SoCal's sweet pioneers of soul Thee Sacred Souls have just dropped their long-awaited debut and self-titled LP. It's twelve amazing tracks that continue the now massive soul revival music going on around the world. This record has everything from classic grooves to that signature Motown echo in the vocals
Find a romantic partner and dance the night away, close together and slowly...
Icelandic wonder Laufey has just dropped her first album and it is loungey jazz wonder of epic proportions. Everything I Know About Love makes me feel like I'm in a Kennedy Era Cool club in NYC drinking a Vesper and letting the beautiful sounds of Laufey's voice cascade over me like soothing icicles.
The soul lifting sounds of the Bailiff Bridge lads known as Embrace have been my soundtrack for the last couple of weeks with their new record, How To Be A Person Like Other People. Their usual stadium sing a long style is present along with some fantastic pop numbers. And, is as always the case with them, they deeply explore the human condition in a magnificent way!
Here is one of my faves...
London synth pop dance kings Hot Chip are back with Freakout/Release, another amazing foray into late night club sweat and grooves. There are also some solid pop tracks on this record that remind me of late 70s AM radio.
Example.
It's that time of the year again...my favorite season...FALL! And that means the Autumn Music Series is back. Time to find that special someone and curl up by the fire or take a walk in about to be very crunchy leaves and listen to some fantastic autumnal music.
First up is a classic track from 1991 from Manchester's own James. "Born of Frustration" has the essential echo-y guitar and haunting lyrics that must be present in a fall tune. It's quite powerful!
Key from K-Pop sensation Shinee, has just released his sophomore effort and it's one of my favorites in the genre. Gasoline-The 2Nd Album is filled with bangers and crowd pleasers. It's just solid pop music. Key does an amazing job of mixing up rhythms and styles. The cinematic hooks are completely wonderful.
Here is my favorite track on the record...
The pride of Tokyo, Kikagaku Moyo, has released yet another amazing exploration of psychedelic pop. Kumoyo Island is their finest record yet. Kick back and let your mind palace open with these eleven transplendent tracks.
Here is the opening track...
Raw and powerful. Those are two words I would use to characterize Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia wonders The Chats. Their sophomore effort, Get Fucked, turns it up to eleven. It's as if a band formed from the world of a Mad Max film. Thank god!
Here is the album opener...
Sometimes I'm just a sucker for good pop. Zara Larsson's latest album, Poster Girl, fits the bill perfectly. The Stockholm native is a spiritual sister to Saint Etienne with her own flavors added in for extra zest! You just can't stop Poster Girl in the middle. You have to go all the way through The whole record is start-to-finish amazing!
Here is one of my faves...
I guess we'll make this weekend an electronic music thing with a peek at Sylvan Esso's latest record called No Rules Sandy. It's a lot of really cool short tracks that are not only catchy but also could be a soundtrack to a cyberpunk movie set in a place with a village green. Dare I say that some of it sounds almost autumnal.
Check it out...
Some classify Glasgow's Hudson Mohawke as "electronic music" but he's quite a lot more than that. He continually pushes the boundaries of the genre into pop, soul, and even an 80s vibe. His latest is called Cry Sugar and it is magnificent.
Here is one of my faves.
It's always a fine week when the pride of South London releases a new record. Jamie T is back with The Theory of Whatever, another amazing exploration in the world of pop music. He's pushing the boundaries of the genre once again with rap-infused bangers and a decidedly chill-out vibe.
Here is the opening track...
Sometimes I'm in the mood for weird electronic music that reminds me of a 70's lounge combined with a cyberpunk fever dream. Thankfully, Domi and Jd Beck can deliver this exact style to me with their amazing music. Their latest is called Not Tight and it has many tracks.
Here is one of the best...
Leicester's own Kasabian are back with an absolute corker of a record that pulses like a sun going supernova. The Alchemist's Euphoria moves and grooves in all the best ways. It's hard to believe that this Brit Rock outfit has made seven records already!
Here is one of my faves from the album...
Jack White is a national treasure and an officially venerated icon of rock and roll. His latest record illustrates why this is the case.
Entering Heaven Alive is pure rock goodness, encapsulating pretty much the entirety of the genre's history. White switches effortlessly from Zep dripped 70s arena rock to a Neil Young in the 1990's vibe. And then, just as suddenly, he's sounding like a cross between Bach and the Small Faces!
Here is the opening track...
The chill grooves of Calvin Harris's latest jam are suiting me just fine right now. Funk Wav Bounces Vol.2 is an absolutely perfect soundtrack for 1am third wind rides into the beauty of the late night/early morning mist.
Ride, brothers and sisters...
Toronto's own Tallies latest offering has been in heavy rotation in my house since it dropped a few weeks ago. Patina shimmers like a bright star and is cosmic journey awesome. It's great guitar jangle pop for really any occasion.
Here is the opening track...
The pride of Hawthorne, California is back with an amazing record called Fantasy Getaway. Cuco has brought lounge lizard electronica to Mount Everest-like heights.
I want to chill within this vibe forever...
The Sadies are a Toronto gem. Their latest, Colder Streams, is a fantastic foray into psychedelic pop. Cosmic mind journeys are abundant on this record which amazingly marks their fourth decade on the scene.
Here is the opening track...
Lizzo is amazing! And she's from my hometown of Minneapolis!! Her latest release is called Special and it is that indeed. I just love how honest she is in all her lyrics. Zero filter is always the best way to go.
She truly is the future of R&B and with each release I can see this artist achieving Everest like heights and beyond.
Here is the title track...
Bedford's own Lil Sliva has just released his sophomore effort and it is truly a gem of electronic music. Yesterday is Heavy is chill and danceable at the same time, reminding me a lot of Friendly Fires. The sonic mindscapes he creates are crazy in their expansiveness.
You must "Be Cool" and buy this record!
The pride of Brighton is back! The Kooks have a new record out called 10 Tracks To Echo In The Dark and it is marvelous. The album continues the band's exploration of synth soul and pop while still retaining their "dudes with guitars" street cred. The Kooks continue to be cornerstones of Brit Rock with this wonderful entry into the pantheon of holy music.
Here is one of fave tracks...classic Kooks!
Compton's own Steve Lacy is a musical pioneer. And he's exploring horizons that most musicians only dream of seeking. His sophomore effort, Gemini Rights, is an exquisite kiss of music history in terms of genre and style. As always, his guitar work is stellar.
Here is one of my faves...
I'm bookending this week with another selection from Ryan Adams. Chris is the third of a trilogy of albums that were originally due to come out in 2019. Wednesdays and Big Colors, the first two chapters, set a tone of dark Americana that is lost due to love, life, and a world that doesn't exist anymore.
Chris is a heartfelt tribute to a close friend of Adams who is no longer with us. It has the same late 70s/early 80s radio sound that all of his most recent albums share. It's a common thread of nostalgia for a place lost in the ashes of time and that's honestly pretty fucking sad.
Here is the title track...
How many albums can Ryan Adams release over a year-long period? The answer seems to be as many as he fucking wants to release. FM is the third release of 2022 alone and the fourth over the last year if you count 2021's Big Colors.
His latest effort sees him once again diving deeply into that radio sound of the late 70s and early 80s. FM could easily be one of those records that everyone in your high school bought that day it came out and wore it out from play just a few months later.
It's nostalgia for a time that was but never was...
NYC's own Interpol is back with another stellar album filled with indie goodness. The Other Side Of Make-Believe delivers for fans and newcomers alike with its dark yet poppy, drone-y yet uplifting vibe.
Here is a sample...
The heart and soul of Port Harcourt, Nigeria is back with yet another stellar record. Burna Boy is a STAR. Love, Damini is an instant classic, and the main reason why is its diversity in style. Pop, rap, beat, hip hop, and a deep hometown sound are all present on this record.
There are many guests on this album and I think my fave is the track with Ed Sherhan.
The Fixx is a truly amazing band. They are an 80s pop sensation who is quite beloved by fans of that era for their big hits. Yet the London lads have continued to make relevant music into the 21st century. Their latest record, Every Five Seconds, is easily as good as their first three albums (all masterpieces). Ten tracks of modern nostalgia.
Here is one of my faves...
I haven't done a Throwback Thursday in far too long and Frisco's Journey has been in heavy rotation on all of my playing devices of late so here we go.
When I was growing up and listening to that crappy old Realistic radio my mom gave me, WLS out of Chicago played these two tracks constantly. Both were hits but not as huge as later songs would be. Honestly, they helped to shape my first romantic thoughts.
For me, this is Journey.
Guitar legend and art rock god Adrian Belew is back with a fantastic new record called Elevator. It warms my heart that Belew is back making solo records again. His latest showcases his diverse style and insane ingenuity, especially on guitar.
Example? The opening track...
Art Rock juggernauts Porcupine Tree are back after a 13 year absence and I most thankful. The Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire lads continue their magic with Closure/Continuation. Their latest has a decidedly more heavy tone in both theme and style. All of their signature sonic explorations are present, though, and Wilson's voice still sends me on cosmic journeys to other galaxies.
Here is the opening track.
The phrase "they don't make music like they used to" no longer applies. There are multiple retro bands spanning all sorts of old-school genres that have been making music for the last several years.
One of the best is Saskatoon's own The Sheepdogs. They sound like they fell out of a Volkswagon van in the year 1974. Their latest is called Outta Sight and it truly is...
Here is the opening track.
Loud and raucous. That's how I like music from time to time. The Viagra Boys fit that bill perfectly. Their latest record is called Cave World and it's incredibly obnoxious (in a good way) from the beginning.
Here is my favorite track...
Frisco's jewel, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, keep proving why they are in a class by themselves. Their latest record, Fire Doesn't Grow On Trees, is another stunner of an effort in a now over 30 year pantheon of psychedelic pop awesomeness.
Anton is an Ineffable Mindfuck! (the last two words of this sentence is an actual track on the record).
It's a perfect summer when Mt. Joy releases a new record. The Philly (now LA) natives will always be associated with the warmer months of the year ever since a disc golf buddy turned me on to them a couple of years back.
Their latest is called Orange Blood. It's their third record and the journey this band is on is extraordinary. It's a wonderfully mixed-up bouquet of dream pop, psych-pop, indie, and shoegaze.
Here is the title track...
Louisville's own Joan Shelley is a Kentucky treasure. For more than a decade, this amazing artist has made deeply Americana-themed music that gets right to the soul of this country.
Her latest is called The Spur and it makes me feel like home...
Drake's new album Honestly, Nevermind is completely amazing and folks need to give the Toronto native massive props. He does stream of consciousness better than most rap artists and that's really the key to the genre, in my not so humble opinion.
A great example is this track...
Jangly guitar pop is truly needed in everyone's life. Thankfully, Young Guv is around to fill that need. The Toronto native's third record is classic DUDES WITH GUITARS goodness. Guv III is a sheer wonder of a classic sound (think The Byrds, The La's, Oasis) that should be played on every possible listening device!
Here is the opening track...
Montreal's own Stars with their tenth (!) album and it's just a ton of fun. From Capelton Hill is chock full o' pure pop bliss. I hope this record inspires bands to make more music like this.
Here is one of my favorite tracks...
Vancouver's own Pink Mountaintops make me happy. They make music like people use to make it. I realize that's a cliche but I know I am among many who are quite tired of computers playing instruments. So, when I hear those loud and rolling Fenders on this track...
Mr. Lamar is back with a truly extraordinary record called Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers. The Compton native seems to have found is deepest socially conscious voice yet with the nine tracks contained on this gem.
Here is my fave...
Oxford lads Foals are back with a new record called Life Is Yours. Within a few seconds of my first listen, I wondered if I had picked up a Level 42 album instead. Being a total nerd for that 80s outfit, I was ecstatic! The themes and the style of this record will make fans of either band happy.
Get ready to dance!
Perth's own Psychedelic Porn Crumpets are back with their fifth long-player of scrumptious, mind-warping fun. Night Gnomes is yet another example of the musical renaissance going on in Australia, most of it in the psych pop genre. Bril!
Monophonics are back with more sweet soul bliss guaranteed to soothe your spirit in these trouble times. Sage Motel is a big beautiful kiss from the early 1970's, my favorite time period for R&B.
Here is the title track...
Tears For Fears has always meant SUMMER for me. My heart grows immediately warm when I hear their music because it reminds me of so many summers in my 80s youth. Watching their videos on MTV or hearing their latest hit (and there were SO many) on the radio, the band just sounds better in the summer!
So, it's only natural that their latest record, The Tipping Point, is my choice for the soundtrack to your summer. The title track alone, which I highlighted when I made the record my Album of the Week last March, oozes summer wind and chlorine-smelling pools.
The last track, though, is just perfect for that late-night drive home from a summer date. The wind blowing...maybe by the beach somewhere...or even in a city with all the lights...mmm...
Wilco is back with a two album set called Cruel Country and it honestly couldn't have come at a better time. Our country is really fucked up right now and it's somehow comforting to hear Tweedy sing about its current state of malaise. All 21 tracks deeply explore Americana and how its heart can sometimes be dark.
"I love my country like a little child. I love my country, stupid and cruel, red white and blue."
Wow.
I've gone from a few toes to now a full half leg dipped into K Pop. I can't help it! Some of it is just really infectious.
Take Yerin, for example. Formerly of the outfit GFriend and now solo has an amazing first volley out called Aria. I think it's the 80s kid in me that just needs some bubble gum pop once in a while.
Kevin Morby gets to a place in me that only he can access. It's weird and hard to explain. You just have to buy all of his albums and listen to them a lot.
His latest is called This Is A Photograph and it's a complete gem. Here is one my faves from the record...
I took a trip to England when I was 16. I celebrated my 17th birthday in London. It was magical in just about every way. We stayed in a little village called Templecombe and would regularly go into Yeovil to hang out, mostly at the pub.
Imagine my surprise when I found out that prog rock titans, The Pineapple Thief, are from Yeovil! It made my hear warm:)
Their latest is called Give It Back and it is a sheer delight. Here is one of faves from the record.
The pure pop bliss of Sunflower Bean continues to cradle me like a newborn infant. Their latest is Headful of Sugar and it soothes the soul straight away from track #1.
I want to radiate like Warpaint. They are the epitome of cool. Their latest record is called Radiate Like This and it's all about the vibe. Late nights, early mornings, chill out, the city, romance and mystery-all are present on this magnificent album.
Sultry...
The Black Keys are just awesome. It's impossible for them to make a bad album. Each one is better than the last one and that's likely due to their infinite search for the unfindable musical horizon.
Their latest is called Dropout Boogie and it's a stunner from start to finish. Check out the opening track...
Our kid is back with his third solo record. Wow! Where did the time go?
C'mon You Know showcases much more diversity of style than I would have expected. I mean, we all know what Liam does and he does it well. But check out this track.
The pride of Glasgow, Belle and Sebastien, are back with a lovely record called A Bit of Previous. The 12 tracks contained therein are more upbeat than some of their previous and more recent records. And, dare I say, poppier for an "indie folk" band. This was also their first record since 1999 that was recorded in their hometown of Glasgow.
Here is the opening track...
Melbourne's own Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever is back with Endless Rooms, yet another dreamy and jangly guitar pop record. Imagine a house with an infinite number of rooms, each with a story to tell of life, love and mind palaces.
Arcade Fire is back with another amazing record that solidifies them as one of the greatest indie bands of all time. We sees Win Butler, Regine Chassagne and Co channeling their inner John Lennon Imagine era sound with some truly beautiful piano playing and singing.
The acoustic guitar playing combines with the piano best on this track...
Joe Jackson is out on the road and he has never sounded better. I caught him last night at the Pabst Theater in Milwaukee and it was a dazzling show filled with hits, old and new. His current backing band, comprised of ever present bassist Graham Maby, guitarist Teddy Kumpel, and drummer Doug Yowell, is the best he has ever had.
Joe has always been an impeccable performer, achieving near perfection in musical arrangements, in particular with vocals. His whole band can sing very, very well and all of this was evidence in his nearly two hour set. My faves were "Nineteen Forever" and "Fool."
If you get a chance to catch him when he is near your town, do it! He is playing all over the country in some very interesting places
It's always a good time for psychedelic pop music and it's even better when it comes from the heart of Paris. Melody's Echo Chamber's latest offering, Emotional Eternal, is a gem and may very well turn out to be the album of the summer.
Enjoy the deep mind explorations!
Remember back in the late 70s when synth music was super cool and kinda futuristic? That's the time period I feel like I'm in when I listen to Toro Y Moi. The Columbia, South Carolina native is keenly tapped into a vibe that makes nostalgia blossom. His latest is Mahai and it is just amazing.
Here is one of my favorite tracks...
London's own Bloc Party is back with Alpha Games, their sixth album since beginning their illustrious career. They are another fine example of Brit Rock gods writing their fire across the sky and their latest record shows why. It's truly a group effort with new members Justin Harris and Louise Bartle showing off their songwriting prowess.
Here is the opening track...
The sophomore effort from New York duo Soffi Tukker is out and it's quite a great turn to pure pop. Wet Tennis is not only a great record but something I actually want to try given that I have played tennis for nearly 30 years.
Boss track...
The pride of Stockport in Greater Manchester has dropped their fourth album. Blossoms are back with Ribbon Around The Bomb and it's a peach! All 12 tracks are infectious pop wonders that will be perfect for the soundtrack to your summer.
Here is one of my faves...
Sydney's own The Lazy Eyes just dropped their first full-length record and psychedelic pop fans everywhere will rejoice. The group takes you into the multiverse of madness and leaves you breathless by the time all 12 tracks have flowed through your mind.
Here is one of my faves...
Bursting out of Melbourne, power pop sensations Romero are making music that harkens back to my adolescent years in the 80's. Turn It On! is their debut record and it's eleven tracks of wall to wall rock!
Party on!
Ryan Adams is in the middle of quite a prolific period. He has released four albums in the last year and a half! His latest is called Romeo and Juliet and it continues his stylistic exploration of the late 70s/early 80s AM gold type music. It's almost as if Jackson Browne made a whole bunch of records right after he did Hold Out.
Of course, his records are so much more than that. Loving and haunting at the same time, Adams is the best living American songwriter and performer, hands down. He makes me feel nostalgia for times in my life that I thought were long forgotten. And it's with brand new music!
Here's a track that's been out for a while but finally made it onto this full-length record.
Syd Tha Kyd is back with an amazing record called Broken Hearts Club. Her sophomore effort shows continued growth and sonic diversity for this now very much mature artist. I'll admit that I miss The Internet but Syd's solo records are so good that my pining isn't as bad.
Here is one of my favorite tracks...
Duster knows the way to San Jose. That's because they are from there. And the environs of that area of California must have inspired them to be the world's first grunge dream pop band. Their fourth long-player, Together, just dropped and it's their finest yet.
Here is one of my faves...
God-like genius and indie darling Jack White is back with yet another shovel to the head stunner of a record. Fear Of The Dawn is a tour de force (a cliche, I know, but it really applies here) of raw energy and power. Honestly, much of it reminds me of The White Stripes which is just dandy with me.
Here is the opening track...
The musical universe of Father John Misty is expanding again with his latest release, Chloe And The Next 20th Century. He's really everywhere on this one, beginning with a 20s cabaret number segueing into a 70s soft rock road anthem and then continuing with pop anthems and even a track that sounds like it could be the next James Bond song.
Check out the range and pick it up!
Brooklyn's own Widowspeak are back with their fifth full-length record and its chill vibe has been quite a nice salve for the spring that will likely never be coming here in the North Woods. The Jacket is a triumph of wispy melodies and thoughtful lyrics that stir the soul.
Molly Hamilton's voice really gets to me...
Power punk. Man, how I miss this genre. Thankfully, LA's The Linda Lindas are carrying the torch forward for a new generation of riot girrrrls. Their first long-player is out now and you must own it and ROCK THE FUCK OUT!!
God-like genius Peter Doherty is back with yet another magnificent record called The Fantasy Life Of Poetry And Crime. It's a deep dive into the human condition as is typical of the themes in his music. Romance and its effect on the heart are also heard throughout the album.
Doherty always manages to get to a part of me that I don't explore all that often. I wonder why or even what that part is...
LA's own Red Hot Chili Peppers have tapped into the historical spectrum of amazing music from the last 50+ years and turned out their best album since Stadium Arcadium. Unlimited Love is unlimited awesome, which I know sounds cheesy, but that's just the way these dudes would like it.
Check it out!
Vancouver's own Destroyer is back with another fabulous and super chill record. Labyrinthitis is dream-pop at its finest. I feel like I'm on the International Space Station and, interestingly, in the 1980s when I listen to the record.
Here is one of my faves from the album...
The fourth decade of London's own Placebo has proved to be just as amazing as the previous three. Their latest record, Never Let Me Go, rolls you up and smokes the shit out of you.
Here is the opening track...
The pride of Denton, Texas is back after a far too long hiatus. Midlake has returned with another amazing record to add to their lexicon. For The Sake Of Bethel Woods picks up directly where Antiphon left off with its lush soundscapes and haunting melodies. The urgency is still there as well.
Here is my favorite track...
The chill vibe of Aldous Harding's latest record, Warm Chris, is hitting all the right spots for me on this still too cold day here in the North Woods. The Lyttleton, New Zealand native has mastered a perfect blend of folk and pop.
Here is one of my favorite tracks...
The psychedelic sounds of Croydon's own Loop are back in a whirl of colour, light, and aural wonder. Sonancy is their first full-length record since the 80s and it is bloody mags!
Trip out, kids!
Music that travels. Or makes your mind travel. Or both. That's some of the best kinds of music. And that's just the kind of sonic experience that Atlanta's own Mattiel gives the world. Their third record, Georgia Gothic, just dropped and it's their best yet. It sends the listener on an inward and outward journey.
Example
The relentless pounding of the latest record by Liverpool's own The Mysterines is just what I need right now to get me through the cold and the rain that is our usual Minnesota spring weather. Reeling is leaving me reeling and I am honestly not trying to be funny.
Wow!
A full-length record from LA's Wallows is just what we all need right now, especially since they are Dudes With Guitars. Tell Me When It's Over is fantastic from start to finish.
Bangin' track...
New Zealand pop wonders Yumi Zouma dropped their fourth long-player a few weeks back and it's been a constant companion to me ever since. Present Tense is a perfect record to have as your soundtrack to Spring 2022. Warm, airy, and fun!!
Here is one of my favorite tracks...
Born in Cardiff but now from Oxford, Andy Bell has been one of those fly under the radar Brit Rockers who has been making amazing music for over two decades. He founded the bands Ride and Hurricane #1, played with Oasis for many years as their bass player, and now has a solo career.
His latest is called Flicker and it's Pepper-style magic. 18 tracks! That makes it a double album to use the old vernacular.
Here is one of my faves...
London's own Blue States are back with another wonderful chill-out record of mind relaxing wonderment. World Contract Day is a nice vibe for the start of spring. Wispy and comforting
Here is one of my favorite tracks...
I love music that is cinematic. That's why I massively heart April March, chanteuse extraordinaire. Her latest record is called in Cinerama. And it sure is.
Listening to this record, I feel like I'm in an Italian film from 1971.
The Great Soul Revival of the 21st Century continues with an absolute corker of a record from the proud son of Texas, Sugar Ray Rayford. In Too Deep is old school 70's soul that is sorely needed in our nation right now. Let the healing begin!
Here is the title track...
Like a comfy blanket on a cold night, Nilüfer Yanya's latest record warms the soul. Painless is the London native's third offering and it is spectacular from start to finish.
Here is one of my faves...
Remember way back when Soft Cell refused to play "Tainted Love" when they played shows? And everyone got pissed? To be fair, they did make other great music that wasn't a cover song.
Thankfully, the Leeds duo are back making great music after a seventeen-year hiatus. *Happiness Not Included is their latest record and it will make 80s synth-pop fans ecstatic. The opening track is a deep dive into melancholy about a future that never was...
Atlanta's own EarthGang are back with a stellar rap record called Ghetto Gods. The album is full force dragon from start to finish but it's this track that really makes it the bomb.
God-like genius Johnny Marr is back with a magnificent record called Fever Dreams Parts 1-4). He continues to pave the way for cool and inventive pop music the way people used to make it. You know, with actual instruments like guitars!
What kind of fever dreams live in Marr's head? I'm grateful he is letting us get a peek!
Sea Power, aka the pride of Kendal, Cumbria, is back with a wonderful record called Everything Was Forever. The title alone really resonates with me. When I was younger, before I even knew what dream pop was, everything did seem like it lasted forever. And the music we listened to was founded in this genre and made it seem eternal.
Here is the opening track...
Treasure of the world Elvis Costello is back with his 32nd (!) record. The Boy Named If could have easily come out in 1980 and that makes this Gen Xer most happy.
Here is my favorite track...
After an eighteen-year hiatus, Tear For Fears are back with The Tipping Point. The soaring, dream pop sonic waves of luscious delight immediately wash over listeners like 1980's watercolor memories and instant nostalgia of Gen X drama is injected into mind palaces everywhere...
Here is the title track in all its glory.
Khruangbin is back with an EP of loved-up music called Texas Moon. The Houston trio is mos def tapped into the soul revival that is sweeping the nation. Five tracks of pure delight.
Here is the opener...
Philly's Amos Lee blends a number of styles to create a dream-like quality to his music. It's most serendipitous then that his latest record is called Dreamland. There is something extremely intoxicating about this album. Who is he is singing to? It seems like it's just one person.
Here is the title track...
One of my favorite bands in the world just released a completely amazing record. Cwmaman's own Stereophonics are back with Oochya!
This is the band's 12th record and it honestly sounds like a perfect summation of all of their sounds and styles. The album opens up with the heavy-sounding "Hanging On Your Hinges."
The pride of Portland, Oregon, The Delines, are back with their fourth long-player called The Sea Drift. The album truly soothes the soul and it reminds me of the comfort one gets from gently 'mocking with a loved one, even if some of the themes are intense and dark. It's also very "AM Radio, late 70s" ish:)
Here is one of my favorite tracks...
Black Country, New Road is the pride of Cambridgeshire. With their second release, Ants From Up There, the band have cemented themselves as the post-punk kings of the UK.
Here is one of my favorite tracks...
I highly recommend picking up their first LP as well (For The First Time).
The passing of Pat Fish was a sad day last October 5th. His outfit, The Jazz Butcher, was a regular staple of my college years. Thankfully, a posthumous release has appeared and it is quite wonderful. The Highest in the Land is an amazing final chapter in the life of an artist that too many had never heard of.
Here is the opening track...
Ah, MØ. MØ...MØ...MØ...you are pretty much everything pop music should be. And you are the pride of Ubberud, Odense, Denmark.
Your third album is amazing. Everyone should own it. Here is one of my favorite tracks...
Thank God for the proud sons of Barnsley, South Yorkshire known collectively and musically as The Sherlocks. They are proudly carrying the Brit Rock torch forward in this century and their latest record, World I Understand. Honestly, it's their best yet!
Here is one of my favorite tracks...
Baltimore's own Animal Collective has a stunning new record out called Time Skiffs. It's psychedelic pop at its finest with dashes of jam band and scifi rock. Fans of XTC will love love love this record. Prepare for a deep and thoughtful journey into your mind!
Here is one of my favorite tracks...
LA's own Eels are back with yet another stellar offering. Extreme Witchcraft is vintage Mark Oliver with a few surprising twists in terms of genre-bending fun.
Here is one of my faves...
Orlando Weeks just dropped his third long-player and it's very Ted Lasso-like in its optimism. Hop Up is a merry jaunt through the joys of love and life. There's even a track called "Yup Yup Yup Yup." Seriously, how much more upbeat could you be than that!?
But my favorite is the opening number. So atmospheric and time spanning...
Ah, the joys of jangly guitar pop. It heals my soul on a daily basis. That's why I heart Pinegrove as much as I do. Their latest is called 11:11 and it contains many amazing tracks that will make fans of this genre feel beyond fulfilled.
Here is one of my faves...
Miles Kane is a veritable treasure of Brit Rock. His albums are giant megaphones of every single genre that has ever been labeled as cool. A listener could hear Kennedy Era cool, freakbeat, and spaghetti western all in one song!
His latest record, Change The Show, is a powerhouse of everything pop music should be. Example: these two tracks...
Sometimes a goth drone vibe is in order. That's where Brighton's Blood Red Shoes comes in handy. Their latest is called Ghosts on Tape and it's dark but wonderful.
Wear your black eyeliner...
Liverpool's own The Wombats are back with yet another stellar record. Fix Yourself, Not The World is upbeat dream pop music at its finest. The twelve tracks on the record are pure bliss.
Here is one of the real bangers...
This is a band whose entire catalog absolutely needs to be in your collection. Yesterday.
Cat Power's latest release is a fine example of how to do a covers record. Pick songs that have personal meaning, delve deeply into back catalogs of amazing artists, and rework them to fit them to a unique style.
Winner.
Every time I listen to The Weeknd, my heart and soul race back to the '80s. I remember all those teenage drama moments at the dances, by the lake, the endless house parties, and chillin' at the 7/11. He's just so tapped into that vibe that it's honestly scary.
His latest, Dawn FM, is a simple and perfect forty-year-old dream...
Brighton's own Bonobo just dropped his seventh long-player. Fragments is a further expansion of the already magnificent universe of soundscapes in which this artist resides. It's one of those records you can throw on and just mind fly away...
The pride of Denver, Colorado has just released their fourth long-player. The Lumineers' Brightside is another magnificent installment in the alt-country. The record just hums along beautifully.
Here is the opening track...
Richard Ashcroft is a god (small g version) so when he puts out something (rare event), the world should sit up and take notice. Acoustic Hymns Vol. 1 is a collection of reinterpretations of his best works. The 12 tracks truly showcase what an amazing talent this Wigan native is. And it looks like there will be more volumes to come being this is listed as the first!
Brit rock legend Damon Albarn's continues his magnificent musical odyssey with The Nearer The Fountain, More Pure The Stream Flows. This is the third solo record from the Blur front man and was originally conceived as a soundtrack for the landscape of Iceland. Albarn decided to expand it into a larger concept.
It's a great piece of music to take your mind on a journey. Here is a taste...
The dynamic duo of Robert Plant and Alison Kraus snuck out their sophomore effort at the end of 2021 and it really was a lovely way to close out the year. Raise The Roof picks up where their 2007 record, Raising Sand, left off.
Haunting, contemplative, loving, and spiritual...all at once and so much more...
Boston's own Marissa Nadler latest record, The Path Of The Clouds, is a gem from start to finish. It's been one of those deep soaker albums over the last few weeks that I keep coming back to because I just can't get enough of it. It takes me on a different journey each time I listen to it.
Here is the title track...
Neil keeps churning out the good tunes. His latest, Barn, seems him teamed back up with Crazy Horse. The album offers all the classic sounds, soft and loud, that he has been known for over the years. It's nice to hear music with actual instruments still being made and made well.
Here is one of my favorite tracks...
