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If you love finding records no algorithm could ever recommend, this is for you.
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. This week, we’ve got a new one from Mo Lowda & The Humble (again!), Phabies, Illuminati Hotties, and a couple of all-timers.
Now it’s your turn.
What caught your ear this week? Any new releases or shows you’re looking forward to?
As some of you may have seen, I recently wrote about a Best Record of 1989 challenge and noted that I'd be occasionally writing some of these up.
I've started doing some quick hits of each match up and posting them directly to the page here. There's probably some typos. Check 'em out and let me know your thoughts! Chin wags & hot takes welcome! Sharing and restacks always appreciated.
Also: As most of you have seen, I am a huge fan of the music streaming platform Qobuz. The sound quality is second to none, and the entire UX is fantastic. Thanks to our friend Kenn Richards, you can now see it for yourself.
I’m thrilled to share this exclusive offer for 2 free months. Not an ad, and there’s no catch. Just hella good sound quality, solid recommendations tailored to your tastes, and editorials well worth your time.
Note: The codes will be sent out by an actual human over the next several days. Please be patient.
1989 was my birth year and I have no shortage of either past or current recommendations in terms of popular and/or obscure music - but unfortunately can't afford any new paid memberships for services right now - I fully support what you do and what you write about - I just apologize I can't contribute in a more tangible sense at this time necessarilly. Be well - thank you.
Thanks to your post last week, have had Sex Faces on repeat. So energizing. And now joined by the new Lifeguard - https://lifeguardband100.bandcamp.com/album/ripped-and-torn. I’ve been a fan of this band since their 2022 EP Crowd Can Talk (they may still have been in middle school when that came out…). Thrilling stuff - I just wish Albini was still alive as I so wish he could have produced and amplified the drums as only he could. But what an amazing record.
Along the lines of the comment re Unforgettable, our radio show featured kids of musical dads (we overlooked that one for sure). Mostly kids who’ve gone into music for good but some for bad. That has me going back to things like the:
— Steve Earle’s 2021 tribute to Justin Townes
— Tim Buckley, wildly overlooked father of Jeff, esp his 1968 live album
From what I know, other than the biological part of it, not much of a connection. Tim and Jeff's mom split up when he was 6 months old or so, and it sounds like he was not involved at all in Jeff's life before he OD'd (when Jeff was 8 or 9).
new Birthday Girl DC is great, very - um like a band whose first syllable is a rodent and second is a gender! Clearly, you and I like such music. PS: Unable to tell the names Brendan Canty and Alex MacKaye from Joe Bloggs, I just like the sound.
My week was about chatty family visiting for four days, which led to an approximately 871% increase in conversation and noise in our home. ;-) So my listening was focused on quiet instrumental music:
- Calexico - A playlist of their instrumentals I made building off the good work of another Spotify user.
- Brad Mehldau - Largo. My favorite of the best pianist of my generation.
- Billy Martin (of MMW) - Guilty. A terrific record with appearances by Marc Ribot.
One exception was learning about The Quivers, a "jangle-damaged pop" band from Australia. A friend sent me their cover of REM's Out Of Time which has some clever rearrangements without trying too hard to reinvent the wheel. I'm also digging Golden Doubt from 2021.
A Calexico playlist is just what I was looking for but didn't know I needed. I'm starting to dip my toe back into CDs and this would give me a good idea of what I should pick up. Thanks.
I didn't have the chatty family noise, but I had the really busy, stressful week so the instrumental, ambient music my daughter had me listening to was a welcome relief over the weekend! I need to check out The Quivers.
Hey thanks! I'm headed straight over to check all of those out. I'm familiar w/the 1st 2 bands (saw Propagandhi around the same time I saw Lag Wagon, I think).
Great minds think alike; however, for me, it was 'Black Moses.' It wasn't this morning, tho, it was the last album I played before watching a film with my wife last night.
I listened to Holly Miranda’s self-titled 2015 album a few times yesterday in advance of last night’s Album of the Month zoom call. Really enjoyed it and will be digging into the rest of her catalog.
On new releases there are four albums that have really caught my attention and dominated my listening since Friday:
I'm currently working on a Jazz Tome page for Bill Evans' 1961 album Explorations, so I've got the trio on repeat this morning. It's good Monday morning music.
For those of you on Bluesky, here's a wild rabbit hole from last night where I started in Salt Lake City with a radio DJ talking about Evans and explaining what "good jazz" is and wound up in a loud nightclub in Washington DC where the bossa nova craze was born.
The latest Preoccupations has really grown on me, great band and this latest has them in top form imo. The track you’ve got here and Andromeda are standouts to me. Also the title “Ill at ease” basically explains how I feel all the time these days. Ha!
I've been super busy the last few weeks with gigs and other music related things (shameless plug, but I just closed on the purchase of DrumSellers.com, so if anybody needs to buy/sell/trade drum gear....)
Anyways, I did get a chance over the weekend to check out a few things my teenage daughter, Emma, has been wanting me to take a listen to. Courtesy of Emma;
Great to see Deep Sea Diver on there - Billboard Heart is a return to form for the band, and I liked it even more after seeing them in concert. The raw passion of it all!
Earworm this morning - You Better You Bet. I mean, I am a Who fan, but why this throw away? That seems to be the deal with earworms - rarely something that you want on repeat.
Speaking of repeat, I have been playing "I Wanna Be a Cowboy" (Boys Don't Cry) every morning as I drive from Dunkin' to the office. The groove gets my soul into the right place and the lyrics make me smile. His name is Ted. Can you believe that?
Just heard about Sly Stone. Really sorry to hear of his passing, although to be honest I thought he had passed years ago. He definitely contributed to the pantheon. When I hear the word funk, my brain immediately indexes to Sly and the Family Stone and then moves on from there. RIP Sylvester.
Wikipedia: “According to Moyet, the name Yazoo was taken from the specialist blues record label Yazoo Records.[20] This decision led to a £3.5 million lawsuit threat by the label over the band's name[20] and, coupled with the fact that the name Yazoo was already in use by a lesser known American rock band, the group was renamed Yaz for the North American market.[9]”
I've had “Manchild” by Sabrina Carpenter on repeat and when I'm not playing that, Kraftwerk, and some Lisa Dalbello for a piece I'm working on. Plus “It's Going To Happen!” by The Undertones and 80s bands like Rubber Rodeo.
Just wanted to take a moment to acknowledge 300 editions of the playlist - awesome!
I was traveling with my parents to CA and attending a graduation party (we surprised them!), so I didn't get much listening in. The new Pulp sounded great the first time around, though!
Last week I tackled a few more rounds in the Music League I'm in: No Shame (guilty pleasure songs) and Patriarchy (songs featuring male vocalists). These are my faves from those rounds:
No Shame: On & On from Cartoon and Fight for Me from Aliceband
Patriarchy: Square Hammer by Ghost, Like Real People Do by Hozier, and The TV Made Me Do It by Moon Walker
This week we tackle the final 3 rounds - Speechless (instrumentals), Not Like The Others (a song that stands out in either sound, style or vibe) and End of an Era (songs that close an album).
Unforgettable - Nat King Cole and Natalie Cole
Classic
1989 was my birth year and I have no shortage of either past or current recommendations in terms of popular and/or obscure music - but unfortunately can't afford any new paid memberships for services right now - I fully support what you do and what you write about - I just apologize I can't contribute in a more tangible sense at this time necessarilly. Be well - thank you.
Aaron- I hear ya. Happy to comp anyone that's in a tough spot. We've all been there. IDM me and we'll get it sorted.
Thanks to your post last week, have had Sex Faces on repeat. So energizing. And now joined by the new Lifeguard - https://lifeguardband100.bandcamp.com/album/ripped-and-torn. I’ve been a fan of this band since their 2022 EP Crowd Can Talk (they may still have been in middle school when that came out…). Thrilling stuff - I just wish Albini was still alive as I so wish he could have produced and amplified the drums as only he could. But what an amazing record.
Along the lines of the comment re Unforgettable, our radio show featured kids of musical dads (we overlooked that one for sure). Mostly kids who’ve gone into music for good but some for bad. That has me going back to things like the:
— Steve Earle’s 2021 tribute to Justin Townes
— Tim Buckley, wildly overlooked father of Jeff, esp his 1968 live album
— Birthday Girl DC (which includes daughters of Brendan Canty and Alec MacKaye) — https://birthdaygirlmusic.bandcamp.com/album/dirtier
The show is Available in the archives for two weeks here. https://spinitron.com/WOWD/pl/20768931/Sunday-Midday-with-Marc-and-Brad
I'm very familiar with both Jeff and Tim, but I didn't make the connection that they were related until last week.
From what I know, other than the biological part of it, not much of a connection. Tim and Jeff's mom split up when he was 6 months old or so, and it sounds like he was not involved at all in Jeff's life before he OD'd (when Jeff was 8 or 9).
Me either.
new Birthday Girl DC is great, very - um like a band whose first syllable is a rodent and second is a gender! Clearly, you and I like such music. PS: Unable to tell the names Brendan Canty and Alex MacKaye from Joe Bloggs, I just like the sound.
Thanks for the links!
Last but not least in the hiphop lane — still loving the new Yugen Blakrok, who’s just taking triphop and dense lyricism to insane levels (https://yugenblakrok.bandcamp.com/album/the-illusion-of-being), the new Defcee, incredibly introspective and melodic Chicago MC (https://parallelthought1.bandcamp.com/album/other-blues), and Aesop Rock (https://aesoprock.bandcamp.com/album/black-hole-superette)
My week was about chatty family visiting for four days, which led to an approximately 871% increase in conversation and noise in our home. ;-) So my listening was focused on quiet instrumental music:
- Calexico - A playlist of their instrumentals I made building off the good work of another Spotify user.
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5J9asPQt6uRQUb8GISi22e?si=97f2bae7c4b440d8
- Brad Mehldau - Largo. My favorite of the best pianist of my generation.
- Billy Martin (of MMW) - Guilty. A terrific record with appearances by Marc Ribot.
One exception was learning about The Quivers, a "jangle-damaged pop" band from Australia. A friend sent me their cover of REM's Out Of Time which has some clever rearrangements without trying too hard to reinvent the wheel. I'm also digging Golden Doubt from 2021.
Looking forward to the playlist and your picks!
Love Calexico.
A Calexico playlist is just what I was looking for but didn't know I needed. I'm starting to dip my toe back into CDs and this would give me a good idea of what I should pick up. Thanks.
Glad you dig it! My favorites are:
- The Thread The Keeps Us - a great mix of their alternative/Americana and southwestern/Latino sides
- The Black Light - their first great record, a masterpiece.
- Feast of Wire - similar in feel to The Black Light and moving towards their unique take on Americana.
If you like instrumentals and soundtracks, some of their stuff in that vein is on Bandcamp (Selections From Road Atlas, Spoke).
Happy hunting!
I didn't have the chatty family noise, but I had the really busy, stressful week so the instrumental, ambient music my daughter had me listening to was a welcome relief over the weekend! I need to check out The Quivers.
Big fan of Quivers. Got to see them open for Superchunk last year, which was a great bill.
I could use a lil' old school punk help - working on a playlist called "F*ck Nazis" with anti-Nazi punk songs like these:
https://www.pandora.com/playlist/PL:167455623057769005:74638688
How about Strike Anywhere's "Refusal," or Propaghandi's "The Only Good Fascist is a Very Dead Fascist?"
Not punk, but I'd also add Consolidated's "Fight the Fascists."
Hey thanks! I'm headed straight over to check all of those out. I'm familiar w/the 1st 2 bands (saw Propagandhi around the same time I saw Lag Wagon, I think).
I woke up in a funny mood today, for no apparent reason, but there was nothing that Isaac Hayes’ Hot Buttered Soul on vinyl couldn’t fix 😎
Great minds think alike; however, for me, it was 'Black Moses.' It wasn't this morning, tho, it was the last album I played before watching a film with my wife last night.
Nice! Another wonderful record
A salve for the soul
I listened to Holly Miranda’s self-titled 2015 album a few times yesterday in advance of last night’s Album of the Month zoom call. Really enjoyed it and will be digging into the rest of her catalog.
On new releases there are four albums that have really caught my attention and dominated my listening since Friday:
• Turnstile - NEVER ENOUGH
• Little Simz - Lotus
• Pulp - More
• Mary Chapin Carpenter - Personal History
Dead Pioneers
I'm currently working on a Jazz Tome page for Bill Evans' 1961 album Explorations, so I've got the trio on repeat this morning. It's good Monday morning music.
For those of you on Bluesky, here's a wild rabbit hole from last night where I started in Salt Lake City with a radio DJ talking about Evans and explaining what "good jazz" is and wound up in a loud nightclub in Washington DC where the bossa nova craze was born.
https://bsky.app/profile/thejazztome.info/post/3lr5qhdgvjc24
Here for it!
Good morning from California where we eat fascists,, and clown car politicians and their flunkies.
Here is what has been in my ears.
1. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3wBlm9P7dw8ZMh4DgXzNcJ?si=78f2a2187d294177
2. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1knJSMzp6SWo8aUh3W2hVo?si=19807fe6c6254750
3. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/627aLiTKOjoWAfyqcdqQie?si=f0fef677308a44ff
Have a great week.
The latest Preoccupations has really grown on me, great band and this latest has them in top form imo. The track you’ve got here and Andromeda are standouts to me. Also the title “Ill at ease” basically explains how I feel all the time these days. Ha!
In these times, what else but... "Instant Karma! (We All Shine On)."
I've been super busy the last few weeks with gigs and other music related things (shameless plug, but I just closed on the purchase of DrumSellers.com, so if anybody needs to buy/sell/trade drum gear....)
Anyways, I did get a chance over the weekend to check out a few things my teenage daughter, Emma, has been wanting me to take a listen to. Courtesy of Emma;
- Spent Passions 2 from 18 Carat Affair was a highlight of her playlist- https://open.spotify.com/album/6v3ruRltC90HsnAJQgnzDS?si=WGsfYvu4RgmTXzUJdekV2Q
- Maroon 5's Songs About Jane: 10th Anniversary Edition
https://open.spotify.com/album/5zClcGCSWj926AMjvBNSLc?si=PXfCm1-tTkmbap5wZs3Eqg
- This is DISPATCH (Playlist)
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DZ06evO3Q3rMI?si=6b7ffc2f76974c49
I’ve really been enjoying the album Princess of Power by MARINA. I also love the new Sean McVerry single Better https://open.spotify.com/track/6OaaZVDyYngZq9hhU9yk6n?si=2jGgNQyPTTeoZuVmyhDTzQ
I saw Deep Sea Diver at a show a few years ago, and this is the third time I'm seeing their name pop up in a week. Need to circle back I guess
The new album is terrific! And Jessica Dobson is a six-string force of nature in concert, one of the best guitarists I've ever seen live!
It's been a long time but I remember they were great.
Great to see Deep Sea Diver on there - Billboard Heart is a return to form for the band, and I liked it even more after seeing them in concert. The raw passion of it all!
Since writing about it on Friday, I've only grown more in love with Second, the new album from Stephen Vitiello, Brendan Canty, and Hahn Rowe. If you like cinematic instrumental jams with a touch of post-punk and dub, look no further! https://open.spotify.com/album/2GkEAKm7gbyvSjeo8aCtcQ?si=BAXVD6-WSZqXNOvx_IQwzQ
Earworm this morning - You Better You Bet. I mean, I am a Who fan, but why this throw away? That seems to be the deal with earworms - rarely something that you want on repeat.
Speaking of repeat, I have been playing "I Wanna Be a Cowboy" (Boys Don't Cry) every morning as I drive from Dunkin' to the office. The groove gets my soul into the right place and the lyrics make me smile. His name is Ted. Can you believe that?
Just heard about Sly Stone. Really sorry to hear of his passing, although to be honest I thought he had passed years ago. He definitely contributed to the pantheon. When I hear the word funk, my brain immediately indexes to Sly and the Family Stone and then moves on from there. RIP Sylvester.
Love to see the Smithereens on your list!
I’m listening to Upstairs at Eric’s by Yaz!! Such a fantastic album start to finish!
Sometimes, it’s a drawback when the record store people know your taste hahahaha (I was only planning on bargain bin shopping today).
But, had a great conversation about Karaoke with the guy- he said “Only You” is one of his go-to karaoke songs!
It’s taken me a while to work out who Yaz were. They were Yazoo in the UK. Yazz was someone completely different from the other end of the decade!
Yes, they were Yazoo in the UK. Not sure why just Yaz in the US. Going to have to go Google now 😂
Wikipedia: “According to Moyet, the name Yazoo was taken from the specialist blues record label Yazoo Records.[20] This decision led to a £3.5 million lawsuit threat by the label over the band's name[20] and, coupled with the fact that the name Yazoo was already in use by a lesser known American rock band, the group was renamed Yaz for the North American market.[9]”
My Favorites this week:
More.. Pulp!! (Very excited to see them live this fall)
Undertones - Hypnotised
Afghan Whigs - Congregation
Ghostface - Supreme Clientele
Flaming Groovies - Teenage Head
Gene Clark - No Other
Sandwitches - Mrs Jone's Cookies
Seefeel - Quique
John Grant - Queen of Denmark
Afghan Whigs rule
I've had “Manchild” by Sabrina Carpenter on repeat and when I'm not playing that, Kraftwerk, and some Lisa Dalbello for a piece I'm working on. Plus “It's Going To Happen!” by The Undertones and 80s bands like Rubber Rodeo.
Just wanted to take a moment to acknowledge 300 editions of the playlist - awesome!
I was traveling with my parents to CA and attending a graduation party (we surprised them!), so I didn't get much listening in. The new Pulp sounded great the first time around, though!
Thank you! it's been quite a fun ride.
Last week I tackled a few more rounds in the Music League I'm in: No Shame (guilty pleasure songs) and Patriarchy (songs featuring male vocalists). These are my faves from those rounds:
No Shame: On & On from Cartoon and Fight for Me from Aliceband
Patriarchy: Square Hammer by Ghost, Like Real People Do by Hozier, and The TV Made Me Do It by Moon Walker
This week we tackle the final 3 rounds - Speechless (instrumentals), Not Like The Others (a song that stands out in either sound, style or vibe) and End of an Era (songs that close an album).