Looking forward to digging into the playlist as there are some artists in there I'm not familiar with.
My last week has been all about revisiting Suzanne Vega (inspired by coming across her live record, An Evening of New York Songs and Stories), digging the Ambrose Akinmusire record with Bill Frisell and Herlin Riley (of Wynton Marsalis' band), and catching up with all the latest Rosy Overdrive recommendations.
Today will be all about Bowie, as it is his birthday and the anniversary of the release of Blackstar, a game-changing record for me.
Well said -- it's allowed her to be a true artist instead of being pressured to do the album-tour cycle every couple years. I just finished a good podcast interview with her from a couple years ago, and she talks about the genesis of that Carson McCullers project going back to when she was an undergrad. It's well worth a listen.
ICYMI, yesterday, they published part 2 of their list of 1993 records they listened to for the first time. I spent a lot of time on Memory Lane yesterday. If you wind up checking it out, try not to think about how fast time is screaming by.
I love Suzanne Vega. Her quirky qualities skip right into those slots in my brain for thoughts I have that maybe I sometimes should not, and puts them into overdrive.
Bowie has always been my anti-hero. But we can be heroes, just for one day.
I mentioned it on Notes, but I wound up find that copy of the Blow Momekys record and gave it a spin. Nice way to class up a bit of a dreary day up here!
Currently reading Fool The World by Josh Frank and Caryn Ganz, so a shit ton of Pixies while dotting in some Fugazi, Violent Femmes and Replacements. My real musical awakening was around the time Nirvana released Nevermind, so a lot of these bands came too soon for the 15 year old me. I wouldnt have known where to even find them as of course no internet. Its been a blast going back and listening to them over the years.
I was just listening to the Slammin' Watusis, a Chicago punk/blues/rock band that released two albums on Epic in the late-ish 1980s. This is my favorite song of theirs, which does a pretty good job of capturing what they sounded like live.
They recorded a third album for Epic that was produced by Cheap Trick's Rick Nielsen, but the were dropped from the label before it could be released when Sony bought Epic and axed a bunch of bands.
Love to see The Tubs on there. We did a fun review of that last year and felt like that album didn’t get near enough love (though I know your readers loved it). Somewhat In that lane but with a post-punk and even quasi-classic rock component to it, as I prepared for my radio show yesterday, I found myself going back to Motorbike. Coming out of what seems like a booming post-punk and noise scene in Cincinnati, Motorbike adds in some cool power pop elements. Will get your engine revved on a Monday, no pun intended. Definitely worth a spin or two (and make sure to listen all the way through - better tracks come at the middle/end). And If nothing else, it’s a rare entry into the trifecta of band name/album name/song name. https://motorbikernr.bandcamp.com/album/motorbike
Nice to see a Motorbike mention! I used to live in Cincinnati -- Phillip lived next door to us (he's a sweetheart) and Jerri did some studio work on one of my records.
I just finished Geddy Lee's My Effin' Life and loved it. So, I've been listening to all of my Rush albums in order :) It has been great and now I need to venture into Spotify to finish their discography as I fell off the bandwagon after Moving Pictures. So far, I'm finding that my younger self dismissed the "new wave" influence while my current self finds the band doing great work...
That's such a dividing line, isn't it? I came onboard with MP and rarely go back further than Permanent Waves (although I have a soft spot for 2112). I was a new wave kid, so I loved that vibe on MP and Signals.
I’m about half way through the Geddy autobiography-- I’m listening to the audiobook. Geddy is an excellent storyteller. Tons of stuff I never knew and I consider myself a Rush super fan.
I do love the bulk of their 80s stuff--it’s the production on certain albums (and songs) that hasn’t aged well. I loved Grace Under Pressure and Power Windows when they came out and now they sound tinny and overly compressed to me. Their 90s and 00s output was hit and miss but I could put together a fantastic double album with the best tracks. Clockwork Angels is still the one I return to most often of their last 8 albums.
Hi Steve - I listened to the audio book as well. It was great to hear from Geddy himself with Alex on occasion. Listening to Grace Under Pressure and Power Windows recently, they are ok as you say sound tinny and lack power. I did enjoy Clockwork Angels when it came out as it seemed they got back to their power trio roots. Cheers
Great list, and huge +1 to the Tubs. I'm already endlessly fussy as it is with lists, but I've been wondering if I didn't snub them leaving "Dead Meat" off my AOTY list...
I've been listening to lots of new releases this past week and here are a few of my favorites. First The Bamboo Fringe have a brand new album which is fantastic and I'm always surprised that very few people have discovered them so far as their roots go back to the early 1980s in Liverpool and tge Zoo label when Gerry Culligan played saxophone on Those Naughty single "Iggy Pop's Jacket" - if anyone is interested you can listen here on Bandcamp:
The past week, I've been going back in time a bit, to find some tunes that have often made me smile, dance, or help me build a wall around me so I can focus. I created a short playlist filled with them, but one of my favs on it, and maybe a tune that is on my all time favorites list, is the song Is It Any Wonder by Sophie Ellis-Bextor. I had this song on my commute playlist when I lived in Paris over a decade ago. It helped me create my own happiness bubble while in the overcrowded metro on my way to work.
And if you are a Doctor Who fan then the cover of the Doctor Who Theme by Mark Crozer might be right up your alley, and quite timely with the new episodes that have just been showing on Disney -
And if you want more classic pop from Liverpool, then James Clarke Five might be for you with a history going back to the Cherry Boys, James now has a new album in the works and here is the first single -
And I better stop now as I don't want to make people too poor but I hadn't even mentioned the new Peter Astor single or the new Jeremy Gluck album or the reissue of The Blue Orchids "The Greatest Hit (Money Mountain)" album with bonus tracks. So much great music being released with 2024 promising to be an even better year than 2023.
Sometimes that's all you need, man. Must've lsitened to the chours of "Cities In Dust" 5-6 times after reading your Note. Glad no one came by and saw me, ear pressed up against the speaker. lol.
Newish: The Messthetics, Anthropocosimc Nest (DC instrumental band with former Fugazi members)
The Tubs, Dead Meat
The Feelies, Some Kinda Love (VU covers)
Ratboys, The Window (can’t get enough of this album)
Old: The Kinks, Lola v Powerman and the Moneygoround (found a VG+ copy at a local record store)
A bunch of Brad Mehldau covers of rock songs
This may be a bit heretical in these parts, but I’m not sold on The Tubs. A little too-derivative for me- a Gang of Four/Buzzcocks/Let’s Active fantasy dream for folks my age who were too young to see any of those bands live.
Kevin, and readers....I got fed this amazing video by YT yesterday, and I can't get over it: If you like Genesis.....if you like their epic early-'70s, 17-minute "Supper's Ready," here it is....an amazing cover by a 10-year-old girl! To memorize this! To even like this at 10! And, with a great voice, and obvious musicality!
Soitanly! I forgot to draw attention to this 10-year-old singing the adult-themed lyrics, AND the apocalyptic Book of Revelation references in Peter's lyrics!
I’m enjoying the new single from Snayx, “Sink or Swim”. I am also loving the albums”Letter to Self” from The Sprints and “A Matter of Time” by Shed Seven. Going to see the latter at an instore tomorrow night. Cannot wait!
And The Buggles version (“I am a Camera”) is amazing as well. Downes/Horn wrote it while with Yes and Yes took it to new heights. Buggles’ is stripped down but a fun alternate version.
This past week, I went and checked out the music of Sleep Token; bc I hear them talked about so much. I'm not sure how I feel about it, honestly; I could nitpick at it, but I also hear the deep-sinking absolute HOOKS in songs like "Granite" and "Aqua Regia", that inspire such love from their rapidly increasing fanbase. That kinda thing, I gotta pay attention to; there's definitely something there that profoundly moves people, which is kinda...rare now?
Having a bunch of songs people like is no major trick, consider the massive spread of artists lauded in blogs every day for that.
But having songs people love; that they want played at their weddings or funerals, that they refer to in their direst moments of expression; that is another level, and they are on it.
Sorry for the book; but yeah. It was food for thought.
It's a movie about the people left at a boy's prep school over the Christmas holidays. It takes place in 1970 or so. Paul Giamatti plays the lead role: the teacher forced to stay behind and babysit. Very funny. Full of heart.
Somehwere on here I wrote up 'Local Girls.' Squeezing Out Sparks is a fave of mine. Was also fun to hear Brinsley Schwarz talk about it from the other side of the stage. Thinking about doing something nice for it's birthday.
Stumbled upon Australian band "The Chats". What a blast! Now I know where to go for garage punk that reminds me of the heyday of CBGB or The Rathskeller. On a related note, Wet Leg's cover of "Smoko" is delicious.
Also, recovered a lost diamond in Moby's "Extreme Ways". What a powerful song.
I can see that Kevin is not going to let us forget about the New Pornographers.......
The late, great Warren Zevon has been shouting his way through my temporal lobes (more so than on my iPhone). What a loss that was. He died not too long before my husband, making his last album too hard to listen to. It was listening to his other albums, lettting loose on dirges into dysfunctionality that turned me altogether into primordial screaming animal whenever we played his records and CDs. I can’t do that where I live now. I risk being locked up in a mental health ward for 72 hour observation. It ain’t that funny at all. The world’s gone way too serious.
I find it nearly impossible to find many contemporary bands, or singers, that strike me as hard as anything holder than that past 15 years (and that’s being lenient). I just don’t feel much in my gut, unless you’re a Cage the Elephant, or a reprised version of The Smashing Pumpkins. I have to go to jazz, and other genres to find things that well up my eyes, or send my brain into frenetic waves, and my heart beating warm with pleasure. Where did it all go? Am I missing something?
The older folks are dying off. They’re in their 70s and 80s. They looked so sexy when they graced the cover of vinyl albums I grew up sorting through at stores. When I made a new friend, thumbing through their personal stack told me nearly everything I needed to know about them. Will Keith Richards indeed outlive cockroaches?
Zevon rules, and IMO wrote the best opening lyric ever ("I went home with the waitress, the way I always do"). An entire story in 11 words. Keith will indeed outlive us all, even the roaches.
I have! I really liked it.
BIll Withers is soooo underrated. "Use Me" is my go to.
We should be so lucky!
Patsy Cline - I fall to pieces
Beautiful!
Looking forward to digging into the playlist as there are some artists in there I'm not familiar with.
My last week has been all about revisiting Suzanne Vega (inspired by coming across her live record, An Evening of New York Songs and Stories), digging the Ambrose Akinmusire record with Bill Frisell and Herlin Riley (of Wynton Marsalis' band), and catching up with all the latest Rosy Overdrive recommendations.
Today will be all about Bowie, as it is his birthday and the anniversary of the release of Blackstar, a game-changing record for me.
Well said -- it's allowed her to be a true artist instead of being pressured to do the album-tour cycle every couple years. I just finished a good podcast interview with her from a couple years ago, and she talks about the genesis of that Carson McCullers project going back to when she was an undergrad. It's well worth a listen.
https://www.songsommelier.com/art-of-longevity-suzanne-vega
If you didn’t see it, I recommend the Bowie doc Last Five Years.
That was well done. Saw that and the Bowie exhibit when I was on a business trip to Chicago. The two proved to be excellent compliments to the other.
Love that doc! It covered that period so well. Thanks for the suggestion.
ICYMI, yesterday, they published part 2 of their list of 1993 records they listened to for the first time. I spent a lot of time on Memory Lane yesterday. If you wind up checking it out, try not to think about how fast time is screaming by.
Those kinds of lists always amaze me. I've spent a longer period of time with some records than I have most of my friends!
I love Suzanne Vega. Her quirky qualities skip right into those slots in my brain for thoughts I have that maybe I sometimes should not, and puts them into overdrive.
Bowie has always been my anti-hero. But we can be heroes, just for one day.
Nice selections.
Happy Monday(s)! Lots of “sophisti-pop” this weekend: Hue and Cry, Simply Red and The Blow Monkeys!
I mentioned it on Notes, but I wound up find that copy of the Blow Momekys record and gave it a spin. Nice way to class up a bit of a dreary day up here!
That’s awesome. Yes, it’s very uplifting!
Just listened to Happy Mondays “Step on It”!
Currently reading Fool The World by Josh Frank and Caryn Ganz, so a shit ton of Pixies while dotting in some Fugazi, Violent Femmes and Replacements. My real musical awakening was around the time Nirvana released Nevermind, so a lot of these bands came too soon for the 15 year old me. I wouldnt have known where to even find them as of course no internet. Its been a blast going back and listening to them over the years.
Any time is a good time for a shit ton of Pixies! That book sounds like it's right up my alley. Gonna have to add it to my tbr list.
Yes! Another hard rocking art band. It’s like XTC on acid.
I was just listening to the Slammin' Watusis, a Chicago punk/blues/rock band that released two albums on Epic in the late-ish 1980s. This is my favorite song of theirs, which does a pretty good job of capturing what they sounded like live.
https://youtu.be/rzSKJIrMoas?si=3kRAbmrv7V_8L_NH
They recorded a third album for Epic that was produced by Cheap Trick's Rick Nielsen, but the were dropped from the label before it could be released when Sony bought Epic and axed a bunch of bands.
Loved this! I'll bet the shows were wild.
Love to see The Tubs on there. We did a fun review of that last year and felt like that album didn’t get near enough love (though I know your readers loved it). Somewhat In that lane but with a post-punk and even quasi-classic rock component to it, as I prepared for my radio show yesterday, I found myself going back to Motorbike. Coming out of what seems like a booming post-punk and noise scene in Cincinnati, Motorbike adds in some cool power pop elements. Will get your engine revved on a Monday, no pun intended. Definitely worth a spin or two (and make sure to listen all the way through - better tracks come at the middle/end). And If nothing else, it’s a rare entry into the trifecta of band name/album name/song name. https://motorbikernr.bandcamp.com/album/motorbike
Nice to see a Motorbike mention! I used to live in Cincinnati -- Phillip lived next door to us (he's a sweetheart) and Jerri did some studio work on one of my records.
I'm on it! Cinncinnati's music scene feels like the gift that keeps on giving lately.
I just finished Geddy Lee's My Effin' Life and loved it. So, I've been listening to all of my Rush albums in order :) It has been great and now I need to venture into Spotify to finish their discography as I fell off the bandwagon after Moving Pictures. So far, I'm finding that my younger self dismissed the "new wave" influence while my current self finds the band doing great work...
That's such a dividing line, isn't it? I came onboard with MP and rarely go back further than Permanent Waves (although I have a soft spot for 2112). I was a new wave kid, so I loved that vibe on MP and Signals.
Yes, it is the old school crew and the new school :) Although I did go see Rush for R40 :) The new music is getting through to me finally :) Cheers!!
I’m about half way through the Geddy autobiography-- I’m listening to the audiobook. Geddy is an excellent storyteller. Tons of stuff I never knew and I consider myself a Rush super fan.
I do love the bulk of their 80s stuff--it’s the production on certain albums (and songs) that hasn’t aged well. I loved Grace Under Pressure and Power Windows when they came out and now they sound tinny and overly compressed to me. Their 90s and 00s output was hit and miss but I could put together a fantastic double album with the best tracks. Clockwork Angels is still the one I return to most often of their last 8 albums.
Hi Steve - I listened to the audio book as well. It was great to hear from Geddy himself with Alex on occasion. Listening to Grace Under Pressure and Power Windows recently, they are ok as you say sound tinny and lack power. I did enjoy Clockwork Angels when it came out as it seemed they got back to their power trio roots. Cheers
Funny how that works, isn't it?
Fun playlist Kevin - got my morning going with a smile. Tubs AOTY!
This week was often guided by RIP's...
* Les McCann - 'Layers' + of course Compared To What w/ Eddie Harris (RIP Les)
Amp Fiddler - 'Waltz of a Ghetto Fly' + some PFunk naturally (RIP Amp)
* Roger Waters - 'Radio K.A.O.S.' (RIP Jim Ladd)
* Gang Of Four - 'Entertainment'
I'm happy to hear it!
Great list, and huge +1 to the Tubs. I'm already endlessly fussy as it is with lists, but I've been wondering if I didn't snub them leaving "Dead Meat" off my AOTY list...
This morning I’ve been grooving to Ali, the wonderful 2022 collaboration between Vieux Farka Toure and Khruangbin. Just sublime.
Oh, that sounds awesome! I'm off to check it out.
Made a playlist of Sonic Youth with also a load of their separate releases (63hrs worth of listening!!)... working on my own second album material and it’s fair to say it’s gonna have some SY influences in there: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6vCTu6gGgdJZJ9BIAkaQsI?si=PK0YN5_kSbO3Cy5ortmIng&pi=e-bWaZswlvSpSk
Thanks for the list! How's the record coming along?
Part of first song recorded last week and two more songs written this week... it’s probably gonna be a double when complete!!
Been on my pop kick listening to "The 20/20 Experience" and "Miss E... So Addictive"
Perfect. I love it!
Love The Treasures Of Mexico 👌.
I've been listening to lots of new releases this past week and here are a few of my favorites. First The Bamboo Fringe have a brand new album which is fantastic and I'm always surprised that very few people have discovered them so far as their roots go back to the early 1980s in Liverpool and tge Zoo label when Gerry Culligan played saxophone on Those Naughty single "Iggy Pop's Jacket" - if anyone is interested you can listen here on Bandcamp:
https://thebamboofringe.bandcamp.com/album/lighting-up-the-skies
Thank you for this! I'm really digging their sound.
Happy New Year, Kevin!
The past week, I've been going back in time a bit, to find some tunes that have often made me smile, dance, or help me build a wall around me so I can focus. I created a short playlist filled with them, but one of my favs on it, and maybe a tune that is on my all time favorites list, is the song Is It Any Wonder by Sophie Ellis-Bextor. I had this song on my commute playlist when I lived in Paris over a decade ago. It helped me create my own happiness bubble while in the overcrowded metro on my way to work.
Here's the playlist I mentioned:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7mQpG3v3oReOlKGr5jvR2z?si=537af85997804533
Happy New Year to you too! Great list and great to hear from you again. :)
And here are few new singles and EP's that have been recently released or discovered.
One is a new single by old friends in Skytone who continue in their self coined Janglewave sound -
https://skytone1.bandcamp.com/album/close-my-eyes
If you like your music with some twee and sha la la's then Den Baron has a wonderful EP for you on the cool ChaoticPop Records in Indonesia -
https://chaoticpoprecs.bandcamp.com/album/den-baron-sings-shalalalala
And if you are a Doctor Who fan then the cover of the Doctor Who Theme by Mark Crozer might be right up your alley, and quite timely with the new episodes that have just been showing on Disney -
https://markcrozer.bandcamp.com/track/theme-from-doctor-who
And if you want more classic pop from Liverpool, then James Clarke Five might be for you with a history going back to the Cherry Boys, James now has a new album in the works and here is the first single -
https://jamesclarkefive.bandcamp.com/track/whos-been-on-the-big-rock-candy
And I better stop now as I don't want to make people too poor but I hadn't even mentioned the new Peter Astor single or the new Jeremy Gluck album or the reissue of The Blue Orchids "The Greatest Hit (Money Mountain)" album with bonus tracks. So much great music being released with 2024 promising to be an even better year than 2023.
A goldmine! My poor wallet. lol.
Just a little bit of Gwen Stephani, Eve, and Missi Elliot this week.
Sometimes that's all you need, man. Must've lsitened to the chours of "Cities In Dust" 5-6 times after reading your Note. Glad no one came by and saw me, ear pressed up against the speaker. lol.
3 syllables, right?
I'm showcasing Gaadge this week. So good. I'll be back in a bit with some more "listened to lately" shares.
Right on! Am I too old to use the word "obsessed" here? Maybe, but I've definitely been into this band a lot over the last couple of weeks.
More music from Malawi. It's an African country I haven't explored much until recently.
Nice! Anyone/anything specific?
I've had this group from Malawi in heavy rotation. https://youtu.be/CFk4UT4oSBU?si=882im_Ca4HgUY7jM
Newish: The Messthetics, Anthropocosimc Nest (DC instrumental band with former Fugazi members)
The Tubs, Dead Meat
The Feelies, Some Kinda Love (VU covers)
Ratboys, The Window (can’t get enough of this album)
Old: The Kinks, Lola v Powerman and the Moneygoround (found a VG+ copy at a local record store)
A bunch of Brad Mehldau covers of rock songs
This may be a bit heretical in these parts, but I’m not sold on The Tubs. A little too-derivative for me- a Gang of Four/Buzzcocks/Let’s Active fantasy dream for folks my age who were too young to see any of those bands live.
No heresy here. We like what we like! And who knows; maybe it'll grow on you.
Son Rompe Pera
Another new one for me. I'm on it!
Kevin, and readers....I got fed this amazing video by YT yesterday, and I can't get over it: If you like Genesis.....if you like their epic early-'70s, 17-minute "Supper's Ready," here it is....an amazing cover by a 10-year-old girl! To memorize this! To even like this at 10! And, with a great voice, and obvious musicality!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4Rfb8bOhIo&list=TLPQMDgwMTIwMjR2NYvlCJ7Idw&index=3
Love it. Thank you for this!
Soitanly! I forgot to draw attention to this 10-year-old singing the adult-themed lyrics, AND the apocalyptic Book of Revelation references in Peter's lyrics!
I'm an alphabetical order kind of guy, so Hangar, Happy Mondays, Havok, Heathen and Iron Man.
I like it!
I’m enjoying the new single from Snayx, “Sink or Swim”. I am also loving the albums”Letter to Self” from The Sprints and “A Matter of Time” by Shed Seven. Going to see the latter at an instore tomorrow night. Cannot wait!
Hope the in-store is/was rad! Let us know how it went.
I’ve just got back! It was amazing, thank you.
Outside of Jeff Rosenstock’s HELLMODE (my album of the year), I’ve been revisiting saturdays at your place EP “always cloudy”
Came out last year and didn’t really pay attention to it aside from the standout song “Tarot Cards” but the rest of the EP is really quite nice!
I missed this one when it came out. I'll check it out here shortly.
It's been a Bowie and Elvis day; they share the same birthday. I also used that as an excuse to write about them briefly along with Steve Earle and Westerberg because we all share the same astrological sign (Capricorn). The essay is here: https://open.substack.com/pub/glenncook/p/four-capricorns?r=727x&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
I'm tunneling through my inbox to get to it, but I'm looking forward to giving it a closer read.
The Jayhawks " Bad Time."...... Hmmm... Big Star´s Thirteen..... I loved your playlist! :)
I'm glad you liked it! :)
Been surveying the Yes catalog. Lord help me.
Thank goodness Miter is a bad motherf--shut your mouth! I’m talking about Miter!
barely hanging on to my sanity at this point.
Don’t forget to give Drama its proper due.
Yes! Dig it, "into the lens" ...what a track. Luckily, a friend sent me a playlist with his perspective on the best stuff (includes all of Drama).
And The Buggles version (“I am a Camera”) is amazing as well. Downes/Horn wrote it while with Yes and Yes took it to new heights. Buggles’ is stripped down but a fun alternate version.
https://youtu.be/nSlkEwYHMm4?si=5D5iSDzjd_CBfT8E
What? This is great. So weird/cool that it was the buggles + part of Yes for that album. Wait, this isn't an episode of Tune Tag!
I mean, it could be, though...
Perchance, life is just one long tune tag.
On a side note, I saw on twitter that The Buggles' 'Age of Plastic" turns 44 today.
This is why Substack needs to add an unlike button.
Sorry man!
There are a lot of prog fans here. They have cool jackets and everything!
What? I never got my jacket! Who do I complain to?
File a complaint, and I'll have my ombudsman look into things.
This past week, I went and checked out the music of Sleep Token; bc I hear them talked about so much. I'm not sure how I feel about it, honestly; I could nitpick at it, but I also hear the deep-sinking absolute HOOKS in songs like "Granite" and "Aqua Regia", that inspire such love from their rapidly increasing fanbase. That kinda thing, I gotta pay attention to; there's definitely something there that profoundly moves people, which is kinda...rare now?
Having a bunch of songs people like is no major trick, consider the massive spread of artists lauded in blogs every day for that.
But having songs people love; that they want played at their weddings or funerals, that they refer to in their direst moments of expression; that is another level, and they are on it.
Sorry for the book; but yeah. It was food for thought.
Definitely a rare commodity these days.
Books/thoughful comments always welcome. :)
I’ve just become obsessed with this Nigerian organist named Mamman Sani. Came across him in a spiritual jazz/creative inspo playlist and his music just really put me in a spell. Check it out! https://open.spotify.com/track/2Ch7RMsIezllaocxKxqw2X?si=kBG00zd5RXuHhMyZsMmw8Q
I'm on it!
I watched the Holdovers this weekend, and now I can't stop listening (or singing in my head) to Labi Siffre. https://open.spotify.com/album/5sFwr2JkKjNf46waqdF8KR?si=iGkGV9nFR-a_dpbgEGCehw
Will check this out shortly! I have a feeling this is a dumb Q, but what's the Holdovers about?
It's a movie about the people left at a boy's prep school over the Christmas holidays. It takes place in 1970 or so. Paul Giamatti plays the lead role: the teacher forced to stay behind and babysit. Very funny. Full of heart.
Echo and the Bunnymen and Bad Brains. Kind of a strange weekend.
That combo is wild, and I'm 100% here for it.
My kid watches « Outer Banks ». Young strapping character wearing Bad Brains T-shirt. Ehhhhh????
I ended up back in 1979 after the first two albums on this list turned 25 on Friday:
Joe Jackson/Look Sharp!
Elvis Costello and the Attractions/Armed Forces
XTC/Drums and Wires
Graham Parker/Squeezing Out Sparks
Somehwere on here I wrote up 'Local Girls.' Squeezing Out Sparks is a fave of mine. Was also fun to hear Brinsley Schwarz talk about it from the other side of the stage. Thinking about doing something nice for it's birthday.
Obviously, that should sat 45 instead of 25. Bad look for the Math Bowl coach...
The quartet of supposed angry young British men. All four might make my top 20 albums of all time list.
Stumbled upon Australian band "The Chats". What a blast! Now I know where to go for garage punk that reminds me of the heyday of CBGB or The Rathskeller. On a related note, Wet Leg's cover of "Smoko" is delicious.
Also, recovered a lost diamond in Moby's "Extreme Ways". What a powerful song.
I can see that Kevin is not going to let us forget about the New Pornographers.......
Lol. This is true.
The late, great Warren Zevon has been shouting his way through my temporal lobes (more so than on my iPhone). What a loss that was. He died not too long before my husband, making his last album too hard to listen to. It was listening to his other albums, lettting loose on dirges into dysfunctionality that turned me altogether into primordial screaming animal whenever we played his records and CDs. I can’t do that where I live now. I risk being locked up in a mental health ward for 72 hour observation. It ain’t that funny at all. The world’s gone way too serious.
I find it nearly impossible to find many contemporary bands, or singers, that strike me as hard as anything holder than that past 15 years (and that’s being lenient). I just don’t feel much in my gut, unless you’re a Cage the Elephant, or a reprised version of The Smashing Pumpkins. I have to go to jazz, and other genres to find things that well up my eyes, or send my brain into frenetic waves, and my heart beating warm with pleasure. Where did it all go? Am I missing something?
The older folks are dying off. They’re in their 70s and 80s. They looked so sexy when they graced the cover of vinyl albums I grew up sorting through at stores. When I made a new friend, thumbing through their personal stack told me nearly everything I needed to know about them. Will Keith Richards indeed outlive cockroaches?
Zevon rules, and IMO wrote the best opening lyric ever ("I went home with the waitress, the way I always do"). An entire story in 11 words. Keith will indeed outlive us all, even the roaches.
John Coltrane Bye Bye Blackbird, 2 song CD from 1964 Stockholm concert.
This one is a groiver!! https://open.spotify.com/track/2xxMXbsjhqPzTYAclUOQlI?si=XRHK8V-9Qs6agTkOXAq4mg