Friday Playlist
“Radio Station” - Ex:Re. Back in my podcasting days I liked to start episodes with a song that had something to do with radio. So it made sense to throw this in as track one this week.
“Emma” - fish narc. Second fish narc track of the month! Not as much Lemonheads in this one, although still plenty of Power Pop.
“i think he’s got a girl” - Slayyyter. Somehow I missed the whole Slayyyter thing. Despite, as I look back, every major music site I follow giving her plenty of attention. I finally noticed her when I heard that Turnstile, another very buzzy band I’ve paid no attention to, brought her onstage with them when they performed in Lawrence, KS earlier this month. Which seemed super random. Coincidentally she released this track a couple days later and I finally checked her out. Not bad, not bad at all.
“Green Eyes (Want It All)” - swim school. This song is a year old, but it looks like I just added it to my Apple Music library two weeks ago. And I can’t figure out where the hell I first heard it. It’s driving me a little crazy. Doesn’t help that the band name is one of those impossible to Google ones. I’m finding far more responses about swim lessons for toddlers than the band.
“Tuesday Paper Club” - Brògeal. Another song that is a year old but, for whatever reason, just came to my attention recently. A reminder that Tom Breihan once called these chaps “the most Scottish looking and sounding motherfuckers you ever saw in your entire life.”
“Spectral Eyes” - Blondie. Finally another new song, and this one quite unexpected. We are just about to hit the 50th anniversary of the first Blondie album, and it has been 10 years since their last one. They recorded the bulk of their up-coming album before longtime drummer Clem Burke died a year ago; he appears on every track. They also have a series of notable collaborators throughout the album. Here, Johnny Marr joins as both songwriter and guitarist. Great song? Not at all. Solid, though. I think it fits what Blondie should sound like after 50+ years in the business.
“fire, fire” - addy. OK, shit is getting weird. This is the third song on this playlist that came out in late 2025 (although it looks like this single was re-released last spring). At least with this one it seems like it just got kicked around in my Apple Music catalog and I lost track of it rather than being something I’m just hearing for the first time. A lovely, contemplative song for fall-time.
“Slide” - Now, Now. From fire, fire to Now, Now. KC Dalager said they were seeking a sound that captured the weightless feeling of freedom one got at the rollerskating rink as a kid. I wonder if she is old enough to know what a rollerskating rink is.
“Ann Arbor” - Closeby. We close out this week’s PL with a double-banger of geographically inspired tracks. A lot of people from Indiana are driving to Ann Arbor this weekend.
“Train From Kansas City” - Neko Case. This person from Indiana, however, will be flying to Kansas City. I guess to really fit this should be called Train TO Kansas City, right?
“Champagne” - Remi Wolf. A bunch of Wolf’s World Cafe performances came through my YouTube feed this week. They are all delightful. I love her little whoops.