Thursday, March 31, 2022

Cool, New Kevin Morby Rocker "Rock Bottom" is a Tribute to the late, great Jay Reatard



Kevin says:

I’d often pass a mural of the late James Lee Lindsey Jr. on Main Street (in Memphis) which eventually led me down a rabbit hole to revisiting his body of work including watching the 2009 documentary filmed during his last days, Better Than Something. I was taken by how similar his story was to that of many other American icons that were ahead of their time and too-quickly rose from the bottom to the top, inevitably burning out. I read that his stage name, Jay Reatard, was worn as a badge of honor after years of being picked on in grade school—which may or may not be why on the cover of his seminal album Blood Visions he’s covered in blood as a nod to Sissy Spacek’s character in Carrie. Because of this I chose to begin the song by repeating ‘they’re all gonna laugh at you!’ When in the studio I pointed at the last Reatard’s album, Grown Up, Fucked Up, as a reference for what I was trying to achieve sonically.


Jay Reatard, Amoeba Records, 8/22/09, Haight St., San Francisco





Jay Reatard (May 1, 1980 – January 13, 2010) was an amazing performer who was just starting to take off when a tragic drug overdose ended his life prematurely. Thank you, Kevin for reminding us of this special talent who left us way too early.






Original Jay Reatard Photos and Video by Michael Donnelly for ThisSmallPlanet.com

Wednesday, March 30, 2022

Highly Anticipated Indie Music Releases Spring 2022


Wet LegWet Leg. Their debut album is almost out (4/8, Domino).

Jack WhiteFear Of The Dawn. (4/8, Third Man).

The Linda Lindas. Growing Up. (4/8, Epitaph).

Father John MistyChloe And The Next 20th Century. (4/8, Sub Pop).

Kurt Vile(watch my moves). (4/15, Verve).

Taj Mahal & Ry CooderGet On Board. (4/22, Perro Verde).

Fontaines D.C. Skinty Fia. (4/22, Partisan).

The Black KeysDropout Boogie. (5/13, Nonesuch).

Kevin Morby. This Is A Photograph. (5/13, Dead Oceans).

John Doe. Fables In A Foreign Land. (5/20, Fat Possum)

Bright Eyes. Three releases: Letting Off The Happiness: A Companion EP and Fevers And Mirrors: A Companion EP and A Collection of Songs Written and Recorded 1995 - 1997: A Companion EP. Conor Oberst with guests Phoebe Bridgers (on the Elliot Smith cover "St. Ides Heaven") & Waxahatchee. (5/27, Dead Oceans).

Andrew Bird. Inside Problems. (6/03, Wegawam)





Sunday, March 20, 2022

Spring Equinox Music Playlist: Cool New Music, Late March 2022

 

ALBUMS

Peter Doherty & Frédéric LoThe Fantasy Life Of Poetry And Crime. Best New Album! Here's the video for the title song.

Various Artists. Ocean Child: Songs of Yoko Ono. Featuring artists such as Sharon Van Etten, David Byrne, and Jay Som paying tribute to Yoko.

The Weather Station. How Is It That I Should Look At The Stars.

PJ Harvey. The Hope Six Demolition Project - Demos.

Black Midi. Cavacovers (EP). Cool covers of songs by Captain Beefheart ("Moonlight on Vermont"), Taylor Swift ("Love Story"), and King Crimson ("21st Century Schizoid Man").

Band Of HorsesThings Are Great. See the band perform "Warning Signs" on CBS Saturday Morning (Saturday Sessions).

Stereophonics. Oochya!

Aldous Harding. Warm Chris.

JARV IS... (Jarvis Cocker) . This Is Going To Hurt. A soundtrack but with real songs.

Jenny HvalClassic Objects. Unique Norwegian singer well-worth checking out. I really like her song "Freedom".

The Coral Sea. Home Recordings Volume I.

Marianne Faithfull. Love & Loss. A newly released collection of previous recordings.

Wilson Pickett. Waiting For Midnight (Live 1969). Simply great!


SINGLES

Beton. "Kyiv Calling". The song of the moment! The Clash's classic "London Calling" repurposed for our times...

Phoebe Bridgers. "Chinese Satellite" (Acoustic, Live From Sound City)(Strictly Canadian 25 Singles)

Ringo Starr. "Here's To The Nights".

Gruff Rhys. "People Are Pissed"/"Arogldarth"

Bright Eyes. "St. Ides Heaven" (feat Phoebe Bridgers)(Elliot Smith Cover)

Fontaines D.C. "Skinty Fia".

"Kyiv Calling!" Ukrainian Punks Beton Repurpose The Clash's Classic "London Calling" For Our Moment

Ukrainian punks Beton have recorded a new version of The Clash's "London Calling" called "Kyiv Calling" about the current crisis.

"Phony Putinmania has bitten the dust..."

KYIV CALLING: Howie Klein writes: "Little known fact: The Clash's Mick Jones, who co-wrote "London Calling" with Joe Strummer is Jewish and traces his roots back to Ukraine. When we were first getting to know each other in London before the band recorded Give 'Em Enough Rope, he told me about the Pale, a historical fact I had missed, even though that's where my grandfather was from. It was Mick who had to give permission for Beton to change the lyrics. I'm sure he did it with great joy..."

downwithtyranny.com