Good morning! Welcome to each of you who joined us this past week! You’ve landed at what was recently described as “the nicest place on the internet.“ Looking for a place to share the music you love with like-minded people? You’re in the right spot.
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Also, just a quick reminder that Sam Colt & I are counting down our Top 100 records. That comes out on Wednesday. If you haven’t seen it yet, you’re missing out! Get caught up & join us Wednesday for Part 9.
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. Lots of new (to me) stuff this week, and a couple of old favorites.
Now it’s your turn.
What caught your ear this week? Any luck crate digging? How ‘bout at yard sales? Any upcoming releases or shows you’re excited about?
Whatcha got? Share your thoughts in the comments!
P.S. Off topic, but for those of you who follow baseball, I’m curious who your team is. Let me know!
Coldplay’s “Moon Music.” They are my son’s favorite band and it has been rather enjoyable sharing HIS favorites together (he is 9 — we went to an early listening party at local shop and he picked it up on vinyl).
Good morning from the left Coast. First I want to thank everyone for their posts, I look up and listen to everyone of your tunes. I have noticed that jazz gets noted rarely. A couple of Snark Puppy cuts and a Nina Simone. Unlike my friend who says jazz is just tunes by dead people, I think Jazz is alive and well.
So along with my normal two lists I have added New Cool Jazz. Have a great week!
Saw an Otis album of outtakes from that Dock session, last July, and I shoulda grabbed it! Stole/ run/ hold it close, but I screwed up! Didn’t get it and now I’m forever kicking myself…..
Is this Graceland the album or Graceland the song? Both are very good in my humble opinion. Actually, yes, I could play some Paul Simon now. Good call, thank you :)
Thanks Prasanna. I enjoyed Graceland the album a lot as a youngster in 1986/87(?) and it's been a real passion in the last few years once again. Got halfway through this evening and may leave it there. So joyful and lovely with brilliant lyrics :)
The Album: after reading the Guardian article on Paul , based on the movie Alex Gibney has done on Paul(7 Psalms, I think it’s titled), I dived back into Graceland , made 38 years ago, but sounding as fresh as a new baby…..
Yo La Tengo - I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass
As for baseball, I'm a Blue Jays fan, so I've learned over the years to embrace the suck. It's against my DNA to root for the Yankees, so I'm going with the underdog Tigers this year.
That debut record is amazing. Have you ever seen the live performance of that song from The Ritz in NYC in 1985? It's incredible - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SD1UgGWYglQ
Hi Glenn. I'm queueing up an interview with Marvin, Ryan and Maria now, so look for that to post in the coming weeks (probably the first week of November). I don't feel like Viva will disappoint long time fans of the band. Thanks for the note!
Do you think things would have been different artistically and commercially if the four of you had stayed together between the first and second album? Any regrets?
I've been reading Michael Elliot's "Have a Lttle Faith, " which is about John Hiatt. Ry Cooder is mentioned quite a bit, and I keep meaning to play some of his work while reading. I think this is my cue to get on it!
You will be blown away! I recommend you start with:
Into the Purple Valley
Crossroads soundtrack
Paris Texas
Ry & the Chicken skin Band, live in Hamburg,1977
Get Rhythm
Slide Area
Ry & Corridos Famosas, Live in SF, 2011
Prodigal Son
Get on Board- with Taj Mahal
A Meeting by the River
Talking Timbuktu - with Ali Farka Toure
That’s good to start with! Can give you more if you want, but Ry is drinking vintage red, you don’t want to rush it, sip him in small doses to let the music percolate into your soul….. ideally in the early evening, with vino and someone special ! Happy listening
There’s been a crazy amount of good music out recently. I have been digging the new Telescreens, Trentemoller, Julie, clinic stars, voyeur, and mo dotti (thanks for the last one!)
Planning to spend some more time with the new Smile and Godspeed You! Black Emperor records this week.
Sorry to be a bit political but as today is Oct 7, it's hard not to center on the Middle East one year later. I did a radio show centered on the aftermath of Oct 7, Gaza, Hostages, Lebanon, etc etc etc yesterday. Think it was one of the best I've done -- you can here it in the archives for 2 weeks here: https://spinitron.com/WOWD/pl/19615327/Sunday-Midday.
And one other artist to highlight from another conflict. In my day job, I work a lot on Sudan issues, and the conflict there is terribly overlooked, despite it being the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. NY-based Sudanese artist Al-Sarah and the Nubatones made waves in the mid-2010s but this track from 2021 "Men Ana" -- or "who am I" -- is just stunning and so apt to so many conflicts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrICWmemQH0
Mustard is listening to the debut album from Megan From Work. The lead single for this album really had them excited for this record. It is a fun pop rock album that never loses momentum.
Loving the new album from The Smile. I know this thought is a stretch and disintegrates about the moment I share it, however, upon listening to The Smile's new tunes I did consider that this band is pretty much what Tool would be if they were a fine aged and sophisticated wine. Grace Bowers & The Hodge Podge continue to grab my ear with this teenage guitar phenom's amazing talent. Lady Blackbird's "Slang Spirituals" is making a run for my year's top ten list. The Red Clay Strays, from Mobile Alabama, are like The Band meets The Allman Brothers here in our 21st Century. And, I have been on a country kick; a mainstream, female artist country kick. I find the new albums from Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, Carly Pearce and Ella Langley to be wonderful listens and a fresh turn for a genre that has been "Bro'd" to death over the past decade.
I was going to comment earlier, but glad I waited until after this morning’s trip taking kids to school lol. My daughter played Spellbound by Siouxsie and the Banshees! She said she found it on a Spotify playlist and was wondering if I’d heard it! Huge fan of Siouxsie!! And had just heard it Saturday night when the small local venue I went to for a concert had a great playlist going that was a lot of 80s alternative.
The concert I went to was Brigitte Calls Me Baby. Apparently one of their last small venue shows before they move on to bigger and better lol. They put on a great show!
No, it wasn’t me! Going to have to go back and read through comments and find it! I had only listened to a couple of their songs before the concert. I went on the recommendation of my best music buddy lol 😂 I meant to listen to more of their stuff before going, but hadn’t.
The album 'Bolmynydd ' by Pys Melyn (Yellow Peas). Even if you don't understand Welsh, the sound is lovely: poppy and engaging with hints of '60s AM radio.
Seeing The Libertines tomorrow night so I’ve been revisiting All Quiet On The Eastern Esplanade. It’s actually a great album and I’m reappraising whether it deserves a spot in my top ten of the year.
Lol. The Libertines have an album called 'All Quiet On The Eastern Esplanade.' What's that mean? Maybe I should listen to the album. Anyway, I'm pleased you enjoyed the gig, Lou. They are a talented bunch, at least one of them anyway, and probably all four or five! Pete is... well, just Pete really. You probably know what I mean.
Haha! It’s a great album. The title is obviously a play on All Quiet On The Western Front (Their last album was called Anthems for Doomed Youth) and the Eastern Esplanade is a nod to British seaside towns like Margate (where the band are now based). They are one of my favourite bands, all pretty talented guys.
Sure. I'll try to give it a listen Lou. Where did I get up to before my passion for this songwriter's music began to ebb? Hmm... I didn't get far beyond the first (?) Babyshambles album really so I've a lot of catching up to do. Thanks for your reply :)
Babyshambles was great but there is something about Pete and Carl making music together that gives The Libs the edge imo. I also love Carl’s stuff with Dirty Pretty Things. Waterloo To Anywhere is a fantastic album.
A couple of songs I’ve been listening to lately are “Lost in the Plot” by The Dears, “Limbo” by Shakey Graves. I’ve got my 20th reunion for High School coming up, and have been listening to Guster’s “One man wrecking machine”, and “Jesus on the Radio “.
Sounds pretty cool. I'm a bit funny with both actually. But I like that you enjoyed these two last night. They are both just slightly dissatisfying for me sometimes in different ways. I'm just in a chatty mood. I'll leave it there but good long thread section and Substack, Kevin.
Great weekend for music releases! New albums from The Smile, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, and Geordie Greep.
And thanks to Kevin's picks in our Top 100 Albums, I am reacquainting myself with NIN and REM. Come peep our lists and tell us what we got right and wrong.
Also good weekend for vinyl hauls: Limited edition of the Smile's new record. 30th anniversary of Doggystyle, and 10th Anniversary of Local Natives's Hummingbird.
Yeah, there are some good things on there. Over the years there have been some well done covers of songs from that album. They are a difficult band to cover.
I have a few covers of Clash songs but not as many as I would have thought there would be but it's true they are a hard one to cover as they delve into so many different styles. I even have a surf tribute to the Clash which I do enjoy as I'm a big fan of surf instrumental music.
It's the right word! 20 years ago, I visited Brazil (2 years in a row, in fact) and knew very little of the language. So, the interest back then was sparked by jiu jitsu, but today it's much more about my obsession with languages. I learned Latin, so Portuguese is suddenly way easier for me (along with Spanish, Italian, and French).
TL;DR: I have very slowly been learning this language for almost 30 years.
- Lots of metal recently: Iron Maiden - whilst I was getting tickets for their 50th anniv shows next summer; Cult of Luna; Solitary (British Thrash band); Dio-era Sabbath; looking forward to new Opeth
- A late 60s/early 70s compilation of weird British folk - Sumer is Cumer In (on Cherry Red Records)
- looking forward to the new Underworld, Strawberry Hotel
- Currently on play The Christians debut from 1987 - politically charged neo-soul rock (!) - they hated Thatcher (Reagan’s beloved British PM) - reminding me the 80s was an amazing musical decade
My week was largely about The Tragically Hip. There's an excellent new four-part documentary on Amazon Prime, so I downloaded that for a couple of long flights. If you believe in the romance of R&R bands -- five kids from the same high school go on to success and capture a nation's heart in the process -- then this is for you. That led me to spend a lot of time with Fully Completely and Now For Plan A (the tour I saw them on, they were brilliant).
Other stuff:
* My wife and I traveled to Milwaukee over the weekend. At a great neighborhood festival, we caught fun sets by Graham Hunt (power pop from Kevin's stomping grounds of Madison) and Habibi, a garage pop band from NYC that appears to be going in a Warpaint direction on their new material.
* Elvis Costello - Spike. I'm kind of obsessed with it right now. I wish it would get remastered and reissued.
Looking forward to the playlist and everyone's picks. Have a great week!
More Hip please. You know 1/3 of the Canadian population watched the broadcast of the final Tragically Hip concert. And down here (south of the border, so to speak), crickets. The Tragically Hip are what a rock and roll band are supposed to be.
Yes! I watched the streaming version and was following along to comments on Twitter. I remember one of the national departments tweeting something like, "Sorry, Canada is closed tonight..."
I was lucky that the cool college rock outside of Cincinnati played the singles from Fully Completely and I've been a fan ever since. I have smart music friends who have never bothered to check them out.
Man The Hip were so great! I was in Halifax from 89-96 and they were just so huge then. I REALLY wanted to get to that final concert but couldn’t get time off work and the reseller ticket prices were absolutely ridiculous. Really looking forward to seeing the documentary. It’s amazing to me that they never made it big south of the border (not to say that’s a requirement for success, obviously it’s not).
* Efterklang 'Things We Have In Common' - Dreamy, lush, art rock.
* The Smile 'Cutouts' - Amazing & just what I needed.
* Kate Bollinger 'Songs From a Thousand Frames of Mind' - Ethereal, chartreuse & yes, more of that dreamy.
* Godspeed! You Black Emperor 'No Title As Of 13th February...' - Heavy, disorienting and emotive as demanded by the subject matter.
* Wild Pink 'Dulling The Horns' - A quality restorative that is familiar and comforting. Suggest you follow Godspeed with something this or perhaps a walk in the woods.
POLISHED GEMS
Psst, hey you. Yes you. Wanna listen to some most excellent jangle pop from Scotland? Who doesn't, right? Well get your little eardrums plugged into Close Lobsters 'Foxheads Stalk This Land'. You're welcome.
Great to see both Spoon and Wire on the playlist! Besides putting down some thoughts while listening to albums on my upcoming "2024 In Focus" piece on jazz, Latin, and Global releases, I loved Flying Needle's Bronze Age and Elana Low's new Datura Moon single, which both came out on Friday. Cutouts by The Smile has also enriched my ears and, after picking up 10 albums for $40 at a warehouse sale, my daughter and I listened to Turnover's Myself In The Way (2022) - psych-pop with a touch of disco - and Marianne Faithfull's A Secret Life (1995) - moody and restrained with lush backing by Angelo Badalamenti.
• Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit — Live at the Ryman, Vol. 2
Vol. 1 has the distinction of being probably the worst mass-released live album I've ever heard — a huge disappointment blamed on a befuddling mix. This one is redeemed sonically (thank God) and the emphasis on tracks from Isbell's last two albums is welcome. (His current band, BTW, is on fire if you can see them live.) Huge bonuses: A rare performance of "The Last Song I Will Write," from his first solo effort, and a beautiful cover of Tom Petty's "Room at the Top."
• American Aquarium — Live at Salvage Station, 9/15/24
A one-week Bandcamp-only release of a live show from Asheville, N.C., two weeks prior to Helene, with all proceeds going to the hurricane's victims in the state. Nice to see AA captured live and even better that it's for a worthy cause. BJ Barham is a good dude.
• Better Than Jail
An album of famous prison songs benefitting Equal Justice USA and Free Hearts, two criminal justice reform organizations. As with all of these, some are better than others, but what a lineup: Cedric Burnside, Hayes Carll & Allison Moorer, Bonnie Raitt, Isbell and Amanda Shires (a 2015 track called "The Color of a Cloudy Day), Lukas Nelson, Margo Price, Old Crow Medicine Show, Raul Malo, Silverada, Steve Earle, Taj Mahal, and The War and Treaty.
Also, I'm continuing to spin "Silver Patron Saints," the Jesse Malin tribute I mentioned last week, and the Nugs.net recording of Springsteen's Asbury Park show from last month. Like I said, a good time for new stuff.
I revisited the sophomore record The Death of Me by Polaris, an old favourite of mine, last week and I've been spinning it repeatedly since. I used to think it was good, now I see that it's a masterpiece. Hindsight really is 20/20
Kris Kristofferson was front and center on my turntable. He didn't last forever, but his music lives on. J.C. Miller was a new and pleasant discovery. And of course there is the optional long read: https://weatheredmusic.ca
I got both my parents and step parents old vinyl collections and have been listening through them. Tonight’s album is Willie Nelson’s Starlight, a collection of cover songs he did in the 70’s. Perfect dinner music!
Queen - News of the World. Been on a bit of a Queen listening splurge the last little while, as the YouTube channel My Melancholy Boots had popped into my suggestions a while back. So I figure why not dive into their discography? This album has one of the best two opening track salvos in history - We Will Rock You and We Are the Champions. Get Down, Make Love is a hidden gem off of this one.
While that was the only album I listened to in full, I did catch wind of another artist that I want to listen to, Unflirt, who supported Aurora on her UK leg of the What Happened to the Earth? tour.
What you won't do for love - Bobby Caldwell
Smoooth!
Thanks for including Greg Williams in your playlist, what a great song and a wonderful album by the guy from Splurge.
Some new acquisitions is the new single by The Poppermost for any Beatles fans out there - https://thepoppermost.bandcamp.com/album/i-dont-want-to-know
And if there is anyone who is a fan of covers, this album by Canadian Allister Thompson has some cool covers -
https://thegatelessgate.bandcamp.com/album/unwanted-compliments-the-best-cover-versions
And very excited to hear a new single by long time favorite Armstrong -
https://armstrong2.bandcamp.com/track/future-in-the-present-tense-single-brand-new
Thank you for connecting Greg & I, Wally! His record is awesome.
What you won;t do for love - Bobby Caldwell (not really... joking)
This is the Kit - Magic Spell
Ghosts - The Jam
What Kind Of People Live in These Houses - Morrissey
Hang Me up To Dry - Cold War Kids
Quiet Eyes - Sharon Van Etten
The Libertines (was a bit boring)
Er yeah... lots of Morrissey... that'll do
Great list! Could use a little bobby Caldwell, though. (J/k)
Coldplay’s “Moon Music.” They are my son’s favorite band and it has been rather enjoyable sharing HIS favorites together (he is 9 — we went to an early listening party at local shop and he picked it up on vinyl).
Love this!! I love sharing music with my kids!
I love it!
Without Reason by The Bizarros and a ton of Blondie.
Always a good time for some Blondie!
Good morning from the left Coast. First I want to thank everyone for their posts, I look up and listen to everyone of your tunes. I have noticed that jazz gets noted rarely. A couple of Snark Puppy cuts and a Nina Simone. Unlike my friend who says jazz is just tunes by dead people, I think Jazz is alive and well.
So along with my normal two lists I have added New Cool Jazz. Have a great week!
Here is what has been in my ears:
1. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1knJSMzp6SWo8aUh3W2hVo?si=09b609eae57c4144
2. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/71PrDfTT9eNSnK4nHDJCqx?si=d00f212e15f2490e
3. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4gqkFTJvBgNQ7GtZsvDyNL?si=0ff4ab6f86f34237
I love the new cool Jazz list! My middle son loves Jazz, so we will have to listen.
There's always room for some jazz here! Thanks for the lists!
Hey Kev. Hope all is well your end. Here's my Playlist for the week. Also currently listening to Yuvees' debut album. https://open.substack.com/pub/recentanddecent/p/recent-and-decent-41?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=1z6rnh
Life's good! Hope it's the same with you. As always, thanks for the link!
Ry Cooder- Slide Area
Paul Simon- Graceland
Tom Petty -Broadcast Rarities
Otis Redding- Dock of the Bay
Dock Of the Bay is one of my all time favorites 👌👏👏👏
Saw an Otis album of outtakes from that Dock session, last July, and I shoulda grabbed it! Stole/ run/ hold it close, but I screwed up! Didn’t get it and now I’m forever kicking myself…..
Otis! Very nice choice!
Is this Graceland the album or Graceland the song? Both are very good in my humble opinion. Actually, yes, I could play some Paul Simon now. Good call, thank you :)
Thanks Prasanna. I enjoyed Graceland the album a lot as a youngster in 1986/87(?) and it's been a real passion in the last few years once again. Got halfway through this evening and may leave it there. So joyful and lovely with brilliant lyrics :)
The Album: after reading the Guardian article on Paul , based on the movie Alex Gibney has done on Paul(7 Psalms, I think it’s titled), I dived back into Graceland , made 38 years ago, but sounding as fresh as a new baby…..
The Smile - Cutouts
The Cure - Bloodflowers
Yo La Tengo - I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass
As for baseball, I'm a Blue Jays fan, so I've learned over the years to embrace the suck. It's against my DNA to root for the Yankees, so I'm going with the underdog Tigers this year.
Ah, a fellow masochist, I see…
Love that YLT record. I guess I've got to just buckle down and embrace the suck too. Sure was a tough ending to the season, though...
I feel you, man. I was rooting for you guys, too.
Lately, Angel Olsen's "Go Home" is suiting the feel of this season/this year a little too well. Very "big, consequential, impending change" vibes.
https://open.spotify.com/track/5qbHBepTowbMldhK8RVhTl?si=6dd4f35ecb94488c
One of my favorite songs of our young century...
Lone Justice... lots of Lone Justice. Stay tuned....
Ways to be Wicked - I give it a spin a few times a year.
That debut record is amazing. Have you ever seen the live performance of that song from The Ritz in NYC in 1985? It's incredible - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SD1UgGWYglQ
I have now! Brill!
Thanks for the link, Keith!
A longtime favorite band. Curious to see what "Viva Lone Justice" will bring. And McKee's "You Gotta Sin to Be Saved" is in my all-time Top 20.
Hi Glenn. I'm queueing up an interview with Marvin, Ryan and Maria now, so look for that to post in the coming weeks (probably the first week of November). I don't feel like Viva will disappoint long time fans of the band. Thanks for the note!
Jealous! Can't wait to hear what they have to say... I know touring is out of the question, unfortunately.
If you have a question you'd like me to ask, let me know.
Do you think things would have been different artistically and commercially if the four of you had stayed together between the first and second album? Any regrets?
Oh man! I can't wait!
(sits up. Takes notice)
Am falling in love with Ry’s “ Gypsy Woman” all over again….
I've been reading Michael Elliot's "Have a Lttle Faith, " which is about John Hiatt. Ry Cooder is mentioned quite a bit, and I keep meaning to play some of his work while reading. I think this is my cue to get on it!
You will be blown away! I recommend you start with:
Into the Purple Valley
Crossroads soundtrack
Paris Texas
Ry & the Chicken skin Band, live in Hamburg,1977
Get Rhythm
Slide Area
Ry & Corridos Famosas, Live in SF, 2011
Prodigal Son
Get on Board- with Taj Mahal
A Meeting by the River
Talking Timbuktu - with Ali Farka Toure
That’s good to start with! Can give you more if you want, but Ry is drinking vintage red, you don’t want to rush it, sip him in small doses to let the music percolate into your soul….. ideally in the early evening, with vino and someone special ! Happy listening
There’s been a crazy amount of good music out recently. I have been digging the new Telescreens, Trentemoller, Julie, clinic stars, voyeur, and mo dotti (thanks for the last one!)
Planning to spend some more time with the new Smile and Godspeed You! Black Emperor records this week.
Of course! I'm glad you're digging it!
Sorry to be a bit political but as today is Oct 7, it's hard not to center on the Middle East one year later. I did a radio show centered on the aftermath of Oct 7, Gaza, Hostages, Lebanon, etc etc etc yesterday. Think it was one of the best I've done -- you can here it in the archives for 2 weeks here: https://spinitron.com/WOWD/pl/19615327/Sunday-Midday.
Among the artists/songs I ended up focusing on a lot for the show and deserve attention from the region:
-- stunning Ekko Astral track (Bandcamp only) about being stuck as an American Jew focused on peace but critical of Israeli policy: https://ekkoastral.bandcamp.com/track/holocaust-remembrance-day
-- late singer Rim Banna and electronic collective Checkpoint 303 -- "Voice of resistance" from 2018: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-9ndgPwCaY&list=PL94tgLrA9X7vOihVWdNpt8DMUc_vb0_bW
-- DAM, originators of Palestinian hiphop - 2019 album remains in heavy rotation for me: https://damofficialband.bandcamp.com/album/ben-haana-wa-maana
-- Israeli shoegaze band Vaadat Charigim's 2013 debut "the world is well lost." They got some love on KEXP for awhile but been quiet since. This album is gorgeous -- https://anovamusic.bandcamp.com/album/the-world-is-well-lost
-- Israeli Yemeni band el-Khat, which plays an incredible modern version of traditional Yemeni music - https://elkhat-music.bandcamp.com/album/mute
Thanks for the links! All of these except Ekko Astral are new to me.
This morning I treated myself to Santana’s Supernatural album on vinyl. Sublime on every level!
I just put on 'Smooth' out of curiosity, and am happy to report that it still makes me want to shake my butt.
Man it’s a hot one
Indeed!
And one other artist to highlight from another conflict. In my day job, I work a lot on Sudan issues, and the conflict there is terribly overlooked, despite it being the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. NY-based Sudanese artist Al-Sarah and the Nubatones made waves in the mid-2010s but this track from 2021 "Men Ana" -- or "who am I" -- is just stunning and so apt to so many conflicts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrICWmemQH0
Mustard is listening to the debut album from Megan From Work. The lead single for this album really had them excited for this record. It is a fun pop rock album that never loses momentum.
https://meganfromwork.bandcamp.com/album/girl-suit
This is a new name for Kevin, and he's grateful to you for getting it on his radar.
Loving the new album from The Smile. I know this thought is a stretch and disintegrates about the moment I share it, however, upon listening to The Smile's new tunes I did consider that this band is pretty much what Tool would be if they were a fine aged and sophisticated wine. Grace Bowers & The Hodge Podge continue to grab my ear with this teenage guitar phenom's amazing talent. Lady Blackbird's "Slang Spirituals" is making a run for my year's top ten list. The Red Clay Strays, from Mobile Alabama, are like The Band meets The Allman Brothers here in our 21st Century. And, I have been on a country kick; a mainstream, female artist country kick. I find the new albums from Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, Carly Pearce and Ella Langley to be wonderful listens and a fresh turn for a genre that has been "Bro'd" to death over the past decade.
I'm unable to stop listening to The Smile's new album. It. Is. Awesome.
Very peaceful and just really cool.
These kinds of thoughts (stretches or not) are always welcome! Lots of new music here for me to checkout as well.
Strawberries is such an underrated album. “Life Goes On” is one of my favorite tunes.
Forgot to mention Mothers by the Jean Paul Sartre Experience, despite playing it five or six times over the last week.
Kate Clover
I was going to comment earlier, but glad I waited until after this morning’s trip taking kids to school lol. My daughter played Spellbound by Siouxsie and the Banshees! She said she found it on a Spotify playlist and was wondering if I’d heard it! Huge fan of Siouxsie!! And had just heard it Saturday night when the small local venue I went to for a concert had a great playlist going that was a lot of 80s alternative.
The concert I went to was Brigitte Calls Me Baby. Apparently one of their last small venue shows before they move on to bigger and better lol. They put on a great show!
I've heard a few songs from Brigitte Calls Me Baby and they sound great 👍 and Spellbound is an incredible song 👌
Gosh Siouxsie was great!!
I’m totally loving that Brigitte Calls Me Baby album, it’s fantastic, possibly a top ten for me this year!
Yes, my friends and I were pretty impressed! I bought a vinyl copy of their EP.
Was it not you that recommended the album? Somebody did here a few weeks ago
No, it wasn’t me! Going to have to go back and read through comments and find it! I had only listened to a couple of their songs before the concert. I went on the recommendation of my best music buddy lol 😂 I meant to listen to more of their stuff before going, but hadn’t.
It might've been Gabbie from New Music For Old heads; she's a big fan of the band.
https://meandtimory.substack.com/p/august-2024-albums?
Ahh that’s probably who I heard it from!
Spellbound is one of my faves by Siouxsie!
Brigette Calls Me Baby came through here recently, but I wasn't able to make the show. Sounds like I missed out!
The album 'Bolmynydd ' by Pys Melyn (Yellow Peas). Even if you don't understand Welsh, the sound is lovely: poppy and engaging with hints of '60s AM radio.
Oh, that sounds right up my alley!
Heavy rotation this week for me includes two recent slow jams:
Music is Healing - Cobi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVHLB0Ia87g
Peaceful Place - Leon Bridges https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtdrdE6sssg
Leon Bridges! Yes! He could sing a page out of the phonebook and make it sound great.
My favorites this past week:
The Smile - Cutouts
They Might be Giants - Flood
Lyrics Born - Later That Day
Love as Laughter - Laughter's Fifth
King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard - Flight b741
Drahla - angeltape
The Hell Hole Store - H. E. Double Hockey Sticks
DJ DanceAlone - Owl Theory
Now this is a list! I haven't listened to "Flood" in a long time. I gotta fix that ASAP.
Seeing The Libertines tomorrow night so I’ve been revisiting All Quiet On The Eastern Esplanade. It’s actually a great album and I’m reappraising whether it deserves a spot in my top ten of the year.
I hope the show was awesome!
Thanks, Kevin. It was so good!
Lol. The Libertines have an album called 'All Quiet On The Eastern Esplanade.' What's that mean? Maybe I should listen to the album. Anyway, I'm pleased you enjoyed the gig, Lou. They are a talented bunch, at least one of them anyway, and probably all four or five! Pete is... well, just Pete really. You probably know what I mean.
Haha! It’s a great album. The title is obviously a play on All Quiet On The Western Front (Their last album was called Anthems for Doomed Youth) and the Eastern Esplanade is a nod to British seaside towns like Margate (where the band are now based). They are one of my favourite bands, all pretty talented guys.
Sure. I'll try to give it a listen Lou. Where did I get up to before my passion for this songwriter's music began to ebb? Hmm... I didn't get far beyond the first (?) Babyshambles album really so I've a lot of catching up to do. Thanks for your reply :)
Babyshambles was great but there is something about Pete and Carl making music together that gives The Libs the edge imo. I also love Carl’s stuff with Dirty Pretty Things. Waterloo To Anywhere is a fantastic album.
A couple of songs I’ve been listening to lately are “Lost in the Plot” by The Dears, “Limbo” by Shakey Graves. I’ve got my 20th reunion for High School coming up, and have been listening to Guster’s “One man wrecking machine”, and “Jesus on the Radio “.
Shakey graves! Right on. I hope the reunion is a blast. Time flies, doesn't it?
Last night it was Ben Folds and ABBA.
That's my kinda combo!
Sounds pretty cool. I'm a bit funny with both actually. But I like that you enjoyed these two last night. They are both just slightly dissatisfying for me sometimes in different ways. I'm just in a chatty mood. I'll leave it there but good long thread section and Substack, Kevin.
Love to see Strawberries on there! These are my new-ish faves:
Soft Covers - Big Jack
https://open.spotify.com/track/6PGkg7qSIOHMam9BZAtM0o?si=lsEvPCieSm6GkZaXPxDUlA
Bory - We Both Won
https://open.spotify.com/track/3SXKdNKvX4TaXw1KtkAvQq?si=eJ60CpNJRuyiS4VzJucaqg
Slippers - Lock You Out
https://open.spotify.com/track/5TVWftteRp5UgMP9z2q967?si=rb68W62bQ86pQvHukfetCw
Jim Nothing - The Present
https://open.spotify.com/track/5TVWftteRp5UgMP9z2q967?si=rb68W62bQ86pQvHukfetCw
Pop Filter - Pop Filter; Live!
https://open.spotify.com/track/4Ybmzrzh6TrTFiNEJ7n9FX?si=vjADDIubS7CUxAHp-qz4sw
Old(er) but new to me:
Sweater Girls - Is That You Leonard
https://open.spotify.com/track/1ELsRWTnVZPNQe8jaYU4aZ?si=ppZMUK6GQr2yTyvgjQdUNQ
Margo Guryan - Timothy Gone
https://open.spotify.com/track/70fk3lGiuwz8OUiXqJn7Xv?si=Xsf7vVoiQ6ykWjFJulGEzA
The Left Banke - She May Call You Up Tonight
https://open.spotify.com/track/4WF5LimzUMjkkY882Lv0VK?si=83uUKEF0TEyhc8nYit0uqA
Descendants - Wendy (cover)
https://open.spotify.com/track/3a7eYPmtZYPKAmo6fX4n5X?si=JKPMcbWES3GrIQelBT5gDA
Thank you for all the links! Lots of great stuff for us to root through!
Great weekend for music releases! New albums from The Smile, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, and Geordie Greep.
And thanks to Kevin's picks in our Top 100 Albums, I am reacquainting myself with NIN and REM. Come peep our lists and tell us what we got right and wrong.
Kevin's Picks: https://thekevinalexander.substack.com/p/wax-ecstatic-the-100-greatest-albums-f36?utm_source=substack&utm_campaign=post_embed&utm_medium=web
My Picks: https://thatguyfromtheinternet.substack.com/p/another-100-best-albums-of-all-time-0f9
Also good weekend for vinyl hauls: Limited edition of the Smile's new record. 30th anniversary of Doggystyle, and 10th Anniversary of Local Natives's Hummingbird.
Nice haul!
And I am once again here to remind everyone that if you're only stopping in on Monday, you're missing out on some great album picks!
Heather Nova has great new track
https://music.apple.com/gb/album/hey-poseidon-single/1767428106
The Clash - 'Sandinista!' - As I write this, the lunch bell rings and I am off an hour to do my thang! Cheeesboiger!
Milwaukee Brewers
One of my favorite Clash albums 👌 - have you heard the Sandanista Project album - it's quite good as well - https://www.discogs.com/release/2107226-Various-The-Sandinista-Project-A-Tribute-To-The-Clash
Yeah, there are some good things on there. Over the years there have been some well done covers of songs from that album. They are a difficult band to cover.
I have a few covers of Clash songs but not as many as I would have thought there would be but it's true they are a hard one to cover as they delve into so many different styles. I even have a surf tribute to the Clash which I do enjoy as I'm a big fan of surf instrumental music.
Ok, I have a playlist on spotify that has a bunch of covers. Some excellent, some good, some not so good. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6pE5cPFzyJwuoNRX9BwSi0?si=4441892122544ecd
Thanks 👍
#ThisIsMyCrew
I've been playing a lot of Brazilian Samba! I'm getting into the language, so trying to keep the momentum going while listening.
I love it. I assume learning the language is part of furthering your Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training (is that the right word?)?
It's the right word! 20 years ago, I visited Brazil (2 years in a row, in fact) and knew very little of the language. So, the interest back then was sparked by jiu jitsu, but today it's much more about my obsession with languages. I learned Latin, so Portuguese is suddenly way easier for me (along with Spanish, Italian, and French).
TL;DR: I have very slowly been learning this language for almost 30 years.
- Lots of metal recently: Iron Maiden - whilst I was getting tickets for their 50th anniv shows next summer; Cult of Luna; Solitary (British Thrash band); Dio-era Sabbath; looking forward to new Opeth
- A late 60s/early 70s compilation of weird British folk - Sumer is Cumer In (on Cherry Red Records)
- looking forward to the new Underworld, Strawberry Hotel
- Currently on play The Christians debut from 1987 - politically charged neo-soul rock (!) - they hated Thatcher (Reagan’s beloved British PM) - reminding me the 80s was an amazing musical decade
I love it. How's the record coming along?
I released another song last week (The Train: https://open.spotify.com/track/3Qkh8G0ttEQH1zO6OlvdDw?si=KsRpjy4DSw6f3QHVQS8CYQ ) - currently waiting for our house extension to be built as it will contain my new music studio - we moved here in July so have missed my usual setup!! Hope you’re well too
My week was largely about The Tragically Hip. There's an excellent new four-part documentary on Amazon Prime, so I downloaded that for a couple of long flights. If you believe in the romance of R&R bands -- five kids from the same high school go on to success and capture a nation's heart in the process -- then this is for you. That led me to spend a lot of time with Fully Completely and Now For Plan A (the tour I saw them on, they were brilliant).
Other stuff:
* My wife and I traveled to Milwaukee over the weekend. At a great neighborhood festival, we caught fun sets by Graham Hunt (power pop from Kevin's stomping grounds of Madison) and Habibi, a garage pop band from NYC that appears to be going in a Warpaint direction on their new material.
* Elvis Costello - Spike. I'm kind of obsessed with it right now. I wish it would get remastered and reissued.
Looking forward to the playlist and everyone's picks. Have a great week!
I LOVE Spike! It’s such a good album. It was one of my favourites when I was around 15 or 16 and it still holds up.
It does! So smart and daring. I found most of the demos on YouTube -- well worth tracking down if you haven't heard them.
Oh, amazing! I’ll have a look. Thanks.
More Hip please. You know 1/3 of the Canadian population watched the broadcast of the final Tragically Hip concert. And down here (south of the border, so to speak), crickets. The Tragically Hip are what a rock and roll band are supposed to be.
Yes! I watched the streaming version and was following along to comments on Twitter. I remember one of the national departments tweeting something like, "Sorry, Canada is closed tonight..."
I was lucky that the cool college rock outside of Cincinnati played the singles from Fully Completely and I've been a fan ever since. I have smart music friends who have never bothered to check them out.
I love the Hip, I've listened to them a ton over the years.
The Tragically Hip doc is great and has sent me to their music. Planning to do a post or two about it at some point in the near future.
Looking forward to them!
Right on!
Man The Hip were so great! I was in Halifax from 89-96 and they were just so huge then. I REALLY wanted to get to that final concert but couldn’t get time off work and the reseller ticket prices were absolutely ridiculous. Really looking forward to seeing the documentary. It’s amazing to me that they never made it big south of the border (not to say that’s a requirement for success, obviously it’s not).
Very cool that you got to experience some of the Hip fervor north of the border! I finished the doc last night -- it's incredible.
One of my biggest musical disappointments ever is that I never got to see them live despite a few opportunities to do so
Spike is great! Still haven't had a chance to catch The Hip rock doc yet. Hopefully, this week?
Teen Mortgage
Caribou
Love Caribou! Was this the new(est) one?
Yep.
NEW & SHINY
* Efterklang 'Things We Have In Common' - Dreamy, lush, art rock.
* The Smile 'Cutouts' - Amazing & just what I needed.
* Kate Bollinger 'Songs From a Thousand Frames of Mind' - Ethereal, chartreuse & yes, more of that dreamy.
* Godspeed! You Black Emperor 'No Title As Of 13th February...' - Heavy, disorienting and emotive as demanded by the subject matter.
* Wild Pink 'Dulling The Horns' - A quality restorative that is familiar and comforting. Suggest you follow Godspeed with something this or perhaps a walk in the woods.
POLISHED GEMS
Psst, hey you. Yes you. Wanna listen to some most excellent jangle pop from Scotland? Who doesn't, right? Well get your little eardrums plugged into Close Lobsters 'Foxheads Stalk This Land'. You're welcome.
Close Lobsters are brilliant and still making music 👏👏👏
Lol. Why yes. Yes I do love jangle pop. Thanks for the rec.!
Great to see both Spoon and Wire on the playlist! Besides putting down some thoughts while listening to albums on my upcoming "2024 In Focus" piece on jazz, Latin, and Global releases, I loved Flying Needle's Bronze Age and Elana Low's new Datura Moon single, which both came out on Friday. Cutouts by The Smile has also enriched my ears and, after picking up 10 albums for $40 at a warehouse sale, my daughter and I listened to Turnover's Myself In The Way (2022) - psych-pop with a touch of disco - and Marianne Faithfull's A Secret Life (1995) - moody and restrained with lush backing by Angelo Badalamenti.
Flying Needle is great! And he's just a cool, down to Earth guy as well.
Great week on my end for new music:
• Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit — Live at the Ryman, Vol. 2
Vol. 1 has the distinction of being probably the worst mass-released live album I've ever heard — a huge disappointment blamed on a befuddling mix. This one is redeemed sonically (thank God) and the emphasis on tracks from Isbell's last two albums is welcome. (His current band, BTW, is on fire if you can see them live.) Huge bonuses: A rare performance of "The Last Song I Will Write," from his first solo effort, and a beautiful cover of Tom Petty's "Room at the Top."
• American Aquarium — Live at Salvage Station, 9/15/24
A one-week Bandcamp-only release of a live show from Asheville, N.C., two weeks prior to Helene, with all proceeds going to the hurricane's victims in the state. Nice to see AA captured live and even better that it's for a worthy cause. BJ Barham is a good dude.
• Better Than Jail
An album of famous prison songs benefitting Equal Justice USA and Free Hearts, two criminal justice reform organizations. As with all of these, some are better than others, but what a lineup: Cedric Burnside, Hayes Carll & Allison Moorer, Bonnie Raitt, Isbell and Amanda Shires (a 2015 track called "The Color of a Cloudy Day), Lukas Nelson, Margo Price, Old Crow Medicine Show, Raul Malo, Silverada, Steve Earle, Taj Mahal, and The War and Treaty.
Also, I'm continuing to spin "Silver Patron Saints," the Jesse Malin tribute I mentioned last week, and the Nugs.net recording of Springsteen's Asbury Park show from last month. Like I said, a good time for new stuff.
I'm glad that Vol. 2 is an improvement!
Very much so!
Busted this one out for the first time in like 10 years.
Not everyone's cup of tea, but decent for what it is.
https://youtu.be/FWQKuQsENRs?si=PN3fx6eRouwDxfzS
Also, I'm a perennially disappointed Brewers fan.
This was good! Not what I was expecting at all...
As for the Brewers, I feel your pain!
Also, I feel like I should know this from Threads, but if you're okay sharing, what part of WI are you in?
Sun Prairie!
Oh nice! (Waves from Monona)
Bring me some cheese curds from Fat Jack’s!
lol. I’m on it!
I revisited the sophomore record The Death of Me by Polaris, an old favourite of mine, last week and I've been spinning it repeatedly since. I used to think it was good, now I see that it's a masterpiece. Hindsight really is 20/20
It really is!
Kris Kristofferson was front and center on my turntable. He didn't last forever, but his music lives on. J.C. Miller was a new and pleasant discovery. And of course there is the optional long read: https://weatheredmusic.ca
Thanks for the link! Winter is my least favorite season too. I think we live in the wrong part of the world.
I rate the Numero Group label hghly and was happy to pick this up on spec - Female Species. A breezy early spring listen. https://open.spotify.com/album/3LLezS5GTlYnhZltxaIVnO?si=jP8L9CGKSkqesVhF8dQEtg
Go Orioles!
Into the new Wild Pink and The Smile, plus the debut from The Hard Quartet, and the new live Isbell and the 400 Unit.
I also listened to the 4 albums I wrote about here: https://open.substack.com/pub/shooflypie/p/4-to-the-fore?r=4iw9&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
I think this is the universe telling me I need to check out the Smile.
Also, thank you for the link!
Also, I forgot to mention the White Sox, but after this year...
My brother's team is the Mets and I have lots of friends still with teams in the fight. It's been a great postseason so far!
Thanks Kevin for the heavy rotation!
Of course! Thanks for letting me share it with everyone.
Chris brown Call me everyday
I got both my parents and step parents old vinyl collections and have been listening through them. Tonight’s album is Willie Nelson’s Starlight, a collection of cover songs he did in the 70’s. Perfect dinner music!
Right on! I'm sure there's a ton of cool stuff to find in there. Will you be writing about any of it?
I think so! I was gonna do a weekend vinyl series but in my head I keep pronouncing it Veekend Vinyl like Dracula, tbd if that sticks
lol.
Is That Love? by Squeeze. Two and a half minutes of pop perfection. Still fresh as a daisy all these years later.
New listens from last week:
Queen - News of the World. Been on a bit of a Queen listening splurge the last little while, as the YouTube channel My Melancholy Boots had popped into my suggestions a while back. So I figure why not dive into their discography? This album has one of the best two opening track salvos in history - We Will Rock You and We Are the Champions. Get Down, Make Love is a hidden gem off of this one.
While that was the only album I listened to in full, I did catch wind of another artist that I want to listen to, Unflirt, who supported Aurora on her UK leg of the What Happened to the Earth? tour.