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Yana Bostongirl's avatar

I'm listening to Anita Baker's Sweet Love 💙

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Nice! What a voice. Good to see she's on tour as well.

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Songletter's avatar

Metallica! We found an amazing clip that really caught our eye. Will talk about it on Friday 🤟

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Rad! I'll keep an eye out.

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

I can see why! I only made it halfway through the first track before adding it to my Wishlist.

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Punit Thakkar's avatar

Here's a fun hindi song, "Mera Jahan" that means "My World"

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=K1dW6lReqB0

I think you'll enjoy the melody and the musical arrangement. It's one of my favorite songs ever.

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

I'm on it!

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Reka Blazsek's avatar

Sundial by Noname

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Sam Colt's avatar

I am taking the Brian Eno pill and going through his legendary '70s run. Also gonna dip my toes into some Mountain Goats and Radio Dept.

I'm starting with "All Hail to West Texas," but if anyone else has any Mountain Goats recs, please sent them my way!

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

I'm excited to hear your take on Eno's stuff. As for Mountain Goats, I love "Bleed Out," and I'm sure others will weigh in with their favorites.

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Justin Steiner's avatar

How did you like All Hail..? There is more lo-fi Mountain Goats you can dig into and then there's full band albums as well. We Shall All Be Healed came out shortly after All Hail.. and is another good one. If you don't mind sad, I highly recommend Get Lonely. As Kevin suggest, Bleed Out is a good entry point for more recent work.

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Andres's avatar

Happy Monday! And congrats on the milestone!!

This morning on my turntable it was Songs of Faith and Devotion by Depeche Mode. It’s my favourite Depeche Mode album.

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Steve Goldberg's avatar

Great one! I've been thinking recently about how many bands from the New Wave era are still going strong 4 decades later! DM is a perfect example.

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Andres's avatar

Absolutely! They certainly stand the test of time

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Thank you! I'm honestly not sure if I've listened to this one from front to back? I mean, I think I have, but I'll have to look and see.

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Andres's avatar

If and when you get a chance, give it a go. It’s more soulful than the average DP record but it still has their distinctive sound.

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Glenn Cook's avatar

It shouldn't be a surprise that I've been on an X and Dave Alvin kick recently, but this week I'm also paying homage to Charlie Robison, a Texas singer-songwriter and ex husband of Emily Strayer (The Chicks) who died yesterday at age 59.

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Always a good time for X!

For anyone scrolling the comments, you can check out Glenn's recent interview with X frontman John Doe here:

https://open.substack.com/pub/glenncook/p/conversations-john-doe?

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Wallytbm's avatar

Here is another album that I'm looking forward to by Seablite, only two songs available so far - this one that has a RIDE and Manchester feel :

https://mtstmtn.bandcamp.com/album/lemon-lights

And this one that I'm really loving:

https://youtu.be/ywXd75-J6GQ?feature=shared

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

I saw the Seablite one in a recent email from Bandcamp and liked what I've heard so far.

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Senor Fix's avatar

Ghost of Vroom 3 arrived so naturally Soul Coughing was also in rotation. Discovered Deeper and their album Careful! is growing on me.

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Years ago I had a friend that would insist we eat at the same place because he'd ran into M. Doughty there once. lol.

How's the Ghost of vroom record?

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Senor Fix's avatar

It reminds me of Beck and Tribe/Beastie lovechild. While I appreciate the growth and innovation in using loops and electronic instruments I miss the... organic sounds of Soul Coughing - there's no replacing a stand up bass.

Not a criticism and I think this material will grow on me with each listen. The cover art is a perfect representation of the sound.

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Senor Fix's avatar

It reminds me of Beck & Tribe/Beasties lovechild. Entire album absolutely requires repeated listens as it's so layered and feels built to be appreciated as a whole. Listened again this AM and had to delete my initial response to your question as my comment was inaccurate. While there is more electronics than Soul Coughing, the glitchiness(?) makes it warm.

I am really enjoying this one!

Cover art is a fantastic graphical representation of the sound.

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Jim Ruland's avatar

Lucifer Rising

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Can't say I know this one, but if you're into it, I'm on it. How was the Chicago trip?

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Jim Ruland's avatar

Check them out on bandcamp! Chicago was a whirlwind. I was there for less than 36 hours.

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Minor Fossil's avatar

GUTS by Olivia Rodrigo

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

YES.

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Bob Merberg's avatar

New eponymous album by Mikaela Davis and Southern Star. For those who don't know, Mikaela is a classically trained harpist who plays jam, americana, and — for lack of a better word — pop. She's from the area where I live so is a bit of a hometown musical hero. I've seen her a few times and she and the band put on a great show. A gifted songwriter, instrumentalist, and singer. I've heard many people comment, "This is the music I want played when I'm on my deathbed." It may seem morbid, but it resonates.

https://open.spotify.com/album/5IVoY4V4mmPX1lwnr0xb7M?si=Y9XM7G73S3C4-HBq690GcA

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Kiley Larsen's avatar

How fantastic is this record? Mikaela has always been solid, but And Southern Star is such an immense leap!

I caught her in Santa Fe last month and her live band (And Southern Star…the band!) was fantastic. Zivi, our upcoming release on the label opened for her and I posted the entire set of your interested. They made a great pairing for the bill!

https://kileylarsen.substack.com/p/watch-zivi-and-the-rocks-live-at

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Bob Merberg's avatar

Thanks, Kiley. I listened to the entire Zivi set and really enjoyed it. Amazing job on the video production, too! Good luck with the record release!

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Faith Current's avatar

Well I mean, of course, Rumours Live. I would expect nothing less than what we got but we got quite a bit more than that.

I'll leave it to other people to do an extended review as I'm sure will happen, but the track that jumped out at me was Rhiannon. Completely reimagined into a 7 minute long opus with much more edge and bite than the studio version. And on which Stevie goes full Janis. In this incarnation it reminds me a little bit of Paul McCartney's Back Seat of My Car.

https://open.spotify.com/track/4zBAeRf0aWtx7EPYUxbb7T?si=-ZCfphBvQ9KNM2fICMbLCw

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Rick Ellis's avatar

It's great to hear the official version. I've had a bootleg of the show, but it doesn't compare. I was lucky enough to be at that show and it was just jaw-dropping. The band was at its performing peak then and add the level of anger floating around stage brought it to a new level. "The Chain" was something to see.

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Faith Current's avatar

I assume there's a bootleg out there, I just haven't chased it down. And I'm definitely jealous of you having been there.

You can even hear the anger in the limited stage banter. It was palpable. And yeah, it gave additional bite to the performances too. Do you have any specific memories of the anger manifesting onstage, or was it just the vibe?

One thing that I noticed was the treatment of Rumours as if it was just their latest album, both by the band and the crowd. Which of course is what it was at the time. It's interesting to hear the crowd reaction as various songs start, when they're still just album cuts that most people don't know yet rather than, well, what they now are.

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Rick Ellis's avatar

The vibe was definitely charged, even in a larger arena. Buckingham was angry, almost yelling at times while Nicks was for the most part contemptuous. And Fleetwood was for whatever reason just a monster on the drums, flailing away like he was beating someone to death. I've never seen another show like it.

At the time, I knew and enjoyed their previous album, but I wasn't a super fan. tbh, I probably enjoyed the Bob Welch-era FM just as much. Rumors was a funny album, because at the time, there were a lot of stories about how the band was struggling to put it together. I remember reading a piece (maybe in Rolling Stone) talking about how it was already one of the most expensive albums made at the time. Then the band gave it to the label, who wasn't happy with the mix and some of the arrangements.

The hits were definitely well-known, but I think maybe only two singles had been released by the time of the concert? But yeah, there wasn't a sense when you saw anyone that there was going to be this long history that would resonate across the decades.

I purposely never saw them again live, because I wanted the memory of that show to be how I remembered them.

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Faith Current's avatar

I know what that's like, that last bit. There are artists I saw once in a specific era and that's the way I want to remember the music.

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

That had to have been a heckuva show!

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Mark Nash's avatar

Wow, didn’t know about this release, thanks for sharing!! Really looking forward to giving this a listen tomorrow

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Faith Current's avatar

I've been enjoying it a great deal. I hope you do as well! If I didn't just write about the Beatles, I'd try for a lyrical piece about it, but I'll have to hope someone else comes up with one...

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

You weren't kidding! Rhiannon isn't normally a favorite of mine, but this is just a blistering take.

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Faith Current's avatar

Right? It's a whole different song with serious bite (and different lyrics, too, you probably noticed)

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miter's avatar

Bunch of new music that I want to listen to. Currently taking in the "new" Sparklehorse and I think I like it. Looking forward to listening to new Homeboy Sandman.

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Steve Goldberg's avatar

That's at the top of my list! I had been waiting for the album Linkous was working on at the time of his death. I am waiting for a time that I can truly give it all my attention. I'm taking it by your "I think" that it's not especially immediate. So much of his best work required many listens to reach its depths, so am hoping this does the same.

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miter's avatar

Yes! My initial take is that it is gonna take awhile to absorb- which is a great sign!

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

It's on my list too! hoping to get to it soon.

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Andrew Smith's avatar

Congrats on 500!

I'm doing a little research today, working on a playlist of kickass songs. It's all over the place, but I'm diving into some 70s classic rock right now. Kinda flowing back and forth between Zeppelin and Sabbath, but with lots of adjacent bands.

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Thank you! All over the place playlists are my favorite-especially if they kick ass. Is there a link to it anywhere?

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Andrew Smith's avatar

I have about 30 I've created on Pandora. The one I was referencing was just all of my likes, I think (I've been on Pandora for about 15 years now, so LOTS of likes). But I'd be happy to share punk, thrash, metal, creepy/dark, crust, etc if you are so inclined.

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Yes please!

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J Kelso's avatar

The Rose City Band’s “Garden Party” was the first vinyl on the turntable at work this morning. Overplayed it when it first came out, but waited long enough that it sounds fresh again. It IS SO GOOD

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Kiley Larsen's avatar

Such a phenomenal record! Also overplayed around here but def time to spin it again.

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Another gem from my hometown!

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Kiley Larsen's avatar

Congrats on the 500 posts! Such an awesome milestone and chance to look back on everything.

This past weekend was the biggest release week in a while with 15 albums that I listened to. I’d say the highlights are the posthumous Sparklehorse release, The Chemical Bros, The Coral, and Romy (singer from The xx) a really nice listen after not necessarily loving the singles.

Also digging back into Jonathan Wilson, which was my most anticipated of the month but hasn’t quit clicked yet.

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Thanks man!

15 records?! Damn. I'm looking forward to checking out the Chemical Brothers record--all the more so now that I hear "Galvanize" all the time in those new Michelin ads.

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Kiley Larsen's avatar

The back half is phenomenal. Everything from The Weight through the close is top-tier AOTY tickling kinda stuff.

And yeah, pretty slick pick for a tire ad!

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Um, yeah... you weren't kidding! Did not have a Chem. Bros./Beck track on my bingo card, but here we are. Will listen to the first half next.

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Terry Barr's avatar

Willie Nelson and Waylon Payne!!!

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Glenn Cook's avatar

Either is always a good pick.

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

I really enjoyed your write up of the show.

https://medium.com/the-memoirist/a-memory-song-for-the-lonely-70441bf82017

I went to a street sale this past weekend and took a page out of your playbook; some Loretta, some Jeannie C. Riley, a little Farron Young, etc.

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Terry Barr's avatar

Which ones did you get and I'm very impressed regardless!!!

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Stretching the definition of “country” here a bit, but:

•Ronnie Milsap- “There’s No Gettin’ Over Me” & “Inside”

•Jeannie C. Riley- “Harper Valley PTA”

•Loretta Lynn- “Fist City”

•Faron Young- “Sings”

•Flatt & Scruggs “Foggy Mountain Banjo”

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Steve Goldberg's avatar

Happy to see Ween in your mix. I recently finished the 33 1/3 book on their brilliant album Chocolate and Cheese. So good. As you know I'm a huge fan.

In terms of new releases:

1. Metric's new single "Just the Once," shows why they are one of the world's best bands. This one is definitely a dance banger. New album in October!

https://youtu.be/VYW4F5q7XBE?feature=shared

2. The Linda Lindas. New single "Resolution/Revolution." It's gonna be one of my next TWEET/Earworms. It's so f'ing great. Got tix to see them live!

https://youtu.be/v-YDFrUCv6A?feature=shared

3. Duran Duran - Danse Macabre. It's amazing these guys are still putting out top-notch music 42 years after their debut. I hope their next album (supposed to drop on Halloween) is as great as this.

https://youtu.be/qHzciPBSNlQ?feature=shared

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Mark Nash's avatar

I was just listening to Metric’s latest today: https://youtu.be/CNUgemJBLTw?si=2iUPVjSt5wBwkDSD

I’m so excited for their next album!! Last year’s Formentera was my #3 album of 2022, not a bad song on there.

I’m almost as excited for the upcoming Duran Duran album which I only heard about recently.

And I hadn’t heard that Linda Lindas track, it’s fantastic, an absolute banger!!

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

I mentioned Danse Macabre in Saturday's post. I hope it's that good too. I think a lot of us were so distracted by the teased hair and makeup that we missed the part about Duran Duran just being a really good band of skilled musicians.

P.S. The Linda Lindas rule.

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Sem Sath's avatar

I watched the film Closer on whim for the first time the other day, after decades of dismissing Joy Division as ‘depressing/monotonous/etc” without ever giving them a close listen. I had always assumed they would bore me. This assumption was formed way back in high school (the 90’s) and never updated since.

Well, that film hit me like an 18-wheeler. I was not expecting that at all. I watched it again the next day. Now I’m playing catch-up, listening to JD all weekend.

Turns out, everything they did in their short, explosive, tragic existence is just remarkable—and now I know firsthand.

I think I might like Closer more than Unknown Pleasures? Too soon to tell. Better late to the party than never, kids!

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

If you want to hear someone (me) go on and on about how good JD is, you're in the right place!

Seriously, though I'm really glad you're enjoying them now.

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Amy McGrath's avatar

The forthcoming album 'Juliana Hatfield Sings ELO.' 'Don't Bring Me Down' is the first single. Juliana has also two previous cover albums on Olivia Newton-John and The Police.

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Steve Goldberg's avatar

It’s out now? Awesome! I was waiting for it and then forgot about it. Loved her other covers/tribute albums.

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Amy McGrath's avatar

The album drops November 17. Also you can hear 'Can't Get It Out Of My Head' as well! You can pre-order and get various versions of vinyl, cassette, test pressings, etc,:

https://www.julianahatfield.com/

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Steve Goldberg's avatar

Thanks !

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

One of the first "100 new to me" record reviews I did was of her record covering the Police. I didn't know she had a new one coming out, so I'm glad you said something!

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Violet Way's avatar

Just found a song called A True Love by David Lavaysse and Laure Darves Botton on Spotify.

I think The Cure and Siouxsie and the Banshees were definitely influences on them.

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

That sounds right up my alley. I'm off to check it out

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Norman's avatar

100 Mile House - From Fall To Fall

100 Mile House - Hollow Ponds

Chagall Guevara - Chagall Guevara

FM- Surveillance

Various - Folkways, A Vision Shared

Tom Waits - Rain Dogs

Four Seasons- -The Four Seasons Story

America - The Complete Greatest Hits

Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill

Peter Frampton- Frampton Comes Alive

Lauryn Hill gets better every time I listen to it. I had it in my car and every drive was dedicated to Lauryn Hill. I got reunited with an old friend, during a fit of insanity I gave the CD away resent that decision, steaming saves the day, but I'm old and like my physical copies of favourite listens.

Lots of new to me stuff in your playlist today, thanks Kevin.

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

You bet! I'm glad you found some new sounds!

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Jack Roscoe's avatar

I’m loving the new compilation from Moochin’ About (based in the NW of England). It’s a stunning mix of tracks from Ray Barretto (NYC Latin-jazz percussionist maestro) - if it don’t get your feet tapping you must be dead! https://moochinaboutltd.bandcamp.com/album/do-you-dig-it

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Ha! Well, now I have to check it out. :)

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Reuben Salsa's avatar

Wish I had time to listen but my soundtrack these days is one of wailing kids and lesson plans blowing in the breeze!

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

I remember those days. Hang in there, man!

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Marcus Meeks's avatar

Recent releases from the Oh Sees, Osees - Intercepted Messenger, and Slowdive - everything is alive. Some synth synergies between the two (unexpectedly).

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

What'd you think of Intercepted Messenger? I thought it was a solid record.

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Marcus Meeks's avatar

Yeah, I’m really digging it. Dwyer’s thing seems to be taking on a particular genre or two and cranking it up with his own spin. On this record I hear early Devo and Gang of Four, two of my favorite bands from my younger days.

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Rick Ellis's avatar

When it comes to writing music right now, I'm going through a Southern dive bar jukebox phase. Really fond of Mac Leaphart's "That Train," "Let's Run Away" by Jesse Brewster and Lori McKenna's "People Get Old"

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

I love it!

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Shaggy Snodgrass's avatar

This week was a new milestone- the first time I checked out a band recommended by someone on Substack (can't remember who, tho'; dammit) and dug the hell out of them. The band is Floodlights, and songs like "Lessons Learnt" and "Nullarbour" drilled their way into my head in a very pleasing manner.

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Bob Tooker's avatar

Going back 35 years and digging up Bad Religion's Suffer album. Daydreaming about still having long hair and navigating a mosh pit.

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

I wonder if we were at the same show(s)? I saw them twice, both at Pine St.

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Bob Tooker's avatar

That is seriously too funny, because that is where I saw them. And I practically lived at the starry night, so it sounds like we probably cross pads there as well.

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

We should compare lists one of these days.

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Bob Tooker's avatar

We should.

Portland had some great small venues, I'd be curious to know what your favorite show at a small venue was?

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Good question! Lots of killer shows at Pine St. Melody Ballroom, too. Not a show per se, but one of my favorite moments was Completely Grocery and Crazy 8’s sharing the stage for like an 8 minute version of Chic’s “Good Times.” Surprised the building was still standing afterward.

Gonna have to think of a favorite show… BR with Coffin Break is up there. Fugazi at Melody Ballroom, too.

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Mark Nash's avatar

Been giving the new Royal Blood album a listen. Not sure on it yet, but it’s certainly growing on me

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Pete Riddle's avatar

The latest David Byrne Radio playlist sucked me in. 30 covers, and many that were new to me. How did I miss Karen O and Willie Nelson covering Under Pressure?!

https://mailchi.mp/davidbyrne/david-byrne-radio-presents-covered-up?e=f49b75d90e

Also doing serious prep listening for The National's Homecoming festival this weekend:

https://www.americanmary.com/homecoming

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

That playlist looks awesome. Gonna play that one tomorrow AM at work.

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Marc Carrasco's avatar

Congratulations on that 500!!

45th edition of Reflect & Relax Cafe on my side and these are the 25 songs that will play on repeat during these two weeks:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6EcLhgESeOBX3Fvfxt8SH4?si=y3ueINhETaKe9yF2xHVnGA

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Thank you! I mentioned it on Notes, but Shawn McDonald's "Oregon" is just an awesome song.

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Emily Walker's avatar

New Slowdive album 'everything is alive' - got it on a gorgeous pink vinyl too 🩷

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

It was worth the wait!

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Emily Walker's avatar

Definitely was !

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Terry Barr's avatar

Fist City!!!! What a find, and the others are pretty great too.

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Thanks! My favorite record store had a street sale. Lots of not-so-great stuff, but plenty of gems mixed in to keep things fun.

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