The Friday Refrain: A bit of what's new in music...

Sitting amidst the chaos of a hot week and thus little cleaning, I am thankful that it is not humid today. Because that means I can function. Sort of. Also, life is always better when I can actually sit down with my cup of coffee, and even better if that coffee is in my Coffee With Jeff mug. Let's dive on.

The founder of Fountains of Wayne now is doing his own thing in various projects, and today his project Look Back released Look Back. Stephen Marley released Revolution II: Fruit of Life where this one is more about how reggae has influenced different music. And that's kinda the big big news of the day. Besides a few reissues, including Dio, A Decade of Dio: 1983-1993.

I got through July 1st!

No odd lists today, I tried but it just didn't pop out at me. Just a boring list of things I like instead.

If You Like...

That Sasha Siem album last year? Try out Kelsey Lu, Church EP

Singer-Songwriters who have that Bon Iver influence? Try James Vincent McMorrow's single "Rising Water" for his upcoming September release

A bit of 90s rock? Strange Relations, Going Out.

a bit of improvisation and modal building, Tangents, Stateless

Okay, this is just weird but for some reason Johnny Foreigner, Mono No Aware makes me think that a cheerleader squad put together a garagey-noisy rock album. Haven't made up my mind on this.

Slower rock? The By Gods, Phone Calls

Weekend morning folk/country fix? The Moon Bros. These Stars

a bit of pop female singer music? Delta Goodrem, Wings of the Wild (she's running alongside a tiger on the cover!)

CA rock, try Terry, Terry HQ (has a little Velvet Underground tinge to it)

Yes and/or The Flower Kings, then make sure you listened to Anderson/Stolt, Invention of Knowledge

a little jazz, try Kenny Garrett, Do Your Dance!

There's a bit of variety for your ears. Check out the Spotify list for a few more suggestions too. And it's hot out there so make sure you're getting cool for a bit during the day, drinking your water, and if you're out enjoying the music don't forget your ear protection! Happy Listening!

The Friday Refrain: Saturday Edition!

Welp. Time moves swiftly, does it not? As you may notice, I have done some redoing. Including my name. Bunkamade. Bunka is one of my nicknames made when my husband tried to say bear and becca and honey? I think, and it came out, "Bunka." So I came up with bunkamade. Like bunka made crafts. bunka made music. bunka made blog. Because I made it. Thank you, I think it's clever too. Anyway, we were delving into the past half-year of music for the podcast this week and sadly I haven't kept up with July well. So I'm going to do a July round-up over the next two weeks.

As for yesterday, Wilco celebrated the one year anniversary of their free album Star Wars last year with a single titled "Locator." PJ Harvey also sent out a single, "Guilty." Of Aerosmith fame and now with a solo album, Steven Tyler released We're All Somebody From Somewhere. Bluegrass band The Earls of Leicester released Rattle & Roar. Jeff Beck released Loud Hailer. One of my personal favorite musicians Amanda Palmer teamed up with her dad Jack Palmer to bring us You Got Me Singing. Speaking of Amanda, sometimes-collaborator Jherek Bischoff released Cistern yesterday as well. And that's the dig.

No list this week because seriously, I was so immersed in January-June that I didn't listen to a peep from last week. (take that back, listened to Heart yesterday but that was it)

Anyway, look forward to the next two weeks as I will be putting in some good effort. Instead, I have a pretty wide-ranging playlist of a bunch of stuff from the first half of the year that I've been enjoying. And with that, Happy Listening!

The Friday Refrain: A bit of what's new in music...

Good morning! Yes, I'm starting this in the morning. Sleep schedules are a bit wonky around here lately so I'm up and no one else is and yes I checked still breathing... Anyway, it's a Half Pints Whole Notes week so head over to csicon to check that out.

It's a pretty light week this week, which is good because I have to put togeher my half year best-of list and I think it's going to be quite difficult. Also, this release day is shaping up to be a pretty awesome way to kick off the holiday weekend - NASA has hired a bunch of bands to soundtrack the 4th of July beginning of Juno's orbit around Jupiter, Weezer and Trent Reznor with Atticus are two of those hired. It's going to be an Apple Music release, so time to figure out how to get a free trial... Snoop Dogg releasd Coolaid today. Pop rock band American Authors released What We Live For (kinda kept with the 4th of July theme there with the American part of the band name). Sara Watkins released Young In All The Wrong Ways. And Blink-182 are back with California.

Fireworks! It's the List! Sparklers!

I need coffee. And then the boy didn't sleep again until evening. So there went my post. Ugh. I'm just going with what I've got and nothing clever. And again, I need coffee. Happy Listening!

The Friday Refrain: A bit of what's new in music...

Good morrow to you all! It is an odd day here at the roost. There is something in bloom or growing around our house that I'm extremely allergic to. Noted that it was neighborhood based when I realized I was miserable all morning, left neighborhood for a haircut and was completely fine, came back and started blowing my nose every 10 minutes and sneezing constantly. yay.So let's just get lost in some tunes.

Hey if you're in the Twin Cities, don't forget it's Pride weekend and Jazz Fest, so there are an insane amounts of opportunities to go see some music. Just wear ear protection, hydrate and listen to your body. Anyway,

The Avett Brothers  are back today with True Sadness. You know it's kinda a light headliner day, but there are some others out there. DJ Shadow released The Mountain Will Fall today. On the indie/alt scene, we have Hot Hot Heat, Hot Hot Heat and Deerhoof, The Magic. Also, I will be checking out Alice Bag's eponymous album which came out today as well. I apologize if I'm missing things, I feel like a brick is sitting where my brain used to be. At least my hair looks good.

Here read this List while I blow my nose.

Things I Liked Last Week so far

JAMBINAI, A Hermitage - I don't know what this is, but it's interesting. It's kinda like instrumental metal but it doesn't build to the harsh sounds often or for much.

Told Slant, Going By - you know those weird old low-key Modest Mouse songs? This is kinda like that.

The Hot Sardines, French Fries & Champagne - Jazz like 20s/30s jazz

M. Craft, Blood Moon - low key singer-songwriter kinda pretty and neat

Hailu Mergia, Wede Harer Guzo - It may be a reissue but man this is simply delightful funk/jazz of the 60s

CCR Headcleaner, Tear Down the Wall - I think that any album with a track called "Eat This Riff" should get a nod of respect.

And that's what I've got this week. I was trying to make clever lists but then I already used some of those bands for ones I like and... it just felt like such a thing. Especially when your brain turns into a brick. I hope your brain doesn't turn into a brick. Happy Listening!

The Friday Refrain: Saturday Edition!

There comes a point every week when I just need to sit down with my marshmallows and my coffee and hash this out. So here goes. Happy return from Bonnaroo! It was a good time. The little guy did amazingly, much better than me. For all my worry of him staying cool and hydrated, I guess I should have worried about myself. It seems the dust, the heat, the allergies - it all combined to basically just overpower my system and I found myself hanging out in the Medical Tent for an hour or so last Friday afternoon. I know I talk a lot about staying hydrated and wearing sunscreen but even if you're doing all of that, you may find yourself sitting at a table with your friends and calmly realizing you need to see a medical person. These medical people might try to find out what drug you're on, even if you're not, but they'll help you. So if you're out in the elements and there are resources to help you and you start to feel like maybe you need some help, Go. Get. Help. Especially if words are starting to seem weird and you can't find the right ones. Get out of the heat and into somewhere cold. Put some icepacks under your arms. I feel better that I did it before I was unable to walk, had passed out or worse. but then I'm a bit proactive about my health.

So enough of that. MUSIC! Which is why I didn't post last week because I was definitely in tentative-Bonnaroo mode after all that. There were some pretty notable releases last Friday so we'll hit those up first and chat a bit about yesterday. Allen Toussaint released  American Tunes and it's beautiful. It sounds like his fingers don't even touch the keys, but he just wills them to play. Band of Horses released Why Are You OK. Shawn Colvin and Steve Earle teamed up for Colvin & Earle with delightful collaborations on it. I love hearing Ruby Tuesday and they're rendition is fun. Pop dancing funness Fitz and the Tantrums released Fitz And The Tantrums. Garbage come back with Strange Little Birds. Speaking of pop, Nick Jonas is out on his own explaining, Last Year Was Complicated. Alt/Indie Rockers Peter Bjorn And John, well known for their whistling hit, released Breakin' Point. And now for some new old news, yesterday's releases included: The Low Anthem, Eyeland; Jake Bugg, On My One; country singer Luke Bell, Luke Bell; The Tragically Hip, Man Machine Poem; Sarah Jarosz, Undercurrent; Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Getaway; case/lang/veirs, case/lang/veirs; and Bassnectar, Unlimited.

List me the 10th.

It's a Half Pints week so head over to csicon.fm to hear all about that. And I did get some other listening done besides that. So here goes:

Things I liked last week

Flamingods, Majesty - it's got a hot summer's day sound to it that is going well with this warm office space of mine I'm sitting in. Office space? Workroom? Studio? Something. My room. My hot 2nd floor room I'm in

Bichkraft, Shadoof - Noisey experimentalish rock

Elza Soares, The Woman at the End of the World - Brazilian legend and it's a good album that covers a lot of musical ground

Chevalrex, Futurisme - I'm in a bit of a worldly mood. This one is in French and it's good. Low-key upbeat hangout outside good.

Decorations, Have Fun - Yes I am listening to the list in alphabetical order and so I may not have any recommendations for anything after F today, but so what? Put on this for some good old indie rock such stuff

The Deslondes, Tres Grand Serpent/What Are They Doing in Heaven Today? - fun two song country single

Dominick Farinacci, Short Stories - your jazz fix of the week

The Everymen, These Mad Dogs Need Heroes - More CA or sunny rock

So there you go. Maybe next week I'll do backwards alphabetical. Ha. All right, so what did we learn today? If you can't get yourself right, go get help. Even if you're staying hydrated and wearing sunscreen. Maybe the elements are conspiring against you and your poor body. But still stay hydrated, wear sunscreen, bring that ear protection and use it and HAPPY LISTENING!