Happy Monday, and hello to all who joined us over the weekend! It’s great to have you here with us.
The playlist below is some of what I’ve been playing this week. There’ve been some killer releases lately, so if you’ve got one (or some), please share ‘em!
Now it’s your turn.
What caught your ear this week? Find anything good while crate digging? Is there an upcoming release or show you’re excited for?
Seeing it on IMAX is fantastic. I thought the sound was good, but maybe that's because I'm so used to listen to the record on places like Spotify, or my car stereo.
Just discovered an EP that was released in February by Minerves. I listened to it a few times yesterday and then realized they just expanded it to a full length and re-released it this past month. Looks like I have more listening to do!
Say She She's new one Silver, for my Chic fix. Subsonic Eye's All Around You, for yet more excellent shoegaze/rock. And Bevis Frond because Nick is a god.
The good folks over at G&P records have been slowly releasing Local H's formidable back catalog on vinyl. This past week I got the latest release, 2003's No Fun EP. Back then, still early in my musical journey, I didn't realize that four of the six songs were covers. The two that stand out most for me are The Godfathers' Birth, School, Work, Death and The Ramones' I Just Want Something To Do. If you aren't familiar with Local H, they're an altrock duo consisting of one guy on drums and another on a modified guitar/bass. A 90s group that never caught their big break, they were still touring last time I looked.
Prompted by your charlie, and their "Drum Highs," I wonder if you've heard the mid-'70s Charlie, something of a melodic classic rock band. So, I'll see your charlie, and raise you the Charlie that opened for The Who in '75 at the Hammersmith Odeon! https://open.spotify.com/track/6W6KKkZkpRAQn2UwUGxU2g?si=363a6f1a3ae240c3
By the way, Kevin.....your many readers should know about (and look forward to) your Tune Tag turn, currently in production! It's a banger, and should drop around the first week of October!🤞
I know your readers are gonna SO dig your turn on the Tune Tag Turntable! And, when you're through with Charlie, give a listen to Charlene (I know.....my LIFE is a Tune Tag!), a chanteuse on Motown, "It Ain't Easy Comin' Down": https://open.spotify.com/track/7lBiaYRWhr1LpT0L1KS3bc?si=24a48467970a4cff
They don't have her debut '76 Motown/Prodigal album streaming, but here's a track from her '82 album on Motown. Don't panic, it's pure pop...absolute MOR, but she's got a nice voice, and a pretty arrangement, with strings and horns arranged by the legend, Gene Page, worth the price of admission alone.
Plus, a who's-who of session cats like Ben Benay, Jay Graydon, and Lee Ritenour on guitar (Lee played on Stephen Michael Schwartz's sessions 7 years before; plus, Lee's one-time producer subscribes to me...maybe you, too!), Lee Sklar and Wilton Felder on bass, Ed Greene, drums, and Sonny Burke on keys. Eirik Wangberg engineered, who's worked with Sir Paul before (and who gave him the nickname, "Eirik the Norwegian"....Stephen was considering Eirik as producer for his aborted album #2).
Last night we were watching the series finale of the Netflix show "Sex Education"; the soundtrack included a few good songs, not least of which was Donovan's "Colours." It's just one of those super-simple songs I've heard all my life and never gave any thought to. Now it's stuck in my head and I'm digging it.
Hi Kevin and fellow music lovers! Lots of Stevie Wonder for me. During the weekend I listened to Songs in the Key of Life on vinyl and this morning it was Music on My Mind on my turntable.
"His Last Letter: The Amsterdam Project" by Geoff Muldaur. A 2CD set of old American blues, jazz and country songs done in the style of European chamber music. Highbrow and lowbrow musical culture united at last!
Hearing this always makes me wonder how The Church and R.E.M. came up with the The Blurred Crusade and Chronic Town on opposite sides of the world in 1982.
If you love late 70s/early 80s pop-rock, the Ian lloyd albums "Goosebumps" and "3WC" are like some greatest hits albums from another universe. There are a couple of scattered weak tracks, but overall, the songs and production are just killer.
1979's "Goosebumps" includes a Ric Ocasek song that was an outtake from "Candy-O," and includes his trademark backing vocals. "Easy Money" was originally written Corky Laing & Ian Hunter for a discarded Laing/Hunter/Ronson/Pappalardi album. And "I'm Ready," a pre-stardom track from Jim Vallance and Bryan Adams. There's also a pretty cool version of "Time Of The Season."
1980s "Third World Civilization" was a final attempt to break big as a solo act, and it's jammed with rock ear candy. There are covers of "Do You Wanna Touch Me" (which Joan Jett & The Blackhearts had a hit with two years later), "Stop In The Name of Love," along with two Bryan Adams/Jim Vallance tracks - "Lonely Nights" and "Straight From The Heart" - that Adams turned into hits years later. There was a track from Mick Jones, which was produced by Roy Thomas Baker.
Yeah, this is long. But holy crap, how were these albums not huge hits?
As per my recent Squeeze infatuation , I watched some accompanying videos and then found my self on a 1978-80 punk/post punk new wave. Lots of D.I.Y. Madness “It Must be live” which is a very ear-wormy song - so much so, I thought I had imagined it! Ian Dury. The Jam. Elvis Costello-nothing new really, but the timber and the film stock of the music videos really grabbed me. May want to explore more Madness!
Listened to The National’s “surprise” album - Laugh Track - last night. First time since Trouble Will Find me that I’ve enjoyed a National album. On the whole, it still lacks the punch of their pinnacle period (Alligator to Trouble Will Find Me) but there are some good tracks. The last one in particular - Smoke Detector - is a 7 minute burner and one of the best songs Berninger has written in awhile.
Found a copy of A Tribe Called Quest’s pretty rare EP ‘The Jam’ at a reasonable price and have really enjoying its track ‘Mardi Gras At Midnight’. Q-Tip and Rah Digga trading rhymes on a vintage Dilla beat!
Found a copy of A Tribe Called Quest’s pretty rare EP ‘The Jam’ at a reasonable price and have really been enjoying its third track ‘Mardi Gras At Midnight’. Q-Tip and Rah Digga trading rhymes on a vintage Dilla beat!
It’s first two tracks can also be found on ‘Beats, Rhymes and Life’, but the B-side consists of two pretty deep cuts from their discography. I don’t think ‘Mardi Gras At Midnight’ was ever released in any other context.
Ghosteen is an amazing album!
Fantastic album. Seeing him in October and can't wait.
Cave is kind of a blind spot for me (thought I love his newsletter). I'll have to give this a listen ASAP.
I heard Supernaut by Black Sabbath for the first time. Man, they were true pioneers.
Relistened to Blue Lines by Massive Attack for a piece I've written. Still original.
And The Overload by Yard Act. Newish band, punk indie spirit. What's not to like.
Oh, and that Paul Westerberg track off your playlist? *chefs kiss* I have the OG vinyl for that soundtrack.
Yard Act is great! Having that OG vinyl is even better. Very cool!
Quarterflash's Harden my Heart 💙👌
Always good to see a Portland band on here! :)
I've been enjoying the new album by Baroness: "Stone"
Been listening to a lot of Talking Heads lately because I want to go see the movie re-release this week in IMAX if I can find the time!
I enjoyed Stop Making Sense, the Imax screen was amazing. I found the sound a bit less than I would have liked.
Seeing it on IMAX is fantastic. I thought the sound was good, but maybe that's because I'm so used to listen to the record on places like Spotify, or my car stereo.
I saw it Friday. Well worth the time if you can swing it!
I’m absolutely going to try !!!
I’m gonna try to see it too!!
I hope you both get to see it, and would love to hear what you think once you have.
Hi Kevin and all music lovers! These are the twenty-five songs I selected to be part of Reflect & Relax Cafe #46:
https://spotify.link/YwoHOG5JnDb
Fantastic list as always, Mark!
Just discovered an EP that was released in February by Minerves. I listened to it a few times yesterday and then realized they just expanded it to a full length and re-released it this past month. Looks like I have more listening to do!
This was awesome. Played it at work earlier. I'm trying to decide who they sound like, and I'm drawing a blank.
I can’t quite put my finger on it either. Need to give it some more spins!
Say She She's new one Silver, for my Chic fix. Subsonic Eye's All Around You, for yet more excellent shoegaze/rock. And Bevis Frond because Nick is a god.
Thanks for these! I'm always on the hunt for more Shoegaze.
Enjoy - they're definitely more on the rock/pop side.
Think you might really dig the new Slaughter Beach, Dog record!
I'm on it!
The good folks over at G&P records have been slowly releasing Local H's formidable back catalog on vinyl. This past week I got the latest release, 2003's No Fun EP. Back then, still early in my musical journey, I didn't realize that four of the six songs were covers. The two that stand out most for me are The Godfathers' Birth, School, Work, Death and The Ramones' I Just Want Something To Do. If you aren't familiar with Local H, they're an altrock duo consisting of one guy on drums and another on a modified guitar/bass. A 90s group that never caught their big break, they were still touring last time I looked.
The "Bound For The Floor" band? I had no idea they did those covers!
You got it! About half their catalog isn't streaming, but I think YouTube has you covered here.
Prompted by your charlie, and their "Drum Highs," I wonder if you've heard the mid-'70s Charlie, something of a melodic classic rock band. So, I'll see your charlie, and raise you the Charlie that opened for The Who in '75 at the Hammersmith Odeon! https://open.spotify.com/track/6W6KKkZkpRAQn2UwUGxU2g?si=363a6f1a3ae240c3
By the way, Kevin.....your many readers should know about (and look forward to) your Tune Tag turn, currently in production! It's a banger, and should drop around the first week of October!🤞
I'll check your Charlie out here shortly!
And thanks for letting me take a crack at Tune Tag. That was a blast!
I know your readers are gonna SO dig your turn on the Tune Tag Turntable! And, when you're through with Charlie, give a listen to Charlene (I know.....my LIFE is a Tune Tag!), a chanteuse on Motown, "It Ain't Easy Comin' Down": https://open.spotify.com/track/7lBiaYRWhr1LpT0L1KS3bc?si=24a48467970a4cff
They don't have her debut '76 Motown/Prodigal album streaming, but here's a track from her '82 album on Motown. Don't panic, it's pure pop...absolute MOR, but she's got a nice voice, and a pretty arrangement, with strings and horns arranged by the legend, Gene Page, worth the price of admission alone.
Plus, a who's-who of session cats like Ben Benay, Jay Graydon, and Lee Ritenour on guitar (Lee played on Stephen Michael Schwartz's sessions 7 years before; plus, Lee's one-time producer subscribes to me...maybe you, too!), Lee Sklar and Wilton Felder on bass, Ed Greene, drums, and Sonny Burke on keys. Eirik Wangberg engineered, who's worked with Sir Paul before (and who gave him the nickname, "Eirik the Norwegian"....Stephen was considering Eirik as producer for his aborted album #2).
Thin lizzy remains criminally underrated
Agree.
This is true.
This live performance by Hania Rani: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sp3B97N67Cw,
And her album Esja.
Last night we were watching the series finale of the Netflix show "Sex Education"; the soundtrack included a few good songs, not least of which was Donovan's "Colours." It's just one of those super-simple songs I've heard all my life and never gave any thought to. Now it's stuck in my head and I'm digging it.
https://open.spotify.com/track/4Q6jlf64hZpS0fnrl1b10J?si=fb532a0489a34cc2
Hi Kevin and fellow music lovers! Lots of Stevie Wonder for me. During the weekend I listened to Songs in the Key of Life on vinyl and this morning it was Music on My Mind on my turntable.
"Under the Milky Way" by the Church at the moment. Chilling!
So many great songs by The Church - The Blurred Crusade is one of my favorite albums
Same! "Almost With You" and "To Be In Your Eyes" are amazing.
That’s a go to 12-string song!
Bone Thugs 'n' Harmony's "E. 1999 Eternal." Haven't bumped this since high school and I don't know why I've gone so long without listening to this.
I've been digging the Replacement's "Tim (Let It Bleed Edition)" and listening to the Ed Stasium mix is ridiculous. Like a rebirth of a classic.
Also, blink-182's second single, "More Than You'll Know" is the follow-up to their self-titled that I've been waiting years for.
I saw the new mix referred to as a "revelation," and I sprained my eyes reading it. Then I played the record, and holy shit were they right!
"1st of Tha Month" is a banger. Not for nothing, Krayzie Bone was trending on Twitter this AM. Some sort of serious health scare.
Listening to it makes me want Stasium to remaster more of their albums. Whatever he's doing, he gets their sound.
I found out Blink-182 is releasing a new album. I'm digging One More Time.
https://open.spotify.com/track/5VEnzMXc8ocZko4M4TqnR2?si=ab062c1f1ca14d01
Right on!
"His Last Letter: The Amsterdam Project" by Geoff Muldaur. A 2CD set of old American blues, jazz and country songs done in the style of European chamber music. Highbrow and lowbrow musical culture united at last!
An excellent mix!
I’ve been on a War on Drugs kick lately. They have a consistent vibe that doesn’t distract me while I’m working.
Definitely good writing music, though Under The Pressure almost always distracts me for a little bit. lol.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3qHO9aOQYM
Machine Head. A classic from first to last track.
I have enjoyed the music of Marianne Faithful on Broken English, Van Morrison singing Hymns to the Silence, and The New Pornographers among others: https://weatheredmusic.ca/2023/09/25/213-for-you-and-me/
Just read that! Great write up, as usual. I haven't given that New Pornographers record a close listen in awhile,. Might need to change that.
This is giving me Age of Consent from New Order vibes. https://open.spotify.com/track/345bODWjw391R7ihaKhZQe?si=fe2afa8bfd3742e6
I can definitely hear that! Look for this one in an upcoming post.
Really been digging Sam Burton’s album “Dear Departed”, it’s been in heavy rotation much of the last week
Måneskin... I hear their the next rock ‘n’ roll saviors
Tori Amos... her version of “A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square” (unhealthy obsession with the David Tennant/Michael Sheen ship)
R.E.M... “Radio Song” (still exceedingly relevant and loving Peter Buck’s jangly guitar)
My wife went to Lollapalooza a couple of years ago, and hasn;t stopped talking about Maneskin yet. She was blown away.
"Radio Song" is one of my faves on a record packed with 'em.
I'm into the new Teenage Fanclub, Nothing Lasts Forever. They are one of my favorite bands and this album does not disappoint.
The new Lydia Loveless, Nothing's Gonna Stand in My Way Again, is also just out. It's very very good.
Also, the new Ed Stasium mix of Tim. First listen I wasn't too sure, but the second started to click. Not sure that every song was improved, though.
I'm quite enjoying this instrumental album by The Legendary House Cats -
https://thelegendaryhousecats.bandcamp.com/album/instrumentals-vol-3
Thanks for including Almost With You!
Hearing this always makes me wonder how The Church and R.E.M. came up with the The Blurred Crusade and Chronic Town on opposite sides of the world in 1982.
Good question! Everytime I play The Blurred Crusade, I find something new to fall in love with.
Almost With You by The Church is such a beautiful song 👌👌👌
If you love late 70s/early 80s pop-rock, the Ian lloyd albums "Goosebumps" and "3WC" are like some greatest hits albums from another universe. There are a couple of scattered weak tracks, but overall, the songs and production are just killer.
1979's "Goosebumps" includes a Ric Ocasek song that was an outtake from "Candy-O," and includes his trademark backing vocals. "Easy Money" was originally written Corky Laing & Ian Hunter for a discarded Laing/Hunter/Ronson/Pappalardi album. And "I'm Ready," a pre-stardom track from Jim Vallance and Bryan Adams. There's also a pretty cool version of "Time Of The Season."
1980s "Third World Civilization" was a final attempt to break big as a solo act, and it's jammed with rock ear candy. There are covers of "Do You Wanna Touch Me" (which Joan Jett & The Blackhearts had a hit with two years later), "Stop In The Name of Love," along with two Bryan Adams/Jim Vallance tracks - "Lonely Nights" and "Straight From The Heart" - that Adams turned into hits years later. There was a track from Mick Jones, which was produced by Roy Thomas Baker.
Yeah, this is long. But holy crap, how were these albums not huge hits?
As per my recent Squeeze infatuation , I watched some accompanying videos and then found my self on a 1978-80 punk/post punk new wave. Lots of D.I.Y. Madness “It Must be live” which is a very ear-wormy song - so much so, I thought I had imagined it! Ian Dury. The Jam. Elvis Costello-nothing new really, but the timber and the film stock of the music videos really grabbed me. May want to explore more Madness!
There's certainly a ton of great Madness tracks to pick from!
Listened to The National’s “surprise” album - Laugh Track - last night. First time since Trouble Will Find me that I’ve enjoyed a National album. On the whole, it still lacks the punch of their pinnacle period (Alligator to Trouble Will Find Me) but there are some good tracks. The last one in particular - Smoke Detector - is a 7 minute burner and one of the best songs Berninger has written in awhile.
Midlake's The Trials of Van Occupanther. One of my go-to fall records.
Nice! I’ve got some “very specific to fall” records that I need to start digging out here too.
Found a copy of A Tribe Called Quest’s pretty rare EP ‘The Jam’ at a reasonable price and have really enjoying its track ‘Mardi Gras At Midnight’. Q-Tip and Rah Digga trading rhymes on a vintage Dilla beat!
Found a copy of A Tribe Called Quest’s pretty rare EP ‘The Jam’ at a reasonable price and have really been enjoying its third track ‘Mardi Gras At Midnight’. Q-Tip and Rah Digga trading rhymes on a vintage Dilla beat!
I’m not sure I’ve ever heard this EP! I’m off to see if I can find it.
It’s first two tracks can also be found on ‘Beats, Rhymes and Life’, but the B-side consists of two pretty deep cuts from their discography. I don’t think ‘Mardi Gras At Midnight’ was ever released in any other context.