The Drums: Brutalism (Album of the Week and Track of the Week)

I've been a huge fan of NYC's The Drums since they burst on the scene with their magnificent Summertime! EP back in 2009. Fun pop music is always a good salve for what ails the soul. Their fifth full length, Brutalism, dropped this month and it's a corker. In fact, it's so good that I'm declaring this week "The Drums" week with both the album of the week and the track of the week.

Check out "Body Chemistry."

Kajagoogoo: Too Shy (Throwback Thursday)

When the weather gets warmer, I get into an 80's mood. Not sure why. It just happens.

Perhaps it's all those summers I spend watching MTV all day. Kajagoogoo, a five piece band from Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, had a number one single in the summer of 1983 that had been in heavy rotation since its release in January. It was a staple of all of our high school dances.

Enjoy your Throwback Thursday...

Bibio: The Art of Living (Track of the Week)

West Midlands lad Bibio (ne: Stephen James Wilkinson) is quite wonderful in all his electronic folkyness and he has certainly put together quite the catalog in this millennium. His latest effort is called Ribbons and the second cut is the track of the week.


The whole record is pretty darned awesome so pick it up!

Son Volt: Union (Album of the Week)

Jay Ferrar has decided to get extra political on the latest effort from his band, Son Volt, and I heart every single minute of it. This Minneapolis/St Louis band that formed out of Uncle Tupelo in the mid 1990's has been churning out great music for two decades. Ferrar and the lads have the alt country thing down perfectly.

This time around on Union we have the added bonus of political commentary which he gets to immediately on the first track.


Depressing as hell but he's right.

Loverboy: Working For The Weekend

When I was growing up, it was all about the video on MTV. Some bands I loved and some I hated. Loverboy was actually a band I hated back in the 80's because they were overplayed. Yet, now that I am older, I find myself nostalgic for those songs that I heard way too much.

"Working for the Weekend" was one of those songs. It's such a perfect middle class song...back when we actually had a middle class. Pump up this jam as you head into your weekend!

 

Ohtis: Running (Track of the Week)

Normal, Illinois' own Ohtis are a wonderfully dark and deeply Americana band. The trio formed while they were all still in high school and have just released their first full length record. I used to drive across Illinois from the top to the bottom when my dad lived down in Carbondale and worked at WSIU TV. This music reminds me a lot of those drives.

Here is the best track.

Prince: Sometimes It Snows In April (Throwback Thursday)

April has delivered its usual snowy surprise up here in the north woods so what better song to have for Throwback Thursday? This track has taken on a sadder tone since Prince has passed. A shiver and a sigh...

The Brian Jonestown Massacre: Drained (Track of the Week)

Anton Newcombe is a crazy person and I don't care because his music is magical. It has been for over two decades. Of course, he hails from San Francisco so it makes sense that his energizes my son of a hippie soul. Even though it was made in the 90's, 00's and teens, it still reeks of bong water, incense, and LOVE. And the name...the Brian Jonestown Massacre...wonderful...

His latest effort is a self title nine track chestnut that contains all of the things we expect. The first track is my pick for Track of the Week. Check it out.

American Football Is Awesome! (Album of the Week)

A month ago I had no idea who American Football was. Now I know they are an awesome band from Urbana, Illinois that made a legendary album in 1999, quit the music scene for seventeen years, and then suddenly decided to make music again. They released a second full length in 2016 and now they are back this year with a stunner of a record called American Football, as all the rest of their albums are called.

Their latest effort is a slinky, dream pop cascade of aural delight. Here is the first track.




The whole album is this fucking mega. Check it out! They are also on tour so try to catch them when they hit your town.

Papooz: You and I (Friday Happy Hour)

Hey, it's Friday! And that means it's almost time for the weekend. What better to ease into a couple of days off with some really good music that's perfect for happy hour. This week it's the dynamic duo from Paris Papooz with an ultra loungey track called, "You and I."

Have a martooney while you listen!

AC/DC: It's A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock And Roll)

I'm kicking off a new feature today called Throwback Thursday. Each week, I'll post a song from 25+ years ago and reminisce about its awesomeness. First up is this track from Sydney, Australia's own AC/DC. This was their opening track from their very first full length, High Voltage. What a start to an amazing career...and with bagpipes!!

Middleton Might: The Courteeners (UK Spotlight)

I've always been a giant sucker for dudes with guitars and if they are from the UK, well, count me in forever! That's pretty much where I am at with those amazing Middleton lads, the Courteeners. They have released five studio albums in their now over a decade career and they show no signs of letting up. My only wish is that they would draw crowds here like they do over in Britain.

If you haven't had a chance to check them out, here is a taste.



Go buy all their albums!

Andrew Bird: Sisyphus (Track of the Week)

Lake Forest is a quiet and very wealthy little suburb north of one of the three greatest cities on the planet: Chicago (Minneapolis and Paris are the other two, btw). Back in 1973, the city saw the birth of Andrew Bird, one of the finest musicians of the last two decades. Bird is based in LA now and has explored just about every genre you can imagine.

His latest effort, My Finest Work Yet, is indeed his finest work yet. The opening track is my pick for the week. Get in touch with your inner Clint Eastwood spaghetti western!!