Cometbus Fred Neil Cream Stephen Malkmus Thundercat Right Away, Great Captain! Anna Calvi Steve Harley Greg Dulli Soccer Mommy Frances Quinlan Khruangbin
Leon Bridges Bonnie "Prince" Billy The Strokes Billie Eilish The Howling Hex
The Dream Syndicate Phoebe Bridgers Gorillaz Car Seat Headrest Kevin Morby
Cometbus #59 Aaron Cometbus has been publishing Cometbus since the early 1980s. I met him around 1986 at a punk show at the New Method Warehouse in Emeryville where he was selling the latest issue of his zine. I've tried to keep track of his excellent writing ever since, and was pleased to find a new issue is now available. You can get a copy by sending $5 and a SASE to Cometbus, PO Box 1318, Cooper Station, New York, NY. 10276... or look for it at cool bookstores and record stores that carry zines.
This issue is called "post-mortem", which made me think of our dearly (recently) departed friend Murray Bowles... RIP... Really Incredible Photos! Here's a picture Murray took of Ron Findlay and Michael Donnelly from Test Subjects at New Method in 1986:
That's The Bag I'm In: The Life, Music and Mystery of Fred Neil by Peter Lee Neff. Fascinating story of Fred Neil (seen in the video below singing his classic "The Dolphins" with Joni Mitchell), best known for writing Midnight Cowboy's theme "Everybody's Talkin'", covered by Harry Nilsson, "The Dolphins", covered by Tim Buckley, and "The Other Side of This Life", covered by The Jefferson Airplane. He also wrote songs for Buddy Holly and Roy Orbison, played guitar on Bobby Darin's "Dream Lover", and influenced a whole generation of guitarists and singer/songwriters, such as John Sebastian and Stephen Stills. He's not as well known as he should be, and this book explains some of the reasons why: his drug problems and an utter disgust for the "star-maker machinery". He might not have that many fans these days, but the ones he has are extremely devoted and new fans continue to discover his work with every passing season, and will for some time to come.
STUFF TO LISTEN TO:
ALBUMS:
Cream - Goodbye Tour - Live 1968 (4 CD). Live shows from Oakland, L.A., San Diego, and London in 1968 on Cream's farewell tour.
Stephen Malkmus Traditional Techniques. Malkmus will reportedly be doing some Pavement reunion shows later this year. Meanwhile he's released this excellent indie folk album featuring acoustic instruments and a Middle Eastern lilt.
Thundercat It Is What It Is. Is it jazz? Funk? Soul? I'm not sure. It's not the kind of music I listen to much. But I like it.
Right Away, Great Captain! I Am Not Me (Live in Brooklyn). Andy Hull from Manchester Orchestra and Bad Books shines on these songs.
Anna Calvi Hunted (EP). I especially liked "Don't Beat The Girl Out of My Guy" feat Courtney Barnett
Steve Harley Uncovered. The Cockney Rebel frontman (they were my first rock concert ever, opening for The Kinks) offers an album of covers feat "I've Just Seen A Face" and "When I Paint My Masterpiece". Well-worth checking out.
Greg Dulli Random Desire. Afghan Whigs frontman goes solo on this great new album. Can't wait to hear his take on Dylan's "Girl From The North Country" with pal Mark Lanegan for a Record Store Day exclusive 7".
Soccer Mommy Color Theory. She's one of our best new stars and she beats the sophomore slump with this new album.
Frances Quinlan Likewise. Hadn't heard her before. Liked this collection very much.
Khruangbin & Leon Bridges Texas Sun (EP). Laid back grooves.
SINGLES:
Bonnie "Prince" Billy "New Memory Box" (Jay Dawg mix). Very different from Billy's usual sound and very different from the original version on the new (great) album I Made A Place.
The Strokes "Bad Decisions" & "At The Door". If the first two singles are any indication, the new Strokes album The New Abnormal is going to be really good; a return to form.
Billie Eilish "No Time To Die" is the perfect song for the Coronavirus Era... would also make a great James Bond theme...
The Howling Hex "Lies". Hard rocker that rocks.
The Dream Syndicate "The Regulator". An amazing 20-minute jam feat The Long Ryders' Stephen McCarthy on electric sitar. Stephen was a special guest recently of Carla Olson & John York at McCabe's in Santa Monica, where they performed wonderful versions of several Byrds & Gene Clark classics. You can see the videos from the show here: ThisSmallPlanet Video: Carla Olson, John York & Friends Retrospective Turns Into A Celebration of The Byrds & Gene Clark at McCabe's
Phoebe Bridgers "Garden Song", Cool, new song. No sophomore slump for this one either...
Gorillaz "Momentary Bliss" & "Desole" the first two singles feature cool, World music sounds and guest vocalists. Album should be good.
Car Seat Headrest "Can't Cool Me Down". Cool, new song.
Kevin Morby "Gift Horse". Talented singer/songwriter's latest.
Leon Bridges Bonnie "Prince" Billy The Strokes Billie Eilish The Howling Hex
The Dream Syndicate Phoebe Bridgers Gorillaz Car Seat Headrest Kevin Morby
STUFF TO READ:
This issue is called "post-mortem", which made me think of our dearly (recently) departed friend Murray Bowles... RIP... Really Incredible Photos! Here's a picture Murray took of Ron Findlay and Michael Donnelly from Test Subjects at New Method in 1986:
That's The Bag I'm In: The Life, Music and Mystery of Fred Neil by Peter Lee Neff. Fascinating story of Fred Neil (seen in the video below singing his classic "The Dolphins" with Joni Mitchell), best known for writing Midnight Cowboy's theme "Everybody's Talkin'", covered by Harry Nilsson, "The Dolphins", covered by Tim Buckley, and "The Other Side of This Life", covered by The Jefferson Airplane. He also wrote songs for Buddy Holly and Roy Orbison, played guitar on Bobby Darin's "Dream Lover", and influenced a whole generation of guitarists and singer/songwriters, such as John Sebastian and Stephen Stills. He's not as well known as he should be, and this book explains some of the reasons why: his drug problems and an utter disgust for the "star-maker machinery". He might not have that many fans these days, but the ones he has are extremely devoted and new fans continue to discover his work with every passing season, and will for some time to come.
STUFF TO LISTEN TO:
ALBUMS:
Cream - Goodbye Tour - Live 1968 (4 CD). Live shows from Oakland, L.A., San Diego, and London in 1968 on Cream's farewell tour.
Stephen Malkmus Traditional Techniques. Malkmus will reportedly be doing some Pavement reunion shows later this year. Meanwhile he's released this excellent indie folk album featuring acoustic instruments and a Middle Eastern lilt.
Thundercat It Is What It Is. Is it jazz? Funk? Soul? I'm not sure. It's not the kind of music I listen to much. But I like it.
Right Away, Great Captain! I Am Not Me (Live in Brooklyn). Andy Hull from Manchester Orchestra and Bad Books shines on these songs.
Anna Calvi Hunted (EP). I especially liked "Don't Beat The Girl Out of My Guy" feat Courtney Barnett
Steve Harley Uncovered. The Cockney Rebel frontman (they were my first rock concert ever, opening for The Kinks) offers an album of covers feat "I've Just Seen A Face" and "When I Paint My Masterpiece". Well-worth checking out.
Greg Dulli Random Desire. Afghan Whigs frontman goes solo on this great new album. Can't wait to hear his take on Dylan's "Girl From The North Country" with pal Mark Lanegan for a Record Store Day exclusive 7".
Soccer Mommy Color Theory. She's one of our best new stars and she beats the sophomore slump with this new album.
Frances Quinlan Likewise. Hadn't heard her before. Liked this collection very much.
Khruangbin & Leon Bridges Texas Sun (EP). Laid back grooves.
Bonnie "Prince" Billy "New Memory Box" (Jay Dawg mix). Very different from Billy's usual sound and very different from the original version on the new (great) album I Made A Place.
The Strokes "Bad Decisions" & "At The Door". If the first two singles are any indication, the new Strokes album The New Abnormal is going to be really good; a return to form.
Billie Eilish "No Time To Die" is the perfect song for the Coronavirus Era... would also make a great James Bond theme...
The Howling Hex "Lies". Hard rocker that rocks.
The Dream Syndicate "The Regulator". An amazing 20-minute jam feat The Long Ryders' Stephen McCarthy on electric sitar. Stephen was a special guest recently of Carla Olson & John York at McCabe's in Santa Monica, where they performed wonderful versions of several Byrds & Gene Clark classics. You can see the videos from the show here: ThisSmallPlanet Video: Carla Olson, John York & Friends Retrospective Turns Into A Celebration of The Byrds & Gene Clark at McCabe's
Phoebe Bridgers "Garden Song", Cool, new song. No sophomore slump for this one either...
Gorillaz "Momentary Bliss" & "Desole" the first two singles feature cool, World music sounds and guest vocalists. Album should be good.
Car Seat Headrest "Can't Cool Me Down". Cool, new song.
Kevin Morby "Gift Horse". Talented singer/songwriter's latest.
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