Friday Playlist
https://open.spotify.com/user/224aiwksicafjldlua6nnpo4y/playlist/4w9d7jftcCh3jDfSQvULtg?si=s41RmWvIR0CPKTWsJrhUGA “Espionage” – Preoccupations. Going back to their days performing as Viet Cong, this band has always mined the dark, post-punk sounds that came straight from Joy Division. I wasn’t crazy about this song at first, but it’s really grown on me in recent weeks. “Living” – EERA. Another dark and brooding song. I must be drawn to this stuff…
Friday Playlist
https://open.spotify.com/user/224aiwksicafjldlua6nnpo4y/playlist/72UrwKo1ed0jN4l4Wy1OU7?si=s-JhwcCITk6KebvsGXTCiA “Blue Rose” – Amen Dunes. Amen Dunes is the project of New Yorker Damon McMahon. I knew nothing about him before I heard this song. I love it’s trippy, atmospheric, nostalgic vibe. “6&5” – Jesse Marchant. I was so looking forward to Marchant’s Illusion of Love album after hearing the first two singles. Unfortunately the rest of the album…
Reaching For The Stars, Vol. 3
Chart Week: February 18, 1984 Song: “I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues” – Elton John Chart Position: #18, 17th week on the chart. Peaked at #4 the week of January 28, 1984. A countdown from 1984, my favorite musical year! So many fantastic songs to pick from. “Thriller” had just hit the top 10 in its second…
Friday Playlist
All of a sudden I have a glut of new music. Which is a good thing, of course. Sadly, it’s still all singles; no good album releases today, at least that I’ve seen so far. I did add two more exciting releases to April and May this week, so spring promises to be a beast. https://open.spotify.com/user/224aiwksicafjldlua6nnpo4y/playlist/5s9b1qLlJCV3Z97TmwZq3B?si=zIupfUN8RAGhtlB1N-F9tA “Always Ascending” – Franz…
Reaching For the Stars, Vol. 2
Chart Week: Feb. 7, 1981 Songs/Chart Positions: “Killin’ Time” – Fred Knoblock and Susan Anton, #28 “Smoky Mountain Rain” – Ronnie Millsap, #27 “I Made It Through the Rain” – Barry Manilow, #26 My normal Sunday routine is to get up sometime between 8:00 and 8:30, watch the local news long enough to check the weather, and then move into…
Friday Playlist
https://open.spotify.com/user/224aiwksicafjldlua6nnpo4y/playlist/2fYqQaHIn4jokFvXzBM8AG?si=zHd6YKbpRMOXMasmIP-vtg “Lovesick on a Hotel Wildfire” – Korey Dane. This is a song Spotify sent my way, and I’m glad it did. Apparently I’ve heard a couple of Dane’s songs before, although I did not recall his name. He’s been called a “stoner Springsteen,” and this song certainly fits that vibe. “Name For You – Flipped” – The Shins. A…
Friday Playlist
https://open.spotify.com/user/224aiwksicafjldlua6nnpo4y/playlist/0U2Dqa7fz1hCJBsMeKlOMf?si=A_QCUgoxRumqpDRyxp4jEg “Get Out” – CHVRCHES. First single off their next album, and it sounds as shiny and glorious as their songs from the past. “The Louder I Call, The Faster It Runs” – Wye Oak. Another first single from an up-coming album. It looks like Wye Oak will be sticking with the more electronic sound they adopted for their last…
Reaching For the Stars, Vol. 1
I’ve been kicking around an idea for awhile about using the 1980s American Top 40s[1] I listen to most weekends as a jumping off point for writing about old songs. Every weekend, whether I listen to an entire countdown or just catch a few minutes here and there, I’m bombarded with memories from 30+ years ago when all those songs…
More Super Bowl – JT
Well shit. I totally forgot about the halftime show in my Super Bowl roundup. You would be correct if you thought that had something to do with my reaction to it. Justin Timberlake’s performance was visually appealing, but otherwise safe, confusing, disappointing, and forgettable. I had heard the “controversy” coming about the rumored use of a hologram of Prince during…
Friday Playlist
It’s been a decent start to the new music year in terms of singles. But there has yet to be a great album that has captured my attention. And, sadly, the list of February releases is looking pretty meager as well. I’ll hope the solid singles keep rolling out until we finally get some long plays that require my attention.…