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We have reached the mid-point of this work week. We are well into August. Here in Nashville, COVID-19 stats are improving, but for some reason this makes me anxious - because I fear that the increased precautions we have been in recent weeks (with some high-profile exceptions) will start slacking off and we will then see a resurgence, but I guess time will tell. For me, it seems like it will be status quo for some time.
There are things that excite and please me. There has been quite a bit new music released this year so far, and much of it is excellent. Just looking back at the year so far at E2TG is evidence of that, but even outside the scope of this blog - there is a lot to be excited about.
I also see many artists and venues being creative in dealing with the new reality, and I hope this continues. It will take thinking out side of the box to keep things going.
I am excited about the state of activism - especially among the young - my hope is that even in a deep red state like Tennessee, the next generation of voters can help turn the tide. I have seen some demographics that bare out this hope. I hope we call find a sustainable way to keep up the fight for justice and human rights for all people.
The November election fills me with equal parts hope and dread. I am not sure what I am going to do to survive election night...
Finally, before we turn back to the music, a word about Spotify. I join many in condemning the recent comments by the CEO of Spotify - his words were tone deaf and harmful. I have said this before, I held off a long-time before using Spotify extensively for this blog. I do think the platform is currently the best way to share music and a great way to discover music - if you know how - otherwise, you are just a tool of the machine. Nevertheless, the platforms business model does not support independent artists well at all.
I will once again say, if want to support musicians - you can like and follow and save etc on Spotify, but also buy physical copies and merch and tip at virtual or (when possible) at live shows. Help spread the word and encourage your fellow music lovers to support artists in a meaningful way.
Buy through Bandcamp on the first Friday of every month when the waive fees.
Time for today's recap of our weekly Featured Friday Playlist - today, we have a good one, songs 18-22:
18. "Adrenaline" by Above Snakes
Out of the gate, today, we have some hard hitting metal - a single ahead of the forthcoming debut EP by this Boston based band. I am not that familiar with all the genres listed in the e-mail, I got about this - the danger of having wide-open musical tastes I guess, but this sounds great and like I said, it hits hard.
19. "Mafitishei" by shishi
Here at E2TG, we cover all kinds of music from all over the world. Today, we have a fantastic track - our first listen to this surf/punk/whatever band from Lithuania. Seriously, I really love this track. It is the title track to their recent album.
20. "If I Were a Dinosaur" by Arlan Feiles
A shuffle with some New Orleans flavored piano. Feiles is based in New Jersey - by way of Miami and Los Angeles. This is a track from his recent album What Kind of World? I am very happy to have this song in our playlist.
21. "Do You Want to Buy a Guitar" by Bob Nanna
Bob Nanna (Braid, Hey Mercedes, The City on Film, Lifted Bells) with a track from his recently released Celebrations States album - his debut full-length under this new name. The album - all-acoustic - was recorded all on September 7, 2019 on what would have been his wedding anniversary. It is a highly personal album, and I highly recommend you give it I listen.
22. "Exploding Head" by R.E. Seraphin
We close out this segment of music with another debut under a new moniker. R.E. (Ray) Seraphin recently returned to his Bay Area hometown after having lived in Austin. He recruited some local musicians - included the bass player of Neutrals - who we have featured before. Seraphin was previously of the band Talkies. The music here has elements of paisley pop and post-punk, and it is truly a great sound. Check it out.
Tomorrow we wrap up our recap with songs 23-27...
Featured Friday Playlist
Wednesday Morning Shuffle
"Memphis" by Heavydrunk (from Holywater)
First up, we have this track from the 2019 release from Nashville area musician and business man Rob Robinson. A great start to the shuffle.
"Queen in Her Jeans" by Marty Willson-Piper (from Hanging Out in Heaven)
This is a bonus track from the 2019 Record Store Day reissue of the 2000 solo album by the former member of The Church.
"Highway 65" by Ten Penny Gypsy (from Fugitive Heart)
Next up, we have another track from the recent release from our friends from Arkansas Ten Penny Gypsy. We have another track from this album in this week's Featured Friday playlist.
"Odin Stems" by Clouds in a Headlock (from Asmattic Vol.1)
Next up, we have a track via Chinese Man Records - released earlier this year. This album is the debut release from Clouds in a Headlock and it was recorded in an off-grid forest cabin in Hakone, Japan. Great stuff.
"Need Her Still" by Auld (from Mainstream Music)
Next, we have a track from an album we featured pretty heavily in 2019. Auld is a London indie-pop artist.
"The Eye Openeth" by Carrus & Kurtz (fron The Genius of... Vol 3: Third Eye's the Charm)
And we close this shuffle with a track from the third volume of the Genius of Carrus and Kurtz - ambient pedal steel and bass music. Volume 4 is due out Friday! Both Cameron Carrus and Adam Kurtz have had numerous releases - together and apart during the pandemic.
VIDEO PLAYLIST
NEW AND RECENT RELEASES
This Week
8/07 - The Furious Seasons - La Fonda (LP)
8/07 - Jason Molina - Eight Gates (LP)
8/07 - Steven Bruce - Same Time, Same Place, Same Station (LP)
8/07 - Laura Donohue - "Muse" (single)
8/07 - The Flat Five - "Drip a Drop" (single)
8/07 - Jason Erie - "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" (single)
8/07 - Vincent Cross - The Life & Times of James ‘The Rooster’ Corcoran (LP)
Last Week
7/27 - Beauty in Chaos - "Stranger" (single)
7/28 - Caterpillar - "Tangents" (single)
7/31 - The Jason Daniels Band - Downloads from the Universe (LP)
7/31 - Shishi - Mafitishei (LP)
7/31 - Vee VV - "Ugly Freedom (Toka Remix)" (single)
7/31 - Adrift - "Our Moment" (single)
7/31 - Max Helgemo - "Uncovered" (single)
7/31 - Sunny Gable - Little Things (EP)
7/31 - The Kondoors - "Mr. Rain" (single)
Next Week:
8/14 - Michael McArthur - How to Fall in Love (EP)
8/14 - Sylvie Simmons - Blue on Blue (LP)
8/14 - Mark W. Georgsson - Comes a Time (EP)
8/14 - Skylar Gregg - Roses (LP)
Upcoming:
8/21 - Eric Bolander - "Window" (single)
8/21 - A Shoreline Dream - The Melting (LP)
8/21 - Liar,Flower - Geiger Counter (LP)
8/21 - Xanthe Alexis - The Offering (LP)
8/21 - Reardon Love - "Locked in the Panopticon" (single)
8/21 - Ghostwood Development Project - "Almost Human" (single)
8/21 - The Sea At Midnight - "We Share the Same Stars" (single)
8/21 - Buckle Bunny - "Lizard Brain" (single)
8/21 - Benchmarks - Summer, Slowly (LP)
8/28 - The Northern Belle - We Wither, We Bloom (LP)
8/28 - Special Moves - Little Help (LP)
8/28 - Debbie Lagrange - "La chanson des moustiques" (single)
8/28 - Molly Tuttle - ...but I'd rather be with you (LP)
8/28 - Caterpillar - Where Shadows Go to Speak (LP)
8/28 - The Agency - "Defender" (single)
8/28 - Dianne Davidson - Full Circle (LP)
8/31 - Andre Salvador & the Von Kings - Last Night From Glasgow (LP)
9/04 - India Ramey - Shallow Graves (LP)
9/04 - The Star Prairie Project - "Frantic Mind" (single)
9/04 - Jabbawoki - Something's Cookin' (EP)
9/11 - Mike Barnett - +1 (LP)
9/11 - Atta Boy - Big Heart Manners (LP)
9/11 - Johnny Thunders - Que Sera Sera: Resurrected (Boxset)
9/18 - The Pull of Autumn - Small Colors (LP)
9/25 - Buildings and Food - Up Down Strange Charm (LP)
9/25 - Music Maker Relief Foundation - Hanging Tree Guitars (LP)
10/02 - Buckle Bunny - Pet Speak (LP)
10/02 - The Jensen Sisters - Yellow Frames (LP)
10/09 - Year of October - Wastelands (LP)
10/09 - Great Peacock - Forever Worse Better (LP)
10/09 - Zao - Preface: Early Recordings 1995-1996 (LP)
10/09 - Zao - All Else Failed: 25th Anniversary Edition (LP)
10/16 - Malin Pettersen - Wildhorse (LP)
10/23 - The Agency - In the Haunted Woods (LP)
11/13 - The Flat Five - Another World (LP)
Recent:
7/01 - Pussycat Doghouse - Bananas (LP)
7/01 - Monsieur Minimal - "Easteria" single
7/01 - Shatterglass - Sick (EP)
7/01 - Inhaler Collective - Hunger (LP)
7/01 - Red's Blues - Broke Down in the Fast Lane (LP)
7/02 - Telepathic Teddy Bear - "Turning Back the Pages (single)
7/03 - The Vignatis - Red, White & Blue - Gypsybilly Vol. 4 (LP)
7/03 - Nicole Boggs and the Reel - None of Your Business (EP)
7/03 - Paul Nelson - Birmingham Woman (LP)
7/03 - Matthew Frederick - "Laura Jones" (single)
7/03 - Year of October - "Black Widow" (single)
7/03 - Michael McArthur - Oh, Sedona (EP)
7/03 - Petter Carlsen - "Contradictions" (single)
7/03 - Divine Horsemen - "Mystery Writers" (single)
7/03 - Mayflower Madame - "Sacred Core" (single)
7/03 - Andrew Adkins - One Evening In Brooklyn: Live! (EP)
7/03 - Angela Easterling - "Home" (single)
7/03 - Felixity - Love Sick Remixed (LP)
7/03 - Eduardo - "Sunrise" (single)
7/03 - SB SurfsUp - "My Lil Chick on the West Coast" (single)
7/04 - Jackson Capps - "Yesterday's Makeup" (single)
7/04 - gLife - Master of Flow (EP)
7/04- Learn to Fly - "Cherished Ruins" (single)
7/04 - Sluka - "Vampire's Ball" (single)
7/06 - R.E. Seraphin - Tiny Shapes (LP)
7/07 - Afton Wolfe - Petronius' Last Meal (EP)
7/07 - Abigail Fierce - "Girl in the Mirror (single)
7/08 - Short-Haired Domestic - "A Song in Latin..." (single)
7/08 - Lobelia - Positive Songs Project - Phase 2 (EP)
7/09 - Black Needle Noise - "She Talks to Angels" (single)
7/10 - Hurricane Ruth - Good Life (LP)
7/10 - Fintan McKahey - "Platinum" (single)
7/10 - Nocona - Los Dos (LP)
7/10 - Easy Love - Wander Feeler (LP)
7/10 - Bob Nanna - Celebration States (LP)
7/10 - Ten Penny Gypsy - Fugitive Heart (LP)
7/10 - Andy Baker - North Country Sky (LP)
7/10 - Static X - Project Regeneration Vol. 1 (LP)
7/10 - Black Paisley - "Need Some Soul" (single)
7/10 - Raz & Alfa - "Secrets & Lies" (single)
7/10 - The Spiritual Leaders - Underwater with You (EP)
7/10 - Jah Cure - "Rock the Boat" (single)
7/10 - NineteenHateHate - "TopBoy" (single)
7/10 - Blaktrix - "€5 Euro Shades" (single)
7/11 -Rev. J. Mikhael Smith and the Brimstone Miracle - "10:18" (single)
7/11 - Civic Green - "There is Always a Light" (single)
7/13 - Ekat Bork - "Driving My Mustang" (single)
7/14 - Anita Romana - "All Tomorrows" (single)
7/17 - The Bobby Lees - Skin Suit (LP)
7/17 - Soft Set - "Never Die" (single)
7/17 - Michot's Melody Makers - Cosmic Cajuns from Saturn (LP)
7/17 - Laura Cortese & The Dance Cards - Bitter Better (LP)
7/17 - Graham Bramblett - The Great Inbetween (LP)
7/17 - ElJay - Champion (EP)
7/17 - Sienne - "Side by Side" (single)
7/17 - elkyn - beech (EP)
7/17 - The Allergies - Say the Word (LP)
7/17 - LadyCouch - "Heartache" (single)
7/17 - KEYS - "This Side of Luv" (single)
7/17 - Bearcraft - "Outside in the Morning Snow" (single)
7/17 - Abby Reign - "Roll the Dice" (single)
7/17 - David Ramirez - "My Love if Like a Hurricane" (LP)
7/17 - ASM - "Return of the Sabretooth" (single)
7/17 - The Jensen Sisters - "Beat of a Bad Habit" (single)
7/17 - Above Snakes - "Adrenaline" (single)
7/18 - Union Kain - Black Dawn (EP)
7/20 - Provision - Hearts Turn Dark (LP)
7/20 - Scott Holstein - "Hillbilly Love" (single)
7/22 - The City Gates - "Siegfried 1969" (single)
7/23 - Other Child - Good Boy Charlie (EP)
7/24 - Tawny Ellis - Love Life (LP)
7/24 - Lee Gallagher - L.A. Yesterday (LP)
7/24 - Even As We Speak - Adelphi (LP)
7/24 - The Wild Blue - Anonymous Future (EP)
7/24 - The Danberrys - Shine (LP)
7/24 - Ted Russell Kamp - Down in the Den (LP)
7/24 - A Shoreline Dream - "Seek to Hide" (single)
7/24 - Rev. J. Mikhael Smith and the Brimstone Miracle - Dogwood Winter (EP)
7/24 - Seela - Cool (LP)
7/24 - Nick Faber- The Lost Highway Tapes (LP)
7/24 - Vexillary - SurViolence (EP)
7/24 - Certain Animals - "Too Long" (single)
7/24 - The Asteroid No.4 - "Swiss Mountain Myth" (single)
7/24 - Breichiau Hir - "Preseb O Ias" (single)
7/24 - rOZZ - Yess Sire! (LP)
7/24 - Kyle Maher - "Better" (single)
7/24 - Jon Hassell - Seeing Through Sound (Pentimento Volume Two) (LP)
7/24 - Pozzi - "From the Ashes" (single)
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