Radio Free California Episode 2530, and some notes

 

New music this week from Atarashii Gakkou Leaders, Bryan Adams, atmos bloom, Waterparks, Jesus Jones, Johnny Marr, James McCartney, Bob Seger, The Strokes, Go Public, MUTT (Oakland), Sparks and much more. Enjoy!

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Okay my friends, be honest. Did you have on your bingo card that Bryan Adams would release his best album in over 4 decades this year? In all seriousness, I think his new one ("Tough Town") ranks up there with "Cuts Like a Kinfe". Even the B-Side singles (Like "51st Street", which I added a couple of weeks back and isn't even on the album) are among his best work.

Atarashii Gakkou is one of those act you either like or hate. I'm on the "like" side of the equation. They started off as a dance troupe with idol singer ambitions, but it turned out that one of them, Suzuka, could really sing and she quickly became the front-woman of the group. Then it turned out another one could really rap. Over time they've all built up specialties, but they're still a dance group, with a knack for hiring solid songwriters and producers. Their new album "From Tokyo With Love" sees them taking up a rock and roll posture and it suits them.

Waterparks is a pretty good if fairly standard post-punk band, with just a touch of metal. But they're remarkably self-aware and had the good sense to get legends like Danny Elfman to guest on the opening track and I must admit it made me give them a second listen. Their new album "JINX" can be a bit obnoxious at times, but there's good stuff there too.

Both The Strokes and Charlie XCX dropped new albums this past week and I'll be honest, I think they're both something of a letdown. Don't get me wrong, they both have good material and I've added tracks from both of their new albums, but I don't think much of the tracks I didn't add - which is most of them. I gave you what I feel are the best tracks on both in the playlist above. You can skip the rest.

After a long time away, Bob Seger dropped a 3 song "Single" of new material which will be on the expanded edition of the release of his new album, "Face the Promise" and I have to say, no one Bob Seger's like Bob Seger does. He has an unmistakable voice and style and it's nice to know that in his 6th decade as a pop/rock star he can still bring it just like he did in the old days. I picked "Wait For Me", the second track from "Little Jane", but in all seriousness I could have picked any of these songs.

atmos bloom is about the most accurately named band out there. Go on, think what you think they sound like based upon the name. There you go. Their new album is called "Everythingness" and is exactly what you'd hope for.

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I may leave Facebook. Now that Newsmax and Meta have entered an agreement to use each other's resources in their AI development, you can expect disinformation to increase thousand-fold. Newsmax lies in just about every story they tell, and Meta/Facebook has the scruples of Jeffrey Epstein. If I could have a page for my band without having a personal page I would do just that. 

I fucking despise Facebook, and I use it as little as possible. I'm going to need to consider that that should be reduced even further, to zero.

But because I love you, please have an early listen to a track I'm likely to feature next week:

Radio Free California Episode 2629, some notes about the music, and a few thoughts

 

New music this week from Johnny Marr, Howard Jones, Nia Archives, Peter Gabriel, Selve, Local Nomad, At the Starlight, Scary Pockets, Deep Sea Diver, Fantastic Negrito, my friends Fear 2 Stop, Lenny Kaye and much more. Enjoy!

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It's kind of amazing to me that several artists featured this week were having hits 40 years ago. Peter Gabriel, Howard Jones, Johnny Marr (with The Smiths), Semisonic, Paul Weller (who does guest vocals on a new release from Aziz Ibraham) and Lenny Kaye (who has been Patty Smith's guitarist forever). They're all up there so let's talk about some other artists this week.

Nia Archives tends to get classified as an Electronic artist and I don't think that's fair. Yes, there are electric elements to her work, but you can say the same about lots of people. You can really notice it on her new album "Emotional Junglist" in the drums, which tends to have a frenetic pace to them, but I find her music to be pretty straight ahead pop and rock and well worth the effort to give a listen. I've added 3 tracks from the new album this week, so please check them out.

Local Nomad's latest, "Local Nomad & The Soft Rock Orchestra", is a pretty laid back affair overall with lyrics that are at times clever and interesting. I especially like the song "Tinderella" and if you're into this sort of music you might find a kindred spirit here.

Selves' "Breaking Outta Heaven" is a follow-up of sorts to last year's "Breaking Into Heaven". They tend to hop all over the place stylistically and I've always had a soft spot for artists like this. The fact that they are pretty successful at it puts them a good measure against other artists who do the same thing.

At long last Fantastic Negrito's live album "Alive" is finally out and it's a good representation of his live sound. I've added several songs as they've come out as singles over the past few months and have added the opening track this week.

I feel a bit bad about not adding anything from Aaron Lee Tasjan's new album "Get Over It, Underdog" because it's a solid album, but I've added every single from this album as they've come out prior to this week, and I don’t' feel that the rest of the album quite comes to that same standard. That's still 6 songs from the album added over time though, so if you want everything all in one place then the album's for you.

I have to give a shoutout to my friends in Fear 2 Stop, who have released a quirky EP called "8 bits are plenty". A lot of their music is definitely outside the mainstream, but sometime it's not and this week is a good example, with their take on some music from Super Mario Bros.

Finally, I want to introduce you to the band Banda AL9, who have released a new album with updated mixes of prior releases called "Hey! Hey! We're Banda AL9!" The reason for the update is to give proper mixes to English language versions of songs - they are from Brazil and the original releases are in Portuguese. That said, they're among the best jangle-pop bands out there and you should check them out.

And as a p.s., did you know that Daryl Hall and Brian Eno made an album together? It's called Sacred Songs and was eventually released by Hall's label as a solo album with Eno's name practically erased, after having been shelved for quite a while. It's worth checking out - it sounds like pop music from the mid-1980's, which is saying something as it was recorded in the 1970's and released in 1980. An album ahead of its time.

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Congratulations to Spain for winning the World Cup. First country ever to hold both the men's and women's titles at the same time.

Have we (the U.S.) sent anyone to help the Canadians with their fires? They sent help to us last year, and the year before, and more. You know, a good neighbor would help. Of course, the crime administration aren't really interested in being good neighbors.

The crime administration's pick for Governor of Minnesota, who was already a long shot, can't vote for himself. The Pillow Guy is a registered Republican in Texas. I should point out that he doesn't live there either.

Until today I was unaware of the hate leveled at the new movie of "The Odyssey" and director Christopher Nolan by the world's richest pot smoker. Apparently you're not supposed to hire Elliot Page or any non-white women who won't give poor little rich fuck the time of day, or some shit. While I will not ever take advice from a drug addict who can't see past his own dick I wasn't really planning to see the movie anyway. I'm sorry, but I can't see Matt Damon as the lead.

But I could be wrong. I just don't want to sink theater-going money into it.

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And because I love you, I ask the burning question: how many movies do you need to see before you see this one? (I think it's five for me):

Radio Fee California Episode 2628, notes about the music, and he would have liked to have seen Montana

 

New music this week from The Rolling Stones, Fionn, Will Sheff with Okkervil River, U2, Asia, Soul Rash, The Linda Lindas with Hayley Williams, The Temper Trap, Suki Waterhouse, Coach Party and so much more. Enjoy!

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I could not have started this week's playlist in a more contrasting way than having new music from a barely recognizable Asia (only Goeff Downes from the original lineup remains) and new music by U2 (and with Larry Mullins having never left the group after all sill in their original lineup). Asia is still the bombastic band they've always been (and I don't give a damn about your "40-year old Virgin" joke) while U2 sounds as fresh as they have in years. It's quite a contrast between two bands who had their first US successes in the same years.

So this week obviously belongs to The Rolling Stones. Their new album, while not their best by a long shot, certainly isn't bad. It ranks around the "Tattoo You" level of albums, not brilliant but not bad either. Given that the average remaining living members of the band are over 80 years old it's actually pretty impressive that they still sound this good. Unlike bands like The Beatles, the Stones started out as a blues band and there's plenty of evidence on this record that they still remember that, and those are the best moments. As for me, I've always been drawn to the tracks where Keith Richards sings lead, but also to their ballads, including the one that closes out this playlist.

Another album worth your time is the new release from Fionn, called "scum!". If you look at their bio you'll see they call themselves "Replacement Olsen Twins" but that barely scratches the surface of their alt-rocking sound. 

For those of you who love old-fashioned and soulful R&B, I have to recommend The War and Treaty and their new album "The Story of Michael and Tanya", Led by the Husband and Wife team of Michael and Tanya Trotter they have occupied various styles but they're really gone for it here, walking you through their relationship and their ups and downs. Some really great stuff.

I give a couple of local bands (well, local to their scene) some love. MUTT (Oakland) is a great 3 piece that give solid punk/pop music, while Roverto Quiroga mc is Mexico's equivalent of the typical alt-rocker. I've been following both bands for a while and if either of them gets picked up by a good producer they're going to go far.

Finally, Suki Waterhouse's new album "Loveland" has a few good tracks on it. You should give the album a listen and decide for yourself.

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The world has lost a giant with the passing of Sam Niel. The New Zealand actor best known for his role in the Jurassic Park movies as well as a stellar supporting role in Hunt for Red October, and probably the only heavyweight New Zealander to NOT appear in any Lod of the Rings movies.

He was my wife's favorite actor. Whenever he showed up in something she'd say "Vassili", after his character in Hunt for Red October. You might have a favorite movie of his and I will recommend two, "The Piano" and "Until the End of the World".

He wasn't the star of either movie, but neither movie works without him. In "The Piano" he plays the husband of Holly Hunter's mute pianist and the range he possesses in this movie is jaw-dropping. He has turns as both gentle and maniacal, and commits the worst violence and the kindest acts in the film. He was very good at complicated people.

In "Until the End of the World" (which was an early date movie for me and my wife) he is the narrator, slightly unreliable because he has a crush on the lead female character, played in multiple languages by Solveig Dommartin. Other than as a narrator he doesn't even show up in the first act of the film. William Hurt is the male lead, but his motives are difficult to understand for much of the movie. Without Niell holding the movie together many of the scenes don't seem to fit together, but you realize not only that they are all tied together, but his character's perspective matters, even though he's not the male lead.

This movie was my gateway into movies from Wim Wenders.

He lived in San Francisco for a year, filming The Bicentennial Man and the TV series Alcatraz. I first saw him without even knowing who he was in the 3rd Omen movie, where he plays the young antichrist Damien of the previous movies now grown up and in politics. He was Komarovsky in the remake of Dr. Zhivago. More recently he did 12 episodes of Peaky Blinders and a marvelous turn in "Hunt for the Wilderpeople". 

He played the actor who played Odin in "Thor: Ragnarok". 

Yeah, I suppose I was supposed to blog about political shit and the death of a Senator who I particularly disliked, but Sam Niell was someone I cared about, and I will miss that mischievous smile of his. See any of his movies. You will know what I mean.

 And because I love you, here is the video for the new U2 single, which is actually pretty good.

Radio Free California Episode 2627

 

New music this week from Rosa Walton, Low Cut Connie, Baby Richman, Shed Seven, Peter Gabriel, Bryan Adams, Library Card, The Afghan Whigs, David Duchovny (!), Snow Patrol with Kylie Minogue and much more. Enjoy!

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I get asked fairly often where do I find some of these new artists? Sometimes it's just dumb luck, like running across a social media post for Milagro Guerra and her new song "Dopamine". Sometimes its recommendations, sometimes they show up on Discover Weekly on Spotify. Sometimes, the artists find me, like the band Baby Richmond and their debut single "Lights Down", who followed me on Bluesky.

But no one has ever paid me a single penny for placement. I don't accept suggestions. I have to find them myself.

The new album from Low Cut Connie is possibly the best protest album so far this year. There have been a lot of good songs by great artists that we can all roll off but here is a full album of what it's like to be an American right now. "Livin' In The USA" is exactly what it says it is, reminiscent of the rock and roll of Springsteen and others. Well worth your time.

I had never heard of Rosa Walton before this past week and apparently I'm well in the minority given the number of followers she has. Her new album "Tell Me It's A Dream" is a solid effort in a style of alt-pop we haven't heard much of lately.

On Canada Day (July 1 if you didn't know) that stellar Canadian Bryan Adams dropped a protest song called "51st State", which rather nicely tells the Crime Administration to fuck off. I honestly didn't know he had it in him. Bravo.

"Don't Leave Me Here Like That" is now the 4th (5th?) single to drop from Stanley Simmons, the band made up of the sons of Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of Kiss. Unlike their parents they do psychedelic harmonic power pop and we still have another two months to wait before their debut album finally comes out. Each song they release is something new and proof that their vocal harmonies are sharper than you might guess at first listen.

Deep Purple's "Splat!" is finally out, and it's quite frankly a lot more prog rock than I would have suspected. If you go it looking for Richie Blackmore's Deep Purple you won't get it, but their rock and roll hall of fame worthy credentials are on full display here, and it's hard to argue with the results.

Finally, because I love you I am giving you a video that I normally wouldn't because of the religious overtones, but even an old atheistic cynic like myself has to admit that this is pretty damned moving.