Friday Playlist
“Late March, Death March” – Frightened Rabbit It’s about as late in March as you can get. “3 Sisters” – Waxahatchee Katie Crutchfield has done it again. Her new album, Tigers Blood, is stunning. Most of it drifts deeply into the alt-country sound, and I don’t mind one bit. There’s something pure and honest in her vocals that blasts right…
Ten Years Being Lost In The Dream
I love honoring musical anniversaries, mostly by dropping songs with birthdays into my Friday Playlists. I missed a big one while we were on spring break, one that demands more than just a song in a playlist. March 18 was the tenth anniversary of the War on Drugs’ Lost In The Dream. It is an album that has been a…
Friday Playlist
“The Trap” – R.M.F.C.If you read these posts closely, you know how I love to identify Australian groups by their common sound alone. I don’t know that these kids jumped out as Aussie to me right away. It leans a little more Southern Cali surf rock, although that sound does have a big influence the Australian sound I like so…
Friday Playlist
“Birthday” – Late Bloomer Their album came out last week and it is filled with agreeable rock like this. “Brown Paper Bag” – DIIV Their first new music in five years, their new album is focused on the state of the world and, from the band’s point of view, its impending meltdown. This lead single is appropriately sludgy and gloomy.…
Friday Playlist
“The Sound of Suffering” – Salim Nourallah I’ve long used these playlists to celebrate Spotify’s Discover Weekly feature, and share new discoveries I’ve made through it. I have to admit that something about their algorithm has changed and it has been sucking lately. It has been offering music that doesn’t match either what I listen to historically or recently. Like…
Friday Playlist
This week features several new songs from artists who have played a large role in my musical life. “Dark Matter” – Pearl Jam One of my all-time favorite bands returns. This isn’t too bad at all. Now sending out good vibes to keep anyone in the band from getting sick in late August when they are scheduled to return to…
Reaching For The Stars, Vol. 97
Chart Week: February 25, 1984 Song: “Nobody Told Me” – John Lennon Chart Position: #7, 6th week on the chart. Peaked at #5 the week of March 3. I’ve been thinking about songs by dead people lately. There’s no mathematical way to quantify it, yet I keep trying to isolate the effect an artist’s death has on new music released…
Friday Playlist
“Cured” – Restorations This band enjoys taking its sweet time between new releases. It’s been six years since their last album. I think you can hear the effect of the breadth of their career in Jon Loudon’s vocals. “Distinct Star” – So Totally As much as I’ve enjoyed the recent shoegaze revival, I’ll admit it has become a little much…
Friday Playlist
An extra-stuffed playlist this week. There’s been a good run of new music, plus a lot of Other Stuff that deserves inclusion. “Blue Skies” – Finnoguns Wake The best piece of music I’ve heard so far this year is Finnoguns Wake’s four-song EP. Every song is a ripper. “Lose” – Boeckner Daniel Boeckner has been in several bands over the…
Friday Playlist
“Train Full of Gasoline” – Ducks Ltd. Not sure it’s possible to write a catchier song about an ecological disaster than these guys have done. Believe it or not, this band is not Australian. They are from Toronto. I bet they listened to a lot of Aussie pop, though. “So Nice” – Finnoguns Wake This band, however, is Australian. “Shadow…