1. Fontaines D.C. Romance. Ireland's best band's fourth album took them to another level. Huge. Enormous. Big.
George Harrison. "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)" (Take 18)
Maxim Ludwig & Angel Olsen "I Can't Stand It" (Lou Reed cover)
Orville Peck & Willie Nelson. "Cowboys Are Frequently Secretly Fond Of Each Other".
Ray LaMontagne. "Step Into Your Power"
Laura Jane Grace. "Hole In My Head".
Buckingham Nicks. Buckingham Nicks (1973). Lindsay Buckingham and Stevie Nicks, at the time a couple and partners in a duo, released this album which so impressed Mick Fleetwood that he invited them to join Fleetwood Mac and the rest is pop history. Hadn't really heard this album before, but, inspired by Andrew Bird's 2024 re-interpretation of the album, I decided to give them both a listen. Bird, along with his collaborator Madison Cunningham, brings new life to the old album, inspiring looking back while at the same time looking forward. Both albums are amazing and land up sounding very different.
Bob Dylan. At The Bonnie Beecher's Apartment (Live) (1961). Priceless. And also, The 1974 Live Recordings. Massive 27-CD boxset documenting each iteration of the infamous 1974 national tour of Dylan and The Band. Classic.
Various Artists. The New Demesne. Field Recordings by Alan Lomax, Ireland 1951.
Various Artists. The Concert for Bangladesh. Many are giving this a fresh listen as it is now available on streaming services for the first time. The historic concert (later an album and a film) took place at Madison Square Garden on August 1, 1971, with an afternoon show, followed by another in the evening. Featured artists included: George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Jesse Ed Davis, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Leon Russell, Badfinger, Billy Preston, Jim Keltner, and Ravi Shankar. It was the first of the big rock benefit shows for a cause.
The Velvet Underground. 1969 Velvet Underground Live With Lou Reed. Need a good excuse to listen to Lou Reed and The Velvet Underground? Ok, I'll give you one.
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