We are almost halfway through the calendar year and something weird has happened: I have zero albums on my running list of new music slated for release. Usually I have at least five entries in thre, stretching out months in advance. I’m sure I’ve missed a few albums, and there are ones I have no idea about at the moment I will be excited about when they drop. Right now, though? Nothing. Coincidentally, this week’s playlist has more older tracks than normal mixed in.
“Summertime” – The Sundays
Official in every way now.
“Turtleneck Weather” – JW Francis
I thought about sitting on this one until fall, but it seemed kind of funny to share it now instead.
“I Just Need You To Know” – Girl Scout
No denying this terrific track.
“Ill Times” – GUM, Ambrose Kenny-Smith
GUM is Jay Watson, who is in both Tame Impala and Pond. Kenny-Smith is in King Gizzard. So all our Aussie psych rock bases are covered here.
“If We Go Down, We Will Go Together” – Tim Vantol
A buddy sent me this track earlier this week. It’s four years old, but first I’ve ever heard from Vantol. He sounds like a Dutch Frank Turner. Which isn’t a bad thing at all.
“Girl From The Record Shop” – Frank Turner featuring Teenage Joans
Speaking of Frank…
“Answer To Yourself” – The Soft Pack
In his newsletter this week, Steven Hyden re-evaluated his favorite albums from 2010. In that piece he highlighted this track as one that could have been much bigger had it been released five years later, when music had shifted more in its direction. To my credit, I played it on my old music podcast in November 2009, so I was ahead of the curve. A straight ripper.
“Kiss Them For Me” – Siouxsie and the Banshees
In his Alternative Number Ones this week, Tom Breihan tackled this 1991 classic. He called it “..an absolute banger, a perfect song.” I will not argue with the master.
“Ice Cream and Sunscreen” – Martha
Only the essentials.
“What’s Love Got To Do With It” – Tina Turner
Every two weeks we’re getting another song that defined 1984. Unlike Bruce and Prince, it took Tina six weeks to crack the Top 40, slipping in this week at #35. This track would eventually top the chart for three weeks in September and was the beginning of the greatest comeback in pop music history.