Good morning! Welcome to each of you who joined us this past week! Looking for a place to share the music you love with like-minded people? You’re in the right spot.
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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:
Looking for a holiday playlist? I got you covered. Click here.
Now it’s your turn.
What caught your ear this week? How are your AOTY lists coming along? Any upcoming releases or shows you’re excited about?
Good Morning from the left coast. I have a problem with Best of the year lists. It is the word best. I prefer favorite. So one of my ear candy sources this week is my favorite album of the year list. Here is what has been in my ears:
My week ended up being all about the Mellow Mafia: Danny Kortchmar (guitar), Russ Kunkel (drums), Leland Sklar (bass) and Waddy Wachtel. I've been on a tear with Jackson Browne lately and my week started with some of his deep cuts. I remembered the Immediate Family documentary and watched that (it's very good, I highly recommend it). That led me through a tour of Linda Ronstadt, Warren Zevon, and Carole King records (I'm stating the obvious, but good lord, is Tapestry one banger after another!). What a band!
The main new record I spent time with is Mary Timony's Untame The Tiger, thanks to Kevin's playlist last week. I also posted on Bluesky about some new tracks I dug last night:
Lost of background listening, but more focused on watching the BTS of the making of Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?" It's truly wondrous to see so many people come together in 1984 and this year it's really to pay tribute to those not here: Rick Parfitt, Dennis Thomas, George Michael, Paula Yates, Trevor Horn's wife Jill Sinclair, Sinead O'Connor and Liam Payne.
Yes, there are quite a few with the Band Aid , Live Aid and Live 8 accounts. Apparently, those clips translate in $$ for the trust fund, according to Geldof. It's always good to see him and Midge passionate about it as they get into their elder statesmen years - which wasn't the case when I spoke to them separately in the early '90s (and who could blame them).
Could not get on the highway, so driving across town on surface streets for the way home, listening to Nile's (semi-) new album, The Underworld Awaits Us All. Technical death metal, on the Egyptology tip. Like most of its ilk, I have to get past the guttural death growls, but also like most of its ilk, the m************ can play.
Earlier in the week, I broke in Amyl and the Sniffer's new one, Cartoon Darkness. I am finding "Chewing Gum" to be quite the earworm.
Played Band on the Run yesterday, while shopping for a Christmas tree with the wife.
You know the story about "Picasso's Last Words," and Dustin Hoffman?
Listened to Witch Mountain's Cauldron of the Wild several times over the course of 2 days last week. They're a pretty good Doom metal band with an amazing gal singer, by the name of Uta Plotkin. Like 'em better than Windhand, which is saying something. South of Salem is really good too.
The other thing from last week was Hat Factory 93, alternate versions of songs from Rodan's legendary Rusty album....
Great post as always,Norman! Thank me of my coworkers turned me onto Kerala Dust; they’re one of her faves, and I can see why. I really like their sound.
I just took my youngest to see Machine Girl last night. A very hybrid electronic/punk/hardcore fusion. It’s high energy, face melting stuff that I had assumed was using a drum machine but it is in fact handled by a very human drummer.
Fantastic playlist this week, Kevin. I absolutely love it! Mill Town Brothers takes me right back to my school days and I really like the Ryli track.
I feel so behind on new releases! I do like this one from The Velvet Hands. They are a great band and I’ve enjoyed pretty much everything they’ve released.
I fell to sleep a couple of nights this past week to Sinatra's "September of My Years". Man, that thing is a classic. My buddy and I have been reeling in the wonder of The Osmonds 1972 classic, "Crazy Horses". Yes, it is a trip that defies historical perceptions. BUT, it is Linkin Park's "From Zero" that is dominating my listening time. The new album with Emily Armstrong is fantastic and fits very well into the compendium of a catalog that clearly gives them a top slot amongst the 21st centuries hard rock bands.
Timely indeed!
Kokomo - The Beach Boys
I love the Beach Boys and this song
Pickaxe from Washington DC: https://pickaxe.bandcamp.com/album/provocateur
Thanks for the link! I’m on it!
Good Morning from the left coast. I have a problem with Best of the year lists. It is the word best. I prefer favorite. So one of my ear candy sources this week is my favorite album of the year list. Here is what has been in my ears:
1. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4zNmcmNcsMF8AqSzC7QFk7?si=f03ed43d8b47413a
2. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/71PrDfTT9eNSnK4nHDJCqx?si=fa1f541b181b4dcd
3. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3vA3HyEo6d5VY7WiLf9EFf?si=5ec033873f4b4edd
Great lists as always! That Texas record is fantastic. When I first saw it, I wasn’t sure what I’d be getting into, but man…
I agree with you about Texas …
I've been listening to Les Mis from start to finish.
(singing to myself)
Master of the house/doling out the charm/He’s Ready with a handshake and an open palm
A terrific song. I've seen the show so many times, I've lost count.
Picked up the RSD John Trudell release. Been on repeat.
My week ended up being all about the Mellow Mafia: Danny Kortchmar (guitar), Russ Kunkel (drums), Leland Sklar (bass) and Waddy Wachtel. I've been on a tear with Jackson Browne lately and my week started with some of his deep cuts. I remembered the Immediate Family documentary and watched that (it's very good, I highly recommend it). That led me through a tour of Linda Ronstadt, Warren Zevon, and Carole King records (I'm stating the obvious, but good lord, is Tapestry one banger after another!). What a band!
Some kind soul made a playlist of songs included in the movie: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6bWbvfVDp77VGOKZYMWdJH?si=54fca329445d43c6
And check out this smoking live version of Running On Empty:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNmIbSre7Tw
The main new record I spent time with is Mary Timony's Untame The Tiger, thanks to Kevin's playlist last week. I also posted on Bluesky about some new tracks I dug last night:
https://bsky.app/profile/dpurcell.bsky.social
Looking forward to the playlist and your picks, as always. Have a great week, everyone!
Thanks for the links/recs! Always a good time for a little Zevon. Untame the Tiger is a great record all the way around.
Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving.
Mostly relaxing jazz on shuffle this weekend. Also played a lot of flute inspired Bard music.
Starting off Monday with the chats and refused.
The Chats and Refused are a hard left from relaxing jazz and flutes. I hope you didn't hurt anything when you pulled those G's.
lol.
There was a momentary blackout.....lol
ohhhh, I have not heard "kinky Afro" in a loooong while. Here's what's hot on my list this week.
Soccer Mommy: Lucy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R__JHJFTw9s The best song about the devil in recent memory
Bob Moses: Tearing Me Up https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4oUeqOkb90 Sorta ominous, but a catchy beat
Bryan Ferry: Loop De Li https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6a0_ko3Vr68 If you like Roxy Music . . .
Killers: The Man https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3xcybdis1k The best Killers song next to “All These Things . . .”
Modest Mouse: Sugar Boats https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxnO8SXQmpo&list=PLt-Q7jrqHYjDkrmhp06TZeaF3EAIM26gZ. Sounds like a traveling carnival.
That’s a great mix!
Really like Aztec Camera and if I remember correctly the b-side to The Crying Scene had a wonderful cover of Time After Time.
Here are a few things I have been listening to recently and have added to my wish list for the next Bandcamp Friday later this week:
Several Versions of covers of New Order's "The Village" by David Potts -
https://davidpottsmusic.bandcamp.com/album/the-village
A new Ep by favorites Armstrong -
https://armstrong2.bandcamp.com/album/paper-cups-4-songs-extended-player-ep-brand-new-december-2024
And 2 new songs by Olivia Tremor Control -
https://oliviatremorcontrol.bandcamp.com/track/the-same-place
https://oliviatremorcontrol.bandcamp.com/track/garden-of-light
And sad to hear about the loss of Will Cullen Hart a few days ago.
Good question! I could swear I had The Crying Scene either on CD or cassette single. I’ll see if I can find it.
I have been listening to a lot of the modern progressive rock duo Days Between Stations.
Judas Priest: Painkiller, full album. 2nd listen right now.
🤘🤘🤘
Lost of background listening, but more focused on watching the BTS of the making of Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?" It's truly wondrous to see so many people come together in 1984 and this year it's really to pay tribute to those not here: Rick Parfitt, Dennis Thomas, George Michael, Paula Yates, Trevor Horn's wife Jill Sinclair, Sinead O'Connor and Liam Payne.
I keep seeing that on social media (Bananarama in particular have been talking it up), and have been meaning to look for it.
Yes, there are quite a few with the Band Aid , Live Aid and Live 8 accounts. Apparently, those clips translate in $$ for the trust fund, according to Geldof. It's always good to see him and Midge passionate about it as they get into their elder statesmen years - which wasn't the case when I spoke to them separately in the early '90s (and who could blame them).
Broken Boy by Cage The Elephant
Maverick Sabre's great new album "Burn The Right Things Down" 🔥 https://open.spotify.com/album/1JSZJAKqy7yg6ho9sXXyq2?si=5gMYAdYPSwi1LZhoe1L0HA
P.S. nice playlist btw! Really enjoyed especially the 9th song
Right on! I’m happy to hear it. 😀
Two new songs on heavy rotation for me this week:
Loose Ends - Half Moon Run https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ihy7ZhNFLiw
Any Time Soon - Ten Fe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxwkap947V0
These are both new ones for me. I’m on it!
Weezer - OK Human
Gotan Project - La Revancha del Tango
Lee Scratch Perry & The Upsetters - Super Ape
This morning, “Light Up The Night” by The Brothers Johnson was spinning on my turntable. My response to a cold and gloomy Monday morning 😉
Brothers Johnson always heat things up!
Kinda obsessed with Shaboozey
Same! Check out Brittney Spencer and Joy Oladokun as well. “Observations from a Crowded Room” is terrific.
Could not get on the highway, so driving across town on surface streets for the way home, listening to Nile's (semi-) new album, The Underworld Awaits Us All. Technical death metal, on the Egyptology tip. Like most of its ilk, I have to get past the guttural death growls, but also like most of its ilk, the m************ can play.
Earlier in the week, I broke in Amyl and the Sniffer's new one, Cartoon Darkness. I am finding "Chewing Gum" to be quite the earworm.
Played Band on the Run yesterday, while shopping for a Christmas tree with the wife.
You know the story about "Picasso's Last Words," and Dustin Hoffman?
Listened to Witch Mountain's Cauldron of the Wild several times over the course of 2 days last week. They're a pretty good Doom metal band with an amazing gal singer, by the name of Uta Plotkin. Like 'em better than Windhand, which is saying something. South of Salem is really good too.
The other thing from last week was Hat Factory 93, alternate versions of songs from Rodan's legendary Rusty album....
Cartoon Darkness rips!
Like a chump, I missed Asutralian Music Month (November), so here is what I listen to down here a bit https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5qbtfKaXdL7PH5AQYgxG69?si=ec2fe5003e334239
Hunter and Collectors is a name I haven’t heard in a while! “Reptile” is an all-timer, IMO.
A bit of the Beatles and a whole lot of other stuff. https://weatheredmusic.ca
Great post as always,Norman! Thank me of my coworkers turned me onto Kerala Dust; they’re one of her faves, and I can see why. I really like their sound.
I just took my youngest to see Machine Girl last night. A very hybrid electronic/punk/hardcore fusion. It’s high energy, face melting stuff that I had assumed was using a drum machine but it is in fact handled by a very human drummer.
Love that your taking your kid(s) to shows!
Fantastic playlist this week, Kevin. I absolutely love it! Mill Town Brothers takes me right back to my school days and I really like the Ryli track.
I feel so behind on new releases! I do like this one from The Velvet Hands. They are a great band and I’ve enjoyed pretty much everything they’ve released.
https://open.spotify.com/track/4w6qfQQpQTIxn8mjgEle5j?si=aiQb9CXfR96wfJAxKVVFIA&context=spotify%3Aalbum%3A183hkxFchqIHTBmrT28BQj
I’ve been listening to Chaos to the Fly, Grian Chatten’s solo album from last year which has great wintery vibes.
I also made this playlist last year which I’ve broken out again. It’s mostly not Christmas tunes (hence the name) but just feels right for the season.
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7ujE2ODHqHzeYV6kwW3NJc?si=hRWXAKQPSWSFgtNhhHu33Q&pi=e-afbhC2OZTsSd
Thank you, Lou! And thanks also for the lists! I’ll be cueing up Not Christmas here shortly.
The Hold Steady are growing on me. The vocals are interesting lyrically but they also kind of hold the rest of the band together musically.
Also "Masoko Tanga". Where could The Police have gone if they followed the reggae thread?
I fell to sleep a couple of nights this past week to Sinatra's "September of My Years". Man, that thing is a classic. My buddy and I have been reeling in the wonder of The Osmonds 1972 classic, "Crazy Horses". Yes, it is a trip that defies historical perceptions. BUT, it is Linkin Park's "From Zero" that is dominating my listening time. The new album with Emily Armstrong is fantastic and fits very well into the compendium of a catalog that clearly gives them a top slot amongst the 21st centuries hard rock bands.
I'm listening with an eye on my end-of-the-year list and with an eye towards writing about a few more albums before then. Very non-specific, I know.
But also says a ton! 😀
Mostly, I’m just curious what your year-end’s gonna look like. I *think* I can fill a few blanks, but that’s about it.
Yeah, you probably have a few of them nailed.