"So, let us not be blind to our differences - but let us also direct attention to our common interests and to the means by which those differences can be resolved. And if we cannot end now our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity. For, in the final analysis, our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this small planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children's future. And we are all mortal." JFK, June 10, 1963.
Irish rock band Fontaines D.C. (I'm guessing the "D.C." stands for "Dublin City") got a lot of attention with the song "Big" and their first two blistering punk-oriented albums. We also liked their Velvet Underground cover, "European Son" on last year's Velvet tribute I'll Be Your Mirror. Now there's a new album Skinty Fiacoming out (April 22/Partisan).
The tracklisting for the new album reveals two songs with Irish language titles, and another "Bloomsday", presumably about Irish singer/guitarist/writer James Joyce.
In ár gCroíthe go deo Big Shot How Cold Love Is Jackie Down The Line Bloomsday Roman Holiday The Couple Across The Way Skinty Fia I Love You Nabokov
The band is also embarking on a very ambitious tour of Europe, North America, and Australia starting in February 2022. (More ticket information is available on the band's website here. Note: Dates are in the format of DAY/MONTH/YEAR):
Brian Wilson. Two albums: At My Piano (instrumental versions of Beach Boys classics) andLong Promised Road (movie soundtrack featuring a new song and rarities).
Colin Blunstone.That Same Year. Shockingly good album from The Zombies singer. Who knew he still had it in him? Fine voice, fine songs. Well worth a listen.
David Bowie. Toy. "Lost" album finally gets an official release. Loving this version of "Liza Jane"
Dope Lemon.Rose Pink Cadillac
Jon Batiste. We Are. Stephen Colbert's talented musical director has been very busy with the show, film soundtracks, and ...a great album!
Ray Charles.Live At The Olympia, Paris, 1962. Utterly fantastic!
The Ronettes. Sweet Sixteen: The Early Days '61-'62. Pre-Spector recordings.
Tiny Flaws. Imperfection Blues.
Tir Na Nog. Live 1970 - '71. Extraordinary Irish folk duo.
Waxahatchee. El Deafo (EP, Soundtrack for Apple TV+ show El Deafo)
Highly Anticipated for Early 2022:
Big Thief. Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You (February 11, 4 AD). Based on what we've heard of it so far, it's sure to be one of the top new albums of early 2022.
Black Country, New Road. Ants From Up There (February 4, Ninja Tune).
Father John Misty. Chloe And The Next 20th Century (April 8, Sub Pop).
Jack White. Two albums coming out: A hard rock album, Fear Of The Dawn (April 8, Columbia) and an Americana album, Entering Heaven Alive (July 22, Columbia).
Johnny Marr. Fever Dreams Pts. 1 - 4. (February 25, New Voodoo Limited). We've heard Parts 1 and 2 already from The Smiths guitarist. He's still great, and we're just grateful that we can listen to him do Smiths songs and know he's not an embarrassing bigot, like his former bandmate Morrissey!
Lizzo. TBA (TBA, Nice Life). We all loved her debut, so we're wondering what's next. The newest single, "Rumors" with Cardi B, was meh, as far as we were concerned... More information on the new album is coming soon...
Spiritualized. Everything Was Beautiful (February 25, Fat Possom).
African guitar wizard Mdou Moctaris suddenly everywhere. We heard him onMusic From Saharan Cellphonesfirst, loved his new albumAfrique Victime, and dug his contributions to ThisSmallPlanet.com's 2021 Album of The Year Superwolves, featuringMatt SweeneyandBonnie "Prince" Billy.
Thought we heard hints of Mdou on Parquet Courts new album. It will be interesting to see them on the same bill, with Mdou opening for Parquet Courts. They are doing 16 shows together in the U.S. and Canada in February and March. Prior to the tour with Parquet Courts, Mdou has a couple of solo shows. Afterwards, he has several solo shows in the U.S. and Europe.
Mdou Moctar With Parquet Courts
02-27 Asheville, NC - The Orange Peel 02-28 Athens, GA - Georgia Theatre 03-02 Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse 03-03 Birmingham, AL - Saturn 03-04 Nashville, TN - Cannery Ballroom 03-05 St. Louis, MO - The Pageant 03-07 Lawrence, KS - Liberty Hall 03-08 Omaha, NE - The Waiting Room 03-10 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue 03-11 Milwaukee, WI - Turner Hall Ballroom 03-12 Chicago, IL - The Riviera Theatre 03-13 Detroit, MI - MOCAD 03-15 Millvale, PA - Mr. Smalls Theatre 03-16 Cleveland, OH - Agora Theatre 03-17 Toronto, Ontario - Queen Elizabeth Theatre 03-18 Montreal, Quebec - Corona Theatre
Mdou Moctar Solo
02-24 Providence, RI - Columbus Theatre 02-26 Charlottesville, VA - Jefferson Theatre
03-19 Lyndon, VT - Northern VT State 03-20 Burlington, VT - Higher Ground 03-21 Woodstock, NY - Colony 03-22 Washington, D.C. - 9:30 Club 03-24 Winston-Salem, NC - The Ramkat 03-25 Knoxville, TN - Big Ears Festival 04-01 Antwerp, Belgium - Het Bos 04-02 Brussels, Belgium - AB-club 04-03 Köln, Denmark - Bumann 04-04 Amsterdam, Netherlands - Paradiso 04-05 Eindhoven, Netherlands - Effenaar 04-06 Brighton, England - Komedia 04-07 Birmingham, England - Hare & Hounds 04-08 Dublin, Ireland - The Sugar Club 04-09 Belfast, Ireland - Ulster Sports Club 04-10 Glasgow, Scotland - Drygate 04-11 Leeds, England - Brudenell Social Club 04-12 Manchester, England - YES 04-14 London, England - Earth Theatre 04-15 Roubaix/Lille, France - La cave aux Poètes 04-16 Paris, France - Le Hasard Ludique 04-17 Nijmegen, Netherlands - Doornroosje 04-18 Hamburg, Denmark - Molotow 04-19 Copenhagen, Germany - Alice 04-20 Gothenburg, Sweden - Nefertiti 04-21 Oslo, Norway - Blaa 04-22 Stockholm, Sweden - Fasching 04-23 Malmö, Sweden - Plan B 04-24 Berlin, Germany - Frannz Club 04-25 Leipzig, Germany - UT Connewitz 04-26 Prague, Czech Republic - Meetfactory 04-27 Linz, Austria - Kapu 04-28 Zurich, Switzerland - Fabrik 04-29 Mannheim, Germany - Feuerwache 05-01 Oostende, Belgium - De Post 08-06 Mysłowice, Poland - Off Festival
Here's two Parquet Courts videos we shot in America and one of Mdou we didn't shoot performing in Africa:
We knew former U.S. President Obama had eclectic musical tastes.
We were pleasantly surprised that it contained several artists prominently featured on our ThisSmallPlanet.com Best Music of 2021 including Parquet Courts, Courtney Barnett, Wye Oak, and Mdou Moctar.
We found two charming videos recently filmed in the great outdoors with Andrew Bird and Iron & Wine (AKA Sam Beam). Now they announced a new tour for next summer. Definitely worth checking out. Check out these videos:
Iron & Wine w/Andrew Bird: "Upward Over The Mountain" & "Call It Dreaming":
Andrew Bird with Iron & Wine: "Manifest" & "Fixed Positions":
Two videos I shot at an Iron & Wine show in Portland, Oregon in 2011:
