Friday Playlist

Songs about rain, three local/regional tracks, and despite Pumpkin Spice items beginning to show up in the grocery store this week, we keep the summer songs rolling.

“Rain” – The Beatles
What a week! We’ve been lucky that the truly Biblical rains have been well to the east of us: one area got 17” of rain in about 48 hours! Our sump pump has been working pretty much non-stop, I’ve pumped off the pool cover more times than I can count, and it is raining again as I type this, with more rain expected through the weekend. Jeez.

“Transgender Dysphoria Blues” – Against Me!
Seemed like the right moment to play this again.

“Kick In The Shins” – Radio Free Alice
Watching the news is a daily kick in the shins, amirite?

“Blue Sky Day” – Died Pretty
Following up the new Aussie track with a classic from 1986.

“After” – Just Penelope
Despite a couple indie labels (which I believe are now combined into one) being headquartered down in Bloomington, we don’t seem to get a lot of music from actual Bloomington bands. That’s doubly odd since IU is host to one of the best music schools in the country. These kids are all grads of the Jacobs School of Music, and recorded their debut album in a cabin just outside of town. Doesn’t get more southern Indiana than that.

“All The Rage” – Wishy
Another pretty solid track from Indy’s best indie act.

“Come Again” – Jim James
James is from Louisville, so I guess we have an I-65 corridor thing going here.

“Dead End Street” – Zoh Amba
No idea how to describe this track. And as it has received very little music press coverage, I’m not getting much help. A raucous, electrical take on Appalachian folk? Lo-fo garage with a country twang? Psychedelic Smoky Mountain rock? Mad Lib your own favorite.

“Pin Up Boys” – Westside Cowboy
One of the most exciting new bands of 2025 is about to release album #2. Their first album was filled with a variety of sounds, but this lead single sounds much more American than anything they’ve released before.

“Melodramatic” – Trashcan Sinatras
TS have had a nice little comeback this year, releasing their first album in over a decade that features several nice songs, including this one. Which made it even more tragic that their guitar player since 1986, John Douglas, passed away suddenly last week after a short illness. RIP.

“Rain In The Summertime” – The Alarm
Only a few more weeks to play summer songs, this was an obvious choice for this week.

“Alex Chilton” – The Replacements
This song has been in my head ever since watching episode two of the new Ted Lasso season. On a show filled with references to some of Jason Sudeikis’ favorite things, I’m assuming he (or another writer) was a big Replacements and/or Big Star fan, thus the Richmond FC women’s team’s assistant coach being named Alice Chilton. Or maybe it’s just a coincidence.