Happy Friday everybody! It's raining outside right now. And it's February. In Minnesota. That's an odd thing. It's finally naptime and I've got my coffee and pie and I'm ready to go. Let's talk music! By the way, the beats on EXT's Arts & Craft is pretty fitting for this morning's mood.
Out today, layered non-minimalists Animal Collective release Painting With. Not from here but from here in a way Lake Street Dive are sporting Side Pony. And Friday Refrain favorite Mavis Staples has teamed up with M. Ward for Livin' On A High Note. Will definitely be checking that out. Back to the indie/alt rock whatever it is scene with Ra Ra Riot's Need Your Light. And let's get some vintage sounding rock roaring with Wolfmother's Victorious. (At least I hope so.) Simple Plan has Taking One For The Team today and Rick Springfield releases Rocket Science. Did I just put Simple Plan and Rick Springfield in the same sentence? I did. Huh. That's not what you'd expect. Also not what you'd expect - Yoko Ono put together Yes, I'm A Witch Too which has a ton of collaborations on it including Cibo Matto, Sean Lennon, Tune-Yards, and Portugal the Man. There is also a Stan Getz release today - actually a double release. Both albums were recorded at the Keystone Korner in San Francisco during a week stint in May 1976. The two releases are Moments in Time and Getz/Gilberto '76. Pretty good week for releases, varied and a lot to sink your ears into.
But don't forget about last week - shebopaloo The List.
There were also a couple a really interesting items from last week's releases as well. First, Jamieo Brown Transcendence with Work Songs. I suggest just clicking through to read about it. It's work songs from prisons worldwide layered with other musical elements in a really interesting and different way. I didn't genrify it on the list because it's not jazz. It's not modern. It's not classical. It's not instrumental. It's found music? It's living history? Curated music? Doesn't work either. Obviously, I really don't know what to say yet but it really deserves to be talked about and listened to.
Now on to my usual silly refrain self...
Holy Initials Batman!
EXT, Arts & Craft - I know I kinda ruined this being part of the list because I already mentioned it but it has initials.
BTU, Tightrope Walk - Americana/Folk kind of country not like Vince Gill country. Weekend Morning country.
CTMF, A Glimpse Of Another Time - Rock made in your garage.
L.A. Witch, Drive Your Car - California rock.
80's Dose
The Jezabels, Synthia
Flowers, Everybody's Dying To Meet You
Radiation City, Synesthetica
You Say Party, You Say Party
Eliot Sumner, Information
The The's
The Erkonauts, I Did Something Bad - Rock/Prog-Rock/Metal? You know that kinda line and not sure about it yet. Definitely things I'm enjoying on it but just need a whole listen.
The Suffers, The Suffers - "Gwan" is an amazing song. Love it. If you like Sharon Jones, check this group out.
The Frights, You Are Going To Hate This - Maybe it's reverse psychology but I'm kinda digging this. If you like Cage the Elephant, give this a spin.
The Coffin Daggers, Aggravatin' Rhythms - Surf rock. I mean, how do you say no to surf rock?
The Donkeys, Midnight Palms - The laid back psychedelic vintage rock like peering across the dusty shelves of a thrift shop. Leaded windows. I don't know why, but that's what my brain says.
Other things I'm checking out this weekend
Lorrie Morgan, Letting Go... Slow - I love her cover of "Lay Lady Lay." I have listened to it like 5 times since last night and it just intrigues me. One of my favorite Dylan songs anyway, by making it country she somehow made it kinda reggae too. So yeah. Hoping to move onto other songs off this album soon.
Daevid Allen Weird Quartet, Elevenses - This is an odd one. The first track I randomly put on was "The Latest Curfew Craze" which sounds like it starts over again several times. I have no clue what this is, so of course that means I'll be checking it out further.
Gehennah, Too Loud To Live, Too Drunk To Die - one of my metal picks that I'll be delving into a bit further. Growly singer voice.
Sjodogg, Som En Oks I Hodet - Metal with the screamy kind of vocals
Black Wizard, New Waste - I think more than metal anymore I just like my old school rock sometimes. This here will scratch that itch.
Matt Patershuk, I Was So Fond Of You - Weekend morning country
So there you go. It was a good week. Definitely an interesting week in music last week. And the rain has cleared, the sun is poking out a bit. Matt Patershuk is playing me out on this Friday Refrain. Happy Listening!
Ps. what's that below? Why that is my playlist I put together from some of the things I mentioned today!