I’ll be frank with you. My original choice for Single of the Week was John Waters’ cover of the Jingle Dogs’ version of “Jingle Bells.” Instead of putting you through that, I give you “Knocked Up.” A song by Melody Federer about, you guessed it- accidental pregnancy. It’s a beautiful and honest song about the stress and anxiety of pending parenthood, and it’s pure and excellent.
You can enjoy this single in all the usual places. And you should… It’s great. The imagery… “Peeing on a stick in Walgreens.” MAGIC.
I wrote this before the election results came down, which were pretty devastating all across the board, and, honestly, I don’t know what we’ve got to do to ensure that the entirety of Trump’s agenda gets prevented, but I do know that we have no choice. I predict extreme hardship for everyone except for a handful of people over the next four years. We failed at the resistance to the point of more people dying during Trump’s first administration than at any point this country’s history, including the civil war, and unless we get this 100% right this time, it will be worse. And Tunde’s voice and lyrics helped keep me from going under during the Bush years, and I’m grateful he’s back. I need this song today. Also, it might be worth going back to this one a bit, too.
TV On The Radio remains one of the most innovative and groundbreaking acts of the last 20 years. Sadly, they’ve been silent for the last decade. They did announce a handful of Winter reunion shows (and are playing the stacked Primavera Sound next year), but I think we are hungry for new material. Well, this isn’t TV On The Radio, but hearing lead vocalist Tunde Adebimpe’s voice reminds me of how amazing his voice is. “Magnetic” is a beautifully intense work that makes me feel “OK” about his band’s recorded hiatus.
“Magnetic” is out now on SubPop Records and can be enjoyed here.
“Too Much Too” is the kind of retro country that would’ve been all over country radio in the 1970s, but now it is somehow indie rock instead. I’m pretty okay with this because Rose’s honey-soaked vocals and reverb-drenched pedal steel would sound out of place alongside Morgan Wallen and Post Malone. So give us more of this spooky and forlorn sound, and we will happily give it a home alongside Nick Cave.
Emily Rose is currently on the road in Orville Peck’s band, but expect more music and shows once she gets a break from Peck’s tour! More info can be found here.
Fun Fact: Bob Motherbaugh has a daughter in a punk band that doesn’t sound anything like Devo. Vaquita’s chops are closer to the classic pop-punk sound but aren’t afraid to toy with the listener’s emotions a bit and give a few surprise tempo changes. This leads to an awkward mosh but an enjoyable listen.
“On Her Side” is the first single off Vaquita’s latest record, Secrets, on Real Gone Music today.
QWERTY II by Saya Gray is one of my favorite releases of 2024. It’s a sonic adventure that takes more twists and turns than expected in a single EP. But her psych prog soul jazz pop mega opus didn’t prepare me for “SHELL (OF A MAN).” All those elements are in play in this song, but if Gray landed in Nashville in 1976 and recorded the song with session players on Music Row. In a decade, Gray will be making music that strengthens your eardrums.
“SHELL (OF A MAN)” is the first single of Gray’s first full-length, SAYA, coming your way on February 21st. Pre-order / pre-save here!
dear francis is the nom de plume of Jennifer Clavin, my personal favorite songwriter, possibly ever? She spent her teens and 20s co-fronting the legendary Mika Miko, then she broke off and put together the power-pop tinged Bleached, and now she’s gifted us with the third release as a solo artist, and it’s bloody intense. Produced by No Age’s Randy Randall, this song is about losing a dear friend to addiction and the complexities of the emotions involved. If you’ve been through this, the song will feel like a warm hug. If you haven’t, this track will get you a little closer to understanding someone who has.
There’s exciting stuff on the horizon with dear francis. New tracks can be found here as they arrive, and for those in LA, she’s debuting this project live ON MY BIRTHDAY (10/27) and Heavy Manners Library! (I’m on the Bay Area and can’t make it, but you should!)
Honestly, the only reason I put on this track was because it was produced by Tony Visconti, best known as the man behind the majority of David Bowie’s esteemed catalog, as well as the person who helped Marc Bolan tap into his inner swagger. “All The People” is a track in the same family as T Rex- blissful orchestral pop with Daisy the Great’s signature head-swimmy harmonies and just enough of an edge kicking in to hit home the supervision of joy.
Two nights ago, our owner was seeing bôa in Seattle, and I got a text from him saying, “This band opening is definitely Dakincore.” This was the first time I learned that I have my own genre of music. So… what is “Dakincore”? It’s both very feminine and very loud. It’s heavy yet delicate, and it’s great. Sea Lemon is doing something beautiful, and it definitely makes you feel the feelings that good music makes you feel.
“What Are You Doing To Me” is such a classic rock song. Singer Heather Goldin delivers this song with such a wonderful, exasperated sneer that crawls under my skin, just like it should. And, for optimal effect, listen on headphones. I haven’t heard such a clever use of right/left panning in YEARS. By the end of the song, I actually am mad at whoever this person is that is stringing Goldin a long.
Fun fact: my family had a 1-month old foster puppy earlier this week. It was lovely and insanely stressful. I highly recommend it if you have the time and space, no matter how much poop you are cleaning up. Either way, that might be why I have “Like A Dog” by Jordana on repeat. Or it might be because my shoulders bob uncontrollably to the bright and cheerful rhythms combined with some of the most vivid metaphors in lyrics that I’ve heard in a minute. Either way, I like the song. I hope you do, too.
“Like A Dog” is off Jordana’s upcoming release, Lively Premonition, due October 18th. Also, it’s Bandcamp Friday today, so if you preorder here, all the money you spend goes to Jordana! (There’s even a Bandcamp exclusive variant!)
