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Apr 24, 2023
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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Same here! You've probably already seen this, but she did an episode of Song Exploder talking about "Divorce Song."

Pod: https://songexploder.net/liz-phair

Transcript only: http://songexploder.net/transcripts/liz-phair-transcript.pdf

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Apr 24, 2023
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Kevin Alexander's avatar

I've been down an REM rabbit hole for a couple of weeks now. Thanks for the link! I'm gonna have to keep going. :)

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Andres's avatar

Hi Kevin and fellow readers! Nothing from RSD but been spinning “Counting Sheep” by Max Pope (white vinyl) and “Back to Us” by Two Another (yellow vinyl). Both sound amazing, especially the Two Another one, in case anyone is interested. Rich, poweful bass.

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Steve Goldberg's avatar

Thanks for two new artists (to me) that I can check out! I played a short bit of Max Pope and I can tell I'm gonna be spending time with his tunes. I clicked on his bio in Spotify, saw that he had a playlist link of songs he loves and the first one was "Loro" by Pinback. One of my favorite bands and songs. Good sign.

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Andres's avatar

My pleasure! Yes, Max is great. There’s something really timeless about what he does. Interestingly, he had a difficult start to his career as he ditched his label/management due to artistic differences, quit music, took up gardening (!), and came back a few years later, with new management, renewed, doing music he feels is more authentic. Very interesting story, especially considering his young age.

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Rich powerful bass? Count me in!

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Andres's avatar

Yes, the guys from Two Another certainly know how to create a beat! If you’re after a more organic (less electronic) bass, “License to Dream” by Kleeer 😉

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Bob's avatar

The new Purling HIss. If you love early Dinosaur Jr. and even Ragged Glory era NY & Crazy Horse you will love this I have been spinning this non-stop all weekend.

https://purlinghiss.bandcamp.com/album/drag-on-girard

Speaking of Neil Young The Ducks live set is now streaming on YouTube . It's a short lived band he was in in the late 70's the played clubs around California

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtEGTozTqyg&list=PLQN_g1aP5K1eCXE6XJFfWbUBvrbl7ynga&index=20

If you're in the mood for a bit of Dub reggae this is a great single from Al Brown of classic sounds

https://pressuresounds.bandcamp.com/album/proverb-2

FInally, this album that was just released by Kikagaku Moyo is a psychedelic masterpiece

https://kikagakumoyoggb.bandcamp.com/album/forest-of-lost-children

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Glenn Cook's avatar

I'm really interested in the Young/Ducks album. That live set is really cool.

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Bob's avatar

Bob Mosley is in the band playing bass. He was in Moby Grape and I don't know if you've ever heard their first LP but it is great. The other guitar players name is Jeff Blackburn and apparently he came up with the lyric "It's better to burn out, than to fade away". The whole set rocks. I think it's being released as a 3 LP set.

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

That Purling Hiss is killer. Seems like Philly bands can't miss lately. I am most definitely in the mood for some dub--I had this playing earlier this morning. Thanks for getting it on my radar!

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Challenge 69's avatar

Prompted by Wire's 'Outdoor Miner', I've been working on a post listing my, "favourite ever songs under two minutes!"

I think I've ended up with a pretty good provisional 'top ten', but I'm happy to take on board some late entries Kevin if you, or any of your readers, have got a suggestion?

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Apr 24, 2023
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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Gold Star For Robot Boy! How could I have left that off my list?!

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Challenge 69's avatar

Thanks Armando, I went with Kevin's GBV pick, but I liked R.E.M.s UtB so added that.

Ended up with 14 great songs in <24mins.

Post goes out Friday, but here's a playlist link:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6bWoLlIdyrVQNDTVL64Ujy?si=65f529ea81aa4b3c

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

A few off the top of my head. I'm sure people will chime in with a bunch more for you!

GBV- A Salty Salute

Wire- Champs

NIN- Branches/Bones

Fugazi- Break In

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Challenge 69's avatar

Like the GBV so I've added that.

Ended up with 14 great songs in <24mins.

Post goes out Friday, but here's a link: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6bWoLlIdyrVQNDTVL64Ujy?si=87cc76e6f5fe4183

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Steve Goldberg's avatar

Too many to mention -- about half of the punk rock canon!:) There was a thread on Medium on this very topic; I tried to keep mine to less than a minute. I know I included something from Minutemen, They Might Be Giants and Tony Molina for sure.

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Challenge 69's avatar

Thanks Steve, added 'Twisting' by TMBG.

Ended up with 14 great songs in <24mins.

Post goes out Friday, but here's a playlist link: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6bWoLlIdyrVQNDTVL64Ujy?si=b1416239ecf34323

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Steve Goldberg's avatar

Good one! A lot of my all-time faves. I think I had a different Buzzcocks, a different Beatles, different Ramones, different Wire, but same bands and same Pixies and Clash.

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Senor Fix's avatar

I'm guessing you've got a track from The Beatles - it's just a matter of picking only one! Here's a few:

Why Don't We Do It In The Road

From Me To You

For No One

I'll Follow The Sun

It's Only Love

Otherwise Smiths - Please, Please... & Clash - White Riot would be on my list.

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Challenge 69's avatar

Thanks Michael, I'd foolishly overlooked The Beatles but have added 'For No One'.

Ended up with 14 great songs in <24mins.

Post goes out Friday, but here's a playlist link:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6bWoLlIdyrVQNDTVL64Ujy?si=b1416239ecf34323

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Nolan Green's avatar

Three awesome tracks have been in rotation this week.

- The new Adanowsky and Beck collaboration "Chain Reactionary". Sounds like a mix of Prefab Sprout and Scritti Politti.

- Kae Tempest new track "Love Harder"

- and a new from one of my favorite bands Squid "Undergrowth.

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

"Chain reactionary" is smooooth. Great early morning track.

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Glenn Cook's avatar

I watched "Personality Crisis: One Night Only," the excellent Martin Scorsese co-directed documentary on David Johansen, this weekend. Lots of great stuff in there. Between this and the Isbell and Poly Styrene pics I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, it's been an excellent month for music docs.

The song that stands out to me is "Making Rain," a cut from one of the NY Dolls reunion albums. Really enjoying that one on repeat. Also have been making my way through a series of EPs called The Songwriter Tapes, featuring Lori McKenna, Luke Laird and Barry Dean. Admire all of them as lyricists.

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Steve Goldberg's avatar

I still need to watch that Isbell doc. Am adding that David Johansen doc to my list. I'm assuming it's not a new doc?

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Glenn Cook's avatar

It is new. Just came out last week. Centered around a 2020 cabaret where Buster Poindexter "performed" the songs of David Johnansen for his 70th birthday.

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Steve Goldberg's avatar

That’s great that Scorsese is still making rock docs. Im excited to see this one.

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Adding it to mine too. I recently read something about it and was going to link it, but can't find it. It's driving me to distraction!

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Glenn Cook's avatar

It's on Showtime. Here's a link to the trailer: https://www.sho.com/titles/3496519/personality-crisis-one-night-only

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Thank you! I read (or listened to a pod) about it, but can't place it.

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Ellen D Stone's avatar

Listened to some John Lee Hooker. Good stuff!

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Always a good time for The Blues!

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Kiley Larsen's avatar

Oh, hello, Paper Cup! Besides Those Pretty Wrongs, it was Garden Party, the latest (and after four or five listens, I’m pretty sure their greatest) from good ol’ Rose City Band 🥀

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Hello indeed! 100% thanks to you & Check This Out. What a great record.

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Senor Fix's avatar

Happened upon The Thing and their new album Here's The Thing.

https://thingthething.bandcamp.com/album/heres-the-thing

Can't decide if the band name will work for our against them, but regardless their music should be enough to gain them a larger following.

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

I'm only 5 minutes in ("Ana De Armas"), but I like what I'm hearing so far! The band name-and record title- are either a SEO masterstroke or terrible. Could go either way, really.

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Gilby VM's avatar

You might think I'm joking but I promise I'm not. I spent this last weekend listening to the Limp Bizkit greatest hits album LOL

There is nothing like waking up at 11 am on a Saturday and blast "Break Stuff". It was like a warning to my neighbors hahaha. Also " My Generation" should be the national anthem for the Gen z.

BRB I'm ordering a red NY Yankees hat.

Gilby out...

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Lol. Fantastic!

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Steve Goldberg's avatar

I was happy to see Those Pretty Wrongs in your playlist. That is an album I also listened to this week. So gorgeous. Amazing that Jody and Luther can capture the feel of the mellower Big Star sound so sensually. I am brought back to the early 70s with all my senses. It's nostalgic without ever seeming like trying to recreate the past. I can't believe I hadn't heard their earlier two albums.

I have been also listening to the KCRW Morning Becomes Eclectic playlist on Spotify. It's not structured around only new releases but does include new music in the mix. I've discovered (and rediscovered) lots of great tunes there.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1cV5BjDfp4KgrgDbaETg6e?si=04fd7f6efdf241bb

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

That looks like a goldmine! 260+ hours?!

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Steve Goldberg's avatar

You can knock that out in a weekend!;)

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Suzanne Hooker's avatar

I'm listening to a lot of Amanda Palmer and Dresden Dolls in preparation to see her perform in NY and Boston this week. I also have Under the Rug in heavy rotation (their recent first tour was a lot of fun, a great up and coming group). And I can't forget Charming Disaster, also on tour, who I'll be catching in Detroit May 8th.

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Terry Barr's avatar

I got some old Poco records!!! Nothing special from the day, though!

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Right on!

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Sherman Alexie's avatar

After years away, I've returned to Tori Amos' "Little Earthquakes." As has always been the case, I'm struck by the greatness of her lyrics. But I'm also struck anew by her sonic range. I'm way digging it again: https://open.spotify.com/album/5bxqwBKvCyB67zOEVCrFZE?si=vNQ7sEWsQMmsJ7Z7ldj2tA&dd=1

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

When I (we) were younger, I just couldn't get into her sound. Now I can really appreciate it. Maybe I just wasn't ready for it.

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Stygi's avatar

Today I'm all about remakes and new interpretations of the biggest Polish hits from 80's, like https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gtoWWJ-p8M&ab_channel=Holiday80 or https://youtu.be/pjJqO40e8UI - I love these wildly danceable vibes of Polish bigbit and house 💃✨🕺 Maybe you'll also enjoy it

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Oh, I absolutely enjoyed both! The video for the first one had me longing for sunnier days (it's currently -1c here. :(

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jeleonard193's avatar

Not much listening this past weekend, but got into kind of a funk so threw on Rickie Lee Jones' eponymous debut album and, man, that does the trick every time.

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

I was lucky to find both that & "Pirates" at a local shop. Got 'em for a steal. Hopefully, you're feeling a bit better by now?

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jeleonard193's avatar

Absolutely. It is a cliché that music heals, but I have found that cliché to be true. Rock on.

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Norman's avatar

GreenWing - Late Bloomer

Emmacosta - Overnight

On Repeat #190

A lot of singles last week.

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

You have fantastic taste. :)

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Burto's avatar

Eclectic list in this weekend's listening:

Feist - Multitudes

Autechre - Amber

Shame - Food For Worms

Pointer Sisters - Break Out

Yamaya - Senegal

King Gizz - Butterfly 3000

and my favorite album of the bunch:

Parannoul - After The Night (Live)

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Eclectic is good. "Break Out" has a lot of hits, but I really like "I Need You." It's got a great groove.

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Brian Forrester's avatar

I picked up four RSD titles: Husker Du, Pearl Jam, Generation X, and Sunn O))) + Boris. Other than those, I've been in a big Fugazi hole lately and am spinning "In On the Kill Taker" right now (my personal favorite). What about you, Kevin?

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

My personal favorite is still the "Margin Walker" EP, but you can't go wrong with any Fugazi, can you?

As for RSD, I had PJ at the top of my list, but my sons both had games that day, so I spent most of it either on the road, or at fields. My favorite store says they still have some copies of "Give Way" at the shop, so I'm planning to go today or tomorrow. How is the Husker Du record?

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Boaz Murad's avatar

I'm completly biased but Kutiman's Open is a great indie soul funk gem

https://kutiman.bandcamp.com/album/kutiman-open-vinyl-cd-digital

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

This was a new one for me, but I really dug it. It's on my Bandcamp Wishlist.

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Pete Riddle's avatar

I've been regaining my appreciation for The Walkmen this week after watching them tear through The Rat on Colbert.

Oh, and MARY'S DANISH!

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Colbert has a knack for landing great bands. I love that they just went in cold, too. Made it even better somehow.

Every once in awhile, the Mary's Danish riff pops into my head and hangs out for a little bit.

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jeleonard193's avatar

Playlist #191 - Tracks 1, 2, and 3 excellent Power Pop. Track 9 super fun!

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

I'm glad you liked this week's picks!

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jeleonard193's avatar

The Modern Lovers are near and dear to most music lovers in the greater Boson area. A new venue in Boston is named "Roadrunner" in testament to that.

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

I wrote up Roadrunner awhile ago (last fall maybe?), and the comments from some readers were just awesome. Near & dear indeed.

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Marmi's avatar

I know this is rather uncool but Billy Joel 😊 Honesty, For The Longest Time, etc. And Sergio Mendes. Been on an easy listening kick lately!

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

There is no such thing as "uncool" here. :)

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Sherman Alexie's avatar

I was remembring last night that one of things that turned me away from her was a live show here in Seattle (back in the early 2000s, maybe the late 1990s) where she performed with an exaggerated, over-enunciated vocal style that made her lyrics unintelligible. It was like she'd decided her voice was a musical instrument where only the sound mattered. Looking back, I think that was rather petty of me!

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

I think I was an expert at being petty w/r/t to music back then.

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Sherman Alexie's avatar

Hahahahahhaa

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ric leczel's avatar

Bro - the song Wake Up Now is amazing. Demons and battles and love and loss - all my shit! And the band name is so perfect - Illiterate Light. Why are you holding back all this good music? It will be featured on an upcoming playlist

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

I’m happy to hear it! That sound sounded amazing when they played it live last week.

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