A chill and fun bopper I've been vibing to this week is "Midnight Mischief (Tom Misch Remix)" by Jordan Rakei and Tom Misch. Everything with Tom Misch is smooth as honey.
I've also really been enjoying that new Kieran Hebden & William Tyler collaboration 🔥
New for me this week and getting a lot of plays are:
- Amatssou from Tinariwen. Desert blues with banjo and pedal steel? More please.
- I Only See the Moon from The Milk Carton Kids. The track Running on Sweet Smile sounds like it could have been a Gillian Welch & David Rawlings song in a parallel universe.
<SHAMELESS PLUG>
I'll be spending most of this week listening to the WOXY 2023 97X Modern Rock 500 with a silly grin from ear to ear.
I was in New Orleans with our family (a huge group) for our niece's wedding this past weekend. The song I could not get out of my head was "When I Get to Heaven" by John Prine, from his last album, "The Tree of Forgiveness." That of course, sent me down the Prine rabbit hole, and right over to the single that was released just after his death, "I Remember Everything." Given the circumstances and the family (from my 81 year old mom to my 12 week old grandchild) that was there, it was a perfect soundtrack.
I can't remember if I've mentioned it before, but my HS art teacher was /really/ into Prine, and would play him every day while we worked on our projects. We'd give him (good natured) shit about it, and he'd tell us "someday you'll appreciate this." Turns out he was right.
Hadn't heard that one before! He surely was. Interesting how music and certain musicians hit you differently at various points in your life. That could make for an interesting piece sometime.
Ah! Ned's Atomic Dustbin!! Another '90s alt band I interviewed back when 'Kill Your Television' was huge. And you were wondering about my 'Philly Soul': that is now my latest online post at Culture Sonar:
Not handily :( One of my goals is to make a dive into the plastic tub of my old interviews that were published from 1990-1995. They don't exist online and I really need to get the newsprint into digital format.
My clearest recollection was that I had an Indian curry lunch with the guitarist (I think it was Gareth Pring) and then later as I was in the tiny hole of a dressing room at TT The Bear's in Cambridge, MA noticing he wore literally 25 thin silver bracelets on his strumming hand that would rub against the strings and his arm looked like holy high hell!
Nothing sonically interesting this past week, but I do have Chrissie Hynde's autobiography "Reckless" queued up for my next read. Looking forward to that. And Ned's Atomic Dustbin.
Hi Kevin: I've spent the last few days with the jam band Goose, streaming a concert, listening to live recordings that they release faster than one can listen ("Live at the Salt Shed, Chicago April 14-15" 2023) is the latest. I've got them down to write a Substack. Their songs seem solid, some with a pop sensibility, lyrics not so much, each live song around 20 or many more minutes long.
Wait; they release almost every show? I've been listening to one from this past March in Georgia. Knowing there's a bunch more out there could be dangerous for me! lol.
I mentioned it further down thread, but I didn't realize they release recordings of most of their shows. I've been really enjoying one from March. Now that I know there's more, I might be in trouble!
Chappaqua Wrestling's album Plus Ultra has been my go to walking/bopping music all week. Sure it shamelessly apes Oasis but what's wrong with solid, nay muscular brit power-pop?
Big listens this weekend were live sets by Pom Pom Squad, Hiss Golden Messenger, and Iron & Wine, all at the FREE Sound Mind Festival in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Yes, we got wet, but it was so worth it. Kind of mind-blowing that I went almost 20 years of listening before seeing Iron & Wine live. Sam Beam turned out to be a bit more eccentric than I expected, but that golden voice, oh my! And his guitar technique is phenomenal. M.C. Taylor from Hiss Golden Messenger watched the first to songs from the side of the stage, his eyes laser focused on Beam's guitar. More to come when I review the show...
They release everything. I have no need to spend my life chasing Goose. It’s a thing I’m doing right now. Probably not after Tuesday. And they don’t rule. But they “shred” in the nomenclature of their gaggle😂
Right now Violent Femmes is spinning, but earlier today Sarah Bareilles came up and she never fails to move me with her beautiful voice and songwriting! Btw excellent choice with the Neds, my fave of the fraggle rockers of that era. I was also heavily into Carter USM, Jesus Jones, Wonder Stuff, EMF etc.
My son (18) started a shared playlist with his friends and one of them (17) added a bunch of Led Zeppelin and Violent Femmes songs to the list and that friend is now my favorite. 😂
Been greatly enjoying the new Kip Moore record. For those that don’t know, he’s technically in the world of country music but his music is essentially a modern take on heartland rock. Springsteen and Bob Seger etc. Heartfelt and energetic but also deeply reflective.
Personal favorites on the album are Guitar Slinger, Peace and Love, and Mickeys bar. Try them out, don’t be nervous about the “country label” 😉
Sounds fantastic! I'll start with the latest one & work my way backward.
Hi Kevin! I’ve been working in the update of the playlist, so this is what I’ve been listening to:
https://open.substack.com/pub/reflectandrelaxcafe/p/reflect-and-relax-cafe-37
Russian Circles!
I saw them live! It was a great show.
This was another new one for me. Really dug Gnosis. It's my kinda heavy.
A chill and fun bopper I've been vibing to this week is "Midnight Mischief (Tom Misch Remix)" by Jordan Rakei and Tom Misch. Everything with Tom Misch is smooth as honey.
https://open.spotify.com/track/0aSPcMOs0ahKPGxsqMqbh2?si=5Kml-IP6RRyvtSdIEr6J5g
Smooth is good! I still owe you an email, btw.
Looking forward to it!
I've also really been enjoying that new Kieran Hebden & William Tyler collaboration 🔥
New for me this week and getting a lot of plays are:
- Amatssou from Tinariwen. Desert blues with banjo and pedal steel? More please.
- I Only See the Moon from The Milk Carton Kids. The track Running on Sweet Smile sounds like it could have been a Gillian Welch & David Rawlings song in a parallel universe.
<SHAMELESS PLUG>
I'll be spending most of this week listening to the WOXY 2023 97X Modern Rock 500 with a silly grin from ear to ear.
https://www.inhailer.com/post/inhailer-radio-presents-the-2023-modern-rock-500-a-tribute-to-woxy-fm-s-40-year-legacy
</SHAMELESS PLUG>
Plug away! I'm listening as I type this.
I was in New Orleans with our family (a huge group) for our niece's wedding this past weekend. The song I could not get out of my head was "When I Get to Heaven" by John Prine, from his last album, "The Tree of Forgiveness." That of course, sent me down the Prine rabbit hole, and right over to the single that was released just after his death, "I Remember Everything." Given the circumstances and the family (from my 81 year old mom to my 12 week old grandchild) that was there, it was a perfect soundtrack.
I can't remember if I've mentioned it before, but my HS art teacher was /really/ into Prine, and would play him every day while we worked on our projects. We'd give him (good natured) shit about it, and he'd tell us "someday you'll appreciate this." Turns out he was right.
Hadn't heard that one before! He surely was. Interesting how music and certain musicians hit you differently at various points in your life. That could make for an interesting piece sometime.
At the time, we just thought he was a cool teacher. In hindsight, he gave us so much more.
Ah! Ned's Atomic Dustbin!! Another '90s alt band I interviewed back when 'Kill Your Television' was huge. And you were wondering about my 'Philly Soul': that is now my latest online post at Culture Sonar:
https://www.culturesonar.com/philadelphia-freedom-eltons-ode-to-billie-jean/
Nice! I don't suppose you have a link to that interview, do you? I just did a small piece on God Fodder for Generation Riff. Should be out soon.
More importantly, thanks for the link to this this one on Philly Soul! I'm looking forward to diving in.
Not handily :( One of my goals is to make a dive into the plastic tub of my old interviews that were published from 1990-1995. They don't exist online and I really need to get the newsprint into digital format.
My clearest recollection was that I had an Indian curry lunch with the guitarist (I think it was Gareth Pring) and then later as I was in the tiny hole of a dressing room at TT The Bear's in Cambridge, MA noticing he wore literally 25 thin silver bracelets on his strumming hand that would rub against the strings and his arm looked like holy high hell!
These are the stories I love to hear! His poor arm, though. (winces)
This new Samara Joy is exactly the music I would want when walking into a Manhattan Jazz Club, on a steamy night.
https://music.apple.com/us/album/linger-awhile-deluxe-edition/1686503032
Metronomy!
Nice!
Hi Kevin and fellow readers and writers! This morning I played 461 Ocean Boulevard by Eric Clapton on vinyl. Sublime. It just felt right in every way.
Was this something you picked up on your recent trip?
No, I’ve had it for ages but for some reason I don’t play it very often. I should!
Nothing sonically interesting this past week, but I do have Chrissie Hynde's autobiography "Reckless" queued up for my next read. Looking forward to that. And Ned's Atomic Dustbin.
Hi Kevin: I've spent the last few days with the jam band Goose, streaming a concert, listening to live recordings that they release faster than one can listen ("Live at the Salt Shed, Chicago April 14-15" 2023) is the latest. I've got them down to write a Substack. Their songs seem solid, some with a pop sensibility, lyrics not so much, each live song around 20 or many more minutes long.
Goose rules! If you’re not already following them on Bandcamp you should - they release soundboards of most of their shows the next day there.
Wait; they release almost every show? I've been listening to one from this past March in Georgia. Knowing there's a bunch more out there could be dangerous for me! lol.
You know it. Get on it! https://goosetheband.bandcamp.com
I mentioned it further down thread, but I didn't realize they release recordings of most of their shows. I've been really enjoying one from March. Now that I know there's more, I might be in trouble!
Looking forward to reading your take on the band!
I've been rediscovering a band called Giant Sand. Listening to this all week. Eccentric roots music.
https://giantsandmusic.bandcamp.com/album/glum-25th-anniversary-edition
Provisions is soooo amazing!
Another new one for me. I'm on it!
Dwight Yoakam's guitars and Holly Williams' voice!
On Repeat - 194
Dave Edmunds - Information - LP - 1983
Dave Edmunds - Riff Raff - LP - 1984
SOLE - våra liv - Streaming - 2023
Utopia - Deface The Music - LP - 1980
100 Mile House - From Fall To Fall - CD - 2009
Black Grape - pop voodoo - CD - 2017
Deep Purple - Made In Japan - CD - 1972
John Lennon - Shaved Fish - LP - 1975
The Swirling Eddies - Zoom Daddy - CD - 1994
ELO - Face The Music - LP - 1975
ELO - Time - LP - 1981
sparkle*jets u.k. - Best of Friends - Streaming - 2023
The Electric Prunes - Mass in F Minor - LP - 1968
Bike - Arte Brute - Streaming - 2023
On Repeat - 195
Can I just say how happy it makes me to see that someone else likes Dave Edmunds as much as I do? Love it when he shows up on your lists!
(Very happy to see my own lists in such great company as well!)
Chappaqua Wrestling's album Plus Ultra has been my go to walking/bopping music all week. Sure it shamelessly apes Oasis but what's wrong with solid, nay muscular brit power-pop?
Absolutely nothing!
Apollo Junction is fun - and new to me!
Big listens this weekend were live sets by Pom Pom Squad, Hiss Golden Messenger, and Iron & Wine, all at the FREE Sound Mind Festival in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Yes, we got wet, but it was so worth it. Kind of mind-blowing that I went almost 20 years of listening before seeing Iron & Wine live. Sam Beam turned out to be a bit more eccentric than I expected, but that golden voice, oh my! And his guitar technique is phenomenal. M.C. Taylor from Hiss Golden Messenger watched the first to songs from the side of the stage, his eyes laser focused on Beam's guitar. More to come when I review the show...
Coming on the next pod episode?
That's the plan! Will write it up, too, of course...
Went down memory lane and listened to Jordan Klassen's album Repentence yesterday: https://open.spotify.com/album/5d4o4TtuUiR9tTtrJpSxj4?si=9XjWoUiKRN6TREXTE2E20w
Full disclosure: I was in his band for a bit.
They release everything. I have no need to spend my life chasing Goose. It’s a thing I’m doing right now. Probably not after Tuesday. And they don’t rule. But they “shred” in the nomenclature of their gaggle😂
Right now Violent Femmes is spinning, but earlier today Sarah Bareilles came up and she never fails to move me with her beautiful voice and songwriting! Btw excellent choice with the Neds, my fave of the fraggle rockers of that era. I was also heavily into Carter USM, Jesus Jones, Wonder Stuff, EMF etc.
FWIW, Victor DeLorenzo is pretty active on Twitter. Lots of MKE-centric stuff, but still pretty cool if one doesn't live here.
Also: Lol at "Fraggle Rock." They were one of my faves too!
My son (18) started a shared playlist with his friends and one of them (17) added a bunch of Led Zeppelin and Violent Femmes songs to the list and that friend is now my favorite. 😂
As they should be! lol.
The kids are alright.
It's been a Jim Carroll weekend: https://open.spotify.com/album/4wAWa84e356LRGEPA741Fv?si=Q64Lg_RJQa24bew2vWc8mQ
I can almost guarantee I'll have "People Who Died" playing in my head until lunchtime. :)
Not sure I've ever heard the rest of this record, though?
Really liking the new Blur single 'The Narcissist', definitely whetted my appetite for how their new album might sound after so long away!
I'm really looking forward to that too!
Been greatly enjoying the new Kip Moore record. For those that don’t know, he’s technically in the world of country music but his music is essentially a modern take on heartland rock. Springsteen and Bob Seger etc. Heartfelt and energetic but also deeply reflective.
Personal favorites on the album are Guitar Slinger, Peace and Love, and Mickeys bar. Try them out, don’t be nervous about the “country label” 😉
That description sounds like his music will check a lot of boxes for me!