well worth checking out.
I also hung out with On Repeat favorite Matty Carlson, who stayed with my wife and I as he passed through the southwest on tour. Great time!
Kevin, crazy timing on your including Cincinnati's The Greenhornes on the playlist. I haven't thought of them in forever until yesterday, when a friend in Milwaukee mentioned going to one of Jack White's small club shows. I told her how Jack and Meg occasionally hung in Cincinnati in the early days as they were friends with the Greenhornes. Their drummer, Patrick Keeler, later became a member of The Raconteurs.
Looking forward to the playlist and the recommendations. Have a great week, everyone!
Did you ever listen to Mitchell Froom’s album Dopamine? Not sure if it still holds up, but I loved it back in 1998.
Yes, love it! It's the only other record I've found in the vein of the Latin Playboys records.
Blake's run was terrific, without question. Have you heard Tonio K's "Notes from the Lost Civilization"? It's one of the great "lost" albums (IMO) from that era, and Blake worked on that one too.
I didn't know about that, thanks for the heads up! Adding it to the list now.
(me furiously scribbling down notes to check these records out)
You had me at American Music Club! IMO, Mark Eitzel is one of the most underrated songwriters of our time. "San Francisco" just missed the cut for our 100 Best Records series.
Love that you and Matty were able to connect! And thank you for hosting him as well! Those IRL connections make me really happy.
As for Jack White, he played a "secret" show here in Madison as well...I'm pretty sure it sold out w/in minutes.
I have a couple of Grateful Dead’s songs in honor of Phil Lesh, “Box of Rain” and “Attics of My Life “. I also have been listening to “Lost in Space” by Luna.
Box of Rain is an all-timer! RIP Phil.
Great to see one of Nick Lowe’s finest on there and the new Soccer Mommy is fab. Abigail from Evergreen was last week’s A Song For Friday. Other new things that I liked were Atlas by Charlotte Jacobs, Scheduled Explosions by 2nd Grade, and A Box of Dark Roses by Mope Grooves.
I'm digging the new Soccer Mommy as well! I think I mentioned it on your post, but I got the "listen in a park" email, but didn't think it would work, so I didn't try it. Not the first time I've made the wrong call. lol.
Some Mark Lanegan and for a random cratedigger find: Car Wash Soundtrack.
Nice!
A new album by Smoke Bellow called Structurally Sound caught my ears last week. And I finally pieced together my favorite tracks from the two Smile albums. Here's my playlist:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4dCNhKHbtpjRk8lT4CbdiP?si=11c0c01ee6804768
Right on! Thanks for sharing that with everyone. I've got it on my list to listen to today.
I just revisited Propagandhi's "How to Clean Up Everything" debut LP. I realized I took for granted that there were bands like this out there, bands that stuck the middle finger up to the establishment and came prepared to defend their thesis through music. Seriously thoughtful and intelligent lyrics, albeit perhaps naive due to youth, but I came to an epiphany as to how fucking lucky I've been to find thoughtful punk music, especially in 1993 in particular.
100%
Youth of Today ripped and I really liked Propagandhi as well. I think I might have a 7" somewhere. I'll have to root through my stuff and see if I still have it.
Go give that first album a relisten if you get a chance, and read those lyrics. Not bad for a bunch of punk kids!
Everything old is new? The "new" Lone Justice album, a "lost" record by Susanna Hoffs, and the 50th anniversary box set of Bowie's Ziggy sessions all made my list this week.
Indeed! And all 3 of these are fantastic!
https://youtu.be/4nvewes8Inc?si=-He7fGOZ5eeHaw7U
This Disco mix has been On Repeat for me this week.
Nice! Good to see you back, Punit! hope all is going well with you!
Billy Joel's 'Turnstiles.' I wrote a review for another online site and came to re-appreciate every song in this collection.
And after re-watching 'The LEGO Movie:' 'Everything is Awesome' by fellow Substackers Tegan and Sara (ft. The Lonely Island).
Haha. We used to sing that line at work when things were really going sideways...
Do you have a link for the review? If so, please feel free to post it here for everyone!
As soon as it goes live, I'll have it up here (should be this week).
A few notable used albums I found:
• Lou Donaldson - Alligator Boogie
• Sam Cooke - The Best Of…
• Bob Dylan - The Times They Are A Changin’ (1965 Mono version)
• Run DMC - Raising Hell
• Steely Dan - Aja
• Buddy Holly & The Crickets - 20 Golden Greats
Picked up a 3 CD box by Nick Lowe when I was in the UK and was listening to an older tribute to Nick Lowe earlier this week so cool to see him in your set this week. As for new discoveries, I just realized that David Potts from the band Monaco (also Peter Hook & The Light) has released quute a bit of music on his own as well - here is an EP:
https://davidpottsmusic.bandcamp.com/album/run-ep
For fans of Monaco 😊
Oh nice! It will not surprise you at all to learn that I am a fan of Monaco. :)
No it doesn't surprise me at all as I know youvhave great taste 😊
"Nightclubbing" - Grace Jones
"Long Season" - Fishmans
"Endlessness" - Nala Sinephro
"The World is a Ghetto" - War
My obligatory/annual Grizzly Bear fall listens.
And that new Tyler, the Creator album that dropped today is fire
I'm on it! Clearly I've been missing out by not giving it a listen.
Celebrated my 24th birthday this past weekend and treated myself to three new records which will be on repeat for the next few weeks:
Saâda Bonaire by Saâda Bonaire
Paradigmes by La Femme
Love Deluxe by Sade
Happy belated birthday! Vinyl is a great gift.
New album releases from Pillow Fite, Orphy, and Pom Pom Squad. New singles from Great Grandpa and She's In Parties. Have a great week, Kevin!
Really enjoying Pom Pom Squad
Me, too!
Thank you! I hope yours is awesome as well.
As for the records, I'm not sure I've heard any of these? Looks like I've some homework to do! :)
I mean, I have to list the most obscure release possible to cement myself as a pretentious hipster. LOL. Actually, my Release Radar has just been on fire lately!
Lol. Awesome.
One reason to brag about living in Alberta: we have the best radio station in the world, CKUA. This morning, I was introduced to this kickass song by the band Audience: https://open.spotify.com/track/0dMEglOMHBypOGUmVId6BA?si=d344ad2c4da7484d
Thanks for the rec.! This is a new one for me. Good radio stations are truly a community asset.
Mac Band feat the McCampbell Brothers. “Roses are Red”, of course, but I love the entire album. “Stuck” (second track) is my favourite of theirs.
I have been alternating this weekend between Frank Sinatra and Miles Davis, 1955-1960. Incredible amount of quality recordings.
I love it!
Here's a few catchy recent tunes I've gotten into this past week:
Don't Mind - Tommy Newport https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8h6vQZH8gxo
can't slow down - almost monday https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2v18oySsS58
Mosquito Song - Bear Hands https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yk0_-lmToA0
Adding them now! Thanks for the recs!
While there is a ton of stuff out there, two things are really getting me right now: "Songs For A Nervous Planet" from Tears for Fears. The four new songs are such a welcome, but the live recording is wonderful. It sounds incredible. I can't wait to see the concert film. Also, Roy Hargrove's posthumous release, "Grande-Terre"; a jazz delight recorded in the late 90's after his group walked away with a Grammy Award for Beat Latin Jazz Album for "Habana".
I found that on Qobuz the other day, and am obsessed with the live version of "Break it Down Again."
Here's my weekly Substack thing. One day we'll share the same music... One day. https://open.substack.com/pub/recentanddecent/p/recent-and-decent-44?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=1z6rnh
I’ve been listening to Laura Marling’s album off the back of this. It’s incredibly beautiful. Thanks, Matt.
Yeah, it's a beaut!
Lol. Someday! :)
You had me At Greenhornes. I am enjoying the new Laura Marling, Chuck Profit, the Remasted Tweez from Slint, and still with the Tucker Zimmerman (new LP)
A remaster from Slint, you say? I'm on it!
I'm really enjoying the new Chuck Prophet as well!
Anarkia Tropikal
NEW & SHINY:
* Lone Justice 'Viva' - Maria has certainly still got it and it's great to have the whole band back. Cover of Teenage Kicks is a hoot.
* Bon Iver 'Sable,' EP - Striped of studio effects leaving the listener with pure bliss.
* Laura Marling 'Patterns in Repeat' - Looking for more bliss?
* Elias Rønnenfelt 'Heavy Glory' - I love Iceage and this is a fantastic side project by the lead singer. Eclectic and worthy of repeated listens.
* Curse's 'Another Heaven' - Early 80's, new wave time capsule. Title track is a must.
* Tears For Fears 'Songs For A Nervous Planet' Absolute, you guessed it, bliss.
POLISHED GEMS
Elvis Costello 'This Year's Model'
Paul Weller 'Stanley Road'
Neko Case 'Blacklisted'
The Flaming Lips 'Yoshimi Battle's Pink Robots'
Some great recommendations as always!
Killer list! Thank you! Huge +1 for Lone Justice. Haven't heard the new Laura Marling, but it seems to be really popular with everyone this week~
Thumbs up for "Heart of the City" and "Teenage Riot".
Been listening nonstop to Sadurn's 2022 record Radiator. Just gorgeous, minimal, folk music. Wonderful for the season
Sounds like something I'd dig!
I've been driving a bunch lately between gigs and to some other music related events/happenings so I started picking out some music related audio books to check out on the journeys. Last week I started on Alex Van Halen's new release, Brothers. I'm about half way through the 15 chapters but it's a great tribute to Ed and the musical legacy of VH.
I was fortunate enough to attend the Country Music Hall of Fame Medallion ceremony last week in Nashville. I've never listened much to Post Malone's work but seeing his tribute to Toby Keith had me investigating his catalog, so this week I've been on a Post Malone kick. I have to mention another highlight of the ceremony for me was seeing the always incredible Rodney Crowell with Emmylou Harris and Vince Gill performing the Crowell tune, “Till I Gain Control Again,”.
Lastly, I hurried back across state lines from Nashville to catch Sturgill Simpson's benefit show for disaster relief in NC. Sturgill has become a standout favorite of mine over the last few years and his shows get better and better. If you get the chance by all means go see him live! Simpson's albums are excellent but the live shows are fantastic.
https://youtu.be/Ezrb7XKPtgw?si=td-dBq2BoJUiqqiZ
Nice! I'd love to see Emmylou Harris.
This is tangential, but Jay McDowell (formerly of BR-549) now works at the Hall of Fame, and has been sharing stories of the musicians--and music history-- he's come across over on Medium.
https://medium.com/@br549jay
King Crimson, among others, on a slow week. This is the long story: https://weatheredmusic.ca
I know I already commented on the post, but this was great! And hey, 4 records the merit multiple listens isn't too shabby!
Halsey dropped her awaited album The Great Impersonator which I've been spinning a bunch. It's an eclectic blend of styles (18 tracks!) signalling a departure from her alt-pop roots and written about the toughest period of her life. Really digging Dog Years and Life of the Spider
Right on! I've been seeing a lot of write up about the record, abut haven't checked it out... yet.
Just saw the documentary - The Most Australian Band Ever - about legendary Australian punk rockers The Hard-Ons. Really great watch. Hope you can all access it one day!
https://open.spotify.com/album/33iQOg602tx2ZeDnIaA8Lo?si=xneIdjVAQhWbkYjYBnhjIQ
Nice! I hope we can too.
I have Steely Dan on Pandora in Deep Cuts mode and it keeps sending me Sade, especially the instrumentals. Also the new Joan Armatrading album is being sent by some algorithm. And still playing Jeffrey Foucault's Universal Fire album.
Can't go wrong with a little Joan Armatrading, though!
Basically the same stuff, I have not heard anything new lately
That’s okay too! We like what we like!
We’ve been on holiday since Thursday in San Francisco so I haven’t had much chance to check out the myriad of new albums released yet. Pixies, Courteeners, Soccer Mommy and Peach Pit are all on the list.
I have listened to Pom Pom Squad which I love. I’ve also listened to Ethel Cain’s Preacher’s Daughter after reading this piece.
https://open.substack.com/pub/popdeco/p/the-slow-burn-southern-gothic-dread?r=1pwf0t&utm_medium=ios
In terms of a piece of storytelling it’s tremendous!
I hope you all are having a great time out there!
Thank you! It’s been an amazing week! We are just on our way to the airport now. We went to see Lime Garden at Bottom of the Hill last night and also got to see Everyone Is Dirty who I’d not come across before. They were tremendous!
Been binging all the Meat Puppets stuff from II in 1983 to Forbidden Places in 1991....Just a fantastic, impeccable batch of records. I can't think of too many bands from the SST label who were making acid inspired country cosmic desert rock. I'm sure most of your readers are familiar with II due to it's ubiquitous performances on Nirvana's Unplugged...but Up On The Sun, Mirage, Huevos are all equally fantastic.
YES!
You probably already saw it, but on our recent 100 Best Albums project, Meat Puppets II made the cut.
https://open.substack.com/pub/thekevinalexander/p/wax-ecstatic-the-100-greatest-albums-part-three?r=3cbf2&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
The top tracks in my On Repeat playlist right now are the hidden Cher gem "I Paralyze" followed Rough Trade's "All Touch".
here's one that has crept inside my consciousness
https://open.spotify.com/track/6CePeHbXmgwna8B5dC6xKV?si=4a24f9a8b221497a
Played this on the way to work this AM, and it's really stuck with me. Kinda perfect for pre-dawn drive.
Bit of a lighter listening week last week, but...
New this week:
Delara - Shahrazad. Found this artist while perusing Spotify, and Spotify suggests that she's similar to Moyka, an artist that I enjoy a lot. I suppose there is a bit similarity in the style of music they make, at least in terms of the ethos of the instrumentation, but how they achieve it is quite different. Delara has a lot of Middle Eastern influence in her music, which makes it an interesting listen. Vocals are a bit grating at the beginning but settle down once you get to track 4 or so.
No relistens this week.
My best friend sent me a playlist called "BEST FUCKING YODELING" and you know what ok yeah, its pretty good yodeling I guess. I keep listening to it.
I did NOT have a yodeling playlist on bingo card, but that's part of what makes these discussions so fun!
As requested by SuperFan™ Kevin Alexander, here's my review of Billy Joel's Turnstiles:
https://bestclassicbands.com/billy-joel-turnstiles-review-10-31-24/
Thank you for posting this! Definitely a super fan of Write Hear!
I live in the Deep South, where it's hard to avoid Bro Country even if you listen to other music at home or in the car, because supermarkets and other stores pipe in the bros. So I'm grateful to the grocery stores here in Alabama that have reached into their Wayback Machines this week for the Corrs and other non-bro songs. Does any Irish singer have better vibrato than Andrea Corrs?
Lots of replaying (and playing for the first time) albums I'm considering for my end of year lists. This includes new albums by:
Replaying: Bodega, Bob Vylan, King Hannah, Lo Moon, SPRINTS, Grandaddy, The Peawees, Storefront Church, and several great ambient albums including Cowboy Sadness.
Playing first time: The Cure, Willie Nelson, Richard Swift, and the new/old Lone Justice.