Carly Rae Jepsen, according to several sources, made and scrapped a disco record called Disco Sweat. This record is on my long list of unreleased records that I would do ANYTHING to hear. Although it looks highly unlikely that Disco Sweat will ever see the light of day, this week, Ms Jepsen gifted us with the track “Shy Boy,” and I’m pretty sure this is close to the original vision of that record. It’s a bright, peppy disco number, complete with an actual “jam” at the end. It’s the Summer disco jam we always knew Carly had in her.
I can’t wait to hear what else Carly Rae Jepsen has in store for us this year. Until then, you can enjoy “Shy Boy” in all the usual places.
This groove is infectious. I almost didn’t listen to this one, and I even had a single of the week ready to go! And then I found myself with this track on repeat for an entire day and then some. This Kaytranada-produced track (a producer that I don’t normally even like) is a late entry in the “Song of the Summer” race, but you really shouldn’t sleep on this one. And the video? Possibly the sexiest beach video this side of “Wicked Game.”
“Questions” is the latest single off Maeta’s most recent EP, When I Hear Your Name, which is out everywhere you can stream music!
“One Hit Wonders” is just a nice, solid groove. The track reminds me a bit of Luscious Jackson at their funkiest, with “rapping” that sounds like a ultra John McCrea of Cake. There isn’t much to be said about this song, but it feels really good. Pop it on and get your Summer kicked off properly!
“One Hit Wonders” is the 4th single from Jenn Grant’s upcoming record, Champagne Problems, coming your way June 21st!
The Be Your Own Pet comeback remains the least expected return of 2023, but I’m ALL IN! We’ve got a second single that isn’t quite the JoltColaCore of their first two records, but we all have to grow up sometime? And if growing up for BYOP means embracing your darkest and most controversial desires and expressing them in the form of rock n roll, that’s not a bad way to channel maturity. “Worship The Whip” is that very song, and it’s off their third album (15 years after their genius sophomore record Get Awkward), Mother, which is headed your way on August 25th. Prepare for this date the way you see most fit by clicking here! I’m a tad overwhelmed by my preorder options, TBH. We will see what I end up buying!
Oh- and I promised tour dates that go on sale this Friday. Looks like a sweaty good time for all:
9/16 – Third Man Records Blue Room – Nashville, TN
10/18 – Local 506 – Chapel Hill, NC
10/19 – Union Stage – Washington, DC
10/21 – Elsewhere Hall – Brooklyn, NY
10/22 – Underground Arts – Philadelphia, PA
10/23 – Beachland Ballroom – Cleveland, OH
10/24 – Third Man Records – Detroit, MI
10/25 – Lincoln Hall – Chicago, IL
10/27 – The Back Room at Colectivo – Milwaukee, WI
10/29 – Headliners Music Hall – Louisville, KY
11/8 – Soda Bar – San Diego, CA
11/9 – Teragram Ballroom – Los Angeles, CA
11/11 – Great American Music Hall – San Francisco, CA
I’m loosely familiar with the work of Marc Ribot, primarily his time as Tom Waits’ guitarist. What I’ve heard of his work has pretty much entirely been in the greater jazz vein. I’ve never heard him sing before. Even with Ceramic Dog, is work is closer to jazz fusion than anything else. But “Connection”? This song is heavy as fuck. Well, in that Sonic Youth / Wilco / The Replacements way… A ferocious, noisy cacophony with a sweet melody making you feel simultaneously comforted and uncomfortable. And there are even VOCALS!
This surprising track is the first single off Marc Ribot’s Ceramic Dog’s upcoming record, also named Connection. You can preorder that here!
Looking for a nice, relaxing 20 minutes song played at a breakneck pace, so the whole song is played in under 2 minutes? Well, “Fitness” by Snõõper is the track for you! I wouldn’t actually try working out to this song because, well, you would definitely die. That being said, I think this song makes me want to ACTUALLY train hard enough to compete in a natural bodybuilding competition. So, yeah, gonna go buy some eggs and asparagus and get ripped in 1:45 chunks. (Also, this video is fantastic)
“Fitness” can be enjoyed in all the usual places RIGHT NOW. Their debut album, Super Snõõper, is coming your way on July 14th from Third Man Records. This means Jack White is a fan of breakneck perky punk rock, too! You can fully prepare for July 14th both virtually and physically here, and Snõõper is playing Mosswood Meltdown AND a Mosswood Meltdown After Party, both July 2nd in Oakland, CA, if you are the type that doesn’t like experiencing the sun and music at the same time. Tickets for both are available here!
Remember when Tuesdays were the “New Release Day” for music? Those days were special. Although I think moving it to Friday is a little more fun. That being said, two videos dropped today from two of my favorite finds of the year!
Fishbone has been around for 40 years! Crazy, right? And after 40 years, one would expect that they would at least lose their fire a little, right? Well, maybe that would’ve happened if we hadn’t seen a sharp rise in the whole Neo-Nazi/Fascist movement in recent years that the band has been fighting tooth and nail to destroy their entire career… “Estranged Fruit” is the band at their fiery, angry, exasperated best. This song is a bit of a modern update of Billie Holiday’s signature song, “Strange Fruit,” calling back to some of the original lyrics. (I doubt anyone reading this has never heard Strange Fruit before, but if you haven’t, it might be the most chilling song ever recorded)
“Estranged Fruit” is available in all of the usual places. A new EP will be coming soon on Bottles To The Ground records, and they will be hitting the road with Les Claypool’s Flying Frog Brigade later this month!
Is it jazz? Is it experimental pop? Is it psych? Is it even from Earth? I’m not sure how to classify “Sugar Coating” by Salami Rose Joe Louis, but this song is just plain great. Another great trippy artist from the Bay Area, in the same school as tUnE-yArDs, Toro y Moi, or Spacemoth.. I haven’t been so entranced by a blend of Science Fiction and song since the first Deltron 3030 record.
“Sugar Coating” is the latest single of their upcoming full-length record, Akousmatikous, coming your way May 19th. Do all the preorder/presaving and such here!
First, the bad news… Best Coast is on “Indefinite Hiatus.” So those of us that caught them on tour last year were, well, the last folks to see them for a bit. The good news? Bethany Cosentino is going solo and gifted us with her first single, “It’s Fine.” The track starts out with a scream that gets deep under your skin before taking us through an excellent country-rock track. The pop-punk and surf elements of Best Coast have been replaced by Jenny Lewis-style emotive and vibrant delivery and lyricism. This track is solid.
