Category Archives: Music

Another terrific Discover Weekly playlist from Spotify

I’m sorry I waited all week to share this. It’s a really solid blend of music from all over the map. Hopefully it doesn’t disappear next week.

Hot Snakes on Carson Daly

Hot Snakes made their television debut last night, live from The Troubadour. It rips, obvs.

Funk Rock Rides Again

Funk Rock Rides Again is a Spotify playlist posted by The Numero Group. Lots of solid 70’s rock songs with funky grooves.

Can’t be mad at that.

Aretha Franklin – “Something He Can Feel”

I’ve been on a tremendous Aretha Franklin kick lately. Her work in the late 60’s through the early 70’s is my favorite in her catalog. Here’s a good one to start your Monday.

Curtis Mayfield-penned hit from the 1976 movie soundtrack “Sparkle” (starring a pre-Miami Vice Philip Michael Thomas and Irene Cara). Aretha doesn’t sing it in the movie, but she does on the soundtrack. It’s a killer slow-burn.

I only ever knew about the En Vogue version from 1992, with the video drawn right from the film. It’s also great:

I feel obligated to share the Sparkletrailer here. It’s narrated by Casey Kasem, for one, and it is evidence that movie trailers have always given away the whole plot.

And then they re-made the movie in 2012 with Jordan Sparks and Whitney Houston?!? Crazy.

new Graveyard album out 5/25

Big fan of this band. They have two videos out for the new album.

I hope they tour the US again. They’re really solid live.

Sleep – The Sciences

I’m down with stoner rock’s sludgy riffs and Sleep’s Dopesmoker is a classic example of the style. I stupidly passed on a chance to see them a couple of years ago when they had some East Coast dates. I hope I can get there this tour as they support their new, surprise release The Sciences.

Q1 2018 Spotify playlist

Happy Friday! I’ve put together a playlist of new-to-me songs from the first three months of 2018.

Not to get all Stefon, but this playlist has everything: oldies, some RVA local, a couple of psych rock jawns, power pop, groups you remember from the 90’s, a Matt Berry remix, Laraaji, and more!

Janelle Monáe – “Make Me Feel”

It’s Prince as hell and I love it.

Spacemen 3 – “Dreamweapon”

Grabbed this new-to-vinyl 2xLP release of this Spacemen 3 live performance. Originally titled “An Evening of Contemporary Sitar Music” the 1st LP is the 45-minute set they played in 1988 at Watermans Art Center in Brentford, London. The 2nd LP is more of their live drone-y work.

I love Spacemen 3 and I love ambient music but this is way out on the drone-inspired end of that spectrum. It’s a niche listen, even for me.

Here is a funny story about this recording from Will Carruthers’ autobiography about his life with the band.

Don’t worry, Adam, I won’t be bringing it up on the podcast.

Earthless with Jjuu Jjuu and Kikagaku Moyo 3/20/2018

Fun night of psych rock at The Broadberry. Jjuu Jjuu started the evening with a quick set of spacey rock. I don’t usually get to see that kind of music live so that was great.

Kikagaku Moro is a Japanese 5-piece that makes really nice psychedelic music. I had never heard of them until I was doing research on the Earthless openers. Their album House In the Tall Grass is crazy-good. Highly recommended.

Earthless is a 3-piece heavy psych band from San Diego, CA. I came to them via the drummer, Mario Rubalcalbra. He has been in Rocket From the Crypt (top 5 band of mine) and Hot Snakes. They played for almost an hour, early too long for this old guy. The lights were sick for the Earthless set, provided by The Mad Alchemist Liquid Light Show. I can’t see staying sane if you’d been on acid or mushrooms.