Happy Monday, and welcome to each of you who joined us over the weekend! I’m happy you’re here. We kick every week off with a little bit of what I’ve had in heavy rotation.
Some of these came from reader recommendations; please keep those coming!
Now it’s your turn.
Got a song/record/band we should be checking out? An upcoming release you’re excited about? Share it below!
This was beautiful! A friend of mine up here takes a lot of pictures while out on the lake, XC skiing, etc. She usually adds a Lord Huron song in the background.
I’ve been moving through the new Dylan “Bootleg Series” box that focuses on the Time Out of Mind” sessions. As always with Dylan, his throwaways are often as good (sometimes better) as what was released.
The upcoming chapter of my serialised novel - challenge69.substack.com - is 'Triffids' themed, so I've been re-listening to 'Calenture' as I'm working through the edits, a great album with some killer tracks.
For anybody not familiar, I'd recommend the awesome 'Hometown Farewell Kiss' as a great starting point.
I recently binged watched Extraordinary on Disney+. Epic series and incredibly funny. BUT the soundtrack...brilliant! A quick Spotify search reveals a playlist of 82 songs including Wet Leg, Flaming Lips and John Grant, but also loads of tunes I've never heard before. Check it out.
I also finished watching (The) Sparks (Brothers) on Netflix. So good. I had to go back and listen to Kimono My House and No.1 in Heaven!
I loved the Sparks doc. I mentioned it somewhere, but I was surprised at all of the day-to-day stuff they included. I don't know why (and I know that sounds silly), but here we are.
Been listening to a bunch of new stuff. Some I like, some less so. What has stood out: The new Belle and Sebastian - Late Developers, Joe Henry - All the Eye Can See, Kimbra - A Reckoning.
I'm getting near the end of the audiobook of Dilla Time, Dan Charnas' fantastic book on the life and work of J. Dilla. Essential, even if it could have been trimmed a little, and I recommend listening as it is an enhanced experience with snippets of music and sound effects. Also, it's February so I'm doing "MWE" - the Music Writer Exercise - where I listen to an album for the first time every day and tweet about it. Yesterday's pick was King Tuff's latest - and it's really good! Beautifully produced and good songs at the intersection of Jeff Tweedy, Marc Bolan, and a few other things. BTW, I relaunched my podcast, going for a "Monthly Listening" format, as that's something I think I can stick to. Give a listen here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/monthly-listening-january-2023/id1588981051?i=1000597144628
Infectious indeed!
I don’t know what that is.
I don't know what that is either, but I'd like to know.
https://youtu.be/fSlAqoVd5Ow
The new Peter Gabriel tracks from his album - he's releasing 1 track every full moon!
Ex Pilots self titled album!
Thanks for dropping Ex Pilots here, Jason. Thanks to you, I just found them and I'm really digging it.
My pleasure Chris!
Just found this last night (via Chris)! I'm really liking what I've heard so far.
Ever heard of Thrillcat or Huffamoose?
I haven't! Should I be listening to them? Which should I start with?
Celeste is my favorite Huffamoose song. Saw them years ago at The Jewish Mother.
Kevin, I found them both on Allmusic. Have you been on there before?
I have!
Can I share from the website?
Share to here? Of course!
THERE ARE JUST SO MANY. This is a band from Charlottesville, Va. They did “Hooch”, but their very first album was my favorite. https://www.allmusic.com/artist/everything-mn0000127441
SORRY 2nd album SOLID.
Lord Huron - Your Other Life
I love Lord Huron, and that particular song is dreamy (as is pretty much all of their catalog.)
This was beautiful! A friend of mine up here takes a lot of pictures while out on the lake, XC skiing, etc. She usually adds a Lord Huron song in the background.
I’ve been moving through the new Dylan “Bootleg Series” box that focuses on the Time Out of Mind” sessions. As always with Dylan, his throwaways are often as good (sometimes better) as what was released.
BTW: Love the dBs track on your playlist this week. Such an underrated band
Right on! I'm glad you caught that. :)
Sooo underrated!
The upcoming chapter of my serialised novel - challenge69.substack.com - is 'Triffids' themed, so I've been re-listening to 'Calenture' as I'm working through the edits, a great album with some killer tracks.
For anybody not familiar, I'd recommend the awesome 'Hometown Farewell Kiss' as a great starting point.
Tim
Samuel Kim's remix of Rex Incognito. It's so sick! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6DkTLi-e-o
I recently binged watched Extraordinary on Disney+. Epic series and incredibly funny. BUT the soundtrack...brilliant! A quick Spotify search reveals a playlist of 82 songs including Wet Leg, Flaming Lips and John Grant, but also loads of tunes I've never heard before. Check it out.
I also finished watching (The) Sparks (Brothers) on Netflix. So good. I had to go back and listen to Kimono My House and No.1 in Heaven!
I haven't heard of Extraordinary- I'm on it!
I loved the Sparks doc. I mentioned it somewhere, but I was surprised at all of the day-to-day stuff they included. I don't know why (and I know that sounds silly), but here we are.
I have the band ON on endless replay, except for listening to On Repeat by Kevin Alexander, of course.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZXJ6s856px8iUat0Y7A7PA/featured
You clearly have good taste. :)
And ON is great! Just checked out their latest via Bandcamp: https://onband1.bandcamp.com/releases
Been listening to a bunch of new stuff. Some I like, some less so. What has stood out: The new Belle and Sebastian - Late Developers, Joe Henry - All the Eye Can See, Kimbra - A Reckoning.
Gah, I’ve been meaning to check out the new Belle and Sebastian. Thanks for the reminder.
It's much better than the one from last year, IMO. It's the best since Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance.
Killer list! Like Jen, I've been meaning to check out the new Belle & Sebastian as well.
I'm getting near the end of the audiobook of Dilla Time, Dan Charnas' fantastic book on the life and work of J. Dilla. Essential, even if it could have been trimmed a little, and I recommend listening as it is an enhanced experience with snippets of music and sound effects. Also, it's February so I'm doing "MWE" - the Music Writer Exercise - where I listen to an album for the first time every day and tweet about it. Yesterday's pick was King Tuff's latest - and it's really good! Beautifully produced and good songs at the intersection of Jeff Tweedy, Marc Bolan, and a few other things. BTW, I relaunched my podcast, going for a "Monthly Listening" format, as that's something I think I can stick to. Give a listen here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/monthly-listening-january-2023/id1588981051?i=1000597144628
Right on! I just followed the show.
Cheers - thank you!
This week I'm really liking "The Tide" acoustic demo from Tribe & King: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSDlm0r3sRE
Also, in a different vein, "Summer Kiss" by Dan Szyller:
https://open.spotify.com/track/6WTjk3lp32r7pj8cGE4HBl
I've got Yo La Tengo's There's a Riot Going On spinning on the turntable today.
YES
Check out Disaster Fantasy! I just discovered them and I think you'd like their vibe. Kinda dark, kinda new wave. I'm really digging them.
https://open.spotify.com/track/7xZmOpQyTWrA0rWtJMhSrx?si=1823dea1280e48f7
On the list to spin here shortly!
Let me know what you think of them!
All Channels Clear by Ibex Clone. They hooked me with a lead singer that reminds me of Bob Mould:
https://ibexclone.bandcamp.com/album/all-channels-clear
The rest has been all over the place. Collapse Into Now by R.E.M. (still miss them), The Muppet Movie soundtrack (on vinyl!).
I'm really looking forward to the new The Reds, Pinks & Purples album!
I am too. The track I included here is just making me all the more excited for it.