Richard Ashcroft: Born To Be Strangers (Track of the Week)

The man who cast no shadow and writes songs as big as god's fist is back with his fifth solo album, Natural Rebel. And all of Wigan, Lancashire (indeed all of England) is rejoicing. Richard Ashcroft is a towering legend of Brit Rock and his latest effort does not disappoint. I'll have a full review coming soon but this is my favorite track...

Autumn Music Series: Holy Holy

Can a band from Australia capture that autumn sound that I love so much? Yes. Yes, they can. Holy Holy is a mega cool music duo from Down Under that does a fab job of creating musical soundscapes that remind me a great deal of the fall.

Here's my favorite track from 2015's When The Storms Would Come. 

Autumn Music Series: Doves

I miss Doves. The Cheshire lads are currently labeled as inactive. I'm hoping they activate soon because their music is perfect for a crunchy leaf walk. From 2005, here is one of my favorites.

We Were Promised Jetpacks: Impossible (Track of the Week)

Wonderful things come from Scotland and Edinburgh's We Were Promised Jetpacks are certainly a great example of why this axiom is true. I mean, how can you not like the name? I was promised a jet pack when I was a kid. Where is it?!!

Their fifth studio album, The More I Sleep the Less I Dream, dropped a few weeks ago and all 10 tracks are quite wonderful. The opening track is my pick for this week. It's dark yet triumphant!

The Modfather Finds Meaning: Paul Weller, True Meanings

Paul Weller is now in his fifth decade of making music and shows no signs of letting up. His solo career, now over 25 years, has seen a variety of musical explorations that have truly shown his growth mindset.

His fourteenth studio album, True Meanings, dropped last month and has been in regular rotation in my house, my car, and especially my iPhone. This time around, he's offering up 14 tracks of lush acoustical, orchestration that bring new meaning to the word beauty. Most of the tracks start off simply enough with his voice and guitar. Then they build up to majestic heights and we are left wondering if the next track will be just as good. Invariably, it's better.

Here's a great example...


And this is just the fifth track!

There is some Style Council heard here but mostly it's the Modfather reveling in his middle aged musical authority and wisdom. The second to last track, "May Love Travel With You," is autobiographical to me in many ways. Weller's music has brought me an amazing amount of love and joy in my life for over forty years. As he continues to break new ground and try new paths of aural exploration, I'll be right there with him.

Autumn Music Series: John Grant

Denver's own John Grant has made some fantastic music over the last 20 years and his first solo effort in 2010 (Queen of Denmark) is probably my favorite. The first track is a perfect song for blustery autumn days...

Tall Heights: Midnight Oil (Track of the Week)

Boston's own electrofolk duo Tall Heights have just a released a completely fab record called Pretty Colors For Your Actions. In addition to having a cool title, the record boasts several magnificent cuts that send my mind and heart on the most wonderful of journeys. Here's my favorite track...

Autumn Music Series: Thomas Cohen

A key ingredient to a good fall tune is a Fender guitar with the echo turned to 11. Thomas Cohen delivers this quite well on his track, "Honeymoon." He's also got some Bowie Tonight era going on with this song which is another reason why it's perfect for autumn...

 

Autumn Music Series: U2

The core month of autumn is now here and nothing fits better than this track from Dublin's own U2. I think I've played it a million times in October and it sounds great every single listen.

Amber Arcades: Simple Song (Track of the Week)

Utrecht's own Amber Arcades has just released her second full length record entitled European heartbreak and I heart every Burt Bacharach minute of it. I imagine myself sipping a martini and curling my toes in shag carpeting when I listen to my favorite track.

Check it out!

The Villagers: Sweet Savior (Track of the Week)

Dublin has produced many fine bands over the years and Villagers are no exception. Their fourth full length album, The Art of Pretending to Swim, has just dropped and it is completely mags. Perfectly crafted pop songs with stories of love, Irish towns, pubs, and journeys shimmer throughout this record. It also makes for a great autumnal soundtrack!

Here's my favorite track

Autumn Music Series: Arthur Beatrice

The leaves are starting to turn, a chill is in the air at night, and the days are growing shorter. That means it's time to add to the Autumn Music Playlist!

First up is London's own Arthur Beatrice with their first single from 2012. We have the requisite echo-y guitars, of course but the landscape spanning vocals that somehow manage to also sound soft and quiet make this a perfect track for the fall playlist.

 

(note: click on the tag "Autumn Music Series" below for the full playlist)

Paul Weller: The Soul Searchers (Track of the Week)

The modfather has released his 26th studio album (counting The Jam and The Style Council, of course) and it's completely wonderful. True Meanings explores Weller's softer side with acoustic renderings backed by lush orchestrations. It's a perfect record for autumn. Here;s my favorite track...



Note: I will have a full review of this album up soon. 

Muncie Girls: Picture of Health (Track of the Week)

Exeter's own Muncie Girls are a great deal of fun. Power punk has always been a great jam and this band really delivers it in spades on their just released second full length, Fixed Ideals. My first several listens brought me back to those halcyon days of mid-90's alt jams and sweaty mosh pits.

Here's my favorite track.

 

Wild Nothing: Oscillation (Track of the Week)

Virginia's own Wild Nothing have really made quite a nice and tidy career for themselves these last eight years. They just released their fourth full length album called Indigo and it's more of the same, wonderful 80's tinged nostalgia. Of course, it sounds much better since it was recorded in the 21st century.

I love me some echo-y vocals and strummy guitars!

The Vryll Society: Glows and Spheres (Track of the Week)

I've always been a sucker for psychedelic rock especially bands from Liverpool (gee, I wonder why?). The Vryll Society has just released their first full length album after a couple of singles and an EP and I completely adored straight away. It has all the right ingredients that make for a perfect record...British (from the North Country), psychedelic, poppy, dreamy, and with hints of my favorite bands (The Stone Roses, The La's, The Charlatans).



Instantly, a top gem for 2018. Here's one of my favorite tracks but, honestly, all 11 are wonderful.Buy it now!

Great Lake Swimmers: Unmaking the Bed (Track of the Week)

Toronto's own Great Lake Swimmers have released another dandy of a record called The Waves and the Wake. Tony Dekker's outfit owns the last 15 years in terms of melodic folk rock. Honestly, they are more than that. I hear a lot of shoe gaze and complex orchestration in their tracks. It's good music for mind palace travels.

Here's my favorite track, an early contender for my autumn music series...

Amanda Shires: Parking Lot Piroutte (Track of the Week)

The Lone Star state has produced some amazing musicians over the years. Lubbock's own Amanda Shires is right up there with all of them. She's been churning out records for over a decade and her latest effort, To The Sunset, is quite wonderful.

Her music paints images and stories of characters that are all too familiar to me even though I live in the North Woods. It's a nice melange of alt country and soft rock that goes well with the dog days of August.


Here's my favorite track which also happens to be the first one...

The Internet: Stay The Night (Track of the Week)

The Internet is cool. No, not that area of cyber space where we all waste too much time in our lives. I'm talking about the acid jazz chill out band from Los Angeles that just released their fourth full length album that is bloody extraordinary. Fronted by Sydney Loren Bennet (left), The Internet spins grooves and soundscapes that take your mind palace on magnificent explorations of the heart, mind and soul. Hive Mind is the latest offering on this journey that I am all too happy to take. Syd's vocals are gorgeous. This young woman is a real talent.

Here is my favorite track...

Luluc: Kids (Track of the Week)

Melbourne's own Luluc have released their third full length album, Sculptor, and it's quite enjoyable for star gazing on warm summer nights-solo or with that someone special. It's also a great record to listen to while staring wistfully at the rain out the window. Currently based in Brooklyn, Zoe and Steve simply make music that warms your heart. Here's my favorite track...very powerful...