COOL NEW MUSIC OUT FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2025:
Hüsker Dü.1985: The Miracle Year. [Numero Group]. November 7, 2025.
Mavis Staples. Sad and Beautiful World. [Anti-]. November 7, 2025.
Cool New Singles (with links to their YouTube videos)
Etran De L'Aïr. "Amidinine".
José González. "Pajarito".
The Molotovs. "Rhythm of Yourself".
Cool New Albums
Aesop Rock. I Heard It's A Mess There Too. His second album this year. Hip hop for people who don't like hip hop? Well it is refreshing to hear clever smart rhymes instead of mere bragging.
Dropkick Murphys. For The People. The digital version of this fine album came out in July, but the recently released vinyl version contains 5 bonus tracks, including the powerful "Sirens". Maybe the best political band out there today. I like the Woody Guthrie connection too. And their version of Ewan MacColl's "School Days Over" with Billy Bragg is just stunning.
Orcutt Shelley Miller. Orcutt Shelley Miller. Being a word guy, I hate instrumentals but for some inexplicable reason, I find Bill Orcutt's guitar instrumentals, full of feedback drone and fuzz, incredibly compelling. He's suddenly all over the place, an unlikely rock star, but fresh and exciting. He's helped here by bassist Ethan Miller and drummer Steve Shelley from Sonic Youth.
Snocaps. Snocaps. Surprise album from new group feat Katie Crutchfield of Waxahatchee and her twin sister Allison Crutchfield, along with MJ Lenderman and Brad Cook has indie rock, jangle pop, and hints of Americana, all with great harmonies. Check it out. BEST NEW ALBUM.
Cool Archival & Randoms
Bob Dylan. Through The Open Window, The Bootleg Series Vol 18, 1956 - 1963 feat "Boots Of Spanish Leather".. Focus on Bob's early career and his transition from Minnesota teen to NYC folkie "unwashed phenomenon".
Curtis Mayfield. The Makings Of: A Curtis Mayfield Collection. The soundtrack of the Curtis documentary is a nice overview of his amazing career.
Devo. Energy Dome Frequencies: Songs From The DEVO Documentary. Classic.
Faces. Early Steps. Rhino just released this collection of alternate takes for the first Faces album First Step (1970) feat Rod Stewart (voice), Ronnie Wood (guitar), the late Ronnie Lane (bass), the late Ian McLagan (keys), and Kenney Jones (drums), recorded shortly after the band formed from the ashes of The Small Faces (feat Steve Marriott) and The Jeff Beck Group. Now we're waiting for the rumored NEW Faces album and tour feat Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood, and Kenney Jones to emerge in 2026.
Sweet. "Ballroom Blitz" (1973). On many minds lately as Trump demolished The White House East Wing for a fancy ballroom, just like in Cinderella.
The Who. Who Are You (Super Deluxe). This 1978 classic was the last album The Who did with psycho drummer with a heart of gold Keith Moon. The Super Deluxe version contains lots of extras including some live rehearsals and concerts showing the band trying to plot a path forward from tragedy.
Highly Anticipated Cool New Releases
Zach Bryan. With Heaven on Top. [Warner]. January 9, 2026.