First up, we have the first single from the forthcoming self-titled album from the New York City based avant-pop duo Star Rover.
15. "Signify" by Tachys
Next up, we have the second single from Tachys which is an offshoot of the band Mew.
16. "Hey Nora" by The Jukebox Romantics
Next up, we have a track from the forthcoming Fires Forming EP (due in December) from downstate New York band The Jukebox Romantics.
17. "Transmission" by Leonardo Das Cabrio
Next up, we have the latest single from the duo of Luis Da Silva & Lenny De Luca. Their music combines r&B, jazz, and experimental house music.
18. "Steel Militia" by Erik Lunde
As we approach the twentieth anniversary of 9/11 - we have a track from Denver based Americana artist Erik Lunde - which deals with that horrific day and it's aftermath which is still being felt to this day.
19. "Restore Us" by Permafrost
Next up, we have the new single from the post-punk band that formed in Norway in 1982. A great sounding song.
20. "What's Up?" by baby chemist
Next up, we have a new cover of NYC indie-duo baby chemist. It is a cover of the 4 Non Blondes classic "What's Up?" A great cover to close out this segment of music.
A bit short on time, I was out last night - seeing people and checking out Mark Robinson Band with John Jackson - which was next level good and the Brian Wright and the Sneak-Ups with guest Jon Latham. I realized that both played as part of my 2017 E2TG Residency. It was such a wonderful and needed night.
Time to wrap up this week's Featured Friday Playlist. And we really did save some of the best for last...
35. "Dreaming with Alice - Verse 1" by Mark Fry
This is a reissue of 1971 - sought after psych-folk album which came out just last week on Now-Again Reserve Records. Tremendous. I didn't know anything about this album or about Mark Fry but I am captivating. Fry was just 19 when this was originally recorded.
36. "Alive" by Dope Sagittarius
37. "Until When" by Jaffa Road
New single from this Toronto based Jewish roots band. It is the lead single from an album due out in the fall.
38. "Shooting Star" by Løwenørn
A new project from our old friend Sverre of Supercrashingstar. Supercrashingstar has a new album out - which we will feature in the new Playlist premiering tomorrow.
39. "Sad Girls Club" by I M U R
40. "Accountability" by DeLila Black
Great new punk country single from the UK - with BJ Cole on lap steel guitar.
41. "Fierce and Delicate Things" by Shay Martin Lovette
And why not close out the playlist with one of the strongest songs on the list. Scatter & Gather is the new album from this North Carolina based singer-songwriter. Fantastic songs and great sounding music. A wonderful way to close out the week's playlist.
"Life is passing me by", "Thanks, but I'll pass", "I passed the test", "I can pass as intelligent", "I don't need a ticket, I have a pass"... English is an interesting language - how one word can have multiple meanings which have to be discerned by their context.
Just a random thought but it got me thinking about communication and how words and expressions can develop and change over time and by generation or geographic or cultural groups. How every generation of young people comes up with new expressions - almost a new language that confounds and sometimes annoys the previous generation. And some new expressions stick and reach the mainstream and other words and phrases and usages fade into obscurity.
It is also an international phenomenon. In the English speaking world - UK vs. US for example - there are different words for somethings and also - the same but different generational things occur. It really is amazing that we can communicate.
And sometimes, someone's speaking or writing can be so filled with idioms and grammatical variations (errors) that the meaning can become obscured - and in order to interpret it becomes a lesson in linguistics. Sometimes, I wish I had a Star Trek Universal Translator for people who are theoretically speaking the same language as me.
I am not sure why I am thinking about all this... tangential to all this talk of language and expressions are the general communication issues we all face. I think about e-mails I get for new releases and how sometimes the information I think would be the most important is either omitted or buried in the text (like release date, album title, etc.)
Anyway - onward...
On we go with the Featured Friday Recap... today songs 27-36:
27. "Military Man" by The Rose Petals
Track from the forthcoming debut album (American Grenadine - April 23) by this folk rock duo from Portland, Maine. We previously featured two separate singles by the band members Peter Donovan and Elijah Ocean.
28. "Stranger Among Friends" by Distant Voices
Next up, we have a track from the debut album by UK artist Valdis Stekelis who records as Distant Voices. Long Road to Home is out now. We previously featured an earlier single from teh album.
29. "Friends" by Vinok
Next up, we have a cool recent single from the Ukrainian/American band who are based in Kiev. Great stuff.
30. "Things You Said" by Griff Clawson
Next up, we have the latest single from Southern California singer-songwriter Griff Clawson. We have featured earlier tracks by him, and this latest is really good.
31. "Mr. Danger" by The L.A. Maybe
Next up, we have some stunning hard rock from this band from the Carolinas. Wonderful grooves here - brought to my mind AC/DC - but not derivative at all.
32. "Tequila Kisses" by Jon Randall
Singer-songwriter Jon Randall has had a successful career as a songwriter, musician, and producer. He won a Grammy award as part of Emmylou Harris' Nash Ramblers. His new EP Neon Texas pays tribute to his Texas roots.
33. "Post" by Casey Wickstrom; Taylor Rae
Next up, we have a new recording of a song first recorded 10 years ago. Casey Wickstrom is a California based artist and Taylor Rae is a California native now based in Austin. This new recording was backed by a Kickstarter Campaign, and it is a really beautiful and catchy song. Check it out.
34. "Go Greta" by Sunstroke Rain
Next up, we have a wonderful new single from Swedish visionary artist Sunstroke Rain (the name is an anagram from Karin Turesson - who has worked with numerous Swedish artists including Robyn).
35. "You Can't Love Me Like I Loved You" by Layla Frankel
Next, we have a single from Nashville-based singer-songwriter Layla Frankel. It is from her forthcoming Postcards from the Moon which will be out May 1. She is backed by some top Nashville session musicians on this track. I like it a lot.
36. "Pushing Me Away" by Mike Donehey
Mike Donehey is best known as the lead vocalist and guitarist for the Dove award-winning Tenth Avenue North. He is also the brother of Kanene Donehey Pipkin of The Lone Bellow. His new solo effort features a cosmic country feel. His new three-track release A Father & Two Sons is based upon the parable of the Prodigal Son - which each track representing a different character from the parable. A great way to close out this segment of music.
A little short on time. Just a quick reminder to vote and encourage your friends to vote. Also, I know that yesterday, I said I was done joking about this stuff- but I mean, come on, that fly!
Wow! I can't believe it is already time to wrap up our recap of this week's Playlist - but it is... time to make way for a brand new playlist tomorrow.... Today, though, songs 21-24 - I always like to save some the most interesting selections for the end of the playlist.
21. "I Know You" by Mantis & the Prayer
We start with a track from Murder Ballad and the Blue a AA single from Melbourne based trio Mantis & the Prayer. The band released their first album in 2016. This was my first exposure to them, and I was impressed. Cool stuff.
22. "Heart Land" by Gold Hick
Next up, we previously featured a single from UK artist Gold Hick. Now, the album Formed At Depth is out. When I first featured Gold Hick, I was unaware that he is a part of the band Broads who we featured heavily in recent years. I am glad that, even though I didn't realize that connection, I connected with this artist. Really interesting music.
23. "Afterglow" by The Sea at Midnight
We have featured several tracks by L.A. based post punk artist The Sea at Midnight - which is the project of singer-songwriter Vince Grant. This is the latest single and a great song.
24. "Impact" by The Subtheory
Andy Hill is an electronic music artist who divides his time between L.A. and the UK. This is the title track from the new EP, and a wonderful way to close out this Playlist!
I am still trying to get my bearings after a whirlwind week and weekend and jumping into this week with both feet in the fire (to mix at least two metaphors).
Thinking a lot about the state of the world and the state of our nation and how the last three years have been so exhausting and demoralizing. The evil of one person or even a group of people does not surprise me. I know that evil exists in this world, but what has been so disheartening is the large number of people who have supported and enabled this evil.
I wrote in this space for a while about everything that was going on, and then I stopped. I am not sure if I can articulate why I stopped. Maybe it was that I felt I was preaching to the choir. I think for a time I thought that some people just weren't aware of what was happening. That their were white supremacists in the highest levels of the government, that the people in charge of protecting our most precious resources (people and the environment etc.) were hell-bent on destroying what they were supposed to protect.
I have come to accept that their are a significant number of people who know exactly what is going on and either support these cruel policies or choose to ignore them. And that is what has been so disheartening. I still maintain that their is a place for healthy debate on conservative vs. progressive viewpoints. But the fight we have today is not conservative vs. progressive or Democrat vs. Republican. It is a fight for the heart of our country - for our existence as a democracy against the rising tide of totalitarianism.
To be honest, the Democratic Presidential nomination process has been especially disheartening. At a time, when we should be single-minded in our goal - we are divided. People are treating candidates as if they are on equal footing with the current occupant of the White House. That is not the case.
The purpose of the primaries and the caucuses should be to find our best candidate. If you support one candidate over the others, tell me why. Convince me, but do it without tearing down the other candidates. One of this field will be the Democratic nominee and whether that person is our choice or not, we have to be committed to getting that person elected.
I do not claim to know whether we need the most progressive person or the most centrists. Certainly, there are no end of people who seem to know. Fine. Convince all of us. For the LGTBQ+ community, for communities of color, for the disabled, women - this election matters and is a matter of life and death. Act like it, vote like it.
On another note:
I am gearing up for the 2nd episode of Greetings from Nashville - my new morning show on WXNA. It will air tomorrow morning at 6AM on WXNA 101.5FM and wxnafm.org. If you miss the live broadcast, the show will be available on the archive shortly after 7AM. Here is a sneak peak at part of the show!
Featured Friday Playlist
Wednesday Morning Shuffle:
Another fun and eclectic shuffle today....
"Ain't No Right Way (To Do the Wrong Thing)" by John Rey-Reed (from Learnin' to Drive the Truck)
"The Next Tear" by James Scott Bullard (from Full Tilt Boogie)
"Dreamer" by Tim Henderson (from The Legacy Collection Volume 5: Songs of Protest)
A song dedicated to Martin Luther King - from the late, Kerrville New Folk award winner.
"Bake My Beans" by Brock Zeman (from Hey Tom)
Our old friend Brock Zeman - covering our old friend Tom House - from the recently released tribute album. In addition to Brock Zeman and his long-time musical compatriot Blair Hogan - this album also features cellist Raphael Weinroth-Browne - who we met through some of our more experimental Canadian artists.
"I Can't Feel It Anymore" by Tombstones in Their Eyes (from Maybe Someday)
"Fanny Sketch" by Ty Segall (from Fanny)
From the EP by Ty Segall about his dog.
"Perfectly Imperfect" by Ten Penny Gypsy (from Ten Penny Gyspy)
"Second Wind" by John Dennis (from Second Wind)
As we continue to feature Mortal Flame, we go back and pick up the title track from his previous release.
"Werewolves of London" by Flamin' Groovies (from At Full Speed - Complete Sire Recordingws 1976-79)
A 1979 cover of the 1978 Warren Zevon hit.
"Turquoise and Silver (Reprise)" by Davis Raines (from Turquoise and Silver)
A brief reprise of the title track to the new album from the celebrated Nashville songwriter.
"Sweet Georgia Brown" by Johnny Gimble (feat. Merle Haggard) (from Celebrating With Friends)
We close with the late legendary Western Swing fiddle player - joined by Merle Haggard on a 2010 recording of the 1925 jazz standard.
VIDEO PLAYLIST
Recent and Upcoming Releases:
Recent: 1/07 - The Singing Butcher - "Top 40" (single) 1/08 - Luis Mojica- Shaman Food (LP) 1/10 - Palm Ghosts - "Wide Awake and Waiting" (single)(E2TG First Impression) 1/10 - Mary Bragg and Drivin' N Cryin' - "Don't Walk Away" (cover) (single) 1/10 - Them Airs - "Food Pyramid" (single) 1/10 - Lilly Hiatt - "Brightest Star" (single) 1/10 - Strange Majik - "Lo-Fi Hi" (single) (E2TG First Impression) 1/10 - Dean Fields - "Armadillo" (single) 1/10- Chicago Farmer - "All in One Place" (single) 1/10 - RB Morris - Going Back to the Sky (LP) 1/10 - Guided By Voices - "Volcano" (single) 1/10 - Sunshine Boys - "Infinity Girl" (single) 1/11 - Dolour (Shane Tutmarc) - "The Snake Eye" (single) 1/12 - Francesco Mariano - "Nine Lives" (single) 1/13 - Lauren Anderson - "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" (cover) (single) 1/14 - Drive-By Truckers - "Thoughts and Prayers" (single) 1/16 - Margo Price - Stone Me (single) 1/17 - Mark Hummel - Wayback Machine (LP) 1/17 - Jonny Polonsky - "The Weeping Souls" (single) 1/17 - Them Airs - Union Suit XL (LP)(E2TG First Impression) 1/17 - Innocence Mission - See You Tomorrow (LP) 1/17 - David Dondero - The Filter Bubble Blues (LP) 1/17 - MONO INC. - "Warriors" (single) 1/17 - Damen - "Americana" (single) 1/17 - The Singing Butcher - "Circus Girl" (single) 1/19 - Merrill Beach - "Geen"/"Marimba" (single)(E2TG First Impression) 1/21 - Broads and Milly Hirst - "Happisburgh" (single) 1/22 - Davis Raines - Turquoise and Silver (LP) (E2TG First Impression) 1/24 - Kailey Nicole - Kailey Nicole (LP) 1/24 - Mrs. Henry - Live at the Casbah (LP) 1/24 - Aeronautical Pioneer - "Hop High" (single) 1/24 - Three Rivers Project - Confluence (LP) 1/24 - MONO INC. - The Book of Fire (LP) 1/24 - Dispel - Lore (LP) 1/24 - The New Nostalgia - "Nothing is New" (single) 1/24 - The Heliocentrics - "Burning Wooden Ship" (single) 1/24 - Electric High - "Harder to Justify" (single) 1/24 - J. Luke Cloutier - Drown (LP) 1/26 - Nik West - "Tears" (single) 1/28 - Motihari Brigade - Power from Below (LP) 1/29 - Remington Super 60 - NEW EP (EP) 1/31 - Eric Brace and Last Train Home - Daytime Highs and Overnight Lows (LP) 1/31 - Nick Pagliari - Midway (LP) 1/31 - Black Paisley - "Dreams" (single) 1/31 - Jolie Holland - Esconidida (Vinyl Reissue) (LP) 1/31 - John Dennis - Mortal Flames (LP) (E2TG First Impression) 1/31 - Emma Hill - How Could I Have Been So Wrong (EP) 1/31 - Ryan Sobb and the Dead Mall - Concrete Feelings (LP) (E2TG First Impression) 1/31 - Alexander Hacke (Einsturzende Neubauten) + Danielle de Picciotto (Crime and The City Solution) - The Current (LP) 1/31 - Drive-By Truckers - The Unraveling (LP) 1/31 - Kristen Englenz - "Rebound" (single) 1/31 - Damen - "Disco" (single) 1/31 - Tinsley Ellis - Ice Cream in Hell (LP) 1/31 - The Singing Butcher - "Coming Home" (single) 2/01 - Glenn Jones - Ready for the Good Times (LP)
2/02 - Karabas Barabas - Degenerate National Anthem (LP) 2/04 - Mayflower Madame - "Vultures" (single) 2/05 - Joseph Mooradian - "We all Work Too Much"/"Dash My Dreams" (single)
2/07 - Palm Ghosts - Wide Awake and Waiting (EP) 2/07 - Emily Zuzik - "Trouble" (single) 2/07 - Chicago Farmer - Flyover Country (LP) 2/07 - Surrija - "Barcelona" (single) 2/07 - The Flyin' A's - No Holds Barred (LP) 2/07 - Harry Stafford - "She Just Blew Me Away" (single) 2/07 - Christopher Paul Stelling - Best of Luck (LP) 2/07 - HMS Morris - "Babanod" (single) 2/07 - Tiny Fighter- "Strangest Thing" (single) 2/07 - Wynnm - "Fire on the Moon" (single) 2/07 - The Golden Cage Society - Mira (Mini EP) 2/07 - Alienbaby Collective - "Degenerate Moon" (single) 2/07 - Eric and the Anti-Vaxxers - Timeshare Girlfriend (EP) 2/07 - Sammy Brue - "Teenage Mayhem" and "Crash Test Kid" (singles) 2/07 - Lucille - "Kerikeri" (single)
2/07 - Jon Magnusson - Always a Rebel (Live in Studio Silverräven) (single)
2/07 - Thomas Passon - "Über" (single)
2/07 - BisonBison - "Hover" (single)
2/07 - BisonBison - Hover (LP)
2/14 - Grant Peeples - Bad Wife (LP) 2/14 - The Heliocentrics - Infinity of Now (LP) 2/14 - Johanna Kuvaja - "Back for Good" (single) 2/14 - Sarah Reynolds - "I Need Love" (single) 2/14 - Afterimage - "Six Seconds" (single) 2/14 - Kalee Smyth - "Bring Our Love Down" (single)
2/14 - Harry Stafford - "She Just Blew Me Away" (single)
2/14 - Kid Be Kid - "Blood" (single)
2/16 - Kas Havoc - "Light'em Up" (single)
2/18 - David J - "I Only Hear Silence Now" (single) 2/19 - Paisley Fields - "Ride Me Cowboy" (single)
This Week:
2/21 - Sarah Morris - All Mine (LP) 2/21 - Kindergarten - Iphigenia (Reissue) (LP) 2/21 - Hot Club of L.A.- Cinema Swing (LP) 2/21 - MUUK - Balbuceo (LP) 2/21 - Aaron Beckum - Songs from a Triangle Room (EP) 2/21 - Every 13 Days - Étant Donnés (Reissue) (LP) 2/21 - Seablight - High-Rise Mannequins (EP) 2/21 - Various Artists -Typical Girls Vol. 5 (LP) 2/21 - 12xPretty - 12xPretty (LP) 2/21 - Arkane Skye - "Don't Ask Me Out" (single) Upcoming:
2/22 - Charlotte Eagle Sings - Embracing the Old Ways (LP)
2/28 - Kristen Englenz - Ingenue (LP) 2/28 - Close Lobsters - Post Neo Anti... (LP) 2/28 - The Heliocentrics - Infinity of Now (LP)
2/29 - Jimmy Who and the Night Creatures - Tinker's Blues (EP)
3/?? - Strange Majik - 20/20 (LP)
3/04 - Zoe Schwarz Blue Commotion - Chameleon (LP) 3/06 - Surrija - "Sylvette" (single) 3/06 - Dean Fields - While the Baby Was Sleeping (LP) 3/06 - Broads and Milly Hirst - Ollust (LP) 3/06 - The Mastersons - No Time for Love Songs (LP) 3/06 - Ghostwood Development Project (Feat. Kool Keith) - "Gulley" (single)
3/06 - The Mystery Plan - Ballad of JC Quinn (LP)
3/09 - Marco Bonvicini - "Colors" (single)
3/13 - The Flatmates - The Flatmates (LP) 3/13 - Kleenex Girl Wonder - Ponyoak (20th Anniversary Edition) + BLP (demos and out-takes) (LP) 3/13 - Sandwick - Reconstruct (LP) 3/13 - Foley and the Fire - "Springsteen on the Radio" (single) 3/13 - Kalee Smyth - The Ceiling (EP)
3/13 - Sha Davis - Songs I Wrote When You Left (EP)
3/13 - The Losing Touch - "Through the Night" (single)
3/18 - Marco Bonvicini - Colors (EP)3/20 - Matt Wilson and His Orchestra - When I Was a Writer (LP) 3/20 - Chris Moyse - Bitter Ballads and Cynical Prayers (LP)
3/20 - Samuel Boller - Kingdom of the Sun (LP)3/27 - Lilly Hiatt - Walking Proof (LP)
3/20 - Jon Hassell - Vernal Equinox (reissue) (LP)
3/20 - Kid Be Kid - Lovely Genders (EP)3/27 - Mayflower Madame - Prepared for a Nightmare (LP) 3/27 - Alienbaby Collective - F I S H B O W L / T E R R E S T R I A L (Double EP) 3/27 - Mairena - "Weird All the Time" (single) 3/27 - Lucille - Come on,Fly (LP)
3/27 - Nicole Boggs and the Reel - "Money" (single)4/03 - Surrija - Surrija (LP)
4/03 - Chip and the Charge Ups - Lightning in Our Veins (LP)
4/09 - Ellison - "Sing" (single)
4/10 - Eliza Gilkyson - 2020 (LP) 4/10 - Dan Montgomery - Smoke and Mirrors (a phonographic memory) (LP) 4/10 - Pokey LaFarge - Rock Bottom Rhapsody (LP) 4/17 - Paul Burch and WPA Ballclub - Light Sensitive (LP)
4/24 - Nicole Boggs and the Reel - "I'm Gonna Break Your Heart" (single)
5/08 - Brian Wright and the Sneak-Ups - Lapse of Luxury
5/31 - Debra Power - That's How I Roll (LP)
6/05 - Nicole Boggs and the Reel - "None of Your Business" (single)6/12 - Sammy Brue - Crash Test Kid (LP)
7/03 - Nicole Boggs and the Reel - None of Your Business (EP)
Be sure to "Like" Ear to the Ground on Facebook!
*Note: The video playlist at the bottom of the post attempts to closely approximate the shuffle I listened to on my way to work this morning. When a video for a song was not available, I substituted another song by the same artist. When I could not find any videos by an artist, I included a related video or did not include a video for that track. This blog may reference unreleased tracks, however, no unreleased music is ever included.
Got those post-Halloween, really tired, but it's Friday and not raining, but it's cold blues... not really... but all of those things are true except the blues part.. but it could happen...
Anyway, let's close out the week in style with a fine, fine Friday shuffle!
*Note: The video playlist at the bottom of the post attempts to closely approximate the shuffle I listened to on my way to work this morning. When a video for a song was not available, I substituted another song by the same artist. When I could not find any videos by an artist, I included a related video or did not include a video for that track. This blog may reference unreleased tracks, however, no unreleased music is ever included
Moving on through the week! Happy Halloween and happy Thursday! Let's jump right into the shuffle!
Time moves on... we are half way through the first month of 2019. I continue to be overwhelmed with a lack of free time + too many commitments + a need for quiet reflective time + anxiety + cool music events to go to + procrastination + existential crises + political and social upheaval + cat memes + social awkwardness +did I mention lack of free time? + money concerns + did I mention cat memes? + not knowing how to end a list of things that seems endless..... whew!
Breathe! I am right here, right now. I am doing what I am doing - which is writing this blog - and just for this moment, this is what I am supposed to be doing.
It is Wednesday and time to shuffle up all the songs saved to my phone memory card and see what comes out of it!
All of this happened a long time ago when the world was a very different place. Of course, none of us knew that at the time. (From The Drift - A Novel by Joe Wolfe-Mazeres) Available at Amazon.com (Kindle edition also available) If you have read The Drift, please consider writing a review on Amazon. If you haven't read it, you can get your own copy through Amazon or if you are in Nashville, you can get them from me.
I am continuing to work on my Spotify playlists for E2TG. So far, I have completed seven - January - July2018. These are meant to be a cross-section of music I featured during those months - not necessarily music released in those months. If you are interested, you can check out the playlists (links below) and follow my personal profile to find out when new playlists are created.
SAVE THE DATE!!!!! Thursday, November 15, 2018 - We have a pretty cool event in the works. More to come! I can tell you this isn't really an E2TG event. It is connected to my novel, The Drift, and we have some super cool guests lined up. Announcement soon!
First off, I am saddened by the news of the untimely passing of Tony Joe White. I say untimely because at 75, he was still making great music. I am so glad, I had the opportunity to see him last year during Americana Fest. His music will live on. My thoughts are with his family and with those who knew him personally.
This has been a rough week in many respects, and it ends with a dreary day in Nashville. "I believe it's raining all over the world..." But also, a ray of hope.
Another reminder: If you are eligible and registered to vote, do so - early voting is still going on in many places and Election Day is just days away. If you are eligible to vote, but did not register, then ask yourself why and think hard about it. You may feel like your vote doesn't matter, but the fact is- if enough people decide to vote, it can make a difference.
At press time, I am hearing that a suspect in the recent bombings has been apprehended. I am hoping this phase of violence is over, but major changes are needed to stem a dangerous time in our nations history.
It is Friday, and we dive into our "New Music" Playlist once again. As typical for E2TG, we have a pretty wildly diverse set of songs from all over the globe. Sit back and enjoy.
