Holy Wave: Lost Treasure of 2018.

El Paso's own Holy Wave sure sound like they came from some sort of 1960's psychedelic Burt Bacharach cinematic soiree. Their third full length, Adult Fear, is a gem and would have easily been in my top 20 were it not for some many other great albums. Here is my favorite track...

Ben Howard: Lost Treasure of 2018

I'm finalizing my lists for best tracks and albums of 2018 and will release them starting at the end of next week. Until that time, I want to begin a new series specifically for that down time between finishing out the current year (2018) and the beginning of the next year (2019). It's impossible for me to get through all of the music that comes out and sometimes artists will sneak up again and I will be left feeling like I didn't given them enough of a fair shake.

First up is native of Bantham, Devon, Ben Howard. Howard released Noonday Dream last June and it must have gotten lost in the shuffle somehow. It's a good thing I rediscovered it recently on a long drive as I was trekking across the Midwest. Not only is it perfect music for late fall, his stories of villages in his little area of Great Britain are quietly amazing. Here's my favorite track.

Autumn Music Series: Night Beds

On Thanksgiving Day, I'm thankful for Colorado's own Night Beds. Not only do they make great fall music but they also do things like play gigs in high schools. Mega! Check it out...


 

Autumn Music Series: Chief

California has produced some great bands over the years and it does seem somewhat odd that one would make a great fall song. Yet, that is just what Santa Monica's Chief did. They only made one full length, an EP and a handful of singles but their body of work is amazing. They are still kicking around the clubs in LA on occasion so if you live out that way, check them out.

Culture Club: God and Love (Track of the Week)

"That's fucking Culture Club? Are you kidding?"

My wife expressed shock and awe as I was listening to the latest effort from Boy George and Co. I joined her in amazement. Dude/Dudette doesn't even sound like himself anymore. Hell, he doesn't even look like he used to! Of course, he is quite a (Karma) Chameleon after all...:)

His voice is lower, thicker and mega sultry. Their latest full length, Life, is the first in nearly 20 years. It went through several starts and stops but it has been well worth the wait. I'll have a full review up soon but here's the first cut and my pick for the track of the week.

Razorlight: Brighton Pier (Track of the Week)

London's own Razorlight return after a ten year hiatus with their fourth full length, Olympus Sleeping. Johnny and the lads are in as fine a form as ever with thirteen new tracks, the best of which is "Brighton Pier." I'm total sucker for tales set in British locales and this one does not disappoint, especially for those fans of dudes with guitars, early to mid noughties style!

Autumn Music Series: Anais Mitchell

November is still fall, right? Well, that's certainly the case in much of the country but here in the North Woods, it's pretty darn chilly in the eleventh month of the year. Still, I've got a few more of these autumnal tunes I need to share.

Vermont's own Anais Mitchell is quite a New England treasure. She's made six fantastic full length albums over the last two decades. Her fourth record, Hadestown, is now a stage show. Here's my favorite track which is perfect for this time of year.

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.