Happy Monday, and welcome to everyone that joined us over the weekend! Thanks for being here! We kick each week off with some of what I’ve had in heavy rotation.
Many of these come from reader recommendations; please keep ‘em coming!
Now it’s your turn.
What song/record/band should we have on our radar? How about an upcoming release you’re excited about? Find something killer while out crate digging? Share it below!
Hi Kevin and fellow readers! It’s been a Curtis Harding kind of weekend, particularly his second album, Face your Fear. Soulful, powerful, evocative. Check it out!
Band of Heathens have a new album out. Really lovely set from a group I like a lot. Also shot and covered the taping of NPR’s Mountain Stage this weekend and heard a couple of terrific rising groups that I’ll pass on.
Nice Playlist, Kevin! Great to wake up on a Monday to a tall glass of Jangle Juice! A couple of these artists were born or had a heyday in the mid-'80s, your sweet spot, I'm guessing (I vaguely remember a buzz about the Connells around that time...friends still attached to the biz would keep me tuned in)!
Generally, though, that's my pop culture "dead zone," as I spent the mid-'80s back at school (I was 30 in '85) getting my BA, and was about 2 years removed from my last foray in "the biz" (I think '83 was my last year working retail records)!
All that to say I remember that dB's album (I was on them from late '70s, with Stamey's/Chilton's Sneakers, etc), and I think I even had the "Like This" album; I know I had "Repercussion." Anyway, what an amazing song is "Love is for Lovers"! Thanks for arranging for me to be reunited with it! This is the kind of song that would drive the late, great Greg Shaw nuts (as it does me)! Great guitar riff, fabulous chorus, and the element that drove him to come up with his great power pop apologetics quote: "A few la-la's and hand claps won't kill you!"
That Eyelids (never heard of 'em!) cut is a sublime slice of mighty pop...I might have to look closer at them!👀I remember that Replacements track, too....both them and the dB's were always naggingly uneven for me. For every "Love is for Lovers" and "We'll Inherit the Earth," there were several cuts on their respective albums that, to me, were passable.
But, along with their Who-like acoustic riff, Westerburg's "....but we don't want it/but, don't tell anybody" line is classic Paul awareness of the new generation, 20-30 years post-hippie, where the current belligerent teen might be rebellious, but bored to the point where his "put-it-to-the-man" fist in the air now lowers just enough to stifle a yawn!
Great list, Kevin! Thanks again! Like the song...."Memories, pressed between the pages of the windmills of the echoes of the windmills of the pages of my mind...." or something!
I'm glad you found some new stuff! That's not always easy to do with you.
The Connells came out of the same (North Carolina) scene as Superchunk & Archers of Loaf. That's a long shadow to come out from under. I didn't know if I'd call the Eyelids a "supergroup," but everyone brought a pretty solid resume to the table.
As for the dBs you gotta make your opening track a strong one, and IMO they did that here. It might be my favorite off the entire record.
I've been listening to the selections for the latest from Light in the Attic's 'Pacific Breeze' series. If you're a city pop fan, it's a can't miss. If you know nothing about city pop, it's the best place to start. My current fav is "Business Man Pt. 1" by Makoto Matsushita. I'm sure it's sublime if you combine it with waiting for a plane to taxi:
Very nice list! I'm a Don't Tell A Soul fan and that's one of the best tracks. That early Nick Lowe never gets old! The weekend was defined by an advance copy of the upcoming (out on 4/14/23) Fruit Bats album - it is truly a masterpiece, as good as The Pet Parade, which was my #1 album of 2021. Hear 3 tracks from A River Running To Your Heart here: https://fruit-bats.bandcamp.com/album/a-river-running-to-your-heart
I'm listening to "Rushin' River Valley" right now. Really liking it. Perfect tempo for this morning here at work. I see they're coming here on tour next month. Might be a good excuse for a field trip downtown!
Everyone underestimates Minnesota!
Hi Kevin and fellow readers! It’s been a Curtis Harding kind of weekend, particularly his second album, Face your Fear. Soulful, powerful, evocative. Check it out!
I'm on it!
Band of Heathens have a new album out. Really lovely set from a group I like a lot. Also shot and covered the taping of NPR’s Mountain Stage this weekend and heard a couple of terrific rising groups that I’ll pass on.
Right on! Looking forward to that.
Nice Playlist, Kevin! Great to wake up on a Monday to a tall glass of Jangle Juice! A couple of these artists were born or had a heyday in the mid-'80s, your sweet spot, I'm guessing (I vaguely remember a buzz about the Connells around that time...friends still attached to the biz would keep me tuned in)!
Generally, though, that's my pop culture "dead zone," as I spent the mid-'80s back at school (I was 30 in '85) getting my BA, and was about 2 years removed from my last foray in "the biz" (I think '83 was my last year working retail records)!
All that to say I remember that dB's album (I was on them from late '70s, with Stamey's/Chilton's Sneakers, etc), and I think I even had the "Like This" album; I know I had "Repercussion." Anyway, what an amazing song is "Love is for Lovers"! Thanks for arranging for me to be reunited with it! This is the kind of song that would drive the late, great Greg Shaw nuts (as it does me)! Great guitar riff, fabulous chorus, and the element that drove him to come up with his great power pop apologetics quote: "A few la-la's and hand claps won't kill you!"
That Eyelids (never heard of 'em!) cut is a sublime slice of mighty pop...I might have to look closer at them!👀I remember that Replacements track, too....both them and the dB's were always naggingly uneven for me. For every "Love is for Lovers" and "We'll Inherit the Earth," there were several cuts on their respective albums that, to me, were passable.
But, along with their Who-like acoustic riff, Westerburg's "....but we don't want it/but, don't tell anybody" line is classic Paul awareness of the new generation, 20-30 years post-hippie, where the current belligerent teen might be rebellious, but bored to the point where his "put-it-to-the-man" fist in the air now lowers just enough to stifle a yawn!
Great list, Kevin! Thanks again! Like the song...."Memories, pressed between the pages of the windmills of the echoes of the windmills of the pages of my mind...." or something!
I'm glad you found some new stuff! That's not always easy to do with you.
The Connells came out of the same (North Carolina) scene as Superchunk & Archers of Loaf. That's a long shadow to come out from under. I didn't know if I'd call the Eyelids a "supergroup," but everyone brought a pretty solid resume to the table.
As for the dBs you gotta make your opening track a strong one, and IMO they did that here. It might be my favorite off the entire record.
I've been listening to the selections for the latest from Light in the Attic's 'Pacific Breeze' series. If you're a city pop fan, it's a can't miss. If you know nothing about city pop, it's the best place to start. My current fav is "Business Man Pt. 1" by Makoto Matsushita. I'm sure it's sublime if you combine it with waiting for a plane to taxi:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHw52kQDq5g
I am here for ALL of the City Pop!
Very nice list! I'm a Don't Tell A Soul fan and that's one of the best tracks. That early Nick Lowe never gets old! The weekend was defined by an advance copy of the upcoming (out on 4/14/23) Fruit Bats album - it is truly a masterpiece, as good as The Pet Parade, which was my #1 album of 2021. Hear 3 tracks from A River Running To Your Heart here: https://fruit-bats.bandcamp.com/album/a-river-running-to-your-heart
I'm listening to "Rushin' River Valley" right now. Really liking it. Perfect tempo for this morning here at work. I see they're coming here on tour next month. Might be a good excuse for a field trip downtown!
Heck yeah - hoping to see them 4/20 in NYC!
I listened to:
Chiiild - Better Luck In The Next Life
A Perfect Circle - Thirteenth Step
V - Unknown Mortal Orchestra
Staind - Break the Cycle
Brandy Clark - Big Day in a Small Town
Nick Lowe has been a go-to listen since forever. In that vein I would suggest Ian Dury and the Blockheads, New Boots and Panties.
I'm on it! Thanks for the rec.
As you already know, I spent the weekend listening to Sharon Van Etten's "Tramp" looking for support for my latest essay: https://ponytail.substack.com/p/in-my-way-i-say
Ten years later, and it's still a killer.
This morning though, I've got Fripp & Eno's "Evening Star" on the turntable. Vibe out with me!
Right on!
We worry too much...Don't Worry playlist I made: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7eDOHx2oYTPISJKZyLjeYt?si=7492e53c4db6486c
You weren't kidding! lol. I love it!
Dixie Chicks--FLY
Two covers for me where cognitive dissonance turned into a big stupid grin on my face:
- Allison Lorenzen and Midwife covering Glycerine by Bush
https://allisonlorenzen.bandcamp.com/album/glycerine
- T-Pain covering War Pigs by Black Sabbath
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4nMjyT4epA
Speaking of Buffalo Tom, the new Leon Russell bio by Bill Janovitz will make it onto my nightstand soon
https://www.roughtrade.com/us/product/bill-janovitz/leon-russell-the-master-of-space-and-times-journey-through-rock-roll-history
Oh, and the Connells! They are hanging out in a distant corner of my brain with The Judybats and Ocean Blue that I don't visit often enough.
Excuse me while I go listen to Ring.
Judybats! That's a name I haven't heard in a while. I think I'm overdue for a visit too.