We’re on the same wavelength for the most part with this batch! Obviously Tanukichan, Bully and PONY with that one thanks to your interview. Only one I completely disagree on is Fever Ray… I have a “Most Annoying Songs of the Year” playlist that I haven’t unleashed and “Bottom of the Ocean” may have been a major inspiration to start that 😅
Thanks for the Lowmello shout and the BTS bit is class!
I was a huge fan of The Knife and s/t Fever Ray debut, but just can't get into this one. I still respect the hell of out of that melt mask they wore for that awards show, though!
As always, much new stuff for me to listen to. Played Tanukichan this morning after reading your praise. Only 2/3 of a listen so far but I love it! And of course she lives in my city, so that’s a double bonus. I think because I listen to so much music, from a wide array of genres, I don’t have time for all the “alt-rock” (for lack of a better term) that gets released. I tend to go either more power-poppy or heavier (like the latest King Gizzard and Lizard Wizard, prog and metal bands like Haken and Leprous). Also really love the new Young Fathers album.
I do like the new Bully, but more because it sounds familiar than it sucking me in with anything new. I tend to listen sonically first and then lyrically second. Maybe cause I can only take in so much at a time. Which is why I love a lot of instrumental music.
Alicia Bognanno was able to meld the two together for me, which is impressive. Need to give it more listens to determine if it stands out enough for me.
Agree w/your take on Bully. The sounds grabbed me first, they lyrics later. In this case, it felt like a lot of loose ends from her earlier records finally got tied up. Not in a "this is my last record" kind of way, just that maybe she finally found her sweet spot?
Thanks Kevin, as always, some artists that are new to me, so lots to check out. I have one small bone to pick: "Today’s list takes us everywhere from Toronto to Tennessee and from Santa Fe to Springfield, Illinois." I invite you to expand "everywhere" to places outside North America, and I'm happy to be one of your sherpas. Folk-rock from Africa and Scandinavia, Feminist metal from Indonesia and Japan, and tons more...
I always love the field trips you take us on! I think I learn of someone new every time you submit work to The Riff. To be fair, there are bands from other continents on this list; I just couldn't make the alliteration work.
I've liked them somewhat, but this album is the one that I really got into for some reason. The Perry Ferrell collaboration "So Trendy" might be my favorite track on the album. Good catalog.
I loved the Jeffrey Silverstein song that you introduced us to in a recent post of yours Kevin, so will definitely have to check out this other clip! That's so amazing he had no formal music training. Also, did not know Louise Post from Veruca Salt is still active these days. I think everyone loved "Seether" back in the day, didn't they?!
Jun 29, 2023·edited Jun 29, 2023Liked by Kevin Alexander
Here are the ones that piqued my interest:
Local Drags--I like the way they sound, but when I like something, I hate for it to last only 2 minutes!
Lowmello--You highlighted the lyrics, but honestly I found them unintelligible...BUT: I like the sound and the arrangement.
Heatwaves--OK, I spoke too soon in my earlier comment. These folks are from Spain, but sound like they could be from 1960 LA, in a good way! Loved this.
Jeffrey Silverstein--I like his writing and arrangement, but his voice is annoying. Too bad.
Homework...
We’re on the same wavelength for the most part with this batch! Obviously Tanukichan, Bully and PONY with that one thanks to your interview. Only one I completely disagree on is Fever Ray… I have a “Most Annoying Songs of the Year” playlist that I haven’t unleashed and “Bottom of the Ocean” may have been a major inspiration to start that 😅
Thanks for the Lowmello shout and the BTS bit is class!
I have a feeling Fever Ray is going to wind up being the most polarizing pick in the lot. They're definitely an acquired taste.
Love the Lowmello EP! I'm glad you liked the BTS bit. :)
I was a huge fan of The Knife and s/t Fever Ray debut, but just can't get into this one. I still respect the hell of out of that melt mask they wore for that awards show, though!
I've seen that thing in my dreams!
Lots of overlap here with my favorite albums of the year 🙌
I think the only one I am really enjoying that didn’t make your list is The Land, The Water, The Sky by Black Belt Eagle Scout.
I really liked it (I think maybe you turned me on to it originally?), but it didn't stick with me for some reason.
As always, much new stuff for me to listen to. Played Tanukichan this morning after reading your praise. Only 2/3 of a listen so far but I love it! And of course she lives in my city, so that’s a double bonus. I think because I listen to so much music, from a wide array of genres, I don’t have time for all the “alt-rock” (for lack of a better term) that gets released. I tend to go either more power-poppy or heavier (like the latest King Gizzard and Lizard Wizard, prog and metal bands like Haken and Leprous). Also really love the new Young Fathers album.
I do like the new Bully, but more because it sounds familiar than it sucking me in with anything new. I tend to listen sonically first and then lyrically second. Maybe cause I can only take in so much at a time. Which is why I love a lot of instrumental music.
Alicia Bognanno was able to meld the two together for me, which is impressive. Need to give it more listens to determine if it stands out enough for me.
Agree w/your take on Bully. The sounds grabbed me first, they lyrics later. In this case, it felt like a lot of loose ends from her earlier records finally got tied up. Not in a "this is my last record" kind of way, just that maybe she finally found her sweet spot?
Thanks Kevin, as always, some artists that are new to me, so lots to check out. I have one small bone to pick: "Today’s list takes us everywhere from Toronto to Tennessee and from Santa Fe to Springfield, Illinois." I invite you to expand "everywhere" to places outside North America, and I'm happy to be one of your sherpas. Folk-rock from Africa and Scandinavia, Feminist metal from Indonesia and Japan, and tons more...
I always love the field trips you take us on! I think I learn of someone new every time you submit work to The Riff. To be fair, there are bands from other continents on this list; I just couldn't make the alliteration work.
Among my favorite albums this year that aren't on your list would be:
The Tubs, "Dead Meat" (sounds like an American Smiths album; so good)
Jen Cloher, “I am the River, and the River is Me” (Courtney Barnett's ex-girlfriend; great singer/songwriter album from Down Under)
Lucero, “Should Have Learned by Now” (one of the best albums from this prolific Memphis indie rock/country-rock band)
Guided by Voices, “La La Land” (an above-average GBV album will always be one of my favorites of any given year)
Great minds think alike. The Tubs are featured on Part 1 of this list. :)
That Lucero album is great.
I completely missed it. Gonna have to circle back and give it a listen!
Have you heard the new Geese album yet? Blew me away..
Not yet. Only a track or two. I'm on it!
Great list, I discovered many of these due to your recommendations- thank you!
I haven't been listening to as much new music lately, but based on what I've heard so far this year that I think came out this year, I like:
Hania Rani: On Giacometti
Protomartyr: Formal Growth in the Desert
Sleaford Mods: UK Grim
Kosmischer Laufer: The Secret Cosmic Music of the East German Olympics (not new music, but released in 2023)
Men I Trust: Ring of Past (single)
Steely Dan: The Nichols Tape Version of the The Second Arrangement (came out just now as far as I'm concerned)
Bunch more to listen to.
+1 to Sleaford Mods! I loved "Spare ribs," but never quite got around to this latest one.
I've liked them somewhat, but this album is the one that I really got into for some reason. The Perry Ferrell collaboration "So Trendy" might be my favorite track on the album. Good catalog.
No Liturgy or Parannoul? Disappointed.
(Great list, though).
If you had to pick one of those for me to spin first, which would it be?
Start with the Parannoul, I reckon. Let me know what you think of it!
Will do, and thanks!
I loved the Jeffrey Silverstein song that you introduced us to in a recent post of yours Kevin, so will definitely have to check out this other clip! That's so amazing he had no formal music training. Also, did not know Louise Post from Veruca Salt is still active these days. I think everyone loved "Seether" back in the day, didn't they?!
I think they did! "Sleepwalker" is a world away from stuff like "Seether," but it's great. She's also on tour right now.
I looked and Louise Post is not playing anywhere near Denver 😭 So I'm kinda "seething" about that 😆
Lol. Awesome.
Here are the ones that piqued my interest:
Local Drags--I like the way they sound, but when I like something, I hate for it to last only 2 minutes!
Lowmello--You highlighted the lyrics, but honestly I found them unintelligible...BUT: I like the sound and the arrangement.
Heatwaves--OK, I spoke too soon in my earlier comment. These folks are from Spain, but sound like they could be from 1960 LA, in a good way! Loved this.
Jeffrey Silverstein--I like his writing and arrangement, but his voice is annoying. Too bad.
Pony--Interesting, I could hear more.
Thanks for an interesting listen!
Of course! Glad you found a couple new faves. And I'm with you on Local Drags; I wish the record was longer.
This is awesome Kevin, looking forward to further exploring both parts of your list! Probably gonna take me a couple weeks to do them justice.
I pulled together my favorites for the first 6 months:
Gaz Coombes - Turn the Car Around (13-Jan)
Ladytron - Time's Arrow (20-Jan)
The Murder Capital - Gigi's Recovery (20-Jan)
Meg Baird - Furling (27-Jan)
RAYE - My 21st Century Blues (3-Feb)
Paramore - This is Why (10-Feb)
Lisa O'Neill - All of This Is Chance (10-Feb)
Anna B Savage - in|FLUX (17-Feb)
U.S. Girls - Bless This Mess (24-Feb)
Robin Kester - Honeycomb Shades (24-Feb)
Fever Ray - Radical Romantics (10-Mar)
Blondshell - Blondshell (7-Apr)
Fenne Lily - Big Picture (14-Apr)
Everything But The Girl - Fuse (21-Apr)
The National - First Two Pages of Frankenstein (28-Apr)
Skinny Pelembe - Hardly the Same Snake (28-Apr)
Mega Bog - End of Everything (19-May)
Tanlines - The Big Mess (19-May)
Bayonne - Temporary Time (26-May)
Macroblank - SOLSTICE (9-Jun)
Ahmed Ben Ali - Subhana (16-Jun)
Shaping up to be another great year for music!
It really is, isn't it? Lots of new ones on here for me to dig into, so thank you for that!
Agree. It made me go back and listen to some albums of theirs I didn’t know. They’re a better band overall than I had realized.