Wednesday, June 30, 2021

Wolf Alice: Blue Weekend

London's own Wolf Alice is back with quite a dreamy record. Blue Weekend is their third long-player and the band is really coming into its own. The album sends the listener to many unexplored areas of the mind palace. 

Here is my favorite track...

Monday, June 28, 2021

Easy Life: Life's A Beach (Album of the Week)

Proud sons of Leicester Easy Life just dropped their latest hip hop R&B wonder. Life's a Beach is actually their first full-length record after a series of amazing EP's.

It's hard to categorize this group with a genre because there are so many styles present in their music. But that's a good thing, right? Perhaps we should call it "Easy Life" style music...

Friday, June 25, 2021

AFI: Bodies

Ukiah, California's own AFI are back with another delectable grab bag of  80s tinged pop. Bodies is their eleventh studio record. Wow! Has it really been that long?  

Feel nostalgic for current music that sounds forty years old!!

Thursday, June 24, 2021

Japanese Breakfast: Jubilee

I've always been a big fan of coda songs. The big anthem played at the end of the show is always mega. Michelle Zauner's outfit, Japanese Breakfast, closes out their latest record with such a track. "Posing Cars" is sheer anthemic perfection. Indeed, the whole record is lush pop goodness, dreamy and happy in a 1980's kind of way. 

The last track starts off quiet and unassuming and then builds to TITANIA. 

Tuesday, June 22, 2021

Biig Piig: The Sky Is Bleeding

London's own Biig Piig has just put out a corker of an EP. The Sky Is Bleeding has a soft indie buzz to it that is most pleasing to the ears. Six tracks of loungey emo-perfect! 

Monday, June 21, 2021

Crowded House: Dreamers Are Waiting (Album of the Week)

The purest of pure pop music fans can rejoice because Crowded House has released a new record. Dreamers Are Waiting is their first studio record since 2010 and the 12 tracks offered are well worth the wait. All the gorgeous harmonies and pop hooks that we've come to expect from the band are present along with some very welcome surprises. 

Neil Finn's sons, Liam and Elroy, really make the band sound stronger and more relevant to the 21st century. Both musicians' talent lifts the band to new highs as they are capable of playing any instrument in a highly skilled fashion. 

Here is the opening track...


And here is my favorite track, a classic Neil introspective think piece! The harmonies completely slay me...

Sunday, June 20, 2021

Jorja Smith: Be Right Back

The cool sounds of Jorja Smith have been hitting me in just the right spot these past few days. This Walsall, West Midlands native has just released Be Right Back, a salve for the soul, R&B variety of course. This is a great record to listen to while cruising around on a hot summer night with the top down!

Here is the opening track...

Friday, June 18, 2021

Gary Numan: Intruder

Most of the world knows Gary Numan from his early New Wave megahit, "Cars." But the dude has been making great music for the last forty years. His latest effort, Intruder, recalls those halcyon days of the 80s (for some reason, always summer soaked for me). It sounds like a soundtrack to a Mad Max film that was never made. 

Here is the opening track...

Wednesday, June 16, 2021

King Daniel: Yellow

King Daniel is one of the brighter stars to emerge from the K Pop Scene in the last couple of years. His latest EP, Yellow, is fantastic and well worth the purchase. "Antidote" is the stand-out track from the release. 

Monday, June 14, 2021

Twenty One Pilots: Scaled and Icy (Album of the Week)

Twenty-One Pilots have happily jumped on the late 70s, early 80s AM Radio musical style bandwagon and I'm so very happy they did. Their signature sound is still present, of course, but just with this added layer. 

The first track sets it all up.


Then we really dive deep into AM Gold.



This is just a record full of classic pop, folks. And it's amazing! 

Sunday, June 13, 2021

Waterparks: Greatest Hits

Houston's own Waterparks has released an album called Greatest Hits. In a very cool twist, this is not a compilation of their first three records. Instead, it's just a great 21st Century pop album that delivers on its title. 

Here is one of the many amazing tracks...

Saturday, June 12, 2021

Billie Marten: Flora and Fauna

Ripon's own Billie Marten has just released her third record and it shows some real growth for the artist. Wispy pop numbers combined with 90's drone make Flora and Fauna a great choice for summer listening. 

Wednesday, June 9, 2021

Gruff Rhys: Seeking New Gods

Bethesda, Wales' own Gruff Rhys with his seventh long-player and he continues to amaze me. I've been a fan of this artist since his Super Furry Animals days and his latest, Seeking New Gods, is yet another example of his dragon-level awesomeness. 

Here is an example of what to expect...


So so good! 

Monday, June 7, 2021

Matt Berry: The Blue Elephant (Album of the Week), Summer Sun (Song of the Summer 2021)

Bromham, Bedfordshire's own Matt Berry has just released what may very well be the Album of the Year. The Blue Elephant is certainly the Album of the Summer with its sun-soaked melodies and mind-expanding sonic waves of warmth. 

Every 60s band you have ever loved is heard on this fabulous record. Here is the official Song of the Summer for 2021.


Here is a track that sounds like it's from a lost Doors record.


Folks, it doesn't get much better than this! 

Saturday, June 5, 2021

Czarface & Mf Doom: Super What?

7L & Esoteric and Wu-Tang Clan member Inspectah Deck are back with another supergroup offering under their moniker Czarface & Mf Doom. Super What? is chock full o' great 90s hip hop vibes guaranteed to soothe the soul. 

Check it out!

Wednesday, June 2, 2021

Amy Wadge: Artist Spotlight

Today I'd like to shine a bright light on Backwell's own Amy Wadge. Mostly known for her songwriting credits, Wadge has her own solo artistry for which she should be very proud. Her music for the massive hit BBC series, Keeping Faith, is a crucial element to the intricate storytelling of the show. 

Here is my favorite track from the music she did for the program.