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On to the music:
For those of you who are new, we kick off every week by sharing what we’ve been playing.
The playlist below is some of what I’ve had in heavy rotation. After a few weeks steeped in nostalgia, this one skews heavily toward 2025 releases. Still a couple of old favorites in here, though!
Now it’s your turn.
What caught your ear this week? Any new releases or shows you’re looking forward to?
As some of you may have seen, I recently wrote about a Best Record of 1989 challenge and noted that I'd be occasionally writing some of these up.
I've started doing some quick hits of each match up and posting them directly to the page here. There's probably some typos. Check 'em out and let me know your thoughts! Chin wags & hot takes welcome! Sharing and restacks always appreciated.
Also: As most of you have seen, I am a huge fan of the music streaming platform Qobuz. The sound quality is second to none, and the entire UX is fantastic. Thanks to our friend Kenn Richards, you can now see it for yourself.
I’m thrilled to share this exclusive offer for 2 free months. Not an ad, and there’s no catch. Just hella good sound quality, solid recommendations tailored to your tastes, and editorials well worth your time.
Note: The codes will be sent out by an actual human over the next several days. Please be patient.
I drove 1700 miles from Friday to Sunday, moving my daughter to her first real job. I listened to a ton.
Last night in the last four hours or so I listened to the Ed Stasium Mix of Tim and fell in love all over again with The Replacements Little Mascara.
Then I went back as far as I could on my Spotify most played by years. It was fun to see what albums I went deep on. I also know I can be a lazy listener and will sometimes just play my "on repeat" playlist ad nauseum so....
No songs made it on every year 2018-2024, but Muse, Hysteria, Taylor Swift, Ready for it?, REM, These Days and Marvelous 3, Let Me Go made it on 5 each cementing my willingness to listen to what makes me happy.
They're playing in Valencia this weekend. Someone asked if we wanted to see them and I said no. I only know one or two songs. Then, as we discussed this, I realized that Simple Minds are much bigger in Europe. It's not like the people going to this show will be only be waiting for the encore!
This morning, Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” was spinning on my turntable. I sometimes wonder if there exists a time that is NOT opportune for that record 😉
On my drive back from the Maker Park Radio 8th birthday weekend long concert on Staten Island, I listened to the hit band(s) of the weekend: particularly Canada's Nobro, who drove down from Montreal to deliver the most energetic and entertaining live set I have seen in 2025. Nobro recently won Hard Rock Album of 2024 at the Junos, Canada's equivalent of the Grammys - though it is hard to imagine the Grammys nominating an album called "Set Your Pussy Free" or one with a second song title like "Let's Do Drugs." This is why I prefer Bandcamp to Daniel Ek's band-ripping-off-Joe-Rogan-financing-AI-weaponry supporting Spotify, because they can put the t-shirt image for "Let's Do Drugs" up top of their page and let it rip.
I wasn’t sold on the debut. I think that’s why I’m a bit reticent with this one - plus the singles didn’t instantly grab me, apart from Davina McCall which is fab. I think they are a bit hit and miss for me.
This has been a great week for new music! Absolutely loving the Midnight Rodeo album, Chaos Theory and My First Album by Jessica Winter. Clever Rabbits by Ann Liu Cannon is also excellent and I’ve been enjoying the new one from Amy Macdonald too.
A radio personality from Tampa know has a podcast on UTube. He plays Latin Jazz and Salsa and was fundemental in my appreciation of the genre. He goes by Luis “Speedy” Gonzales and he hosts “Speedy’s Latin Jazz and Salsa Show” every week live on Fridays at Noon Eastern time, or replay anytime during the week. Tune in!
* The Mekons - Horror. I finally had the chance to see them live last week after many years of being a fan. They were terrific: they raise your spirits, make you laugh, and help you feel like you're not alone in this fight against darkness.
* Grégoire Maret / Romain Collin / Bill Frisell - Americana. Maret is likely the best-known harmonica player in jazz, and any record with Frisell is likely to be great. This is a lovely, meditative record that is perfect for winding down at night, including gorgeous covers of "Brothers In Arms" and "Wichita Lineman."
* The Mosleys - Tested Recipes. Top-shelf Nick Lowe-style pub pop from Milwaukee.
This past week I listened to Gene's sophomore album - Drawn to the Deep End. Gene is a lesser known Britpop band, overshadowed by Oasis, The Verve and Blur, along with some of the "second tier" acts such as Supergrass. I wouldn't say Drawn to the Deep End is pure Britpop - it introduces more acoustic, minimalist arrangements, as evidenced in "Speak To Me Someone" and "We Could Be Kings", which makes this album really enjoyable. Definitely a hidden gem.
The Sound of Silence - Simon & Garfunkel
Nice one, Yana!
I drove 1700 miles from Friday to Sunday, moving my daughter to her first real job. I listened to a ton.
Last night in the last four hours or so I listened to the Ed Stasium Mix of Tim and fell in love all over again with The Replacements Little Mascara.
Then I went back as far as I could on my Spotify most played by years. It was fun to see what albums I went deep on. I also know I can be a lazy listener and will sometimes just play my "on repeat" playlist ad nauseum so....
No songs made it on every year 2018-2024, but Muse, Hysteria, Taylor Swift, Ready for it?, REM, These Days and Marvelous 3, Let Me Go made it on 5 each cementing my willingness to listen to what makes me happy.
I love that mix of Tim, and of all the tracks, I think "Little Mascara" benefitted the most from Stasium's treatment.
Not for nothing, but did you see this series SW Lauden put together?
https://open.substack.com/pub/rememberthelightning/p/song-x-song-tim-side-a?r=3cbf2&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
I'll check it out!!
A little Simple Minds.
They're playing in Valencia this weekend. Someone asked if we wanted to see them and I said no. I only know one or two songs. Then, as we discussed this, I realized that Simple Minds are much bigger in Europe. It's not like the people going to this show will be only be waiting for the encore!
Should be a great show!
This morning, Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” was spinning on my turntable. I sometimes wonder if there exists a time that is NOT opportune for that record 😉
(narrator voice):
There is not.
Texas Cookin’ by Guy Clark.
On my drive back from the Maker Park Radio 8th birthday weekend long concert on Staten Island, I listened to the hit band(s) of the weekend: particularly Canada's Nobro, who drove down from Montreal to deliver the most energetic and entertaining live set I have seen in 2025. Nobro recently won Hard Rock Album of 2024 at the Junos, Canada's equivalent of the Grammys - though it is hard to imagine the Grammys nominating an album called "Set Your Pussy Free" or one with a second song title like "Let's Do Drugs." This is why I prefer Bandcamp to Daniel Ek's band-ripping-off-Joe-Rogan-financing-AI-weaponry supporting Spotify, because they can put the t-shirt image for "Let's Do Drugs" up top of their page and let it rip.
https://nobro.bandcamp.com/album/set-your-pussy-free
Runner up shout-outs to The Thing from Brooklyn:
https://thingthething.bandcamp.com/
and Skorts also from NYC https://skorts.bandcamp.com/
and I will be writing this incredible weekend up on my own Substack soon enough!
Tony
Right on! Please feel free to share the link here if you think of it.
Good Morning from San Diego
Here is what is in my ears:
1. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3wBlm9P7dw8ZMh4DgXzNcJ?si=0772e9f20c5d48a1
2. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1knJSMzp6SWo8aUh3W2hVo?si=e4597a4b422a4607
3. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1EpiZRrzSeuNAh?si=f88177cec1ac4208
have a great week
Obsessively listening to the new Wet Leg album Moisturizer.
I’m undecided right now. I like it a lot better than I was expecting so I definitely need to give it more listens.
I loved it right away, but it’s also growing on me more with each play!
Yeah I’m enjoying their new one, possibly more than the debut!
I’ve only heard the singles from their debut, I should probably listen to that whole album at some point
I wasn’t sold on the debut. I think that’s why I’m a bit reticent with this one - plus the singles didn’t instantly grab me, apart from Davina McCall which is fab. I think they are a bit hit and miss for me.
I still haven't made it to this record!
This has been a great week for new music! Absolutely loving the Midnight Rodeo album, Chaos Theory and My First Album by Jessica Winter. Clever Rabbits by Ann Liu Cannon is also excellent and I’ve been enjoying the new one from Amy Macdonald too.
Here are my favourite tracks from the last week https://open.spotify.com/playlist/23fIU5yU7fLTNINn104Dfc?si=NHSCRKkfQ96YDZGbWySFag&pi=80llGsiESJewe
Oh, this is a great list, Lou!
Die Spitz
YES. I'm really looking forward to hearing the new record when it comes out!
Currently listening to Love Made Trees by Loaded Honey!
Such a great album isn’t it?!?
So good! I love Jungle and am stoked to see them put out some other/similar stuff.
Yeah I loved the Jungle stuff and didn’t realize Loaded Honey was a side project until I dug into them a little more.
Pink Floyd pre-DSotM
https://weatheredmusic.ca/2025/07/14/duncan-lloyd/
Just a few tracks in, but I'm digging the sound!
A radio personality from Tampa know has a podcast on UTube. He plays Latin Jazz and Salsa and was fundemental in my appreciation of the genre. He goes by Luis “Speedy” Gonzales and he hosts “Speedy’s Latin Jazz and Salsa Show” every week live on Fridays at Noon Eastern time, or replay anytime during the week. Tune in!
Will do, and thanks for getting the show on our radar!
Clipse! Rarely do two late-40 somethings release the rap album of the year.
My last week was about:
* The Mekons - Horror. I finally had the chance to see them live last week after many years of being a fan. They were terrific: they raise your spirits, make you laugh, and help you feel like you're not alone in this fight against darkness.
* Grégoire Maret / Romain Collin / Bill Frisell - Americana. Maret is likely the best-known harmonica player in jazz, and any record with Frisell is likely to be great. This is a lovely, meditative record that is perfect for winding down at night, including gorgeous covers of "Brothers In Arms" and "Wichita Lineman."
* The Mosleys - Tested Recipes. Top-shelf Nick Lowe-style pub pop from Milwaukee.
https://mikefredrickson.bandcamp.com/album/tested-recipes
Looking forward to the playlist and your picks!
Nice to see MKE represented here!
Songs from The Beaches and Turnstile are energizing the summer! https://danpal.substack.com/p/new-music-from-the-beaches-and-turnstile?r=lru5s
This past week I listened to Gene's sophomore album - Drawn to the Deep End. Gene is a lesser known Britpop band, overshadowed by Oasis, The Verve and Blur, along with some of the "second tier" acts such as Supergrass. I wouldn't say Drawn to the Deep End is pure Britpop - it introduces more acoustic, minimalist arrangements, as evidenced in "Speak To Me Someone" and "We Could Be Kings", which makes this album really enjoyable. Definitely a hidden gem.