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.
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:
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.
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.
I saw Eilen Jewell and her amazing band at the Blue Mountains Music Festival here in Katoomba NSW (Australia) a few months ago and I have been listening to her music pretty consistently since! I keep discovering new albums (she has about nine) and thinking, 'oh this is the masterpiece'. In the middle of all of this, she released a new album, Get Behind The Wheel, which might be, yeah, the masterpiece. I've fallen hard...
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. 😂
Duster Bennett: Ran across this rather unknown Welsh blues guy from the late 60s this week. Three tracks on his debut album, Smiling Like I'm Happy, feature John McVie, Mick Fleetwood and Peter Green. Nice friends to have.
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” 😉
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!
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
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>
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.
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/
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!
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.
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.
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
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
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?
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...
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.
I saw Eilen Jewell and her amazing band at the Blue Mountains Music Festival here in Katoomba NSW (Australia) a few months ago and I have been listening to her music pretty consistently since! I keep discovering new albums (she has about nine) and thinking, 'oh this is the masterpiece'. In the middle of all of this, she released a new album, Get Behind The Wheel, which might be, yeah, the masterpiece. I've fallen hard...
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. 😂
Duster Bennett: Ran across this rather unknown Welsh blues guy from the late 60s this week. Three tracks on his debut album, Smiling Like I'm Happy, feature John McVie, Mick Fleetwood and Peter Green. Nice friends to have.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNlB1DLJGRI
It's been a Jim Carroll weekend: https://open.spotify.com/album/4wAWa84e356LRGEPA741Fv?si=Q64Lg_RJQa24bew2vWc8mQ
Really liking the new Blur single 'The Narcissist', definitely whetted my appetite for how their new album might sound after so long away!
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” 😉