Tinman was one of the very first 45s that I got with my Holly Hobbie record player for my 5th birthday! It will always have a special place in my heart!
Still mainly focused on the re-issue that I stumbled upon from Numero Group and took me out of 2023 -- Everyone Asked About You. Incredible late 90s indie/emo that is so full, big, and yet intimate and delicate at the same time. Just can't get enough. Still enjoying the up-and-coming local DC band Birthday Girl; high school kids of DC punk luminaries but charting their own sound reminiscent of Bettie Serveet and The Spinanes. They open for Mary Timony in March, and I am already excited for that show. Wrote about them in my year-end: https://3albums6oldguys.substack.com/p/og-brads-top-10-55-more
“I Saw” by Young Fathers,a group I recently discovered and I am looking forward to exploring their catalog, , a cover of Let it Be by Eden Nash (what a voice! ) and What You Want by Ren (shout out to 90’s Hip Hop
At my age, I've started to find myself drifting away from new alternative music, so I'm resolved to listen to more current alternative and pop this year. Fingers crossed.
That said, most of my big concert plans this year are old school: Journey, Def Leppard and Heart in July; and Green Day, Smashing Pumpkins and Rancid in September. I'm also looking for a friend to make the trek to see Saint Motel in April. If the stars align, and the roster is solid, might try my luck at Riot Fest in September, too.
Happy new year, Kevin (and everyone!). I've been going back a bit to early hip-hop: Da Brat and Masta Ace are two fairly recent(ish) acquisitions for me.
Still chewing on this new (to me) German band WISBORG I recommended to one of your friends- two parts The Cult, one part Depeche Mode, with a half-spoon of Type O Negative. Not fully formed yet, but the growth potential is there.
Been rediscovering stuff by a couple guys from way back - Long John Baldry and Del Shannon. Also the new(ish) Margaret Glaspy album, "Echo The Diamond". Plus a newer group, Geese's recent release, "3D Country" -- it's Americana-tinged rock. And of course, a 2007 album by Richard Thompson, one of my favorite guitarist singer songwriters who's always on my playlists, called "Street Warrior".
For most of the past week, I’ve been revisiting a playlist I made after finishing The Bear a few months ago. I was stuck on a couple of REM songs - Strange Currencies and Half a World Away... which also reminded me of how wonderful Find the River is... I made a playlist and added some of my favorite REM and Replacements songs, and then a weird chunk of other favorites - a couple that seem to show up on a lot of my playlists and others that came from the Spotify recommendations (that are songs I love and when I see them have to add them 🤣). https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2l90tFVuyvZXow1iV1InP8?si=KEQft3qiQ0mWm2XeYMBo1A&pi=u-v897pndGRU25
This is a killer list! 'Out of Time" being criminally underrated is a hill I will die on, and 'Half A World Away' is a big part of that. Same with 'Me In Honey.'
The Last Dinner Party have been on heavy rotation for me. Can't wait for their debut album. Got several records for my Birthday and Christmas, so now family have all returned home, after Christmas at mine, I've been playing them
Only newish albums I spent time with was the Woods’ Perennial and Slowdive’s Everything is Alive. And I watched the Eras movie with the fam. Otherwise, extended family in town and downtime with the kids meant Xmas albums and some-on-the-fly playlists palatable to diverse tastes (a mix of Alabama Shakes, Fleetwood Mac, Jason Isbell, Tom Petty, Jenny Lewis, Ratboys, REM, Replacements, Waxahatchee, Lucinda Williams).
First of all, excellemt choice with the Mary Chapin Carpenter song.
After an exhaustive month of December (end of year list making and loose end finishing take a lot out of you), I am probably taking a break for at least a couple weeks of January.
The most recent stuff i found
Greatly enjoyed the Steel Woods record. Southern rock concept project. Luxuriously expansive. Each song is at least 5+ minutes long and everything gets lots of space to breathe.
The wilder blue released recently as well and they are characteristically fantastic. Bluegrass harmonies meets the eagles country rock. Loads of personality. Very fun listen.
My friend just sent me the link to the Wych Elm album “Field Crow” from November which is really very good and has made me slightly annoyed that they have not been on my radar before, especially as they are a local band.
The new single from Pet Needs, “The Optimist” was also released yesterday and I am now very excited for their third album, out next month I believe.
They have a touch of folk about them, a bit of The Clash (they worked with Joe Strummer at some point) and maybe some Billy Bragg chucked in. The lyrics are very much a product of the period as well. Social commentary and political, which is understandable given it was the tail end of Thatcher and then generally the Tory party being in power. Poll tax riots, crack down on the traveller communities, miners strikes.
I've got a real thing for Scottish bands, so I'm deep diving into We Were Promised Jetpacks radio. Not Scottish, but Johnny Foreigner is a new to me listen that I'm enjoying quite a lot.
Happy new year! I’m listening to KMHD as I always do. What caught my ear today was Souled Out by Cal Tjader and Yèkèrmo Sèw (A Man of Experience and Wisdom) by Mulatu Astatke
Yes! OPB and mt hood community college is portlands jazz station KMHD 89.1. They have a streaming app and Derek Smith is the best DJ there is. He’s on 7-10 am. I highly recommend!
My pleasure! I’m so happy to let you and anyone else know! They are a treasure and don’t know what I do without them in my life. I’m a radio girl. I like to let DJs curate my music for me. It’s a gift!
Love that you included Heartland by The Sound in your playlist this week. I'm a big fan of theirs and Adrian Borland's solo albums and recently picked up the "The Statik Records Years" 5 CD box set. A few years ago we also released this tribute to The Sound / Adrian Borland and are hoping to release a sequel later this year.
Great playlist as always, Kevin. My last week was dominated by going through best-of lists and then revisiting the records I was most intrigued by, including:
- Last Dinner Party - songs from their upcoming record (as Owen and Mallie mentioned above). "Sinner" is such a banger!
- Owl Song - quiet, meditative jazz by trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire with Bill Frisell and Herlin Riley
- United Wire by North Atlantic Oscillation, which channels the vibe of Zooropa but gets way more jagged and edgy.
Before he teamed up with John Rich to form Big & Rich, Big Kenny released a solo album that got pretty close to zero attention. "Candy Colored Glasses" is a great 1990s tune, if you skip over the dorky (and thankfully short) spoken word intro https://youtu.be/qrGWPB7mu_E?si=W2vs6_jye5ab0DgU
I've recently purchased an Audio Technica turntable for my home office/studio and received a new LP for the first time in decades. Plonking it on the turntable for the first time was an absolute joy. I highly recommend Jean-Michel Jarre's Oxymore album and the one I got recently called "Oxymore Works" is a collaboration between JMJ and various other artists. I plan to collect some other allbums of his, as many years ago my late Grandfather introduced me to his work and the albums of the 80s.
Currently I’m just using a set of studio monitor speakers with it, my Presonus Eris connected via phono out. So will expand on this in good time I suspect. That said it sounds good with them.
I have a lot of catching up to do - slowly gettin' through your EP's selection, Earworms and Song Loops's "75 Fabulous Songs from 2023", and An Earful's "Best Of 2023: Classical" 🎶
I recently worked through the entire Bob Marley and the Wailers discography for an upcoming piece. Really incredible how much great music he released by his mid-30s. Kaya in particular blew me away. 🤩🤩
I hope you’re feeling better!
lol. Yes!
Tinman was one of the very first 45s that I got with my Holly Hobbie record player for my 5th birthday! It will always have a special place in my heart!
I love it! Great earworm to start the year off with as well!
Moon Safari's Himlabacken Vol 2 has made it onto my buy list. Top drawer vocal harmonies.
https://moonsafari.bandcamp.com/album/himlabacken-vol-2-24-bit-audio
I wasn't sure what I was expecting, but I really enjoyed this!
I was spoiled this Yuletide with my wife gifting me three huge boxsets of classical music which, needless to say, will dominate my listening for the foreseeable future. https://twitter.com/listensessions1/status/1739330350487126326
I saw that! Looked like you hit the jackpot.
Both musically and in terms of matrimony!
Eek Kevin, Hurry!? Really, more new music in 2023... yes please. Meanwhile, excited for new Mould album!
My listening was, all over the place this week:
* Trashcan Sinatras - Cake
* The Murlocs - Calm Ya Farm
* Miguel Atwood-Ferguson - Les Jardins Mystiques Vol. 1
* phoneswithchords, Ben Sooy - phoneswithBen
Welcome to 2024 all, let's hope it's a great one - please.
That's a great list! Calm Ya farm was on my "Best Of (so far)" list in June, but was crowded out in the end. Any other year, that record's a lock.
Unforgettable - the reworked duet version of Nat King's Cole's song with daughter Natalie Cole
Happy new year, Kevin!
Happy new year to you too, Yana!
Still mainly focused on the re-issue that I stumbled upon from Numero Group and took me out of 2023 -- Everyone Asked About You. Incredible late 90s indie/emo that is so full, big, and yet intimate and delicate at the same time. Just can't get enough. Still enjoying the up-and-coming local DC band Birthday Girl; high school kids of DC punk luminaries but charting their own sound reminiscent of Bettie Serveet and The Spinanes. They open for Mary Timony in March, and I am already excited for that show. Wrote about them in my year-end: https://3albums6oldguys.substack.com/p/og-brads-top-10-55-more
The music world could definitely use more musical "children" of Bettie Serveert. What a great band.
I am definitely going to check out Birthday Girl and maybe go to that show!
That description has my curiosity piqued!
Update: I listened to this at work today yesterday, and it’s fantastic.
Lots and lots and lots. About to post my first 3 “albums of the week” over at my Stack, but beyond that:
-Finishing up listening to the complete Helmet discography (the post 00s albums are ROUGH)
-checking in on some of the big deluxe reissues of major albums from last year (replacements, yes, the who, dream syndicate, Nirvana)
Somewhere on here, I wrote about Unsung, and how it was the soundtrack to my ripping around the suburbs during high school.
Any favorites/standouts for you on the reissue list?
Have only got through the Tim remaster and it’s unreal
“I Saw” by Young Fathers,a group I recently discovered and I am looking forward to exploring their catalog, , a cover of Let it Be by Eden Nash (what a voice! ) and What You Want by Ren (shout out to 90’s Hip Hop
I'm late to the party as well.
At my age, I've started to find myself drifting away from new alternative music, so I'm resolved to listen to more current alternative and pop this year. Fingers crossed.
That said, most of my big concert plans this year are old school: Journey, Def Leppard and Heart in July; and Green Day, Smashing Pumpkins and Rancid in September. I'm also looking for a friend to make the trek to see Saint Motel in April. If the stars align, and the roster is solid, might try my luck at Riot Fest in September, too.
Saint Motel! Nice! Where/when is the show?
The year my wife & I went to Riot Fest, it felt like the lineup was tailor made for us.
They're playing in Pittsburgh in April. I haven't been to the venue before, so I'm curious to see it.
My Riot Fest experience was the same. Subsequent lineups wouldn't have been quite the same as the one I saw.
Happy new year, Kevin (and everyone!). I've been going back a bit to early hip-hop: Da Brat and Masta Ace are two fairly recent(ish) acquisitions for me.
"BAPTIIIIIIIIZED IN THA FUNK!"
Teddy Thompson & Jenni Muldaur’s ONCE MORE, an album of classic Country duets. Also Caroline Eyck’s THETIS 2086 (theremin & voice).
Bob Mould!! I included his “See A Little Light” in our Dec. 29 Q Weekend playlist 🔥
One of my all-time faves by him!
The new album by AJR, the Maybe Man, is a masterpiece. I'm even considering doing an album review on The Producer, and I've never done one of those.
Please share the link here if/when you do!
Oh absolutely! 😃
Catching up with Autopsy and Cryptopsy and exploring Hammers of Misfortune.
Hell yeah.
Still chewing on this new (to me) German band WISBORG I recommended to one of your friends- two parts The Cult, one part Depeche Mode, with a half-spoon of Type O Negative. Not fully formed yet, but the growth potential is there.
https://youtu.be/Kr8g4nv7lTc?si=9SVmYY-b3viMYl_x
Been rediscovering stuff by a couple guys from way back - Long John Baldry and Del Shannon. Also the new(ish) Margaret Glaspy album, "Echo The Diamond". Plus a newer group, Geese's recent release, "3D Country" -- it's Americana-tinged rock. And of course, a 2007 album by Richard Thompson, one of my favorite guitarist singer songwriters who's always on my playlists, called "Street Warrior".
I was introduced to Geese by Sam Colt when it was one of his Top 10 records of the year. Really wish I'd found them earlier!
For most of the past week, I’ve been revisiting a playlist I made after finishing The Bear a few months ago. I was stuck on a couple of REM songs - Strange Currencies and Half a World Away... which also reminded me of how wonderful Find the River is... I made a playlist and added some of my favorite REM and Replacements songs, and then a weird chunk of other favorites - a couple that seem to show up on a lot of my playlists and others that came from the Spotify recommendations (that are songs I love and when I see them have to add them 🤣). https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2l90tFVuyvZXow1iV1InP8?si=KEQft3qiQ0mWm2XeYMBo1A&pi=u-v897pndGRU25
This is a killer list! 'Out of Time" being criminally underrated is a hill I will die on, and 'Half A World Away' is a big part of that. Same with 'Me In Honey.'
Yes! I would die on that hill as well!
Happy New Year! I’ve been enjoying Lenny Kravitz’s Greatest Hits on vinyl. Not a huge fan of compilations but this one has always been a favourite.
Happy New Year! You can't go wrong with a little Lenny Kravitz. 'Again' sounds particulalrly great on vinyl.
Absolutely! 😎
The Last Dinner Party have been on heavy rotation for me. Can't wait for their debut album. Got several records for my Birthday and Christmas, so now family have all returned home, after Christmas at mine, I've been playing them
https://www.instagram.com/p/C1ebo2tNmGb/?igsh=bWg0ZWZ3bXJibGV3
Great choice!
Same here on Last Dinner Party. Glad a couple best-of lists reminded me about them.
Nice! What else did you get?
Probably wrong time of year, but I've had Agnetha Fältskog's "The Heat Is On" on repeat
Only newish albums I spent time with was the Woods’ Perennial and Slowdive’s Everything is Alive. And I watched the Eras movie with the fam. Otherwise, extended family in town and downtime with the kids meant Xmas albums and some-on-the-fly playlists palatable to diverse tastes (a mix of Alabama Shakes, Fleetwood Mac, Jason Isbell, Tom Petty, Jenny Lewis, Ratboys, REM, Replacements, Waxahatchee, Lucinda Williams).
That's my kinda mix!
First of all, excellemt choice with the Mary Chapin Carpenter song.
After an exhaustive month of December (end of year list making and loose end finishing take a lot out of you), I am probably taking a break for at least a couple weeks of January.
The most recent stuff i found
Greatly enjoyed the Steel Woods record. Southern rock concept project. Luxuriously expansive. Each song is at least 5+ minutes long and everything gets lots of space to breathe.
The wilder blue released recently as well and they are characteristically fantastic. Bluegrass harmonies meets the eagles country rock. Loads of personality. Very fun listen.
Thanks! She just popped into my head one day on the way home from work, and still hasn't really left.
My friend just sent me the link to the Wych Elm album “Field Crow” from November which is really very good and has made me slightly annoyed that they have not been on my radar before, especially as they are a local band.
The new single from Pet Needs, “The Optimist” was also released yesterday and I am now very excited for their third album, out next month I believe.
Thanks for these! Both are new to me.
Really enjoying the 2023 Readers Choice playlist too. Finding loads of new stuff there.
Levelling The Land vinyl reissued, by The Levellers. Curious, did they ever make it over the pond?
My Uncle introduced them to me YEARS ago. So thrilled to see them mentioned. I love that album and the S/T.
I absolutely love this album. A staple of my sixth form years
I'm not sure I've heard them before. Just played 'One Way," and it's not ringing any bells. Great song, though.
They have a touch of folk about them, a bit of The Clash (they worked with Joe Strummer at some point) and maybe some Billy Bragg chucked in. The lyrics are very much a product of the period as well. Social commentary and political, which is understandable given it was the tail end of Thatcher and then generally the Tory party being in power. Poll tax riots, crack down on the traveller communities, miners strikes.
I've got a real thing for Scottish bands, so I'm deep diving into We Were Promised Jetpacks radio. Not Scottish, but Johnny Foreigner is a new to me listen that I'm enjoying quite a lot.
Are you familiar with Retro Video Club?
No. Something I should check out?
Great little Scottish band, from Edinburgh I believe. Definitely worth a look.
Will absolutely take a look! Thanks for the tip.
Peaks and troughs was a favorite of mine by we were promised jet packs
I'm more into the first two albums. "Conductor" is my favorite.
I’ve been preparing the first update of the playlist of the year. These were the selected songs for Reflect & Relax Cafe #53:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6EcLhgESeOBX3Fvfxt8SH4?si=hjrwihCsRuGLzkkmz7pt2A
Nice!
Happy new year! I’m listening to KMHD as I always do. What caught my ear today was Souled Out by Cal Tjader and Yèkèrmo Sèw (A Man of Experience and Wisdom) by Mulatu Astatke
Wait, as in MHCC's radio station?
Yes! OPB and mt hood community college is portlands jazz station KMHD 89.1. They have a streaming app and Derek Smith is the best DJ there is. He’s on 7-10 am. I highly recommend!
I didn’t realize they were streaming. Thank you for this.
My pleasure! I’m so happy to let you and anyone else know! They are a treasure and don’t know what I do without them in my life. I’m a radio girl. I like to let DJs curate my music for me. It’s a gift!
They are celebrating 40 years this year 🙌
Love that you included Heartland by The Sound in your playlist this week. I'm a big fan of theirs and Adrian Borland's solo albums and recently picked up the "The Statik Records Years" 5 CD box set. A few years ago we also released this tribute to The Sound / Adrian Borland and are hoping to release a sequel later this year.
https://www.discogs.com/release/5943175-Various-There-Must-Be-A-Hole-In-Your-Memory-A-Tribute-To-The-Sound-Adrian-Borland
There are a few copies of this left if anyone wants one.
Right on! Thank you for the link. I'm off to check it out here shortly.
Great playlist as always, Kevin. My last week was dominated by going through best-of lists and then revisiting the records I was most intrigued by, including:
- Last Dinner Party - songs from their upcoming record (as Owen and Mallie mentioned above). "Sinner" is such a banger!
- Owl Song - quiet, meditative jazz by trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire with Bill Frisell and Herlin Riley
- United Wire by North Atlantic Oscillation, which channels the vibe of Zooropa but gets way more jagged and edgy.
Happy new year everyone!
Thank you & Happy New year to you & yours as well!
First off, Happy New Year to everyone.
Went and found my Missing Persons albums and went down a deep rabbit hole of Southern California music from 1978 to 1984.
Rang in the new year with a Latin Jazz playlist I found on Spotify.
I love it! I've got 'Color In Your Life' on list of records to look for.
I've just released my favorite 50 songs of 2023. Enjoy!
https://dustywright.substack.com/p/all-hail-the-best?r=36i7l&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&fbclid=IwAR2nHE6DZVJQ_W4oIrb71OqEXyCbIL_4oiTzPvwtXvR2Te2xQ2TIsH2ad64
Before he teamed up with John Rich to form Big & Rich, Big Kenny released a solo album that got pretty close to zero attention. "Candy Colored Glasses" is a great 1990s tune, if you skip over the dorky (and thankfully short) spoken word intro https://youtu.be/qrGWPB7mu_E?si=W2vs6_jye5ab0DgU
I love ''Sunshine Rock''! But I`ve been listening to the 4 new Ryan Adams albums, so freaking great!
Right on! I haven't heard any of them yet, but will have to check them out.
I've recently purchased an Audio Technica turntable for my home office/studio and received a new LP for the first time in decades. Plonking it on the turntable for the first time was an absolute joy. I highly recommend Jean-Michel Jarre's Oxymore album and the one I got recently called "Oxymore Works" is a collaboration between JMJ and various other artists. I plan to collect some other allbums of his, as many years ago my late Grandfather introduced me to his work and the albums of the 80s.
Not to get too far into the weeds, but what sort of speakers/amp/etc. do you have with it? Asking 'cause I'm in the market for a new one myself.
Currently I’m just using a set of studio monitor speakers with it, my Presonus Eris connected via phono out. So will expand on this in good time I suspect. That said it sounds good with them.
Did a lot of driving for the holiday last week so I did a lot of digging through my old Spotify playlists.
Here’s a fun one that I made in 2019: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1Hp86xaObMdHvZcfQASWh8?si=ik4_u_eTRIe6CG1UOcS_rQ&pi=u-X-4br5L4RmKC
Any list that opens with 'Cherry Chapstick' has gotta be good! Don't envy your doing a lot of driving, but at least you had some good music!
The drive wasn’t too bad. Especially since the kids did okay with it!
I have a lot of catching up to do - slowly gettin' through your EP's selection, Earworms and Song Loops's "75 Fabulous Songs from 2023", and An Earful's "Best Of 2023: Classical" 🎶
I’m still wading through both of those as well!
Beefheart's Doc at the Radar Station and Calexico's The Thread That Keeps Us have been getting played here.
I recently worked through the entire Bob Marley and the Wailers discography for an upcoming piece. Really incredible how much great music he released by his mid-30s. Kaya in particular blew me away. 🤩🤩
Nice! Please share it here when it’s up. Kaya is great. “Sun Is Shining” might be my favorite Marley track.
An absolute all-caps CLASSIC :)
For a deep dive, check out the late 60’s albums he recorded in Jamaica.
It was part of the experience! Anything where he was part of the Wailers, pre-"Catch a Fire," was included.
Lionel Hampton Story 1937-50 4 CD box