Wednesday, January 24, 2024

People's Park & Jack Kerouac's Grave


In recent days, I have visited two iconic sites associated with the Sixties: People's Park in Berkeley and Jack Kerouac's grave in Lowell, Massachusetts. 

People's Park has been a symbol of resistance for over 50 years. In December 2023, the University of California brought in shipping containers to block public access to the Park.

TO BE CONTINUED

People's Park Shipping Container Wall: Video










Saturday, January 13, 2024

ThisSmallPlanet.com BEST MUSIC OF 2024 (So Far)(Jan Feb Mar)

BEST MUSIC OF 2024 (So Far) (UPDATED: March 16, 2024)


BEST SINGLES (Click on song titles to link their YouTube videos)


Adrianne Lenker. "Sadness As A Gift" & "Fool". Cool solo efforts from Big Thief's singer.


Buck Meek. "Cuero Dudes" & "Beauty Opens Door". Outtakes from Big Thief's guitarist's cool solo album.


Caroline Polachek. "Butterfly Net" (feat Weyes Blood). 

Charles Moothart. "One Wish" & "Roll". Ty Segall collaborator's solo album rocks a lot!

Dry Cleaning.  "Sit Down Meal"

Faye Webster. "Lego Ring" (feat Lil Yachty). 


Hurray For The Riff Raff. "Alibi" & "Hawkmoon". Speaks to the moment.

J Mascis. "Right Behind You" & "Can't Believe We're Here". New, forthcoming album from Dinosaur Jr. vet indie rocker is fantastic! His recent cover of Phoebe Bridgers' "Motion Sickness" is cool too...

Kim Gordon. "Bye Bye". & "I'm A Man". Sonic Youth? Team Kim here.


Kneecap. "Sick In The Head". Can't get these Belfast bilingual rappers out of my head.


Laura Jane Grace. "Hole In My Head". 


Mdou Moctar. "Funeral For Justice". Sahel desert blues recalls Hendrix while rocking the casbah.


Ride. "Peace Sign". Vet Shoegazers return in a slow blaze of something resembling glory.


St. Vincent. "Broken Man". 

Ty Segall. "My Best Friend" & "Eggman" & "Void"

The Vaccines. "Discount De Kooning (Last One Standing)". New album is bright and fun.

Waxahatchee. "Bored" "Right Back To It" (feat MJ Lenderman of Wednesday). MJ "Jake" Lenderman is suddenly everywhere and not a moment too soon. The new Waxahatchee album promises to send her even further into the stratosphere.

Yard Act. "We Make Hits" & "When The Laughter Stops"


BEAST ALBUMS (I MEAN BEST ALBUMS)....


Sleater-Kinney. Little Rope. Your girlfriends are back and we're gonna be in trouble...

The Vaccines. Pick-Up Full Of Pink Carnations.

Gruff Rhys. Sadness Sets Me Free.

Ty Segall. Three Bells. One of the best hard rockers out there today.

J. Mascis. What We Do Now. Nice solo effort from Dinosaur Jr. vet indie rocker.

Paul McCartney & Wings. Band on the Run (Underdubbed Mixes)Macca's 1973 classic seen (or more precisely, heard) in a new light.

Friko. Where We've Been, We Go From Here.

Brittany HowardWhat Now. Alabama Shakes frontwoman's second solo album explores a contemporary versions of classic 70s soul and funk. She said her next album might be a tribute to the metal she listened to as a teen.

Gary Clark. JPEG RAW Sampler. Great blues guitarist, equally at home with funk, soul, pop, and rock.

Can. Ege Bamyasi (1972) & Live in Paris 1973Damo Suzuki, the Japanese signer of the German band Can, passed away recently, providing the perfect opportunity to give classic Can a play. 

The Smile. Wall Of Eyes. Side project featuring Radiohead's Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood.

Liam Gallagher & John Squire. Liam Gallagher & John Squire. The singer of Oasis and guitarist from The Stone Roses unite to produce this.

Idles. Tangk. A triumph from one of England's top newish hard rock bands.

Grandaddy. Blu Wav.

Laura Jane Grace. Hole In My Head. No compromise.

MGMT. Loss Of Life.

Mary Timony. Untame The Tiger. Loved her in Wild Flag with Carrie Brownstein. She's great here too.

Hurray For The Riff Raff. The Past Is Still Alive.

Yard Act. Where's My Utopia? 

Mannequin Pussy. I Got Heaven 

Faye Webster. Underdressed At The Symphony.

Kaiser Chiefs. Kaiser Chiefs' East Eighth Album.

Kim GordonThe Collective.

Jesus And Mary Chain. Glasgow Eyes.



 Highly Anticipated Forthcoming Releases



Charles Moothart. Black Holes Don't Choke. [Into The Red]. March 8, 2024. Ty Segall bandmate's cool new solo album.

Adrianne Lenker. I Won't Let Go Out Your Hand. Available on Bandcamp March 11, 2024. It's a six-song benefit EP from Big Thief's lead singer for the Palestine Children's Relief Fund.  www.pcrf.net

Peter Garrett. The True North. [Sony] March 15, 2024. Solo effort for Midnight Oil's frontman, a unique and energetic Australian activist and singer.

The Dandy Warhols. Rockmaker [Sunset Blvd.] March 15, 2024.

Waxahatchee. Tigers Blood. [Anti-] March 22, 2024. The first single is "Right Back To It" feat MJ Lenderman (of Wednesday) on guitar and harmony vocals.

Adrianne Lenker. Bright Future [4AD] March 22, 2024. Big Thief singer's solo album.

Gary Clark, Jr. JPEG RAW. [Warner] March 22, 2024.

Ride. Interplay. [Wichita Recordings] March 29, 2024. Shoegaze is making a comeback.

Fontaines DC, Massive Attack, Young Fathers. Ceasefire EP (Vinyl Only). [Battle Box] See Bandcamp. April 1, 2024 (delayed from March 1, 2024).

The Libertines. All Quiet on the Eastern Esplanade [Casablanca/Republic] April 5, 2024.

Cedric Burnside. Hill Country Love. [Port] April 5, 2024.

St. Vincent. All Born Screaming. [Total Pleasure]. April 26, 2024.

Iron & Wine. Light Verse. [Sub Pop] April 26, 2024.

Mdou Moctar. Funeral For Justice. [Matador]. May 3, 2024.

Arab Strap. I'm Totally Fine With It... [Rock Action]. May 10, 2024.



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Thursday, January 4, 2024

New June Carter Documentary Explores Carter Family Musical Legacy & Her Partnership with Johnny Cash

There's a new documentary June about June Carter debuting on Paramount+ on January 16. It explores the Carter Family's musical legacy & June's extraordinary partnership with Johnny Cash. (Note: "The Carter Family" in this context, does not refer to Jay Z and Beyonce.)

Some people forget June's legacy as a comic and singer, carrying on her family's traditions. and the fact that she wrote "Ring of Fire".


My father took me to see June Carter, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Maybelle Carter, et al perform at The Allentown Fair on August 13, 1971. I'd been a fan of 1969's "A Boy Named Sue", Cash's novelty hit of the Shel Silverstein classic, and somehow convinced my father to take me to the show. We bought a candy car in hopes of getting a golden ticket, the prize being a cache of Johnny Cash records. I was disappointed I didn't win but was enthralled by the show. 


Years later I saw Johnny Cash & June Carter perform again in Pennsylvania. This time, young punk rockers danced in the grass next to redneck tailgaters.

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