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"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.

Monday, May 31, 2021

Cool, New Music: Indie Playlist June 2021

ALBUMS

Micky Dolenz Dolenz Sings Nesmith. Nice version of "Different Drum", written by one Monkee and sung by another.

Can Live In Stuttgart 1975. Live recording by 70s German cult band.

David Bowie The Width Of A Circle (Two "companion discs" for the 2020 edition of The Man Who Sold The World, collecting Bowie's other recordings from 1970)

John Lennon Plastic Ono Band (The Ultimate Collection). Lennon's first solo album feat "Working Class Hero". Great extra material, alternate versions, outtakes, jam sessions, demos....

Lord Huron Long Lost feat "Time's Blur"

Bachelor Doomin' Sun

Liz Phair Soberish

Various Artists Uncut: Bob Dylan... Revisited feat Richard Thompson doing "This Wheel's On Fire" and many others doing Bob Dylan songs for Dylan's 80th birthday on a bonus CD for Uncut, the great British music magazine.

SINGLES

Quilloughby "Everyone Is Horrid Except Me (And Possibly You)"(feat Lisa Simpson). Parody of Morrissey (The Smiths), feat the voice of Benedict Cumberbatch. Music by Bret McKenzie (Flight Of The Conchords), lyrics by Tim Long, a writer/producer for The Simpsons, who wrote the episode "Panic On The Streets of Springfields". Lisa Simpson makes a new imaginary friend Quilloughby, a moody singer from the 80s band The Snuffs, who by 2021 becomes an overweight racist/bigot (sadly, much like real-life Morrissey). Team Morrissey cried foul against The Simpsons, which only sounded pathetic, along with the news that Morrissey has a new album recorded, but no label to put it out, as he was dropped by BMG last November, largely due to his racist & bigoted statements, which have alienated many former fans. We're just glad that The Smith's Johnny Marr is still cool, still rocking, and NOT a racist or bigot...

Wye Oak "T.N.T."

Lana Del Rey Three Songs from Blue Bannisters: "Wildflower Wildfire", "Text Book", and "Blue Banisters"

The Linda Lindas "Racist, Sexist Boy"

ALSO SEE:

Cool, New Music: Indie Music Playlist, May 2021, Part I

Cool, New Music: Indie Music Playlist, May 2021, Part II

Thursday, May 20, 2021

Three Cool New Songs from Lana Del Rey

Lana Del Rey surprise released three new songs: "Wildflower Wildfire", "Text Book", and "Blue Banisters"; all expected to be featured on the upcoming release Blue Banisters. There is also allegedly an album of country-ish covers on the horizon as well.

Monday, May 17, 2021

Cool, New Music: Indie Music Playlist, May 2021, Part II

ALBUMS

Marianne Faithfull (with Warren Ellis) She Walks In Beauty. Marianne performing spoken word versions of her favorite classic poems from Keats, Byron, et al, accompanied by music. For fans only. Having said that, I will add that I am a mega fan and it's a real gem and well-worth checking out.

Big Thief Live At The Bunker Studio

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Deja Vu (50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)

Paul Weller Fat Pop

St. Vincent Daddy's Home

The Black Keys Delta Kream. Sure to be a big hit. It features the magnificent Kenny Brown, from R.L. Burnside's band, on slide. Will shine a bright light on electric country blues.

Norah Jones ...'Til We Meet Again. Live album, Norah singing and playing piano. Nice versions of "Cold, Cold Heart" and "Black Hole Sun".

Jack Ingram / Miranda Lambert / Jon Randall Marfa Tapes. Country/folk around a roaring campfire. I'm there!

Mdou Moctar Afrique Victime. Incredible psychedelic/folk guitar from Niger, featured on the new Superwolves album from Matt Sweeney & Bonnie "Prince" Billy as well as being one of the stand-out guitarists on Music from Saharan Cellphones.

SINGLES

Sharon Van Etten & Angel Olsen "Like I Used To"

Son Volt "Reverie"

Donovan "I Am The Shaman"

Soccer Mommy "Wide Open Spaces" (The Chicks cover)

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You might also be interested in Part I of May's Playlist:

Cool, New Music: Indie Music Playlist, May 2021, Part I

Thursday, May 13, 2021

Cool, New Song "Reverie" by Son Volt; Album Coming in July

Jay Farrar's Son Volt will soon release their tenth studio album Electro Melodier (July 30/Transmit Sound/Thirty Tigers). "Reverie" is the first single from that album.

Tuesday, May 11, 2021

Cool, New Song from Donovan: "I Am The Shaman"

Friday, May 7, 2021

Cool, New Music: Indie Music Playlist, May 2021, Part I

Billy Bragg

SINGLES

Angel Olsen & Hand Habits "Walls" (Tom Petty cover)

Sharon Van Etten "Let Go"/"Some Things Last A Long Time" Two songs, the first an original, and the second a Daniel Johnston cover, from the soundtrack of the documentary Feels Good Man.

Vagabon (feat Courtney Barnett) "Reason To Believe" (Tim Hardin cover)

Phoebe Bridgers "Seize The Day" Paul McCartney (Beatles, Wings) recently released a surprisingly strong album called McCartney III. For a new, companion release, McCartney III Imagined, McCartney invited friends to do versions of his new songs, and one of the best is this one from Phoebe Bridgers.

Big Thief "Off You" (The Breeders cover). From the tribute to legendary British indie label 4AD who gave us The Pixies and much more: Bills & Aches & Blues (40 Years of 4AD). Also enjoyed very much the recent solo album(s) from Big Thief's Adrianne Lenker.

Mick Jagger & Dave Grohl "Easy Sleazy". Mick did a quarantine song with Dave Grohl. Not bad.

Brittany Howard "Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher" (Jackie Wilson cover). Inspiring.

Prince "Welcome 2 America" (recorded in 2010, released in 2021). Now more than ever.

St. Vincent "The Melting Of The Sun". A new twist from the guitarist/singer/writer Annie Clark.

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young "Ivory Tower" Recently released outtake from 1970's Deja Vu

David Bowie "Mother"/"Tryin' To Get To Heaven". Recently released covers of John Lennon & Bob Dylan.

Get Vaccinated!!!

ALBUMS

Matt Sweeney & Bonnie "Prince" Billy Superwolves. Album of the Year! (so far).

Manchester Orchestra The Million Masks Of God. Great variety of different styles.

Bonnie "Prince" Billy, Nathan Salsburg, Max Porter Three Feral Pieces (3-song EP)

Sharon Van Etten epic Ten. Celebrating the tenth anniversary of epic, a new bonus disc contains covers by Fiona Apple ("Love More") and Courtney Barnett & Vagabon ("Don't Do It")

Dry Cleaning New Long Leg

Waxahatchee Saint Cloud +3. It's a re-release of Katie Crutchfield's excellent 2020 album Saint Cloud, with three previously unreleased covers as bonus tracks: "Fruits of My Labor" (Lucinda Williams), "Light Of A Clear Blue Morning" (Dolly Parton), and "Streets of Philadelphia" (Bruce Springsteen). The original album is great, if you haven't heard it, and the three covers are just perfect.

Lana Del Rey Chemtrails Over The Country Club

Julien Baker Little Oblivions

The Who The Who Sell Out (1967)(5-Disc Super Deluxe version). "I Can See For Miles", "Pictures of Lilly", and so much more.

Angel Olsen Song Of The Lark And Other Far Memories. A three-disc boxset containing her last two albums and a bonus disc of rarities.

Iceage Seek Shelter. Worth a listen. They are evolving before our eyes.

Dinosaur Jr. Sweep it Into Space. Very strong album from these indie stalwarts.

Richard Thompson Serpent's Tears. A new 6-song EP now available on Bandcamp.

Jack Nitzsche The Reprise Singles 1963 - 1965

Eagerly Anticipated:

New Paul Weller album - Fat Pop - out May 14 on Polydor.

New St. Vincent album Daddy’s Home is out May 14 on Loma Vista.

New Black Keys album Delta Kream (their tribute to old school Mississippi hill country blues) out May 14 on Nonesuch.

Monday, May 3, 2021

The Black Keys Pay Tribute To The Late, Great Bluesman R.L. Burnside

Long live R.L. Burnside! The Black Keys new album Delta Kream (May 14/Nonesuch) is a tribute to the old school sound of the Mississippi hill country blues artists. R.L. Burnside, Junior Kimbrough, Mississippi Fred McDowell, John Lee Hooker, Big Joe Williams are all here.

Kenny Brown, R.L. Burnside's "adopted son", plays slide guitar on the album, and can be seen above performing "Crawling Kingsnake" with The Black Keys on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, and later on "Going Down South":

Delta Kream: