More older music than new this week. And, sadly, another rather important In Memoriam entry.
“It’s Just A Bit of Blood” – bdrmm
Normally by now I’ve already dropped several songs into my running Favorites list that will be the basis of my year end list in December. I had only added one through the first seven weeks of 2023. This is #2. It’s a ripper.
“A Nocturnal Heresy” – Ondara
I had never heard of this cat until last week, when this song dropped into my Discovery Weekly playlist. I’ve been listening to him a ton since. He has a most unusual origin story. He was born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya, where he fell in love with Bob Dylan and ’90s alt rock. When he earned a green card to enter the US, he settled in Minneapolis since Dylan was from Minnesota. His music is really, really good, and not at all what I would expect from a native Kenyan.
“Teenage Wristband” – The Twilight Singers
I forgot about this band, so when this track also landed in my Discovery Weekly playlist, I figured it was new. In fact it is 20 years old. They sound like the Afghan Whigs because that’s Greg Dulli on lead vocals.
“Beat City” – The Flowerpot Men
I shared this in video form awhile back. It has finally made it to Spotify, so I had to throw it into a proper playlist.
“Sharron Apple” – Airiel
This goes way back. I played it on my old podcast in 2010, but the song was six years old then. My old man brain doesn’t remember when I first heard it. I love how it recalls the pre-shoegaze sound that Kitchens of Distinction helped establish.
“The Rat” – The Walkmen
Let’s keep that early 2000’s run going with this classic. It predates my podcasting days, but did fall in a period when I was still sending mix CDs out to friends occasionally. This track was on a bunch of those disks.
“Dakota” – Stereophonics
And one more, although this song is new to me. While bombing around in my loaner vehicle last week I decided to mix up the SiriusXM stations I stored in the favorites section. I added the U2 X-Radio station, which I don’t normally listen to. One afternoon I heard this. It sounds very U2, musically at least.
“Peaches” – The Presidents of the United States of America
Happy President’s Day Weekend! Hope you spend it as the Founders intended, buying discounted mattresses and appliances.
“Eye Know” – De La Soul
David Jude Jolicoeur, aka Trugoy the Dove, aka Plug Two, died last Sunday. De La Soul’s 3 Feet High and Rising was one of the most magical albums in the entire history of hip hop. I can’t say I followed them super closely beyond that cassette, but that band will always mean a lot to me because of that first album. RIP to a real one.