Good morning! Welcome to each of you who joined us over 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.
It’s great to have you here.
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? Some yard sale finds? Are there any upcoming releases or shows you’re excited about?
So whatcha got? Share your thoughts in the comments!
📻📻📻
P.S. Have you seen this yet? Some of your favorite music writers got together and wrote about your favorite records. Check it out!
I used to be a professor at Kent State University. I was catching up with one of my closest friends on faculty who mentioned, "Oh, I hung out with Don Dixon on Saturday." WHAT? Turns out that Marti has family in Canton, OH and they moved there many years ago. Unfortunately, the stars never aligned for us to meet before I left KSU, which is probably fine since I might've gone all Chris Farley on him. "Rem...member when you produced REM? That was awesome."
Cola - The Gloss via Senor Fix. Missed this release, thanks for the reminder!
Temples - discography. Probably not a new band for a few folks here, but a new to me band. Lots to like!
Wand - Vertigo singles. Jj drops! Slow + strings.
Hooveriii - Quest for Blood. Not really a new record, is actually Hooveriii’s first release. Must have been published on 42024 officially. Very stripped down and rough, much fun to listen to this record and then Pointe (2023 release). Things have changed!
Pond - Stung! New record! It’s Pond, they have made yet another solid album of goodish music.
Overripe:
Them Crooked Vultures. I would do anything for more TCV.
Nirvana - Bleach. Matt Fish kicked this week off with an excellent look back at Nirvana’s first record. I was young and impressionable when I met Nirvana Nevermind. I was Idolizing Bon Jovi. Nevermind changed my ears and my mind. I ditched glam-rock for grunge. Was over-the-moon when I found Bleach not long after Nevermind earned its way into my tape collection.
Kal Marks - My Name is Hell + Universal Care. My Name is Hell earned a rightful place in my AOTY list in 2022 and finds its way back into my ears on a regular basis.
Metallica - Master of Puppets thru Black album. When I am sick of the voices in my head dominating the conversation, I will queue Ride the Lightening thru …And Justice for All. Slight deviation this time around. The Black Album is the edge of the cliff where Metallica loses me, but I do still love that record so. You know I’m into it when i start doing my Lars Ulrich drunken drumming improv.
Depeche Mode - 101. Some guy, not naming names - but might be connected to this post - made a few compelling reasons to give this a spin. I give in.
Cory Hanson - Western Cum. Released a year ago, one of my fave records.
Beck - Odelay. 28 years.
Radiohead - In Rainbows. Yet another substackerer with an excellent article about an album I absolutely adore. IR is my favourite Radiohead. If you haven’t tried out disc 2, Last Flowers to the Hospital is a treat. Spawned the greatest cover song of all time (Nude): https://vimeo.com/1109226
Weezer - the Blue Album. Substack is getting dangerous, yet another ‘stacker had an essay about Buddy Holly. Only In Dreams is elite tier along with Say It Ain’t So.
Jack White projects (solo, The White Stripes, The Dead Weather, and The Raconteurs). Always rock and roll; all the time.
AOTY:
KING HANNAH - Big Swimmer | IDLES - Tangk | THE SMILE - Wall of Eyes | BETH GIBBONS - Lives Outgrown. Ears happily ingested my shortlist. There are probably more not named; there will be more added later this year. You are what your ears eat.
Also saw that Lame Drivers EP and enjoying. Recently stumbled onto a Seattle band called Beautiful Freaks who have a record coming next month. Their bandcamp page lists basically every guitar-based genre as a tag, but I find it just great straightahead rock and enjoying this one especially — https://fr3aks.bandcamp.com/track/loser-sellouts
The New Orleans-inspired, Canadian-based group Bywater Call has released one album and will soon release another. Their sound has a heady groove that impresses me.
Also had Wussy in rotation after realizing they’re coming back soon (or so says a recent post). Featured them on my radio show yesterday (https://spinitron.com/WOWD/pl/19145701/Sunday-Midday) as one of the most underappreciated bands in indie rock and have had “teenage wasteland” and “beautiful” from the incredible record Attica, well, on repeat. https://wussy.bandcamp.com/album/attica
Busy week last week prepping for a new episode of the Will’s Band of the Week podcast. Listened to new albums from Cola, DIIV and Kelley Stoltz. The Cola album was far and away my favorite of the three.
I hadn't heard this set before. Berry takes his '50s classics and reinterprets them in the heavy late stage psychedelia of the late 60s. It's heavy, man. ☮️🎸 (if you skip over the inane "My Ding A Ling" anyway) The extended Johnny B Goode jam is esp good, imo. It seems to me Berry's the only early rock and roll artist who successfully made the transition to the 60s, musically and psychologically -- but then again, Berry seems to have been overall more savvy to popular taste, so not that surprising.
I've been researching the Toronto Festival because the story of it having inspired John to quit the Beatles a week after the Plastic Ono Band plays the festival is one of the many things about the story of The Beatles that doesn't add up and I want the truer truth for the podcast, if I can suss it out. The whole story of the festival is interesting anyway, and discovering this set by Berry was a bonus.
To be fair, I expect my ding-a-ling is a whole different experience when you’re stoned out of your mind in a crowd of people who are also stoned out of their minds at the Toronto Peace festival, then it is listening to it at home by myself… context is everything. 😎
One more - it’s quite a summer for “desert blues”. Mdou Moctar getting a ton of attention, and Tinariwen is on tour. But Etran de l’Air (also from Agadez Niger, which is Mdou’s hometown) are amazing and on tour. Feels like a must-see if you like guitars. Happily for me both Etran and Mdou come to DC this week. Perfect summer trance and dance music — https://etrandelair.bandcamp.com/album/agadez
Looking forward to digging into the playlist as always. John Hiatt and the original "Superman" -- good stuff! I was busier than usual last week so my listening was all over the map. Highlights were:
* Soft Science - Lines, thanks to Kevin's recommendation.
* Bodega - Our Brand Could Be Yr Life - ditto.
* Stewart Copeland - Rumblefish soundtrack. This is one of the records in my mental box of "this sounds like nothing else and I want to spend time in that world."
* Overlooked from Kevin's playlist a couple weeks ago is "Monument City Lights, 1973" by Kate Ceberano, Steve Kilbey and Sean Sennett. Has Kilbey been associated with anything that isn't good to great?
* I mentioned this in a comment over the week, but it's worth repeating: the Kiss The Future documentary, about the war in Sarajevo and U2's role in trying to uplift the people there, is fantastic.
Have a great week, everyone. Looking forward to your recommendations, as always.
I'm happy to hear you're digging the Soft Science & BODEGA records! Sooo good. If Kilbey's been associated with something that bad, I haven't heard it.
I caught Matt Maeson ft. Lana Del Ray Hallucinogenics on the radio last night on my way home from my weekly group meetup. I had forgotten about Matt Maeson and how obsessed I was with this song when it came out. https://youtu.be/wy9sXy5oHjw?si=fyycCLCAns1fOaNU
PS: love the graphic at the end! Yesterday was also a paper grading day for the class I teach. Out of 13 papers submitted, 7 used AI. Not counting the one that only came in at 7%. One of the 7 was only 26%, and one was 56% AI and 54% regularly plagiarized. The rest were 80-100%.
Any play list that opens with FNM is a win for me!
NEW & EXCEPTIONALLY SHINY
Pond 'Stung' - Phantasmagorical! Not sure if this analogy will make sense to anyone but me but, it's as if the entire Heavy Metal soundtrack fell in a blender with The Lemon Twigs.
The Mysterines 'Afraid Of Tomorrows' - BRMC + (Wolf Alice - keys)
Good Looks 'Loved Here For Awhile' - Occasionally Pitchfork is right.
I'm glad to see the happy coincidence with the original Superman. I listened to Lifes Rich Pageant last week and went down a rabbit hole to find out the source and translation of the sample at the beginning of R.E.M.'s version from...a Japanese pull-string Godzilla doll?
"From Out of Nowhere" is a fantastic FNM song. I gravitate toward "Angel Dust" as their greatest work, but a lot of their first album with Patton is just amazing.
I’ve been spinning Interpol’s Antics album on repeat all week. Seeing some posts about its 20 year anniversary I decided to give it a spin again. I was surprised at how good the album is. I did not remember it being this good. So it’s kind cool to how we receive different music at certain times in our lives.
I might be in the minority here; but I don’t think Interpol has released a bad record. Turn On the Bright Lights and Antics are top-tier, but Our Love To Admire thru The Other Side of Make Believe are all above average (I am the only one responsible for my good AND/OR bad music takes).
I'm still making my way through it (busy week here), but already, I'm digging DEADLETTER, Ceramic, Cucamaras, who were all new to me. Great playlist, thanks for putting it together!
I scored a milk crate of albums at an estate sale last Thursday for $20. It had several records that I already have copies of but it contained several that, oddly enough, I do not have in my collection. Of that batch there was a first edition of my all time favorite AC/DC album, High Voltage! What other band on this planet can put a bagpipe solo in a hard rock song?
Here's the other top finds from that crate:
Rush | Exit...Stage Left
What a record! This was on constant rotation when I was a teen and the drum solo on this version of YYZ helped cement my decision to pursue playing drums professionally and work in the music industry. How many around the globe did the fabulous Neil Peart contribute that same sentiment to?
Van Halen | OU812
Alex Van Halen was another major component to my formative years behind a drum set. The first time I heard OU812 I thought it should have been combined with the album 5150 for a double album. That would have meant 4 years between the band's amazing 1984 and the release of OU812 however, 5150 and OU812 compliment each other well and we waited close to 4 years for them to release For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge. While keys played a bigger role in the band's writing there's no major distinction in the band's signature guitar sound until Eddie had mostly developed his 5150 line of amps and his EVH guitars for 1991's For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge.
Bob Dylan At Budokan
I was glad to find this in the batch as I just saw Dylan last night on the Outlaw Festival and it was great to listen to over the weekend on the lead up to the last night's show.
Robert Plant | Now and Zen
This record was not in the crate but already in my collection and is an all time favorite. I rotated this into my mix over the weekend since Plant was with Allison Krauss last night on the Outlaw Fest lineup. Last night marked the fifth time I've seen Plant live and his voice is as strong as ever, and he's an absolute master on stage with an incredible band of some of the strongest musicians on the road today.
Hope everybody has a great week filled with great music!
Robert Plant FOREVER !!!! Yes to everything you said, he’s the best! I’ve seen him 3 times (twice with Alison) and it gives you goosebumps for sure. Love that man, he’s a true music nerd.
Thanks! I score some of the best records and deals at estate sales. Sometimes you get home to find the records are scratched or warped but for the most part they are in great shape. Many have people's names scribbled on the covers or in the liner notes, but overall a real value!
Here's a new song I've discovered that I find pretty catchy! I know nothing about the band. I'm sure somebody out there does. The song is Clean Sheets by Ciao Lucifer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVu7Gxs9l7o
I recently upgraded to Spotify Duo, after sharing my wife's account for a long time. Now I'm starting over and it's kind of a sweet, sad, opportunity-filled experience! :-O :-)
I haven't given it a close enough listen yet, but for sure it's mixed/mastered better than the bootlegs. And a few stand-out tracks that might become "the" versions of those songs for me, though it's close with the underdubbed mixes on things like Bluebird and Let Me Roll It. We have an embarrassment of riches these days.
Widespread Panic has a new album out that I listened to on the way to work. I like the new single “Say the Name” by Floating Action. Another older track by Floating Action is “Make a Heaven out of Hell” , which is my favorite by him.
Since we're *almost* at midyear, it's one of those times when I'm trying to track the new stuff while sorting out my Top 25 of 2024 (so far) list, so my head is awhirl. There's always the chance for a very recent release (Scott Wollschleger, ahem) to shoulder its way onto the list, but it's mostly going to be stuff I've had on repeat. The list is at 29 or 30 so I'm close! But I did listen to Rui Gabriel's Compassion, really nice, and just discovered Annie Williams' Visitor, which is fantastic (hat tip to Josh Terry!). Also was preparing for a show I recorded yesterday where I reveal my Top 10 Post-Punk albums - #10 will shock you!
David and Romany Gilmour - Between Two Points. This is a cover of a song by indie band The Montgolfier Brothers. Although I haven't heard the original yet, the arrangement here fits Romany beautifully. I honestly wonder if we will see original music from her...
The guitar solo at the end leaves a bit to be desired though. While it has the bluesy fuel that David is best known for, it's quite basic and uninspiring, in my opinion.
Revisit:
Aurora - What Happened to the Heart? After listening to it in full several times I'm pretty well convinced it's the second best album of hers to date, behind A Different Kind of Human (Step II).
I am not a fan of NC State but I like their radio station FM88.1, they play a lot of little-known Indie artists, while out shopping last week are heard these two songs and liked them a lot
Bob Wills & The Texas Playboys - THE LAST TIME, Jimmy Giuffre 4 - TANGENTS IN JAZZ, THE LOST GROOVES (Rare & Previously Unissued Slices of Funk From the Vaults of Blue Note 67-70) Grant Green, Lou Donaldson, John Patton, Stanley Turrentine, Lonnie Smith & Reuben Wilson
Playlist #250 and no fanfare? That's one quarter of one thousand!
Found this song about two weeks before I left on my road trip and it became THE road trip song:
Cowboy Junkies "Miles from Our Home". Tough lyrics to sing along with (but beautiful lyrics), however I could belt out MILES FROM OUR HOME whenever the chorus came around. And that felt good.
Still deeply entrenched in my Chappell Roan fixation. Was turned onto Shaboozey last week and have found him to be the perfect background for exam marking and data entry into "the system".
A freind recommended Mama Zu, and the jury is still out, but I'll give Quilt Floor another couple listens.
Have a recent Pretenders setlist on heavy rotation as I'm seeing Chrissie and the boys on Monday. It'll be like my 8th show, but first one in Spain. Then Patti Smith a few days later.
Started out going through my 12 inch dance remixs of Bananarama. That led me down the path of some Fun Boy 3. I have an excellent version of Frankie goes to Hollywood's, "Welcome to the Pleasure Dome" which is an extended remix over 12 minutes long. And then end of the weekend listening to Scritti Politti.
Just reminiscing about the days of being a DJ at dance clubs.
Can’t get enough of C.O.F.F.I.N. Recommend Fast Love and Cut You Off. for a totally different vibe growing here in the UK (in step with BCNR, Black Midi, Squid, and others) is Ugly (UK). I’m Happy You’re Here is my fav single but their whole new EP is worth a spin imo
He is a great musician and a brilliant producer and he even produced one of the Dot Dash albums we released
Thank you 👍
I used to be a professor at Kent State University. I was catching up with one of my closest friends on faculty who mentioned, "Oh, I hung out with Don Dixon on Saturday." WHAT? Turns out that Marti has family in Canton, OH and they moved there many years ago. Unfortunately, the stars never aligned for us to meet before I left KSU, which is probably fine since I might've gone all Chris Farley on him. "Rem...member when you produced REM? That was awesome."
This would 110% have been me. lol.
Love Let's Active!!
Fresh:
Cola - The Gloss via Senor Fix. Missed this release, thanks for the reminder!
Temples - discography. Probably not a new band for a few folks here, but a new to me band. Lots to like!
Wand - Vertigo singles. Jj drops! Slow + strings.
Hooveriii - Quest for Blood. Not really a new record, is actually Hooveriii’s first release. Must have been published on 42024 officially. Very stripped down and rough, much fun to listen to this record and then Pointe (2023 release). Things have changed!
Pond - Stung! New record! It’s Pond, they have made yet another solid album of goodish music.
Overripe:
Them Crooked Vultures. I would do anything for more TCV.
Nirvana - Bleach. Matt Fish kicked this week off with an excellent look back at Nirvana’s first record. I was young and impressionable when I met Nirvana Nevermind. I was Idolizing Bon Jovi. Nevermind changed my ears and my mind. I ditched glam-rock for grunge. Was over-the-moon when I found Bleach not long after Nevermind earned its way into my tape collection.
Kal Marks - My Name is Hell + Universal Care. My Name is Hell earned a rightful place in my AOTY list in 2022 and finds its way back into my ears on a regular basis.
Metallica - Master of Puppets thru Black album. When I am sick of the voices in my head dominating the conversation, I will queue Ride the Lightening thru …And Justice for All. Slight deviation this time around. The Black Album is the edge of the cliff where Metallica loses me, but I do still love that record so. You know I’m into it when i start doing my Lars Ulrich drunken drumming improv.
Depeche Mode - 101. Some guy, not naming names - but might be connected to this post - made a few compelling reasons to give this a spin. I give in.
Cory Hanson - Western Cum. Released a year ago, one of my fave records.
Beck - Odelay. 28 years.
Radiohead - In Rainbows. Yet another substackerer with an excellent article about an album I absolutely adore. IR is my favourite Radiohead. If you haven’t tried out disc 2, Last Flowers to the Hospital is a treat. Spawned the greatest cover song of all time (Nude): https://vimeo.com/1109226
Weezer - the Blue Album. Substack is getting dangerous, yet another ‘stacker had an essay about Buddy Holly. Only In Dreams is elite tier along with Say It Ain’t So.
Jack White projects (solo, The White Stripes, The Dead Weather, and The Raconteurs). Always rock and roll; all the time.
AOTY:
KING HANNAH - Big Swimmer | IDLES - Tangk | THE SMILE - Wall of Eyes | BETH GIBBONS - Lives Outgrown. Ears happily ingested my shortlist. There are probably more not named; there will be more added later this year. You are what your ears eat.
Wand touring soon - looking fwd to the next record.
Oooh can you link the article about Weezer’s Buddy Holly?
Weirdly can’t find that article :-(8
Write one! 😈
This one?
https://sonnyrane.substack.com/p/buddy-holly
That’s the one!
Buddy must be in the air. I've been listening to him this weekend, ,too!
I gave the Cola album some listening this weekend. I’m not fully sold but I feel it’s a grower.
It’s just ok. Not something I will race back to relisten anytime soon.
Me: goes to Spotify, happily sings "stealin' yo shit, stealin' yo shit" to self while adding lots of these to heavy rotation playlist... :-D
Lol. Steal away!
HA! I'll bet the guy that connected you with 101 is an all right cat.
The Cola record is awesome.
Anytime I feel old, I remember how lucky I was to see bands like Nirvana early. 'Bleach' completely rearranged my mind.
Possible hot take: Ride the Lightning is peak Metallica. For me, 'It doesn't get any better that 'Trapped under Ice.'
For anyone scrolling the comments, Matt's article is here: https://bestmusicofalltime.substack.com/p/bleach-by-nirvana
Montell Jordan - Get It On Tonight
Oh, great pick Yana!
Also saw that Lame Drivers EP and enjoying. Recently stumbled onto a Seattle band called Beautiful Freaks who have a record coming next month. Their bandcamp page lists basically every guitar-based genre as a tag, but I find it just great straightahead rock and enjoying this one especially — https://fr3aks.bandcamp.com/track/loser-sellouts
Thanks for the link! I'm on it.
The New Orleans-inspired, Canadian-based group Bywater Call has released one album and will soon release another. Their sound has a heady groove that impresses me.
their singer sounds alot like Susan Tedeski to me, which is not a problem at all.
I'm not surprised by that. The guitar player is heavily influenced by Derek Trucks' sound.
I am 100% here for any heady groove.
Also had Wussy in rotation after realizing they’re coming back soon (or so says a recent post). Featured them on my radio show yesterday (https://spinitron.com/WOWD/pl/19145701/Sunday-Midday) as one of the most underappreciated bands in indie rock and have had “teenage wasteland” and “beautiful” from the incredible record Attica, well, on repeat. https://wussy.bandcamp.com/album/attica
Wussy returning would be wonderful.
Busy week last week prepping for a new episode of the Will’s Band of the Week podcast. Listened to new albums from Cola, DIIV and Kelley Stoltz. The Cola album was far and away my favorite of the three.
I really like the Cola record, too! Haven't given Kelley Stolz' a listen yet. Have the pod cued up for after lunch.
For anyone wanting to listen, the episode is here: https://willsband.net/6-23-24-diiv-kelley-stoltz-and-cola
Check out “Challenger Deep” by the Fogeys, a great mix of old school and modern rock.
Will do & thanks!
Lankum Live in Dublin will not be leaving the turntable anytime soon! 🍀
Nice!
Chuck Berry Live at the Toronto Peace Festival in 1969. https://open.spotify.com/album/2GBy0OhW78q2xBb5lgUJM5?si=v2JRykTQTTCP8cM8chQmhg
I hadn't heard this set before. Berry takes his '50s classics and reinterprets them in the heavy late stage psychedelia of the late 60s. It's heavy, man. ☮️🎸 (if you skip over the inane "My Ding A Ling" anyway) The extended Johnny B Goode jam is esp good, imo. It seems to me Berry's the only early rock and roll artist who successfully made the transition to the 60s, musically and psychologically -- but then again, Berry seems to have been overall more savvy to popular taste, so not that surprising.
I've been researching the Toronto Festival because the story of it having inspired John to quit the Beatles a week after the Plastic Ono Band plays the festival is one of the many things about the story of The Beatles that doesn't add up and I want the truer truth for the podcast, if I can suss it out. The whole story of the festival is interesting anyway, and discovering this set by Berry was a bonus.
I like the live version of My Ding-A-Ling. The Atlantic album Rockit is also worth checking out.
To be fair, I expect my ding-a-ling is a whole different experience when you’re stoned out of your mind in a crowd of people who are also stoned out of their minds at the Toronto Peace festival, then it is listening to it at home by myself… context is everything. 😎
Read Tim Riley’s John Lennon biography for in-depth info.
I love it! 'Truer truth' is also now my favorite phrase. :)
One more - it’s quite a summer for “desert blues”. Mdou Moctar getting a ton of attention, and Tinariwen is on tour. But Etran de l’Air (also from Agadez Niger, which is Mdou’s hometown) are amazing and on tour. Feels like a must-see if you like guitars. Happily for me both Etran and Mdou come to DC this week. Perfect summer trance and dance music — https://etrandelair.bandcamp.com/album/agadez
Love both of these! On the quieter side, I've also really been enjoying another Sahel Sounds release - Africa Yontii by Tidiane Thiam.
https://tidianethiam.bandcamp.com/album/africa-yontii
Not sure if Bombino's "Alwane" qualifies as des blues, but it changed my life ❤️❤️❤️ : https://open.spotify.com/track/5kQmbgjc91b9B05gved497?si=23948b4d89634146
Looking forward to digging into the playlist as always. John Hiatt and the original "Superman" -- good stuff! I was busier than usual last week so my listening was all over the map. Highlights were:
* Soft Science - Lines, thanks to Kevin's recommendation.
* Bodega - Our Brand Could Be Yr Life - ditto.
* Stewart Copeland - Rumblefish soundtrack. This is one of the records in my mental box of "this sounds like nothing else and I want to spend time in that world."
* Overlooked from Kevin's playlist a couple weeks ago is "Monument City Lights, 1973" by Kate Ceberano, Steve Kilbey and Sean Sennett. Has Kilbey been associated with anything that isn't good to great?
* I mentioned this in a comment over the week, but it's worth repeating: the Kiss The Future documentary, about the war in Sarajevo and U2's role in trying to uplift the people there, is fantastic.
Have a great week, everyone. Looking forward to your recommendations, as always.
I'm happy to hear you're digging the Soft Science & BODEGA records! Sooo good. If Kilbey's been associated with something that bad, I haven't heard it.
What is in my ears today
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1knJSMzp6SWo8aUh3W2hVo?si=5f98c215c6474526
I love the opening track on this one!
I dig the Fontaines' "Favourite." I didn't love the first single and they've hinted at going in a different direction, so this was reassuring.
I like this a lot. I thought Starburster was also great though. Really looking forward to the album and tour.
Lake Street Drive is growing on me lately.
The lead singer has a voice that sticks
I caught Matt Maeson ft. Lana Del Ray Hallucinogenics on the radio last night on my way home from my weekly group meetup. I had forgotten about Matt Maeson and how obsessed I was with this song when it came out. https://youtu.be/wy9sXy5oHjw?si=fyycCLCAns1fOaNU
PS: love the graphic at the end! Yesterday was also a paper grading day for the class I teach. Out of 13 papers submitted, 7 used AI. Not counting the one that only came in at 7%. One of the 7 was only 26%, and one was 56% AI and 54% regularly plagiarized. The rest were 80-100%.
lkjt;lk! Translation: fuckin' hell, that sucks.
Right?!
Thanks! Someone on Notes made several of them to share. Their name is escaping me right now; I'll look to see if I can find it!
This past weekend I listened to :
A lot of Peruvian Psychedelic Cumbia for my upcoming travels to Peru!
Fela Kuti (always near my turntable!)
Peter Walker - 'Rainy Day Raga'
+ several other songs, albums, and playlists as I went on a couple long walks.
Right on!
Any play list that opens with FNM is a win for me!
NEW & EXCEPTIONALLY SHINY
Pond 'Stung' - Phantasmagorical! Not sure if this analogy will make sense to anyone but me but, it's as if the entire Heavy Metal soundtrack fell in a blender with The Lemon Twigs.
The Mysterines 'Afraid Of Tomorrows' - BRMC + (Wolf Alice - keys)
Good Looks 'Loved Here For Awhile' - Occasionally Pitchfork is right.
willow 'empathogen' WOW! She's 23!? Indescribably good.
POLISHED GEMS
Yazoo 'Upstairs At Eric's'
Mazzy Star 'So Tonight That I Might See'
Stevie Wonder 'Songs In The Key Of Life' Top 5 album of all time?
'The Real Thing' was a huge hit in my little music nerd circle at school. I can't believe it's 35 already...
That description of 'Stung' makes sense to me! And it's got my curiosity piqued.
Your description of the new Pond; i can’t unhear as I am relistening. lol; thank you!
I'm glad to see the happy coincidence with the original Superman. I listened to Lifes Rich Pageant last week and went down a rabbit hole to find out the source and translation of the sample at the beginning of R.E.M.'s version from...a Japanese pull-string Godzilla doll?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman_(The_Clique_song)
The world needs more Matt Johnson. I can't wait for Ensoulment to come out.
I can't wait, either!
"From Out of Nowhere" is a fantastic FNM song. I gravitate toward "Angel Dust" as their greatest work, but a lot of their first album with Patton is just amazing.
Check out this short playlist of four versions of the song "The Letter": https://www.pandora.com/playlist/PL:186307849427618708:74638688
This one & 'Midlife Crisis' off of Angel Dust are my two all-time faves.
Also: Al Green covered The Letter?!
I'll share my Strawberry Fields playlist in the near future! Some nice surprises.
Yes to Midlife Crisis. Holy crap, what a great song (and album).
Adrianne Lenker, Paul McCartney (1980 and Beyond), Colin Ayres, Morrissey - 'You Are The Quarry', The Style Council.
Post-1980 Macca 💖🎸💖🎸💖
Not listened to all the playlist yet. But now I'm encouraged to continue, thanks Faith :)
This makes my whole week! I'm a passionate evangelizer for post-1980 McCartney!
The Style Council! Yes!
Been obsessed with Royel Otis’ cover of Linger by The Cranberries recently. Controversial opinion I know but I prefer it to the original 😬
Will have to check it out. 'Murder on the Dancefloor' is fab!
I love Royel Otis! It’s a great cover of an excellent song
I haven't heard it. Guess I better change that ASAP.
Hot takes are always welcome here!
ok went thru everything so far, I just want to thank all of you for filling my ears every monday for the week ahead. Thank you for the great tunes!!
Of course! I'm glad you found some new faves.
I’ve been spinning Interpol’s Antics album on repeat all week. Seeing some posts about its 20 year anniversary I decided to give it a spin again. I was surprised at how good the album is. I did not remember it being this good. So it’s kind cool to how we receive different music at certain times in our lives.
Hmmm. I don't remember it being that good, either. Might be time for me to listen with new ears as well.
I might be in the minority here; but I don’t think Interpol has released a bad record. Turn On the Bright Lights and Antics are top-tier, but Our Love To Admire thru The Other Side of Make Believe are all above average (I am the only one responsible for my good AND/OR bad music takes).
Really enjoying the Gracie Abrams’ album The Secret of Us.
Also loving the new Fontaines DC single
https://open.spotify.com/album/2bPJfnWkyJKG4gCajBXASQ?si=Oi-LY6r6THGqmTYOlA9q4A
I also made this broadly post punk playlist. I’d be interested to know any tracks I might have missed
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6Vq5H3sL5DzX1Vh36vIhZF?si=IEXnVGasSBKN1EAIrvZnSg&pi=e-ILRa94dFQmOa
This looks great! Lots of stuff in there I dig and other songs that are new to me.
I’d love to know if you find anything you like in the new stuff
I'm still making my way through it (busy week here), but already, I'm digging DEADLETTER, Ceramic, Cucamaras, who were all new to me. Great playlist, thanks for putting it together!
Oh! Amazing! Yes, DEADLETTER in particular are brilliant. I’m waiting expectantly for their album in the autumn. Glad you’re enjoying it.
This is a great list, Lou! I'm not sure I've ever heard anything by Billy Nomates other than featuring on a Sleaford Mods track?
No, I need to check out more of her stuff but I like this track a lot
Oh! And thank you!
Wyatt C. Lewis is the hot new thing coming from this part of the world. Feel-good folk music! https://open.spotify.com/track/18gQp3TFCc3ePwceom9GUi?si=fd0f6e9e049b41a5
REM’s new playlist on Spotify - REM’s Top 40 by Mills, Berry, Buck and Stipe.
Always a good time for R.E.M.! Is this one you're talking about?
https://open.spotify.com/album/6zr4V10W4826b43uMu0FAj?si=vhc9Eo_xQAW7ISQjXONU1Q
You found it! I should’ve linked to it, but didn’t think about that. I think it’’s interesting that they have all done a few things together lately.
I scored a milk crate of albums at an estate sale last Thursday for $20. It had several records that I already have copies of but it contained several that, oddly enough, I do not have in my collection. Of that batch there was a first edition of my all time favorite AC/DC album, High Voltage! What other band on this planet can put a bagpipe solo in a hard rock song?
Here's the other top finds from that crate:
Rush | Exit...Stage Left
What a record! This was on constant rotation when I was a teen and the drum solo on this version of YYZ helped cement my decision to pursue playing drums professionally and work in the music industry. How many around the globe did the fabulous Neil Peart contribute that same sentiment to?
Van Halen | OU812
Alex Van Halen was another major component to my formative years behind a drum set. The first time I heard OU812 I thought it should have been combined with the album 5150 for a double album. That would have meant 4 years between the band's amazing 1984 and the release of OU812 however, 5150 and OU812 compliment each other well and we waited close to 4 years for them to release For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge. While keys played a bigger role in the band's writing there's no major distinction in the band's signature guitar sound until Eddie had mostly developed his 5150 line of amps and his EVH guitars for 1991's For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge.
Bob Dylan At Budokan
I was glad to find this in the batch as I just saw Dylan last night on the Outlaw Festival and it was great to listen to over the weekend on the lead up to the last night's show.
Robert Plant | Now and Zen
This record was not in the crate but already in my collection and is an all time favorite. I rotated this into my mix over the weekend since Plant was with Allison Krauss last night on the Outlaw Fest lineup. Last night marked the fifth time I've seen Plant live and his voice is as strong as ever, and he's an absolute master on stage with an incredible band of some of the strongest musicians on the road today.
Hope everybody has a great week filled with great music!
Robert Plant FOREVER !!!! Yes to everything you said, he’s the best! I’ve seen him 3 times (twice with Alison) and it gives you goosebumps for sure. Love that man, he’s a true music nerd.
That's an incredible haul, Billy!
Thanks! I score some of the best records and deals at estate sales. Sometimes you get home to find the records are scratched or warped but for the most part they are in great shape. Many have people's names scribbled on the covers or in the liner notes, but overall a real value!
It's been a slow week for listening, but what I listened to was fun.
The Clash - The Clash on Broadway
Various - Early Soul Gospel. Smooth R&B/Soul/Gospel/good music.
Various - 20 Hits of the 60s
Various - 20 60's rock 'n' roll
Bob Marley and the Wailers - Gold
Kat Hasty - Treehouse Sessions
FUCK YEAH! THE CLIQUE! "Superman"! R.E.M.'s version is good, but 9 times out of 10 the original is better.
True! I'm glad you liked that. :)
Here's a new song I've discovered that I find pretty catchy! I know nothing about the band. I'm sure somebody out there does. The song is Clean Sheets by Ciao Lucifer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVu7Gxs9l7o
This is a new one to me, but I'm hoping someone'll chime in!
I recently upgraded to Spotify Duo, after sharing my wife's account for a long time. Now I'm starting over and it's kind of a sweet, sad, opportunity-filled experience! :-O :-)
I made a playlist for background / work type listening, with a decent dose of Spotify's "Afro Psychedelica" playlist. There's some gems in there! https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2kEzWu1k00UYbkUAS5zO2B?si=152a0fcaf7964fcc
You had me at LCD Soundsystem. :)
Haha, thanks! I've been super enjoying some of your picks, like "Don't Look Down" by Dehd. Such a sleeper-banger!
Been revisiting some favorites that remind me of summer:
Sharon Van Etten’s ‘Are We There,’ which feels like the road trip I never took.
Big Wild’s ‘Superdream,’ which is sparkling summer personified.
slenderbodies’ ‘komorebi,’ which is my favorite beach music.
Oh, these sound awesome! Will listen on the way home from work here shortly.
Happy Monday! Aretha Franklin’s “This Girl’s In Love with You”. Her version of Son of a Preacher Man will always be my favourite.
Better than Dusty's????? That's sayin' something.
I know. But for me, it’s all about the vocal performance. Aretha’s is hard to beat.
On Repeat Records: Your home for hot takes. :)
Right on! I'm not sure I've hear this version (or at least can't place it?). Time to change that!
She takes it to church and back 🤩
1. Saints - The Breeders, #1 song to get my 3 year old out of bed in the morning.
2. UFO! UFO! UFO! One of the BEST bands from the 70’s you never hear about anymore.
3. Two new singles by Darren Hayman’s new band, New Starts
4. Wildlife album by Wings, can’t stop.
Wild Life is an offbeat choice. Have you listened to the new release of One Hand Clapping yet?
I have One Hand in bootleg form, but I need to attack the new release, thanks for the reminder!
I haven't given it a close enough listen yet, but for sure it's mixed/mastered better than the bootlegs. And a few stand-out tracks that might become "the" versions of those songs for me, though it's close with the underdubbed mixes on things like Bluebird and Let Me Roll It. We have an embarrassment of riches these days.
I’ve never been able to get thru the 2nd side of Wild Life, love the 1st side though.
Revisit the songs, “Tomorrow” and “Dear Friend”, they hold up!
'Lights Out' is an all-timer, for sure.
Widespread Panic has a new album out that I listened to on the way to work. I like the new single “Say the Name” by Floating Action. Another older track by Floating Action is “Make a Heaven out of Hell” , which is my favorite by him.
I didn't realize they had a new record out. I'm glad you mentioned it!
Since we're *almost* at midyear, it's one of those times when I'm trying to track the new stuff while sorting out my Top 25 of 2024 (so far) list, so my head is awhirl. There's always the chance for a very recent release (Scott Wollschleger, ahem) to shoulder its way onto the list, but it's mostly going to be stuff I've had on repeat. The list is at 29 or 30 so I'm close! But I did listen to Rui Gabriel's Compassion, really nice, and just discovered Annie Williams' Visitor, which is fantastic (hat tip to Josh Terry!). Also was preparing for a show I recorded yesterday where I reveal my Top 10 Post-Punk albums - #10 will shock you!
I'll keep an eye out in my podcast queue! When does it go up?
New this week:
David and Romany Gilmour - Between Two Points. This is a cover of a song by indie band The Montgolfier Brothers. Although I haven't heard the original yet, the arrangement here fits Romany beautifully. I honestly wonder if we will see original music from her...
The guitar solo at the end leaves a bit to be desired though. While it has the bluesy fuel that David is best known for, it's quite basic and uninspiring, in my opinion.
Revisit:
Aurora - What Happened to the Heart? After listening to it in full several times I'm pretty well convinced it's the second best album of hers to date, behind A Different Kind of Human (Step II).
Antique Malled:
Hemplennium cd (Seattle HempFest comp. incl Merle and Jerry)
Far Out Man cd(Tommy Chong movie soundtrack)
Listening to:
Don't Kick Her In The Butt by Bobby Taylor and Carolyn Majors (from Far Out Man soundtrack)
I am not a fan of NC State but I like their radio station FM88.1, they play a lot of little-known Indie artists, while out shopping last week are heard these two songs and liked them a lot
Ginger Root - Loneliness
Micelf - Callus
Bob Wills & The Texas Playboys - THE LAST TIME, Jimmy Giuffre 4 - TANGENTS IN JAZZ, THE LOST GROOVES (Rare & Previously Unissued Slices of Funk From the Vaults of Blue Note 67-70) Grant Green, Lou Donaldson, John Patton, Stanley Turrentine, Lonnie Smith & Reuben Wilson
Crumbs new album!
Nice!
Playlist #250 and no fanfare? That's one quarter of one thousand!
Found this song about two weeks before I left on my road trip and it became THE road trip song:
Cowboy Junkies "Miles from Our Home". Tough lyrics to sing along with (but beautiful lyrics), however I could belt out MILES FROM OUR HOME whenever the chorus came around. And that felt good.
I think that's the only line I know well enough to sing as well. Maybe that's all we need?
No fanfare for 250...maybe for 300?
I can't stop listening to the new Sadler Vaden album, Dad Rock.
Also, I finally got around to the new Cloud Nothings - your top albums so far post was the last push I needed.
Right on! What'd you think?
Dug it; will listen more.
Still deeply entrenched in my Chappell Roan fixation. Was turned onto Shaboozey last week and have found him to be the perfect background for exam marking and data entry into "the system".
A freind recommended Mama Zu, and the jury is still out, but I'll give Quilt Floor another couple listens.
Have a recent Pretenders setlist on heavy rotation as I'm seeing Chrissie and the boys on Monday. It'll be like my 8th show, but first one in Spain. Then Patti Smith a few days later.
Bob's Barcelona Best Life.
Bob's best life indeed! Mama Zu's a new one for me; I'll check them out here ASAP.
Started out going through my 12 inch dance remixs of Bananarama. That led me down the path of some Fun Boy 3. I have an excellent version of Frankie goes to Hollywood's, "Welcome to the Pleasure Dome" which is an extended remix over 12 minutes long. And then end of the weekend listening to Scritti Politti.
Just reminiscing about the days of being a DJ at dance clubs.
Right on!
Just came across Morcheeba and 'The Sea' utterly beautiful and I don't know her work at all?
Can’t get enough of C.O.F.F.I.N. Recommend Fast Love and Cut You Off. for a totally different vibe growing here in the UK (in step with BCNR, Black Midi, Squid, and others) is Ugly (UK). I’m Happy You’re Here is my fav single but their whole new EP is worth a spin imo