Good morning and happy Monday! A special shout to any of you that graduated over the weekend, or had friends/family that did so. If this is you, please comment and share your win!
Below is some of what I’ve had in heavy rotation this week. Many of these come from reader recommendations, so please keep ‘em coming!
Now it’s your turn.
What caught your ear this week? Which new releases are you looking forward to? Any good finds while crate digging? Share your picks in the comments!
Along with Tammy Wynette, The Byrds' Sweetheart of the Rodeo, and early Lana Del Rey, I've been thinking a lot about the Drive-By Truckers, and ready for another deep dive into their material.
Hi Kevin and fellow readers and writers! Did some crate digging in Sweden over the weekend and came back with Beatles' Let it Be and Ike+Tina's Workin' Together. Both bargains considering how rare some of these pressings can be this side of the pond, so quite pleased :)
Olivia Jean's new album 'Raving Ghost' is a refreshing blast of rock n roll with a dash of punk. Shades of Dehd though a bit fuller and more polished. Also enjoying Rahill's 'Flowers At Your Feet' - Futbol is with the price of admission but whole album is growing on me.
There's a certain kind of very bone-basic old-school heavy metal that, tho' it lacks much (+ often nearly all) "technical" wizardry or "atmosphere", it holds a certain satisfying Cro-Magnon flavor other things (including punk) just can't brew.
Most popular example I can recall is Danzig's "Twist Of Cain"; pure no-pretense caveman THUD.
Found one Saturday: the band is called (no lie): ZLORTCHT. No idea where they're from, but the record is called "Welcome To The ZLORTCHTerhaus".
This is "Dethroned Titan". It's like stuff I used to play in the late 1980s, (aka the Entirely Wrong Era for such music, lmao).
The first Mammoth WVH album has been playing in my house & car a lot. Also, Ultrasound by Michael Gurley...getting super excited to see him play on June 9th in Hampton, Va!
I've been listening to Dogs In A Pile - they're up and coming in the jam scene and they sound so good. The new record has a few of your typical "jammy" type tunes but the meat of the album is really well thought out ballads and 70s/80s style rock songs.
Hello there ! Well, started with the most recent Lana Del Rey, jumped to Roy Orbison's wonderful "Mystery Girl", then the first Wilbury's album. Thinking about 'The Big O', prompted some Del Shannon. His 1981 Tom Petty assisted "Drop Down and Get Me" is a real gem; Del's voice was still remarkable. 1991's "Rock On" followed and at times offered hints of what could've been if Del had lived long enough to, possibly, become a Wilbury himself.
Later on , it was a change of pace with some Oscar Peterson !
On your recommendation, listened to Urge Overkill "Sister Havana" and the entire "Saturation" album. Pretty solid.
Tripped across "Coda" by Led Zeppelin. Somehow I had never heard of this collection of rejected tracks, or heard of it but never followed up. Anyway, it was interesting but not something I would go back to. What I heard reminded me that, underneath it all, Zep is really a blues band.
Found an awesome track - "Punkrocker" by Swedish alt rock Teddybears, a remake featuring Iggy Pop. This song just gets better every time I play it. I always admired Iggy the persona, but not so much Iggy the musician. Now I am going to have to go back and revisit.
Gonna to queue up your playlist for for my next drive.....
I have been warmed all week by repeat listens of Lucy Dakus' We're In Love from the new boygenius album. Lucy, Phoebe (Bridgers), and Julien (Baker) inspire me with their talent and courage. But this one goes even beyond pronouns or identities and even race, religion and class. May we all feel the pure, unconditional, platonic love Lucy shares here.
Fake Fruit, and every album I've yet to listen to that comes up in the 33 1/3 B sides book as I go through it. The book hasn't grabbed me yet but I do love a reading list.
Thanks to I think Glenn Cook’s recommendation, I finally watched the new Jason Isbell documentary on HBO. It is truly excellent, on so many levels. Seeing the early Drive-By Truckers footage was a highlight among lots of highlights.
So I’ve been playing a lot of both DBT and Isbell and 400 Unit this week.
And some old-school 80s hip-hop to prep for my next earworm!
Great 60’s style harmonies from the brothers in The Lemon Twigs and funky R&B/Pop from Theo Katzman, who I saw at Brooklyn Bowl in Philly a few weeks ago. One of the best shows I’ve seen in a while with stellar musicians!
Mercifully, after a music rut, the song “Take A Picture” by Filter popped into my head. I started a Pandora station and have been listening to Oasis, Duncan Sheik, RHCP, Smashing Pumpkins, Sneaker Pimps, U2, Incubus... just flannel shirts and ripped jeans all over.
Not new, but always worth the revisit: Philly soul in the form of The Spinners & Dionne Warwick “Then Came You,” David Bowie “Young Americans” and Hall & Oates “Rich Girl.” Full confession: research for an article I’m writing!
I’m loving the new album by a recent discovery (for me) - Dave Hause who is a Philly-based singer-songwriter whose sound is described as the unification of punk and Americana. I even managed to get my CD whilst in San Fran ☺️
Dub Trio “Control Issues Controlling Your Mind”
Listened to Airplane Lesson by Stereoclip when taking off in an airplane. 10/10 would recommend 😄
https://open.spotify.com/track/2SxeNZphx2bH5kju5Ntu8P?si=e72nQZBzReWGWhqS431Jiw
This new Madison McFerrin album is captivating. https://music.apple.com/us/album/i-hope-you-can-forgive-me/1660818512
Along with Tammy Wynette, The Byrds' Sweetheart of the Rodeo, and early Lana Del Rey, I've been thinking a lot about the Drive-By Truckers, and ready for another deep dive into their material.
Love your Liz Phair tune!
FEVER/SKY by Wilder Woods. Combination of styles that are in my wheelhouse and that I'm really enjoying on repeat.
Thanks to my brother I've been a little obsessed with Tom Misch for the past few days.
https://open.substack.com/pub/danielpetty/p/lend-your-ear-tom-misch?r=5z5dg&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Hi Kevin and fellow readers and writers! Did some crate digging in Sweden over the weekend and came back with Beatles' Let it Be and Ike+Tina's Workin' Together. Both bargains considering how rare some of these pressings can be this side of the pond, so quite pleased :)
School of Fish!
Olivia Jean's new album 'Raving Ghost' is a refreshing blast of rock n roll with a dash of punk. Shades of Dehd though a bit fuller and more polished. Also enjoying Rahill's 'Flowers At Your Feet' - Futbol is with the price of admission but whole album is growing on me.
As always, I'm team Muses!
There's a certain kind of very bone-basic old-school heavy metal that, tho' it lacks much (+ often nearly all) "technical" wizardry or "atmosphere", it holds a certain satisfying Cro-Magnon flavor other things (including punk) just can't brew.
Most popular example I can recall is Danzig's "Twist Of Cain"; pure no-pretense caveman THUD.
Found one Saturday: the band is called (no lie): ZLORTCHT. No idea where they're from, but the record is called "Welcome To The ZLORTCHTerhaus".
This is "Dethroned Titan". It's like stuff I used to play in the late 1980s, (aka the Entirely Wrong Era for such music, lmao).
It's crunchy and tasty.
https://youtu.be/fYmV4FhBMlU
The first Mammoth WVH album has been playing in my house & car a lot. Also, Ultrasound by Michael Gurley...getting super excited to see him play on June 9th in Hampton, Va!
I've been listening to Dogs In A Pile - they're up and coming in the jam scene and they sound so good. The new record has a few of your typical "jammy" type tunes but the meat of the album is really well thought out ballads and 70s/80s style rock songs.
For example: https://open.spotify.com/track/0rxMcV0lEBOlPhY8GrDe5p?si=8670348178834e82
Hello there ! Well, started with the most recent Lana Del Rey, jumped to Roy Orbison's wonderful "Mystery Girl", then the first Wilbury's album. Thinking about 'The Big O', prompted some Del Shannon. His 1981 Tom Petty assisted "Drop Down and Get Me" is a real gem; Del's voice was still remarkable. 1991's "Rock On" followed and at times offered hints of what could've been if Del had lived long enough to, possibly, become a Wilbury himself.
Later on , it was a change of pace with some Oscar Peterson !
On your recommendation, listened to Urge Overkill "Sister Havana" and the entire "Saturation" album. Pretty solid.
Tripped across "Coda" by Led Zeppelin. Somehow I had never heard of this collection of rejected tracks, or heard of it but never followed up. Anyway, it was interesting but not something I would go back to. What I heard reminded me that, underneath it all, Zep is really a blues band.
Found an awesome track - "Punkrocker" by Swedish alt rock Teddybears, a remake featuring Iggy Pop. This song just gets better every time I play it. I always admired Iggy the persona, but not so much Iggy the musician. Now I am going to have to go back and revisit.
Gonna to queue up your playlist for for my next drive.....
It's been a Husker Du weekend for me:
https://open.spotify.com/track/4tPFEWRuNQhibDQSGB2PVE?si=kFapnzV1SdGr5blZky7i3A
I have been warmed all week by repeat listens of Lucy Dakus' We're In Love from the new boygenius album. Lucy, Phoebe (Bridgers), and Julien (Baker) inspire me with their talent and courage. But this one goes even beyond pronouns or identities and even race, religion and class. May we all feel the pure, unconditional, platonic love Lucy shares here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fkc9-0XeNRY&t=141s
Fake Fruit, and every album I've yet to listen to that comes up in the 33 1/3 B sides book as I go through it. The book hasn't grabbed me yet but I do love a reading list.
Thanks to I think Glenn Cook’s recommendation, I finally watched the new Jason Isbell documentary on HBO. It is truly excellent, on so many levels. Seeing the early Drive-By Truckers footage was a highlight among lots of highlights.
So I’ve been playing a lot of both DBT and Isbell and 400 Unit this week.
And some old-school 80s hip-hop to prep for my next earworm!
b0ka - Forever, My Friend
Sons of the Pioneers - Cool Water
Acousticus, Pleasurecraft, Honey Ham Jam, When April Meets July - Rec Room - Live
Sly and the Family Stone - Anthology / This was a present to myself for hitting 34 years clean and serene.
Michael and the Messengers - I Think I'll Quit Drinkin' Today
The Lemon Twigs- Everything Harmony
Theo Katzman- Be The Wheel
Great 60’s style harmonies from the brothers in The Lemon Twigs and funky R&B/Pop from Theo Katzman, who I saw at Brooklyn Bowl in Philly a few weeks ago. One of the best shows I’ve seen in a while with stellar musicians!
Mercifully, after a music rut, the song “Take A Picture” by Filter popped into my head. I started a Pandora station and have been listening to Oasis, Duncan Sheik, RHCP, Smashing Pumpkins, Sneaker Pimps, U2, Incubus... just flannel shirts and ripped jeans all over.
Not a new release but I could listen to September Fields by Frazer ford over and over. And for easy listening anything by Alissa Nathaniel.
Not new, but always worth the revisit: Philly soul in the form of The Spinners & Dionne Warwick “Then Came You,” David Bowie “Young Americans” and Hall & Oates “Rich Girl.” Full confession: research for an article I’m writing!
I've been listening to The Walkmen in anticipation on seeing them live on Wednesday (my first time seeing them!). Man, You & Me is a tremendous album.
I got stuck on John Prine's self-titled debut this weekend, and can't top Dylan's description:
"Midwestern mindtrips to the nth degree"
Thanks for the Bad Religion reminder. I have a relic to dig up for another song on that album 😀
Benmont Tench, keyboardist for Tom Petty & The Heartbeakers; and Canadian Folkartist Lynn Miles.
I’m loving the new album by a recent discovery (for me) - Dave Hause who is a Philly-based singer-songwriter whose sound is described as the unification of punk and Americana. I even managed to get my CD whilst in San Fran ☺️
Bought Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young last week, so I've been listening to that a lot.