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Beth Lisogorsky's avatar

“Do you want to build a ⛄️ ?“ is playing in my head. thx Kristen Bell for bringing this song back at last night’s SAG awards

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Ha! I used to work with a guy that would sing that over and over (to troll us). This went on for weeks. Anytime I see it mentioned, I read/hear it in his voice.

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Marmi's avatar

The new Manics album Critical Thinking is so good!

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

I haven't heard it yet! I'm on it!

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Marmi's avatar

Hope you dig it too, let us know what you think Kev!

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Will do!

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Great lists as always, Jon!

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Jon  Pinter's avatar

thank you

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Reka Blazsek's avatar

Vieux Farka Touré's album, Ali, and the desert blues more broadly

https://headphoneson.substack.com/p/intro-to-tuareg-rock

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Dave Purcell's avatar

My week ended up being dominated by Kevin's Sound Advice piece from last week:

- Milwaukee's Brief Candles - Unfinished Nature (dream pop/post-punk with bits of other stuff)

- Immersion + SUSS - Nanocluster, Vol. 3 (assertive ambient)

- Colin Newman of Wire being in Immersion sent me down a long Wire rabbit hole, as that's a band I've admired and not spent enough time with beyond Pink Flag. The rest of my week was all about Wire, Colin's solo records, and side projects like Githead.

Also in rotation:

- The Grassy Knoll - Selected Instrumentals 1993-2022

- Listening to Spoon's last two records on good headphones -- the precision of the production is stunning on headphones.

Looking forward to the playlist and your picks. Have a great week, everyone.

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Greg Vaughn's avatar

Other than my Dream Syndicate diversion I could have just copied your comment this week!

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Dave Purcell's avatar

Nice! I dig Dream Syndicate as well. Might have to queue them up tonight.

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Justin Steiner's avatar

This makes me want to listen to Lucifer on the Sofa again soon.

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Same! I just cued it up.

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Now, this is a list! Really happy you liked the records from last week's post, and it;s always a good time for Wire (and associated side projects).

Huge +1 for The Grassy Knoll & Spoon as well.

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Gilby VM's avatar

Hey Kevin! Last time I shared a playlist here it was all about Japanese music. So I'm sharing some western music this time around.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1Q0I0e0EmXebGV8hUy1Nlf

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Thanks Gilby! Good to "see" you here again, btw. :)

Hope all is well with you!

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musicbuff78's avatar

Nao - Jupiter

Sir Woman - If it All Works Out

Ray Bull - Little Acts of Violence

The War & Treaty - Plus One

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Senor Fix's avatar

NEW & SHINY:

* Sam Fender 'People Watching' -The saxophone and late 80's polished yet powerful producing style is in full effect. Sam is back and still telling powerful stories - early Springsteen anyone. Made me want to listen to The Call & World Party. It's a ridiculously good album if you like this description.

Meanwhile, current events sent me to cathartic tunes for desperate times.

* Bad Religion 'Suffer'

* Billy Bragg 'Workers Playtime'

* The Alarm 'Declaration'

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Kristin DeMarr's avatar

Ooh Billy Bragg and The Alarm!

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Suffer rearranged my mind when I first heard it. Still does, tbh.

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Yana Bostongirl's avatar

Donna Summer - She Works Hard For Her Money

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Kristin DeMarr's avatar

Such a great one!!

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Nice one, Yana!

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Chase Roper's avatar

I’m eating, sleeping, breathing Apollo 18 right now but also found:

March on for Pax Ramona by The Psychedelic Porn Crumpets

Denial is a River by Doechii

Face Shopping by Sophie

Mr. Walking Drugstore Man by Speed, Glue, and Shinki

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Christopher's avatar

What's your favorite Fingertips

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Chase Roper's avatar

Oooh, great question.

I’m gonna have to go with Mysterious Whisper

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Christopher's avatar

Hey Now Everybody has been popping up in my head regularly since the early 90's. Like a commercial jingle.

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Chase Roper's avatar

I relate to this haha

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

There's (at least) two hear that definitely have my curiosity piqued!

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Andres's avatar

Good morning/afternoon/evening! This morning I played my vinyl copy of Stephanie Mills’ “If I Were Your Woman”. I had forgotten how extra she could be at the microphone 🤣🤣🤣 but the production is so lush.

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

An incredibly underrated talent I think gets unfairly tagged with the one hit wonder label (and that voice!).

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Andres's avatar

Totally!

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ric leczel's avatar

khruangbin and chris rea - great choices! here is the list from my sunday post

https://riclexel.substack.com/p/crossroads-of-intersectionality?r=bcx26

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Right on! I'm glad you liked 'em, and thanks for the playlist!

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rastronomicals's avatar

A new week, and I will be back to listening to a couple of hours or more of music everyday.

Started off with Take Care, Take Care, Take Care, the sixth album from Texas Guitar Army Explosions in the Sky. No-one does quintuple time more powerfully.

It is also the only CD I know that you can fold into a model house.

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Ryan Gonzalez's avatar

I have a Watsky album you can turn into a castle! Not a house but similar idea. Love Explosions in the Sky too; I really like the soundtrack to Prince Avalanche that they did. Just wish the movie itself lived up to the greatness of the band playing the soundtrack

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rastronomicals's avatar

Must google this Watsky thing.

For twenty years I’ve been telling myself I should watch Friday Night Lights, but I just don’t give a shit about high school football in Texas. :-/

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Ryan Gonzalez's avatar

Yeah it was his album Cardboard Castles! It was one of his earlier works so I'm not sure how easy it is to find a physical copy, but I still dig it.

And that's so funny I have had the same exact struggle actually 🤣

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Ha! No way. That sounds awesome!

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Scott Michael Winchell's avatar

‘Armageddon In A Summer Dress’ by Sunny War is getting a ton of my soul’s attention at the moment. I also am enjoying ‘People Watching’, the new project from Sam Fender. Something, perhaps a few too many ales at our neighborhood pub, compelled me to pay Z.Z. Top’s ‘Deguello’ a visit, and that visit was splendid. ‘I Thank You’ is such a great opening song for an album. ✌️

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Deguello is fantastic! Somewhere on here is a deep(ish) dive I took on the record. I picked it up on a crate digging trip with my son.

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jon cohan's avatar

Drinking Songs! Sound Opinions https://www.soundopinions.org (a long-running music show) recently created a list of top drinking songs. They missed a few favorites of mine, so here they are (There are sooooo many to choose from):

The Who However Much I Booze, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OL_Yr32CLx8

The Avett Brothers, “When I Drink” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0im8uVgP7u8

Cat Power, “Lived in Bars”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVGgGW1ZalY

Johnny Cash, “I Hardly Ever Sing Beer Drinking Songs” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQ3VpAEDzXw

Tom Waits, “The Piano Has Been Drinking” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPPtrqvHGEg

Mayer Hawthorne “Henny & Gingerale” https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=v2QRnutVa84&t=1m09s

Jenny Lewis, “Red Bull and Hennessey” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JzXfvNlPcA

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Kristin DeMarr's avatar

Going to have to dig through the list! A local brewery does Vinyl Night on Wednesdays and once a month they have a theme night- next month is songs about drinking! I was so disappointed that I don’t have the Housemartins album with Happy Hour (I have their second album). I do have UB40 Red, Red, Wine and Sinead O’Connor’s Drink Before the War. Going to have to check the link to see if I have any others lol

I haven’t heard any that you list, but will check them out!

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Jeff K's avatar

Got two albums off of fb marketplace from a guy yesterday. The Traveling Wilburys box set and The White Stripes: Live at the Detroit Institute of Arts. Going to give them a spin this morning.

New music wise, Patterson Hood dropped a new solo album last week. I haven't had a chance to listen to the whole thing yet but I've enjoyed the songs I've heard.

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

I've got Patterson Hood's now one on my "to listen to" list. Hoping to check it out later today or tomorrow.

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Abandoned Albums Podcast's avatar

Oppenheimer, The Katies, and The Record Company. ;)

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

A triple hit! If I'm taking the hint right, I should be keeping an eye out on my podcast list for tomorrow.

BTW, I'm extremely late to the party (what's new?), but before I forget, this was fantastic!

https://open.substack.com/pub/abandonedalbums/p/the-clampdown?r=3cbf2&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false

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Abandoned Albums Podcast's avatar

Thank you, Kevin! And yes, you should keep an eye out for your podcast tomorrow. It's not a triple header, just the usual one... but that's what's on deck. The question is, who will it be tomorrow? Gird your loins!

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Girded! (is that a word?)

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jeleonard193's avatar

"Joy Division + New Order" is a nominee for the Rock and Roll HOF. Not doing well in the fan vote. Perhaps Kevin can provide the argument(s) for their inclusion? (as a single entity?)

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

My completely, not-at-all biased answer is that they're one of the best bands on the planet. A much more objective response would be to note that both JD & NO changed the world. if nothing else, one band launched a million T-shirts, and the other had the best selling 12" of all time. That's gotta mean something to the people in Cleveland, right?

Last time they were on the ballot, I made my case. Looking back on it, the writing's a bit rough, but my sentiment hasn't changed a bit.

https://open.substack.com/pub/thekevinalexander/p/new-orderjoy-division-rock-and-roll?r=3cbf2&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

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Ryan Gonzalez's avatar

Really getting into Parliament and Funkadelic's stuff thanks to a friend: particularly digging Maggot Brain and Mothership Connection:

https://funkadelic.bandcamp.com/album/maggot-brain

Otherwise had a listen to Cindy Lee's Diamond Jubilee and I get the hype of it; just some great nostalgic feeling pop with some great lofi vibes:

https://cindylee.bandcamp.com/album/diamond-jubilee

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Diamond Jubilee got me to sit down and not do anything else but listen for 2+ hours. That's no easy feat!

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Andrew Smith's avatar

At the moment, Rags and Bones from Nomeansno (seriously, one of the best bass hooks out there):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yv3FERdmfUo

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Mark Nash's avatar

Thanks so much for the Qobuz trial! I want to move away from Substack in 2025 and Qobuz is near the top of my list. Been meaning to check it out for a while.

The top four albums I listened to last week:

Jan Blomqvist - MUTE

https://open.spotify.com/album/26sV7udefE7gHkUjlFStfN

Nia Wyn - A Pleasure to Have in Class

https://open.spotify.com/album/5LKVEiyAds7JoFHVSbLKWK

Heartworms - Glutton For Punishment

https://open.spotify.com/album/2h0EkMbH3XWfdnA1yEzxLT

Billy Nomates - Mary and the Hyenas OST

https://open.spotify.com/album/3dyt34QiW6hkMLkSsiUtuQ

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Lou Tilsley's avatar

Mary and the Hyenas is so good.

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Right on! I love Qobuz and hope you will too! Keep your eyes peeled for a code in your inbox. As noted, it's a real human sending them out, so it might take a few days. :)

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Kristin Tweedale's avatar

If I'm being completely honest, I've had the Arcane soundtrack on repeat for the last two weeks. It's the only music digging its way into my brain. It's full nerd, and so amazing.

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

We love full nerd here!

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Billy Cuthrell's avatar

Cracker. I've never listened to Cracker's music much but I'm attending a wedding next week and the guitarist for Cracker is officiating. The band's playing a festival that night and most of the wedding party is attending the show as well, so I figure I should brush up on the discography so I at least know maybe a couple of their songs.

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Kristin DeMarr's avatar

How cool!! Before Cracker the lead singer was in the band Camper Van Beethoven (one of my favorites!) - I played “Good Guy & Bad Guys” from one of their albums at a brewery vinyl night last week ❤️

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

How cool is that! Maybe a dumb Q, but is the band you've been sitting in with playing at this reception?

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Tyson's avatar

Been digging Electrelane's solid 3 record run of The Power Out, Axes, and No Shouts No Calls released in the 00's. This UK band kinda reminds me of Stereolab, but with no blips and beeps. A more streamlined twee, post punky version of Stereolab. I think they're broken up, but they really deserve more love.

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

They definitely deserve more love!

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Shaggy Snodgrass's avatar

New Molchat Doma- "Belaya Peloso". They've learned further toward Depeche Mode territory here than in anything previous; but still have enough Eastern-Bloc darkwave flavor to carry it off.

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Haven't heard this one yet, but need to check it out!

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Rick Ellis's avatar

I love this song because it is just so hard to define. But it's a reminder to me that summer will eventually come https://youtu.be/IfLYiY2FFjI?si=_fRfj7kpa0VberEN

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

This was great! Thanks for getting it on everyone's radar! Summer's comin'!

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Christopher's avatar

Recent favorites:

Hataalii - Waiting for a Sign

Love and Rockets

Joseph Decosimo - Beehive Cathedral

The Sea and Cake - The Fawn

Weak Signal - Fine

Rachid Taha - Origines

Lynn Avery - Phantasy & Reality

Chuck Strangers - A Forsaken Lover's Plea

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Kristin DeMarr's avatar

For some odd reason, Haunted When the Minutes Drag was on my Spotify “Discover Weekly” list - which I thought was for new stuff, so I got excited thinking they may be releasing a new album… when I played Haunted - yeah it’s an old one and I remembered it. No new album to tell!

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Dissembling Bling's avatar

50ç scores

Cd singles: blackbox native new yorker, brit release tori Amos spark w xmas songs, phat 'n' phunky let's groove, fat boy slim w macy gray demons, Busta w Janet what's it gonna be?, cds SVW it's about time, drowning Mona soundtrack, and current retail play CSNY So Far. (Too mellow for prime time but we are off season)

Used cds $15 total

Funk Classics of the 80s on Rebound Records

Joan as Police Woman ~ The Deep Field

Their Sympathetic Majesties Request: a decade of obscurity and obsolescence. 2 cd Sympathy For The Record Industry compilation. 2nd time buying because 1st went to gf because Hole rarity.

Standout track: Spectrum covering Daniel Johnston ~ True Love Will Find You In The end. May I nominate Sonic Boom for President of Space

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

I'd never heard that Blackbox track! Diggin' the vibe. We're a long way from "Strike it Up" here.

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Greg Vaughn's avatar

After purchasing on Amazon Prime, I watched The Dream Syndicate's documentary How DId We Find Ourselves Here? I'm a fan and loved it. Lots of great discussion from band members and other folks around their sphere. Definitely worth watching!

Listening-wise, it's mostly been Wire (Pink Flag, Chairs Missing, and 154) and The Dream Syndicate's catalog. After the documentary I have a new perspective on The Universe Inside and enjoy it a lot more now.

On Kevin's playlist the tracks from Magnetic Fields and Wishy make me want to hear more. And you hit a good Texas twofer with Chris Rea's Texas and Khruangbin (local to me in Houston).

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

I'll add that doc to my list! I'm a fan as well, but haven't seen it. Hopefully, you enjoyed wire, and I'm happy to here Wishy and Magnetic Fields piqued your curiosity! Wishy's Triple Seven was one of my AOTY's for 2024

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Greg Vaughn's avatar

Yes! I should’ve noted, I really enjoyed that trio of albums from Wire. I definitely plan repeated listens

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Right on! I’m happy to hear it.

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Kristin DeMarr's avatar

I spent a lot of time listening to a wide variety of music this week! A lot of Post Malone after seeing Post Nirvana on the SNL special. Some Tori Amos, some Violent Femmes, some Smiths - then some songs about drinking that I could remember- preparing for a vinyl theme night next month. I do love Noah Kahan’s Dial Drunk, but it’s too expensive on vinyl.

My daughter requested some “goth” so I played the Bauhaus…

My youngest asked me to play Radiohead!! 🎉🎉🎉 and The Man Who Sold the World - I assumed he meant the Nirvana cover, but no he meant the original by Bowie 🎉🎉🎉

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Bauhaus! I love it. The kids are alright. :)

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Benjamin Woodling's avatar

I listened to Spiritualized 'Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space' which sounded very good. Quite a lot of Beach Boys and a little Sharon van Etten. Might pick an album out from the great suggestions here :)

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Norman's avatar

I listened to some new music from the band named BLOKE, Living Without Expectations. As always, the long read is available: https://weatheredmusic.ca

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Lou Tilsley's avatar

Enjoyed the playlist this week. The Khruangbin track is great and I’ve really liked what I’ve heard from Flora From Kansas so far. Looking forward to seeing what else they put out.

This week I’ve gone back to some releases from last year: Lustre by The Buoys, in preparation for their show last night (which was amazing btw) and On The Intricate Inner Workings Of The System by The Bug Club (who I’m seeing tomorrow).

In terms of new releases I’ve been enjoying SAYA by Saya Gray and Blindness by The Murder Capital. I also like the new single, Glasses, from Singapore band Hijack Hayley.

https://open.spotify.com/track/3dcBROgsuFRyczWuXdhSyL?si=NbzBaz_4T_-KcQBVJiaScQ&context=spotify%3Aalbum%3A7E7pFu5drM9fLGe55rh183

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Justin Steiner's avatar

I mostly listened to the albums I wrote about for my latest post: https://shooflypie.substack.com/p/scattered?r=4iw9

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Just saw that in my inbox! That's tomorrow morning's read sorted. :)

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Justin Steiner's avatar

Yay!

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Dylan Oxley's avatar

A dear friend recently got me into Polyphia. Late to the party but it's a welcome change from lofi beats!

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

I'll take all the lo-fi you got! Thanks for the rec.

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Stephen Davenport's avatar

Just heard a new song that was outstanding, David Kushner - Daylight, very good and powerful message.

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Dylan Delgado's avatar

Last week I didn't listen to anything that I haven't listened to before. I did re-listen to The Wall by Pink Floyd, though. Out of the 4 albums that define Pink Floyd's "peak" (DSOTM, WYWH, Animals and this) this is the weakest, as there are a few throwaway tracks (particularly on the final side). That being said, you can't really remove them as otherwise the story would be incomplete. Upon relistening to this I redid my track ranking. "Hey You", which I left off of my top 10 track list originally, was put on.

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