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So, here is where my head is at today... Thinking about things returning to some "new" normal or some "hybrid" normal.. I think it is important to say that a variety of feelings about all this is normal and complex and shifting feelings is normal, too. I am happy for my musician friends who are beginning to see a return to what they love. At the same time, as I shared before, the current new normal is not something I am always comfortable with or really know how to navigate. My normal has not returned and likely will not return anytime soon. I will adapt, but in the meantime, it is okay for me to be apprehensive and even frustrated.
There are also a variety of more complex feelings which aren't directly related to live music.
On a somewhat related note, I, once again, have learned that sometimes the only way to get past an emotional block is to go through it. (This is not, by the way, a substitute for professional help if that is needed). But, for me, I sometimes have to just do something which I know will be good for me - even if a hundred voices provide excuses not to do it. It is a lesson I continue to learn and re-learn.
Featured Friday Playlist recap Part 4 (songs 22-26):
22. "Persian Rug" by The Strange Days
First up, we have the new single from this London based gutter rock band. The band had been playing this song live for a year and half before recording it. A great lead-off to this segment of music.
23. "So Long" by Sir Orfeo
Next up, we have the new single from this pastoral, lo-fi, indie folk band from Western Massachusetts. Their EP Millefleur is due out in June. Really wonderful song.
24. "Floating" by Banana Chant
Next up, we have a track from the recently released second EP (Payingt off Student Loans) from this Miami based indie rock/funk/groove band. Check it out!
25. "Hold On" by Certain Animals
Next up, we have the first single from the forthcoming second album by this Dutch band who create fresh new music with a sixties and seventies vibe. Cool stuff.
26. "Why Don't We" by Your Academy
And, we close things out for this segment of music with the lead track from the debut album from this new power pop band from Memphis which boasts and impressive pedigree which traces back to some of the great Memphis power pop bands of the past.
Featured Friday Playlist
"Heaven" by The Sneak-Ups (Patreon only rehearsal version - 2019/2020)
In the video playlist is the actual performance of this Talking Heads cover by Jon Latham backed by Kristen Englenz and Sally Jaye. The audio I heard this morning came to me via the Cafe Rooster Patreon site. For a small monthly amount, you can get exclusive, unreleased content like this.
"Way I Love You" by Neville and Sugary Staple (from Rude Rebels - 2018)
Our favorite rude boy and rude girl from the UK - from their excellent 2018 album. Neville Staple was part of the two-tone ska band The Specials.
"Real Child of Hell" by X (from Under the Big Black Sun - 1982)
In my mind, X are everything... they helped define the L.A. punk scene in the late 1970s and then seamlessly, helped define the alt-country movement which eventually melded into the Americana juggernaut. 40+ years later, they are still going strong - having put out the incredible Alpahbetland album last year. This was the band's major label debut and was informed by the tragic death of Exene Cerveka's sister who was killed by a drunk driver.
"Lost Hearts" by Luxembourg Signal (from The Long Now - 2020)
The third album from this transatlantic dreampop/shoegaze band based between London, L.A., and San Diego. The band released their debut album in 2014.
"What Did You Expect" by Joyann Parker (from Out of the Dark - 2021)
From earlier this year, we have the 2nd album from this Minneapolis based singer-songwriter. We had featured her 2018 debut Hard to Love back when it was released.
"Airport Cemetery Blues" by Aaron Beckum (from Songs from a Triangle Room - 2020)
Aaron Beckum is a Los Angeles based filmmaker and singer-songwriter. This EP was released just before the pandemic shut everything down. It was produced by Jason Lytle of Grandaddy. Great stuff.
VIDEO PLAYLIST
NEW AND RECENT RELEASES
THIS WEEK
4/29 - Caulbearers - "Burst Through the Borders" (single)
4/29 - Ernest Moon - "Big Wow" (single)
4/30 - Griffin Winton - "Blockbuster Blues" (single)
4/30 - Hadda Be - Another Life (LP)
4/30 - Broken Links - Conflict::States (LP)
4/30 - BOI - "Cael Chdi Nol" (single)
4/30 - moshimoshi - moshimoshi I (EP)
4/30 - Gerald Slevin - "It's Your World" (single)
4/30 - SYTE - "Up in the Air" (single)
4/30 - The New Black Diamonds - "Reload" (single)
4/30 - The Chickenbackers - Yeh Right, Yeah (LP)
4/30 - Nick Hudson - Font of Human Fractures (LP)
4/30 - The Legal Matters - Chapter Three (LP)
4/30 - Dan Rose - "The Opposite" (single)
4/30 - Climbing Trees - "Troubling Times" (single)
4/30 - Mode Shifter - "Doin' Fine" (single)
4/30 - KissDoomFate - "Sparkleblood" (single)
NEXT WEEK
5/04 - Skidders - Friends & Family (LP)
5/04 - Razorhouse - "Hobo Stomp" (single)
5/06 - “+øc.” - Pandemønivm (LP)
5/07 - Manolo Redondo - The Lost and Found (EP)
5/07 - McCormick - "Till the Sun Comes Up" (single)
5/07 - Benjamin Jayne - Theater (LP)
5/07 - Peter Duff - "The To Do List" (single)
5/07 - Timothy and the Apocalypse - "You Oughta Love Me" (single)
5/07 - Teresa Guidry - "Paris" (single)
5/07 - The Purrs - We Thought There'd Be More People Here (LP)
5/07 - Leftover Salmon - Brand New Good Old Days (LP)
5/07 - Ted Russell Kamp - Solitaire (LP)
5/07 - Dolly Ave - Sleep (LP)
5/07 - Death Pop Radio - Death Pop Radio (LP)
5/07 - Geoff Westen - Random Acts of Music (LP)
5/07 - Tim Foljahn - I Dreamed a Dream (LP)
UPCOMING
5/13 - Middle Child - "Burn Out" (single)
5/14 - Soo Line Loons - Soo Line Loons (LP)
5/14 - Leo Crandall - "On the Way Back" (single)
5/14 - Nature's Neighbor - Otherside (LP)
5/14 - Mark Fry - Dreaming With Alice (reissue) (LP)
5/14 - Shay Martin Lovette - Scatter & Gather (LP)
5/14 - Eddie Turner - Change in Me (LP)
5/14 - Dope Sagittarius - Sacred Places (LP)
5/14 - Blue Panda - "What If I Were The One" (single)
5/14 - Pikefruit - Inflorescence (LP)
5/18 - Ashleigh Flynn & the Riveters - Live From the Blue Moon (LP)
5/20 - Cathedral in Flames - Hang Me High and Bury Me Deep (LP)
5/21 - Moon - Shine (EP)
5/21 - Dawn-Song - For Morgan (LP)
5/21 - Sister John - I Am Day by Day (LP)
5/21 - Desert Hollow - Thirsty (LP)
5/21 - Rod Picott - Wood, Steel, Dust and Dreams (2LP)
5/21 - Hotel California - Orange (LP)
5/21 - Zebrah - Stripes (EP)
5/28 - Sharone - Morbid Illusion (LP)
5/28 - Toler Gibson - The Days Before (LP)
5/28 - Fiona Brown - Mundane (LP)
5/28 - EB - The Parallel Sessions (EP)
5/28 - Shannon McNally - The Waylon Sessions (LP)
5/29 - The Contraptionists - Working Man's Dream (LP)
5/30 - Scott Standley - Victoria (LP)
6/04 - Lanterna - Hidden Drives (LP)
6/04 - Swift Silver - Swift Silver (LP)
6/04 - Jayson - "Body Work" (single)
6/04 - Annie Keating - Bristol County Tides (LP)
6/04 - My Name is Ian - Fantastic Company (LP)
6/04 - Pastel Ghost - Sun (LP)
6/11 - Soda Cracker Jesus - "Anthem" (single)
6/18 - Thomas Comerford - Introverts (LP)
6/18 - The Wind-Ups - Try Not to Think (LP)
6/18 - The Catenary Wire - Birling Gap (LP)
6/18 - Doctor Lo - Claiborne Avenue (LP)
6/19 - Willie Durisseau - Creole House Dance (EP)
6/21 - BOI - Coron O Chwin (LP)
6/25 - L.S. Underground - The Grape Prophet (LP - Reissue)
6/25 - Massage - Still Life (LP)
6/25 - Hilary Scott - Kaleidoscope (EP)
6/25 - Sir Orfeo - Millefleur (LP)
7/04 - John PayCheck - We All Have a Story (LP)
7/09 - Leo Crandall - They're Cutting Up Betty's Dress Tonight and Other Hymns (LP)
7/09 - Tylor & The Train Robbers - Non-Typical Find (LP)
7/12 - Steve Dawson -At The Bottom Of A Canyon In The Branches Of A Tree (LP)
8/20 - Malcolm Holcomb - Tricks of the Trade (LP)
RECENT
4/01 - El No - Nothing is Possible (LP)
4/02 - indifferentMonKeY - "God or Machine?" (single)
4/02 - Tino and K. Carter - Safe Money (EP)
4/02 - Ritual Cloak - "High Teens Low Twenties" (single)
4/02 - Julez & The Rollerz - "Knocks Me On The Floor" (single)
4/02 - Elizabeth King - Living in the Last Days (LP)
4/02 - Dolour - Televangelist (LP)
4/02 - Smash Into Pieces - Wildest Dreams" (single)
4/02 - Yesterday's Gone - "(This is) Rock N Roll" (single)
4/02 - The Rocking Horse Winner - Horizon (cassette reissue)
4/02 - The Silver Devils - "Love Potion #10" (single)
4/08 - Cole Scheifele - "Back Then" (single)
4/09 - Dallas Moore - The Rain (LP)
4/09 - Storm Gordon - The Lie I Love the Best (LP)
4/09 - Cameron Alexander - "Sugar Bones" (single)
4/09 - Harri Larkin - "Tumbleweed" (single)
4/09 - Arden Lanes - A Little Something for Everyone (LP)
4/09 - Coke Belda - 5: A Tribute To The Bee Gees Vol. 2 (LP)
4/09 - Steven Faulkner - "Here's To The Down and Out" (single)
4/10 - Ali In the Jungle - "Fuel on the Fire" (single)
4/10 - Du Glas - "Edge of the World" (single)
4/12 - Sunlust - Geek Confessions (LP)
4/14 - Eddie Turner - "Dignify Me" (single)
4/15 - The Buzzards of Fuzz - "Lonely in Space" (single)
4/15 - MIHI NIHIL - MIHI NIHIL (LP)
4/16 - The Brother Brothers - Calla Lily (LP)
4/16 - Troy Bentley - Headlock (LP)
4/16 - Ventrelles - "Call of Morning" (single)
4/16 - Stephen Flatt - Cumberland Bones (LP)
4/16 - My Name is Ian (feat. HMS Morris) - "Where is the Time" (single)
4/16 - Sour Ops - X (LP)
4/16 - Conor Gains - Threë EP (EP)
4/16 - Nouhi's Nomad - "Number 4" (single)
4/16 - David Wax Museum - Euphoric Ouroboric (LP)
4/16 - Jim McCulloch - "Chorus of Lists" (single)
4/16 - Dawn-Song - "She Has Spoken" (single)
4/16 - Mass Experience - "So High" (single)
4/16 - Zebrah - "Hey Mama" (single)
4/16 - David Woodward - Butterfly Effect (EP)
4/16 - West of Texas - Hangovers & Honky Tonks (LP)
4/16 - Jon Flynn - Citrus (LP)
4/16 - Cole Quest and The City Pickers - Self (En)Titled (EP)
4/16 - John Louis - "Gone Too Far"/"Shut Down" (single)
4/20 - Cricketbows - Raised on Rock And Roll (LP)
4/20 - Tombstones In Their Eyes - Looking for a Light (LP)
4/20 - Sir Orfeo - "So Long" (single)
4/21 - Kid Hastings - "Off Guard" (single)
4/22 - Lou McMahon - "Pockets of Change" (single)
4/23 - DL Rossi - Lonesome Kind (LP)
4/23 - Certain Animals - "Hold On" (single)
4/23 - Your Academy - Your Academy (LP)
4/23 - Flowertown - Flowertown LP (LP)
4/23 - The Catenary Wires - "Mirrorball (single)
4/23 - Afton Wolfe - "Dirty Girl" (single)
4/23 - dontmesswithjuan - "Mutant Fur" (single)
4/23 - Summer Sleeves - In the Throes of Woes (LP)
4/23 - Gary Collocott - "Corrupt Young Mind" (single)
4/23 - The Magic Epic - "Sally" (single)
4/23 - Nick Nace - "Last Call" (single)
4/23 - Least - Folding My Hands, Accepting Defeat (EP)
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