I checked out the new PJ song. It grabbed me more than anything from Gigaton did. Glad to see they are touring in support of this new record. Just wish they would come closer to Florida!
I’ve been doing one of those 20 albums lists on my FB account, so I’ve been listening to each album I post.
So far it’s been:
Pavement - Slanted and Enchanted American Analog Set - The Golden Band Stereolab - Transient Random-Noise Bursts with Announcements Low - The Great Destroyer Yo La Tengo - Painful
Nice! I try to avoid FB, but this is worth the trip.
That might be my favorite Stereolab record. ‘Painful’ rearranged my mind in all the best ways, and I never really stopped playing ‘Perfume V.’ So good…
Listening to Turn the Lights Back On and being astounded at how good Billy's voice still is, and hoping very much that there is an album to follow.
Over the past few years, I've been savouring an hard-earned "I told you so" -- that after soooo many years of (im)patience on the part of those of us who've known it for decades, the critics and the rest of the world have (finally) caught on to the brilliance of Billy Joel. Better late than never.
Saw them open for Interpol two summers ago. Really need to see them at their own show.
Even though Spoon isn’t a groundbreaking band or throws a lot of curveballs, their consistency of delivering (at least) very good albums for 20 years running deserves a lot of respect.
Slightly less cool, I have also been listening to the debut album by Kiss, which came out 50 years ago last Sunday. Looks like I'll be writing about that too!
Well, I'd say they never bettered it. It's got a glam sensibility and much less of that cranked up rock sound. It depends what you go for, but I like to imagine what the band could have been if they'd kept with that sound throughout their career. I much prefer it to stuff like Lick It Up or War Machine. Give it a listen.
Our new post is up, and in addition to Birthday Girl (DC high school kids from the Canty and MacKaye clans, which I've mentioned here before), really enjoying the new one from the Paranoid Style, who have added the dBs Peter Holsapple to their garage rock sound. https://3albums6oldguys.substack.com/p/hail-to-dc-birthday-girl-the-paranoid
I really dug Birthday Girl (thanks for getting it on my radar earlier!). The Interrogator takes things to the next level for a band that was already hitting on all cylinders. I’ve got a quick write up inbound for Wednesday.
- Slowly Rolling Cameras, who are similar to Portico Quartet and Mammal Hands in terms of blending jazz, trip-hop, and other vibes to produce this lush, cinematic feel. I spent a lot of time with Flow, which came out last year.
- The Grassy Knoll, who Kevin included on his playlist a couple weeks ago. I didn't know about them and are digging their records, so thanks, Kevin!
And then more time with The Last Dinner Party's debut. It's early, but it's going to be tough to knock this out of my #1 spot for the year. Happy Monday, all.
The latest release Showdown from Mega Colussus has been a welcome nostalgia trip back to my teenage years. Who doesn't like a bit of twin harmony guitar attack 😁
The new Idles slab is all over the place when its not repeating itself. The hit is Dancer with Grace coming in second. I've had it on repeat. This album has three producers, which seems to work out nicely for the most part. I read that one of the producers works heavily with Radiohead, and you can definitely hear that influence.
I love that AYBCS is at the top. I have a special weakness for that song for all kinds of reasons, not the least of which is the "giggling" outtake and George's guitar part, which sounds like nothing else anywhere ever.❤️🎸
I'm finally writing an essay about John Hiatt, especially about his peak period from 1987 to 2001, so I've been revisiting songs I know by heart. (Gigs of cerebral hard drive are storing his lyrics and stories.) In a Mojo-adjacent move, I'm also digging back into the Beat Farmers and Country Dick Montana. For some reason, their music always seems to resonate with me during election years.
I read Have a Little Faith in late October and listened to a lot of the albums. I left off at a certain point and should go back and pick it up, as I lost track of his new output after the mid-2000s.
The Lil Jon & Kabir Sehgal 'Total Meditation' album has been the most refreshing and surprising thing that has entered my ears over the weekend. The Bob Marley biopic tunes are still keeping me entertained, and I have been taking a trip back to Kate Bush, 'The Red Shoes'.
Been listening to a lot of Mahalia Jackson, and as of yesterday my 3 years old has probably requested The Shangri-Las, “Leader of the Pack” 500 times. Which now hearing it on a good stereo and not, you know on oldies radio as a kid; you realize that song is the greatest opera of the 20th Century!
Oh and my husband and I rewatched Trainspotting this weekend for the first time in decades so been playing that soundtrack as well.
I've been listening to a bunch of 2024 albums while working on my next post and have just started my dive back into Aimee Mann's music before getting to see her for the first time on Mar. 2.
"Blind Lemon Jefferson: Complete Releases 1926-1929" from the wonderful reissue label Acrobat. Jefferson was one of the first blues artists to be recorded and is still one of the most influential.
Spotify - rock from down under, Datura4, Ryan Adam's latest, Sword and Stone (Ryan and I played together many years ago when he was just getting started in Jacksonville, NC, and before Whiskeytown), The Mattson 2.
XM - Hillbilly Jim's Moonshine Matinee and Steve Earl's Hardcore Troubadour Show and his excellent tribute to Mojo Nixon.
I recently put my man-cave back together after having to move all my belongings out after a flood. To celebrate, I went old school and put the turntable to use. Started off with Bob Marley's Catch a Fire. Then Bad Brains, I Against I. Then Rush' Grace Under Pressure. The latter, mostly due to my recent piece on Rush. No new music this week. Well, none that I particularly liked. I'll report new stuff next week....
The last three weeks have been challenging (the joy of owning a home). It appears that I have added only two songs to my Liked list. But they are goodies:
"Land of 1000 Dances" by Wilson Pickett [I need somebody to help me say that one more time]
"Love In a Trashcan" by The Raveonettes [the rest of the Pretty In Black album does nothing for me, but this song grabbed me and won't let go]
Another new discovery for me is a band called Assistant that I found on Bandcamp who have some cool laid back tunes that bring back hints of bands like Felt, Stereolab, The American Analog Set, The Blue Orchids, Go-Betweens and the quieter side of Yo La Tengo - if you are interested here they are -
I've had the new Middle Kids album 'Faith Crisis Pt 1' in heavy rotation here. That did send me off on a Midnight Oil tangent. Discovering their discography *before* Diesel and Dust has been a great surprise.
I’m obsessed with Beyoncé’s debut country single “Texas Hold ‘Em.” Floored by how good it is. I see some serious line dancing choreography coming out of TikTok for it!!
I took some time out of promo-mode to check out the PJ single "Dark Matter"; it's good they haven't succumbed to the laziness that often afflicts longtime big-time bands.
Also checked out (+ loved) the new Unleash The Archers single, "Green And Glass"; they're really spreading their wings beyond being the best damn power-metal band on Earth, and becoming something more literary, more evocative, and embracing their nerdery in a wholsomely Canadian fashion. Highly recommend.
Been listening to Adrianne Lenker's new solo stuff she's been releasing leading up to her new record next month. Really looking forward to that one. Also listening to a lot of Chet Baker and Jason Molina.
I have nothing of value to offer except that I’ll be checking out Jawbreaker!! And have now introduced some lucky people to Cocteau Twins. 😉
Those are both valuable statements. 😀
Was really happy to see someone checking out Cocteau Twins after hearing us talk about them!
I checked out the new PJ song. It grabbed me more than anything from Gigaton did. Glad to see they are touring in support of this new record. Just wish they would come closer to Florida!
I feel the same way! The closest they’re coming to me is Wrigley Field. Might have to make the trip down.
Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes, Dark Rainbow. Released in January of this year. Great album.
Also listen to a mix of Blues, Buddy Guy, B.B. King, Muddy Waters, and more.
It was a weekend of "Honey Do", so there was a fair amount of crying over the blues....lol
lol.
I’ve been doing one of those 20 albums lists on my FB account, so I’ve been listening to each album I post.
So far it’s been:
Pavement - Slanted and Enchanted American Analog Set - The Golden Band Stereolab - Transient Random-Noise Bursts with Announcements Low - The Great Destroyer Yo La Tengo - Painful
Nice! I try to avoid FB, but this is worth the trip.
That might be my favorite Stereolab record. ‘Painful’ rearranged my mind in all the best ways, and I never really stopped playing ‘Perfume V.’ So good…
Yeah, I’m not a fan either but keep it for Red Pants stuff and posting top 20 albums when I get tagged. 😂
Now that's a list I can get into!
😂😂😂
Listening to Turn the Lights Back On and being astounded at how good Billy's voice still is, and hoping very much that there is an album to follow.
Over the past few years, I've been savouring an hard-earned "I told you so" -- that after soooo many years of (im)patience on the part of those of us who've known it for decades, the critics and the rest of the world have (finally) caught on to the brilliance of Billy Joel. Better late than never.
Better late than never indeed!
I've been digging deep into Spoon's discography for my next substack article. Just a fantastic band that don't get enough attention.
They have such a deep catalog and they're a great live act, too!
Would love to see them live. Waiting for the next UK tour!
Saw Spoon a couple of years ago. Very good live show, enjoy when you catch them!
Saw them open for Interpol two summers ago. Really need to see them at their own show.
Even though Spoon isn’t a groundbreaking band or throws a lot of curveballs, their consistency of delivering (at least) very good albums for 20 years running deserves a lot of respect.
They've never made a bad album and their most recent, Lucifer on the Sofa, was absolutely fantastic.
Slightly less cool, I have also been listening to the debut album by Kiss, which came out 50 years ago last Sunday. Looks like I'll be writing about that too!
I have never heard that Kiss album in full. Should I?
Well, I'd say they never bettered it. It's got a glam sensibility and much less of that cranked up rock sound. It depends what you go for, but I like to imagine what the band could have been if they'd kept with that sound throughout their career. I much prefer it to stuff like Lick It Up or War Machine. Give it a listen.
Never been much of a fan, but you never know. I will give it a spin in the near future.
100%
They definitely need more attention!
Idles Tangk on repeat https://idlesband.bandcamp.com/album/tangk
King Crimson live
Post Animal https://postanimal.bandcamp.com/album/levitation-sessions
Daniel Rossen https://danielrossen.bandcamp.com/album/you-belong-there
Brittney Howard What Now
Frank Carter & the Rattlesnakes
I keep meaning to check out Howard’s new stuff, but haven’t quite made it there yet.
Our new post is up, and in addition to Birthday Girl (DC high school kids from the Canty and MacKaye clans, which I've mentioned here before), really enjoying the new one from the Paranoid Style, who have added the dBs Peter Holsapple to their garage rock sound. https://3albums6oldguys.substack.com/p/hail-to-dc-birthday-girl-the-paranoid
I am both really enjoying Birthday Girl yet also crumbling into dust knowing their lineage 🤘🤘
lol. Right?!
I really dug Birthday Girl (thanks for getting it on my radar earlier!). The Interrogator takes things to the next level for a band that was already hitting on all cylinders. I’ve got a quick write up inbound for Wednesday.
Not sure how much rap folks here like, but this one features some great old school-sounding beats with a bunch of the best MCs the underground today has to offer. https://olburgerbeats.bandcamp.com/album/74-out-of-time
I’m not sure how many we have either, but I’m 100% here for it!
Last week was about digging into:
- Slowly Rolling Cameras, who are similar to Portico Quartet and Mammal Hands in terms of blending jazz, trip-hop, and other vibes to produce this lush, cinematic feel. I spent a lot of time with Flow, which came out last year.
- The Grassy Knoll, who Kevin included on his playlist a couple weeks ago. I didn't know about them and are digging their records, so thanks, Kevin!
And then more time with The Last Dinner Party's debut. It's early, but it's going to be tough to knock this out of my #1 spot for the year. Happy Monday, all.
Of course! I’m glad you liked it.
For anyone scrolling the comments, you can check out more of The Grassy Knoll here:
https://ofsoundandfury.substack.com/p/the-grassy-knoll-on-bandcamp
The latest release Showdown from Mega Colussus has been a welcome nostalgia trip back to my teenage years. Who doesn't like a bit of twin harmony guitar attack 😁
https://music.meltedfaces.com/album/showdown
This is a new one for me. Adding it to the queue. Thanks for getting it on my radar!
I'm crazy about
* Lime Garden - 'One More Thing'
* Mol Sullivan - 'Goose'
* Idles - 'TANGK'
Eager for release of LP's from
* somesurprises - 'Perseids'
* Amen Dunes - 'Death Joke'
* William Doyle - 'Springs Eternal'
Selecs from this week's visit to library $1 CD bin:
* England - 'Garden Shed'
* Tucker Zimmerman - 'Ten Songs By'
Had never heard of Tucker but this was evidently one of Bowie favorite albums. Visconti produced and played on it.
💯 for Mol Sullivan!
Am…am I the last person left that hasn’t heard Idles yet?
You may want to start with Joy As An Act Of Resistance.
The new Idles slab is all over the place when its not repeating itself. The hit is Dancer with Grace coming in second. I've had it on repeat. This album has three producers, which seems to work out nicely for the most part. I read that one of the producers works heavily with Radiohead, and you can definitely hear that influence.
Dummy by Portishead for a piece I was writing.
https://blanckslate.substack.com/p/music-words-numb
Thanks for the link!
This Beatles playlist I made: https://www.pandora.com/playlist/PL:142684725595611624:74638688?part=ug-desktop&corr=74638688
I love that AYBCS is at the top. I have a special weakness for that song for all kinds of reasons, not the least of which is the "giggling" outtake and George's guitar part, which sounds like nothing else anywhere ever.❤️🎸
Out of all Beatles songs, this one is one of my all time faves.
Great list! “Don’t Let Me Down” is one of my faves. No one ever picks it.
I really enjoyed hearing them write/record this song on that Peter Jackson doc!
I'm finally writing an essay about John Hiatt, especially about his peak period from 1987 to 2001, so I've been revisiting songs I know by heart. (Gigs of cerebral hard drive are storing his lyrics and stories.) In a Mojo-adjacent move, I'm also digging back into the Beat Farmers and Country Dick Montana. For some reason, their music always seems to resonate with me during election years.
I read Have a Little Faith in late October and listened to a lot of the albums. I left off at a certain point and should go back and pick it up, as I lost track of his new output after the mid-2000s.
Oh man! I’m looking forward to checking that out. I’m pretty sure that playing ‘Slow Turning’ on any road trip over 3 hours is required by law.
Same can be said for much of his catalogue during that period, especially "Bring the Family," "Walk On" and "The Tiki Bar is Open."
"Well, my two main men are Jesus and Ol' John Birch...so, we're going on down to the gun sale at the church..."
Looking forward to your essay on Hiatt.
"Gun Sale at the Church" is one why the Beat Farmers land on election year playlists...
I can't tell you why - The Eagles
Yes!
Happy Monday(s)! This morning I was spinning “Imposter”, one of the LPs that Dave Gahan (Depeche Mode) did with Soulsavers. It’s so good.
I don’t think I’ve ever heard it! Adding it to the list to check out later today.
It’s not the happiest of records, but hope you dig!
The Lil Jon & Kabir Sehgal 'Total Meditation' album has been the most refreshing and surprising thing that has entered my ears over the weekend. The Bob Marley biopic tunes are still keeping me entertained, and I have been taking a trip back to Kate Bush, 'The Red Shoes'.
‘The Red Shoes’ is overlooked way too often.
Was at a flea market this weekend and picked up an early pressing of Blondie’s Parallel Lines for $5. It’s been on repeat.
Nice! Thats a great find.
Been listening to a lot of Mahalia Jackson, and as of yesterday my 3 years old has probably requested The Shangri-Las, “Leader of the Pack” 500 times. Which now hearing it on a good stereo and not, you know on oldies radio as a kid; you realize that song is the greatest opera of the 20th Century!
Oh and my husband and I rewatched Trainspotting this weekend for the first time in decades so been playing that soundtrack as well.
The Shangri-Las are one of the greatest bands of all time. I wrote about them on my recent "500 words" blog: https://jimmymook.substack.com/p/500-words-10-songs-6
I’ll read it! Thanks!
That’s my kinda mix!
Little Richard, the Animals, and The Cocteau Twins
I love it. Saw you picked up a Little Richard record recently. Looks like a killer find!
I've been listening to a bunch of 2024 albums while working on my next post and have just started my dive back into Aimee Mann's music before getting to see her for the first time on Mar. 2.
Thanks for pointing me in the right direction w/her stuff the other day! I’m on it.
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on it.
The awesome Thea Wood over @herizonmusic introduced me to Neal Francis, so I have been jamming to him a lot this week.
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2e5y5Gs5lgnDmiY4TKLsq3?si=dXi9WhExQ7WBeBIdZ4WM-Q
Right on!
"Blind Lemon Jefferson: Complete Releases 1926-1929" from the wonderful reissue label Acrobat. Jefferson was one of the first blues artists to be recorded and is still one of the most influential.
Always a good time for the blues.
Spotify - rock from down under, Datura4, Ryan Adam's latest, Sword and Stone (Ryan and I played together many years ago when he was just getting started in Jacksonville, NC, and before Whiskeytown), The Mattson 2.
XM - Hillbilly Jim's Moonshine Matinee and Steve Earl's Hardcore Troubadour Show and his excellent tribute to Mojo Nixon.
Newish: still digging the Ducks, Ltd. album Harms Way
Old:
A lot of R.E.M. - live at the Shannon/Narducy shows I attended (and wrote about on my ‘Stack), all of Green, and assorted bootlegs/live recordings.
Car Seat Headrest, Teens of Denial
Delvon Lamar Trio, Close But No Cigar
That was great, btw! Marcus’ take on the shows is below. Come for the punny headline, stay for the killer review.
https://open.substack.com/pub/marcusmeeks/p/shannon-and-the-scorchers?r=3cbf2&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Glass Prism - Poe Through The Glass Prism
Mandroid Echostar - Ancient Arrows
Something old and something new.
Hop Along. Love Frances Quinlan's voice.
That oyster song is a great one!
I’ve been listening to a song called Green Fuzz by Naked Giants. They’re a band from up here in the Seattle area and definitely worth checking out.
https://open.spotify.com/track/6SPdqsYBElfqDVYNaUNzXh?si=Ubb67AyLQgWdbrj5TVPw0g
I’m on it!
Back to back, Maggot Brain - Funkadelic
follow by A Tear for Eddie - Ween
That’s a good 1-2 combo!
I recently put my man-cave back together after having to move all my belongings out after a flood. To celebrate, I went old school and put the turntable to use. Started off with Bob Marley's Catch a Fire. Then Bad Brains, I Against I. Then Rush' Grace Under Pressure. The latter, mostly due to my recent piece on Rush. No new music this week. Well, none that I particularly liked. I'll report new stuff next week....
I Against I rips. That’s quite a seque from Marley!
The last three weeks have been challenging (the joy of owning a home). It appears that I have added only two songs to my Liked list. But they are goodies:
"Land of 1000 Dances" by Wilson Pickett [I need somebody to help me say that one more time]
"Love In a Trashcan" by The Raveonettes [the rest of the Pretty In Black album does nothing for me, but this song grabbed me and won't let go]
I hope whatever was going on with the house is resolved (or will be soon)!
Listening to the new album by Pete Astor
https://peteastor1.bandcamp.com/album/tall-stories-new-religions-2
Love the BV's in your set.
Another new discovery for me is a band called Assistant that I found on Bandcamp who have some cool laid back tunes that bring back hints of bands like Felt, Stereolab, The American Analog Set, The Blue Orchids, Go-Betweens and the quieter side of Yo La Tengo - if you are interested here they are -
https://assistant.bandcamp.com/album/this-world-could-be-so-much-fun
The BVs are all thanks to you! 😀 Im really enjoying that record. I just got a copy of Assistant’s as well.
New album releases from Pet Needs and Royel Otis this week. Both excellent!
I've had the new Middle Kids album 'Faith Crisis Pt 1' in heavy rotation here. That did send me off on a Midnight Oil tangent. Discovering their discography *before* Diesel and Dust has been a great surprise.
Oh nice! I’m not too familiar with any pre- Diesel And Dust stuff at all.
Love the Oils' pre-D&D catalog! I was lucky to discover them early via "The Power and The Passion" being on MTV.
10, 9, 8...is awesome.
Intermittent Fast Living by PET NEEDS, released in the last week, is an absolute belter of an album!
I’m on it!
IDLES
Lot of love for IDLES this week. The universe is telling me to get on it!
New single GRACE with the video that mirrors Coldplay's Yellow made some noise.
Spent most of the day with the debut album by The Lover Speaks, one of my desert island discs
That’s a new one for me. If it’s a DID for you, then I’ve gotta hear it!
It's not on Spotify buy you can listen to the full album on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ky1gqnZCWUU
You'll know "No More I Love You's" as it was covered by Annie Lennox. For me that's one of the weakest tracks on the album.
A review of the album here: https://www.popmatters.com/195550-the-lover-speaks-the-lover-speaks-2495505574.html
There was a second album recorded, "The Big Lie", but it was unfortunately never released.
Thank you!!
I’m obsessed with Beyoncé’s debut country single “Texas Hold ‘Em.” Floored by how good it is. I see some serious line dancing choreography coming out of TikTok for it!!
lol. More line dancing; the trend we didn’t know we needed!
The song is great, but I’m also watching with great interest the way she (and the song) are disrupting things in the country world.
Absolutely. I think we’re witnessing a major genre “event” unfold. Similar to what grunge did to rock? 🤷🏻♀️
Max Richter for meditative purposes
Pavement’s Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain for nostalgia’s sake
And Yola’s Walk Through Fire.
Can’t believe ‘Crooked Rain…’ just turned 30. Time is screaming by…
My brother and I were just talking about the day we bought the CD together and played it three times in a row.
Made a playlist of my go to’s as of late
https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/eternally-even/pl.u-q09lFXWzPbM
You had me at ‘The War On Drugs.’ 😀
Killer list, and quite a few that are new to me.
I took some time out of promo-mode to check out the PJ single "Dark Matter"; it's good they haven't succumbed to the laziness that often afflicts longtime big-time bands.
Also checked out (+ loved) the new Unleash The Archers single, "Green And Glass"; they're really spreading their wings beyond being the best damn power-metal band on Earth, and becoming something more literary, more evocative, and embracing their nerdery in a wholsomely Canadian fashion. Highly recommend.
https://youtu.be/eLPMBD7i0IU?si=i5CW_wuRDV9biKRM
Agreed on PJ. I think it would’ve been (would be) really easy to mail it in at this point.
Been listening to Adrianne Lenker's new solo stuff she's been releasing leading up to her new record next month. Really looking forward to that one. Also listening to a lot of Chet Baker and Jason Molina.
Loving the Mk.gee album. Very "22 Million" era Bon Iver.
Listening a lot to the new Middle Lids album. Well worth taking some time out and diving into this one
Middle Lids or Kids?
Damn typo…Middle Kids. https://middlekids.bandcamp.com/album/faith-crisis-pt-1
Wed. June 29th "DIIV!" @ White Oak MusicHall : Houston TX 🤘🏼🖤
Right on!
^-- goin! Oh yeah ☝🏼