New music this week from Olivia Dean, Queen's Pleasure, Deaf Havana, Tessa Rose Jackson, Cory Wong with Cody Fry, Starbenders, Shepherds Reign, Vulfmon, Scandal (the Japanese one), Elujay, The Kites, Angel Names and much more. Enjoy!
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I admit that we're still digging out a few gems from 2025 as we finally start getting new releases in earnest for 2026, but that will diminish over the next few weeks. One album that is definitely a brand new one is The Lighthouse from Tessa Rose Jackson. She is a film composer who splits her time between Amsterdam and London, and has released pop music under the moniker "Someone" but has decided to release music under her own name and the new album is a great and moody piece. If you're looking for a rocker or something to get you on the dance floor this isn't for you, but if you want to have a warm drink and curl up by the fire this is a great album.
One artist I missed from 2025 is Olivia Dean. Her album "The Art of Loving" came out back in September but I admit I would have never heard it if not for YouTube music critic Todd in the Shadows. I went back and gave the album a listen and I have to agree, it's one of the better British R&B albums to come along in a while. I've added two tracks from it to the playlist, and I recommend listening to the whole thing.
There is a song on this playlist that is probably the most unique artist I ever feature, "Toa" by Shepherds Reign. This is a New Zealand-based band that sings in Maori. I know that I'm ignorant of the culture (aside from the opening of any game featuring the All Blacks) and there are likely other bands out there who do this, but this is the one I know, and it looks like they're going to have a new album this year, so stay tuned.
There is an alt-R&B artist on the playlist named Elujay, whose song "Circles" you will find towards the end of the playlist. It might just be me getting old, but I'm not really a fan of the singing style he uses. That said, the songwriting is pretty stellar, and for that alone he deserves a listen. That and his Spotify Profile just says "Dachsund Dad".
Joseph, despite their name, is a pop-pop/rock outfit from Oregon with some success under their belt already. They've been releasing and stacking up singles for the past year - so much so that their "singles" have as many as eight songs on them. You should check them out.
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Where are the Epstein Files, motherfuckers?
Two murders in Minnesota in the space of a month by Federal Agents, and no arrests. I recognize that making arrests is difficult when the Federal Government is destroying evidence, but how about Obstruction charges? You want to impress me? Start arresting these balaclava-wearing terrorists hiding in Federal clothing.
I do admit that there are two stories in this whole fucking mess that give me hope:
1) Republican Chris Madel has dropped out of the race for Minnesota Governor, calling what's happening in his state an abomination, and that he can't be part of a party that does this shit.
2) Reverend Rob Schenck, one of the leaders in moving this country towards Christian Fascism as founder of Faith and Action in the Nation’s Capital set in motion the very things that got power couples and rich people in Washington DC to convert to Conservatism which was then hijacked by MAGA et. al. to supporting Fascists... (that was terribly constructed but you see the point)... well the man has seen the light. He disbanded his organization, gave his considerable wealth away (he earns a living driving for Uber instead of running a Megachurch) and is trying to repair the damage. He joined the protestors in Minneapolis. To those who say that god sometimes uses flawed men for his good works, I point out that before he gives them those works he FIXES them.
So hope does linger, although both of these men have a long way to go.
Given his comments after a conversation with Governor Walz, whose reputation he has spent a couple of years trashing, I notice that the head of the Crime Administration tends to agree with whomever he spoke with most recently. He has even gone so far as to demote the Nazi dress alike that was running the operation in Minnesota. Quite the Zelig, our President. (Oooh, a Woody Allen reference comparing to the President? Read into that what you will).
Yes, it's true. Fox "News" really did run a chyron that said that the administration "...Cuts U.S. Aid to 3 Mexican Countries."
These are not the best of times.
And because I love you, and yes I've played this one before, but here is my own song, Love Locks:
New music this week from Cory Wong, Ash, Ellur, Man/Woman/Chainsaw, HUNNY, covers by both Ghost and The Beaches, Peter Gabriel dropping a very different mix of the single from just 2 weeks ago, Alice Merton, ISTA, Angel Names and much more. Enjoy!
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Ash is a band that's been together for a long time now, and their latest export from Northern Ireland is "Ad Astra", a witty and strong album full of hooks and just basic rock and roll. We've added a couple of tracks from the album to the playlist this week and I think you'll enjoy them.
Canadian artist Alice Marton graces us with a new album called "Visions", full of gently (and occasionally not so gentle) pop full of heart and life. We've added a couple of songs from this album as well.
Man/Woman/Chainsaw gets my absolute respect for the best new idea for a band name I've run across in a while, and their music backs it up. They've mostly been releasing singles as of late and the song "Only Girl" has been added to the playlist. They're eclectic - they do not stick to any one style and if you're adventurous you should check them out. They'll change direction with each new track.
A couple of unlikely but worth it covers come this week: "It's A Sin", which is Ghost's cover of the Pet Shop Boys hit, and The Beaches cover "I Ran (So Far Away)" which was a hit for Flock of Seagulls back in the day.
I will also note that just like his last album, Peter Gabriel is releasing two version of each song from his next album - "Dark Side" mixes released every full moon and "Bright Side" mixes every new moon. This leads to the release of the "Bright Side" version of "Been Undone" and it's a very different mix. You'll want to compare and contrast, I promise you.
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If we invade Greenland we have to give up our claim to the U.S. Virgin Islands and either let them become independent or give them back to the Danish. There's a treaty. This would include Epstein's private island by the way.
Mark Davis, a congressional candidate in Florida, bought the domain "Nazi.us" and implanted a re-direct that takes you to the website of the Department of Homeland Security. Try it yourself.
It does feel like we're doing a speedrun of Germany's invasions of the late 1930's and early 1040's, doesn't it?
We might already know by the time I publish this, but is the 11th Airborne being put on standby to invade Minnesota or Greenland?
Rasmus Jarlov is a member of the Danish Parliment. He was interviewed by ms.now (formerly msnbc) and they played a clip from Stephen Miller about the US position on Greenland and... here are his exact words: “I hope he’s kept away from young women, because that’s the mentality of a rapist. You can’t defend yourself, so I’m going to take you. That’s basically what he’s saying.” Chef's kiss.
The new/old guy's letter to Denmark really comes across like the monologue by Don John in Much Ado About Nothing. A coincidence, I'm sure.
I have to admit that typing "the new/old guy" instead of saying his name does get tedious. I think from now on I will refer to them as "The Crime Administration".
And because I love you, here is a recent full concert from Nanook, a band based in Greenland that is so successful on their home turf that more than 1 in every 10 people in the country owns their debut album. I have huge respect for them because the refused a record deal because the label wanted them to sing in English. They don't.
New music this week from Glom, J.H.M., The Cords, Sydney Sprague, Bruno Mars, Vulfmon, Luis Cato, The Sherlocks, The Protomen, Bad//Dreams, Frute, Cameron Sonnier, Charli Lucas, Bottle Rockets and much more. Enjoy!
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I've been turning people on to the artist known as Glom for a while now. Glom is a Brooklyn based indie band that is part 90's alternative, part pop, part shoegaze, and very creative at melding all those sounds. They've been releasing singles for quite a while now but have finally released a full album called "Below". Over the course of time I have added 8 of the 10 tracks on my playlists. Highly recommended.
Sydney Sprague describes herself as moving "through life with guitar in one hand and an anxiety disorder in the other." What she has is great songs going in directions you might not expect. Her first album, "maybe i will see you at the end of the world" would get notice for the title alone, but she has earned respect from the critics and is putting in a pretty heavy touring schedule. Her new album "Peak Experience" is no sophomore slump, and it's very much worth your time.
The Protomen have at long last released "Act III" in the ongoing saga that makes up much of the band's material. Subtitled "The City Made Us" this is yet another unpredictable and captivating winding through the streets that only the Protomen could live in, an if you're a fan of their hijinks you should really check them out.
For those of you who listen to the Radio Station I will point out that there is a an extra track. My friend and British Synthwave artist Kiffie release as a single the song "Stand By", as a response to some of the horrific stuff happening in the US and elsewhere. It's available through his bandcamp page, https://kiffie.bandcamp.com/. You should also check out the collection of protest songs known as "The Weapon and the Shield" that he put together and that we're both on. https://theweaponandtheshield.bandcamp.com/
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It's really difficult to put into words just how incredibly crazy these past 12 days have been as an American. We've been watching the current administration go from "leaning Nazi" to "Full Nazi" and now that they're actually quoting Stasi propaganda as if those are American values we have to admit it, we live in the Nazi States of America.
And ICE agent murdered a woman just trying to drive. The video you see that actually shows the real intent and motive from the shooter that you may have seen on the news or on the internet came from his own phone. And it's not the first time an ICE agent has killed since this madness began.
Armed thugs are going door to door looking for illegals. We're at the "hide our neighbors in the attic" stage of the process now. Suddenly our neighbors are Anne Frank and her family.
We invaded another country, kidnapped their president, and our "leader" is now claiming we run the country - despite the fact that we have no people there to actually administrate anything.
And let's not forget that the current "Commander in Chief" is a raging pedophile. The evidence is right there people.
I have rarely been as conscious of the privilege that I hold in being a White Male in this country.
And I'm having a difficult time telling the difference between the government crackdown on the protesters in Iran and the government crackdown on the protesters in Minnesota.
I have many friends who live overseas. At the moment 3 of my bandmates live outside of the US. I have family overseas in Europe, Canada, New Zealand... and I find the attraction compelling. But my friends who live overseas don't understand why we don't just take to the streets and get the bums thrown out. You know, a general strike or tractors in the streets of Washington or millions upon millions marching.
The thing is, many governments overseas are designed to be forced to respond to such things. The American political system doesn't. It doesn't have to, because elections are on a fixed schedule, and the current checks and balances are so weak that they might as well not even exist. Until elections happen there isn't much that can be done.
So we have another year of this. We're not going to survive another year of this. Not without scars.
And because I love you, have something nice that from Minneapolis:
New music from Peter Gabriel, Chris Reed and the Anime Raiders, Silk Daisys, senses, Mini Trees, Rocket, Maya Sakamoto, Squeeze, Ryan Adams, Bluhm, GUV, Maggie Lindermann with The Warning, Ergo, Bria and much more. Welcome to 2026, and Enjoy!
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Well we didn't have to wait very long this time for new music from Peter Gabriel (it was 3 years instead of 16). Like with his last album "i/o" he will be releasing new tracks from "o/i" on every full moon, and I'm guessing every new moon as well given he's doing both "Darkside" and "Brightside" mixes again. Given his 50 year SOLO career it's great to hear he's still doing amazing things.
There are actually only a few releases in 2026 so far. There's the Peter Gabriel song of course my song and a couple more, but most of the music this week was released in 2025. This brief break before the dam bursts and we're flooded with new music (usually the third week of January) gave me a chance to dive into albums I've missed and overlooked. There is always great stuff that out there but these days you do have to go looking for it.
Silk Daisys, who were going to be the opener this week until Peter Gabrial dropped his surprise single, are a band out of Atlanta Georgia and their sound evokes what was coming out of Georgia back in the 1980's, and that's a good thing. Their debut album is out now, and they're encouraging folks to buy it from bandcamp, so I will encourage that as well.
senses is a duo from somewhere, who claim they met on Craigslist. I actually discovered them in YouTube, where I saw a live clip of them performing the song "tiptoeing", which is a pop-rock banger. So I dug into them a bit and while their output mostly consists of singles and EPs their stuff is high-quality, and worth your time if you like this type of music.
Mini Trees call themselves "Living Room Pop" and I suppose that's as good a label as any. They sound to me like a slightly more upbeat version of Billie Eilish, and it works. I didn't like every track on their new album "Slow It Down" but I liked enough tracks to include them in this week's playlist.
Rocket's new album "R is for Rocket" came as a surprise to me. I had heard them before but had never thought their work was all that special. That changes with their new release, from which I've added more than one song to the playlist. This is one of those bands that you need to go back to and give it another listen. You won't regret it.
GUV has been around a while, although under different names. He was Young GUV and before that Young Governor, but as he explains it, "first as Young Governor, then Young Guv, and now GUV (“I'm not so young anymore, three letter band names are cool, and I'm tired of being mistaken for a rapper.” He is also still a member of No Warning. His new single is so solid that I think of it as what we used to call "double-sided A" and I've added both songs to the playlist.
Some other releases worth noting is new music from Squeeze, who appear to be in the midst of releasing a concept album, YUNGBLUD apparently leaving Aerosmith behind to hook up with Smashing Pumpkins, and I must admit that I'm in there as well, as the closing track. I'll talk about that separately.
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Okay, there is so fucking much wrong and to unpack about the new/old guy's invasion of Venezuela that I may go on for a bit here.
First of all, it's illegal. Most White Houses run their operations by at least a few lawyers before they take action, but whomever they're getting advice from is criminally bad and should be disbarred. More likely it's just another toady who would rather give the man a blow job than admit they don't know what they're doing or go against the grain.
Second of all, this is the exact type of order that Senators such as Mark Kelly warned against. While the operation was carried out, it is worth noting that Admiral Alvin Holsey, the man in charge of Southern Command, did resign shortly before this plan was executed and that his replacement, Air Force Lt. Gen. Evan L. Pettus, is from a different branch of the Military.
Third, we've kidnapped a leader of a foreign nation. Despite everything the administration is saying, his Vice President and the same people are running the country and not us. Yes, the man was under indictment in the U.S. but this isn't the way you get people to come stand trial.
Fourth, we've apparently decided just how much oil is worth going to war over. While others in the administration keep saying different things the man at the top, who just can't keep a secret, said outright that we're going to confiscate all the oil.
Fifth, we may have just turned over the moral high ground to China, because all they have to do is NOT invade Taiwan while Russia and the U.S. invade other countries. That's going to play big on the international scene.
Sixth, this operation is all Putin need to justify invading Ukraine. This is something the new/old guy has wanted to do for a while anyway, but both us and them have seats on the Security Council.
Seventh, what's to stop ANYONE from trying to do this to us? This administration has been committing war crimes, and if indicted at The Hague this action has set the precedent of allowing anyone else to come and kidnap him to stand trial. The man spends half of his time living at a Golf Course. How hard could it be?
Eighth, this seems have given Ambassador Hucksterbee the impetus to say that Iran is also on the table. I should point out this this right-wing batshit-crazy "Christian" is the ambassador to a Jewish nation talking about the overthrow of a Muslim one. Remember, this fuckstain wants the Apocalypse to happen.
Ninth, they have named Cuba, Greenland, Mexico and sometimes even Canada as "Next". All of this is insane. We tried to invade Cuba once, and it went quite badly and came the closest to World War III as we've ever come. How are we supposed to hold Mexico if they keep claiming that we can't even secure the border between the two of us? Greenland? They're part of the Kingdom of Denmark, a part of NATO. And Canada I should remind you, is still technically owned by the British even though they operate in complete autonomy. It's like they're begging to be indicted at The Hague. Did Jack Smith return there?
Tenth, from the interviews given thus far by Cabinet level officials it is obvious that most of these people are unqualified for their jobs. None of them understand in any way that they have ALL committed crimes here. But special attention should be given to Whiskey Pete Hegsbreath. In his interview with the new CBS "Anchor" (it was clear that he wasn't interesting in anything other than giving a blowjob on air, and he started his job a day early to do it) it was quite clear that he has no idea what happens next.
Eleventh, we're not running Venezuela. Their government still stand, they have an interim President who was the Vice President, and their entire political structure is unchanged. They also haven't surrendered, and we didn't leave troops behind to enforce anything.
12th, the new/old guy keeps saying the oil countries are going to run things. How? They don't have any infrastructure for such a thing in the country, and the oil still belongs to Venezuela. They can stop it from being sold, but anything else means troops on the ground, and lots of them, to enforce this. It will only be American troops as well, because there is no way that any of this gets U.N. approved. OH, and has any of the Oil Companies in question said that they want to do this?
13th, among the crimes Venezuelan President Maduro has been charged with is "Ownership of a Machine Gun". If he bought it before 1986 it's legal, but this is a US Federal Crime. In order to get a conviction he will have needed to own it at some point while in the United States. As near as I can tell he has only been in the US once before, in 2006 to address the U.N. General Assembly. Did he have it then? Did they let him have a machine gun while in transit to New York?
14th, They abducted Maduro and his wife, Cilia Adela Flores de Maduro, but the indictment unsealed over the weekend also named their son Nicolás Ernesto Maduro Guerra. I notice he wasn't brought with them. He is a sitting member of Venezuela’s National Assembly. Also indicted is Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosado Cabello. They didn't abduct him either.
15th, You may not have been aware of this, but the people we kidnapped and brought to New York for trial weren't Mirandized. They were not read their rights. The judge may have to toss the case on a technicality. At the very least there is grounds for an appeal and at most there isn't even a pretense of a fair trial, which is about the most American thing ever.
More to follow, I'm sure.
#EpsteinFiles. I will be adding this hashtag to every political post I make for the time being. The White House says the Canada is difficult to work with. Canda responds with our President is a pedophile.
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I sincerely hope you're vaccinated against Measles. A super-spreader event has happened at that idiotic Creationist Noah's Ark exhibit in Kentucky. Even if immunized there is a phenomenon called "Immunization Amnesia" that you should be aware of.
Also, the new/old guy's multitasking is again involved in projects that have nothing to do with the country: the remodel of "The Presidential Golf Course", which is at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. Remember when prior Presidents played golf? It was usually there. The new/old guy has never played there.
For those of you who pay any attention to the Daily Wire (I don't) it's worth pointing out that their host called International Law "fake and gay". Don't get your news from pre-teens.
Please stop giving praise to MTG while she's still in congress just because she's against the actions in Venezuela and she's had a very small awakening. She's still the same anti-trans pro-forced birth jackass she's always been. She's a monster. Insert parable about a broken clock here.
In a brilliant fake, Ukraine tricked Russia to giving them Half a Million Dollars, all of which went to the war effort.
I am noticing a rightward shift in how arguments are being framed at the former msnbc, now called ms now. Waiting to see how Rachel Maddow weighs in tonight.
By the way, have you seen the New Year's Eve data dump of the Jack Smith congressional testimony? The new/old guy should be in a prison sell. It's all there.
Did you also notice that the "secure room" where the operation was run from was in a curtained off space in the White House (I assume) and not the Situation Room? That ongoing operations are being run from a golf course in Florida?
By the way, as of 5:30PM Pacific Standard Time there isn't a single Epstein story on the front pages at ms.now or cnn.com. Think about where you get your news from. Even fucking CBS.com still had one story.
Sean Austin, Sam himself, is now the President of the Screen Actor's Guild.
Grok Can't Apologize. So Why Do Headlines Keep Saying It Did? Simplified version: Any post from Grok that isn't a response to a prompt from a Xitter user is being written and posted by a human being.
This administration is one of violence. The receipts:
Did anyone else see that Mexico ran a commercial during the Critic's Choice awards for their avocados?
By the way, the chief opposition leader of Venezuela is María Corina Machado, who the current administration has ruled out for running things for the US in Venezuela. The reason why is that she won the Nobel Peace Prize that the new/old guy so coveted. He's a jealous bitch.
Venezuelans deported from the US under this administration can now apply for refugee status and return. So, to quote a person I know, "all those people we were rounding up at the places of work and deporting last week can now apply for refugee status to the USA from USA since we're running Venezuela now? Something something frying pan, fire."
Did you know there was a futures market that wagered on the potential scenario that came to pass over the past few days? One single anonymous person invested $50K and made nearly half a million. Insider trading, anyone?
Why is the new/old guy getting IV drips every day?
So Tim Walz is dropping out of the race for a second term as Governor of Minnesota, and that's a shame. Run for President, Mr. Walz. I'd vote for you.
I spent some time in Europe this past fall and let me tell you, every time someone found out that I'm an American the look of sadness and pity that came over people faces...
Hilton Hotels have cancelled room reservations for ICE personnel, so... yay?!?
The new/old guy has said vile shit about people who have died in the past few days, including a legislator in Minnesota and a Kennedy. Fuck dat guy.
The Speaker of the House, Milquetoast Johnson, and his crew's days seem to be numbered. Don't hold your breath though.
It appears that instead of court-martialing Senator Mark Kelly Secretary of Booze Pete Hegsbreath will instead be reducing his rank. Keep in mind that Kelly retired from the military at the rank of Captain. I'm speaking out of turn here as I never served in the military, but shouldn't the rank you retire at be the rank you keep?
And because I love you, here is "Love Locks" from my new album Frankfurt am Main.
