https://open.spotify.com/user/224aiwksicafjldlua6nnpo4y/playlist/4jA0qgobQcuHxBWqnRLId2 “Little Guitars (Intro)”“Little Guitars”“Best of Both Worlds” – Van HalenEvery summer, around this time, I spend an afternoon listening to Van Halen’s Diver Down and 5150 albums. Those two albums, representing the DLR and Hagar sides of classic VH, have always screamed summer to me. I didn’t get Diver Down until the summer of ’84, months after buying 1984…

https://open.spotify.com/user/224aiwksicafjldlua6nnpo4y/playlist/68re2VqYBAASMJZuzs5xaR “Never Been Wrong” – Waxahatchee. After several months of teasing single, Katie Crutchfield’s third solo album is finally out, and is receiving rave reviews. Based on the early songs, I’ve really been looking forward to it. And, after one listen, it really delivers. One of the best albums of the year so far. “Dean’s Room” – Allison Crutchfield. I…

“Summertime” – DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince. Still busy with family and prepping for another lake weekend, so just a vid this week. I heard this all-time classic this morning, which seemed like a sign. Enjoy your weekends!

https://open.spotify.com/user/224aiwksicafjldlua6nnpo4y/playlist/1bt4wQGoH7jE53kgujtPDz “Endless Shore” – Melody’s Echo Chamber. Terrible news broke this week when Melody Prochet’s family announced that in an accident earlier this month, the French singer suffered an aneurysm and broken vertebrae. She had a new album scheduled for release soon, but that has been shelved for the time being as she (hopefully) recovers. Send good thoughts her way…

https://open.spotify.com/user/224aiwksicafjldlua6nnpo4y/playlist/14g802wqeytMhgySZUC9oy “We Could Run” – Beth Ditto. The former lead singer of The Gossip released her first solo album last week. Her voice is still awesome, and she takes the music in a poppier, more radio-friendly direction. It may lack the rawness of The Gossip’s best work, but it is still mighty fine. “Somebody Else” – The 1975. I came…

https://open.spotify.com/user/224aiwksicafjldlua6nnpo4y/playlist/2K0GjXS5o6Mwc9WDSz2Ezd “Lannoy Point” – Ride. Another of the great bands of the early 90s British shoegaze movement returns with a fantastic effort. Along with Slowdive, they really know how to make a comeback. “Line of Sight” – ODESZA, WYNNE, Mansionair. I often complain about how dance and electronic music has squeezed out traditional guitar-based rock in the indie world. But…

https://open.spotify.com/user/224aiwksicafjldlua6nnpo4y/playlist/54tIMZEStC6OdTfkhWnvd7 “SGL” – Now, Now. The first new music from Now, Now in five years, and it does not disappoint. “How to Boil an Egg” – Courtney Barnett. This is a song Barnett performed when she first began playing live music, but never put to wax until now. It’s a one-off single, but she also just announced that she’s working…

https://open.spotify.com/user/224aiwksicafjldlua6nnpo4y/playlist/6rjV7IwP5QRg1g8IDoD4t3 “Day at Work” – Nouveau Vélo. Man, I was sure these guys were Australian until I looked them up. They’re Dutch?!?! That jangle sounds straight out of Sydney to me. “My Smile Is Extinct” – Kane Strang. Now this cat is from the South Pacific, although New Zealand rather than Australia. A great example of taking depressing lyrics and…

Special playlist for a special time of year. https://open.spotify.com/user/224aiwksicafjldlua6nnpo4y/playlist/65TNV566d1SVBsbrcItNyR “Friday I’m In Love” – The Cure. A highly significant song in my life. Although it was Pearl Jam and Nirvana that were most responsible for shifting my taste in music away from Top 40 pop and R&B back in 1992, this song had a huge impact as well. It was…

At first it didn’t hit me why Chris Cornell’s name was one of the headlines in this morning’s New York Times Morning Briefing email. “Why is he listed, did he say something about Trump?” was my first thought. I just did not expect his name to be listed because the news was just breaking that he died overnight. You can…