ThisSmallPlanet.com Cool New Music Playlist Spring 2024 (March/April/May)

(UPDATED APRIL 21, 2024)

BEAST NEW ALBUMS

The Libertines. All Quiet On The Eastern Esplanade. One of the best British rock bands of our time is back and firing on all cylinders. A good excuse to listen, along with the new release, to their first two albums, Up The Bracket (2002) and The Libertines (2004). The likely lads also recently did cool covers of Buddy Holly's "That'll Be The Day" and Love's "Alone Again Or".

Various Artists. The Power Of The Heart: A Tribute To Lou Reed. [Light In The Attic] April 19, 2024. Feat. artists such as Angel Olsen, Keith Richards, Rufus Wainwright, and Joan Jett. 

Pearl Jam. Dark Matter. Not bad. I've heard it called "the last Pearl Jam album". If so, going out on a high note. Eddie Vedder says it's the best Pearl Jam record ever. Maybe he's right.

The Black Keys. Ohio Players. Good album with some good songs.

Cloud Nothings. Final Summer. 

T-Bone Burnett. The Other Side.

Cedric Burnside. Hill Country Love. The late Bluesman extraordinaire R.L. Burnside played with rockers such as The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. His grandson Cedric carries the proud family legacy into the 21st century.

Waxahatchee. Tigers Blood. Sure to be one of the album's of the year. Following up the Americana flavor of 2020's breakthrough album St. Cloud (we especially liked the  St. Cloud bonus tracks, which included a stellar cover of Dolly Parton's "Light Of A Clear Blue Morning").

Tigers Blood was produced by Brad Cook and features Katie Crutchfield (lead and harmony vocals, acoustic guitar, high bass guitar), Wednesday's MJ Lenderman (electric guitar, drone guitar, baritone acoustic guitar, harmony and group vocals), Phil Cook (Dobro, organ, piano, banjo, harmonica, marimba, accordion, electric slide, group vocals), Brad Cook (bass guitar, Prophet 6 synth, low bass guitar, baritone acoustic guitar, group vocals), Spencer Tweedy (drums, percussion, Mellotron, cedar plank, cymbal, harmony and group vocals), Nick Bockrath (pedal steel) and Natalia Chernitsky (group vocals).

Adrianne Lenker. I Won't Let Go Of Your Hand (EP) & Bright Future (LP).

Big Thief's lead singer Adrianne Lenker currently has two new releases. Her new acoustic EP, I Won't Let Go Out Your Hand, is an intimate 6-song collection of demos rush-released to benefit the Palestine Children's Relief Fund www.pcrf.net. It's available now on Bandcamp.  

Lenker had already been scheduled to release her fifth solo album, Bright Future, and it's great!

Here's Adrianne on The Tonight Show performing Bright Future's "Free Treasure"....

 

Adrianne & Big Thief caught first many people's attention with performances such as the powerful 2019 number "Not"...

 

Gary Clark, Jr. JPEG RAW. Great blues guitarist, equally at home with funk, soul, R&B, hiphop, pop, and rock. The retro sounds sound quite current, somehow. Stellar guest stars include Valerie June and Stevie Wonder.

Beyonce. Cowboy Carter. Worth checking out.

Vampire Weekend. Only God Was Above Us. They hadn't caught my attention before, but this album is pretty good actually.

Charles Moothart. Black Holes Don't Choke. Ty Segall collaborator rocks out. Dark and Powerful. And then there's that title song...

Peter Garrett. The True North. You may remember him from his explosive 1987 hit with Midnight Oil, "Beds Are Burning". In Australia he's known as an environmental activist, an advocate for indigenous rights, and for serving in Parliament and as a government minister. He's back at age 70 with a new solo album.

Midnight Oil (feat Peter Garrett): "Beds Are Burning" (1987)

The Dandy Warhols. Rockmaker. Hard rocking album from the beloved Portland indie rock vets.

Charlie Parr. Little Sun. Americana at its best.

Mark Knopfler. One Deep River. Very good album from a great guitarist.

Phosphorescent. Revelator. Check it out.

Kacey Musgraves. Deeper Well. Is this country star trying to channel Phoebe Bridgers and boygenius? Maybe...

Ride. Interplay. Shoegaze is apparently making a comeback this year, and Ride is finally getting the recognition they always deserved.

Sleater-Kinney. Frayed Rope Sessions (EP). Cool versions of songs from the Little Rope album.

BEAT NEW SINGLES

Fontaines D.C. "Starburster"

 

The Libertines. "Oh Shit"

Waxahatchee. "Right Back To It" (feat MJ Lenderman from Wednesday)

Adrianne Lenker. "Sadness As A Gift"

Adrianne Lenker. "Vampire Empire". Closer to the original arrangement than the previously released Big Thief version and the one they performed live on Colbert. Here's a lively live version from London in April 2023.

 

Gary Clark, Jr. "What About The Children" (feat Stevie Wonder)

The Dandy Warhols. "I Will Never Stop Loving You" (feat Debbie Harry)

Mdou Moctar. "Imouhar"

Kneecap: "Fine Art"

Arab Strap. "Strawberry Moon"

John Cale. "How We See The Light".

Charles Moothart. "Black Holes Don't Choke"

Maxim Ludwig & Angel Olsen. "I Can't Stand It" (Lou Reed cover)

St. Vincent. "Flea".

Iron & Wine. "Anyone's Game".

Orville Peck & WIllie Nelson. "Cowboys Are Frequently Secretly Fond Of Each Other"

Jake Xerxes Fussell. "Going To Georgia"

BEST ARCHIVAL

Pavement. Cautionary Tales: Jukebox Classiques. The singles and B-sides. Very cool. I thought I had heard everything Pavement did, but there are some songs here I'd never heard before. Great to hear Malkmus & Crew in top form.

Stevie Wonder. Live in Berkeley 1973. Yes!

Bruce Springsteen. Best Of Bruce Springsteen. Do we really need any excuse to listen to classic Bruce? Forgive us if we focus on the early hits and skip over the newer stuff. Sorry. But it is awesome to hear those classics any old time.

Various Artists. The New Demesne. Field Recordings By Alan Lomax, Ireland 1951. In 1951, American folklorist Alan Lomax recorded several important folk musicians in Ireland. Those excellent recordings, collected on The New Demesne, are now available on Bandcamp:

Vampire Weekend "Peggy-O"

Been checking out "Sacred Steel", the steel slide guitar (lap and pedal) played in Black churches. Amazing!

Highly Anticipated Forthcoming Releases

St. Vincent. All Born Screaming. [Total Pleasure]. April 26, 2024.

Iron & Wine. Light Verse. [Sub Pop] April 26, 2024.

Mdou Moctar. Funeral For Justice. [Matador]. May 3, 2024. African desert blues.

Arab Strap. I'm Totally Fine With It... [Rock Action]. May 10, 2024.

Shellac. To All Trains. [Touch And Go]. May 17, 2024. Feat. super-producer Steve Albini. First new release in a decade.

Diiv. Frog in Boiling Water. [Fantasy]. May 24, 2024.

Richard Thompson. Ship To Shore. [New West] May 31, 2024.

Fontaines DC, Massive Attack, Young Fathers. Ceasefire EP (Vinyl Only). [Battle Box] Benefit for Doctors Without Borders. Get it at  Bandcamp. Release delayed until late May/early June. (The original release date of March 1, 2024 was previously delayed until April 1, 2024.)

John Cale. - POPtical Illusion. [Double Six / Domino] June 14, 2024. Velvet Underground's cellist/bassist returns.

Jake Xerxes Fussell. When I'm Called. [Fat Possum] July 12, 2024. Folk songs based on traditional tunes. Brilliant.

Fontaines D.C. Romance. [XL] August 23, 2024. Ireland's best band's fourth album promises to be very different and take them to another level.

                                                Wednesday "Tiny Desk Concert"

                                           The Small Faces "What'Cha Gonna Do About It", Beat club, 1966

                                         Heavy Rotation: Hurray For The Riff Raff: "Hawkmoon"

                                            Heavy Rotation: Kneecap "It's Been Ages"

Kim Gordon: "Bye Bye" live on Jimmy Kimmel

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Tribute to Sinead and Shane Rehearsal, Carnegie Hall, NYC, March 19, 2024

People's Park & Jack Kerouac's Grave

In recent days, I have visited two iconic sites associated with the Sixties: People's Park in Berkeley and Jack Kerouac's grave in Lowell, Massachusetts. 

People's Park has been a symbol of resistance for over 50 years. In December 2023, the University of California brought in shipping containers to block public access to the Park.

TO BE CONTINUED

People's Park Shipping Container Wall: Video

ThisSmallPlanet.com BEST MUSIC OF 2024 (So Far)(Jan Feb Mar)

BEST MUSIC OF 2024 (So Far) (UPDATED: March 16, 2024)

BEST SINGLES (Click on song titles to link their YouTube videos)

Adrianne Lenker. "Sadness As A Gift" & "Fool". Cool solo efforts from Big Thief's singer.

Buck Meek. "Cuero Dudes" & "Beauty Opens Door". Outtakes from Big Thief's guitarist's cool solo album.

Caroline Polachek. "Butterfly Net" (feat Weyes Blood). 

Charles Moothart. "One Wish" & "Roll". Ty Segall collaborator's solo album rocks a lot!

Dry Cleaning.  "Sit Down Meal"

Faye Webster. "Lego Ring" (feat Lil Yachty). 

Hurray For The Riff Raff. "Alibi" & "Hawkmoon". Speaks to the moment.

J Mascis. "Right Behind You" & "Can't Believe We're Here". New, forthcoming album from Dinosaur Jr. vet indie rocker is fantastic! His recent cover of Phoebe Bridgers' "Motion Sickness" is cool too...

Kim Gordon. "Bye Bye". & "I'm A Man". Sonic Youth? Team Kim here.

Kneecap. "Sick In The Head". Can't get these Belfast bilingual rappers out of my head.

Laura Jane Grace. "Hole In My Head". 

Mdou Moctar. "Funeral For Justice". Sahel desert blues recalls Hendrix while rocking the casbah.

Ride. "Peace Sign". Vet Shoegazers return in a slow blaze of something resembling glory.

St. Vincent. "Broken Man". 

Ty Segall. "My Best Friend" & "Eggman" & "Void"

The Vaccines. "Discount De Kooning (Last One Standing)". New album is bright and fun.

Waxahatchee. "Bored" &  "Right Back To It" (feat MJ Lenderman of Wednesday). MJ "Jake" Lenderman is suddenly everywhere and not a moment too soon. The new Waxahatchee album promises to send her even further into the stratosphere.

Yard Act. "We Make Hits" & "When The Laughter Stops"

BEAST ALBUMS (I MEAN BEST ALBUMS)....

Sleater-Kinney. Little Rope. Your girlfriends are back and we're gonna be in trouble...

The Vaccines. Pick-Up Full Of Pink Carnations.

Gruff Rhys. Sadness Sets Me Free.

Ty Segall. Three Bells. One of the best hard rockers out there today.

J. Mascis. What We Do Now. Nice solo effort from Dinosaur Jr. vet indie rocker.

Paul McCartney & Wings. Band on the Run (Underdubbed Mixes). Macca's 1973 classic seen (or more precisely, heard) in a new light.

Friko. Where We've Been, We Go From Here.

Brittany Howard. What Now. Alabama Shakes frontwoman's second solo album explores a contemporary versions of classic 70s soul and funk. She said her next album might be a tribute to the metal she listened to as a teen.

Gary Clark. JPEG RAW Sampler. Great blues guitarist, equally at home with funk, soul, pop, and rock.

Can. Ege Bamyasi (1972) & Live in Paris 1973. Damo Suzuki, the Japanese signer of the German band Can, passed away recently, providing the perfect opportunity to give classic Can a play. 

The Smile. Wall Of Eyes. Side project featuring Radiohead's Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood.

Liam Gallagher & John Squire. Liam Gallagher & John Squire. The singer of Oasis and guitarist from The Stone Roses unite to produce this.

Idles. Tangk. A triumph from one of England's top newish hard rock bands.

Grandaddy. Blu Wav.

Laura Jane Grace. Hole In My Head. No compromise.

MGMT. Loss Of Life.

Mary Timony. Untame The Tiger. Loved her in Wild Flag with Carrie Brownstein. She's great here too.

Hurray For The Riff Raff. The Past Is Still Alive.

Yard Act. Where's My Utopia? 

Mannequin Pussy. I Got Heaven 

Faye Webster. Underdressed At The Symphony.

Kaiser Chiefs. Kaiser Chiefs' East Eighth Album.

Kim Gordon. The Collective.

Jesus And Mary Chain. Glasgow Eyes.

 Highly Anticipated Forthcoming Releases

Charles Moothart. Black Holes Don't Choke. [Into The Red]. March 8, 2024. Ty Segall bandmate's cool new solo album.

Adrianne Lenker. I Won't Let Go Out Your Hand. Available on Bandcamp March 11, 2024. It's a six-song benefit EP from Big Thief's lead singer for the Palestine Children's Relief Fund.  www.pcrf.net

Peter Garrett. The True North. [Sony] March 15, 2024. Solo effort for Midnight Oil's frontman, a unique and energetic Australian activist and singer.

The Dandy Warhols. Rockmaker [Sunset Blvd.] March 15, 2024.

Waxahatchee. Tigers Blood. [Anti-] March 22, 2024. The first single is "Right Back To It" feat MJ Lenderman (of Wednesday) on guitar and harmony vocals.

Adrianne Lenker. Bright Future [4AD] March 22, 2024. Big Thief singer's solo album.

Gary Clark, Jr. JPEG RAW. [Warner] March 22, 2024.

Ride. Interplay. [Wichita Recordings] March 29, 2024. Shoegaze is making a comeback.

Fontaines DC, Massive Attack, Young Fathers. Ceasefire EP (Vinyl Only). [Battle Box] See Bandcamp. April 1, 2024 (delayed from March 1, 2024).

The Libertines. All Quiet on the Eastern Esplanade [Casablanca/Republic] April 5, 2024.

Cedric Burnside. Hill Country Love. [Port] April 5, 2024.

St. Vincent. All Born Screaming. [Total Pleasure]. April 26, 2024.

Iron & Wine. Light Verse. [Sub Pop] April 26, 2024.

Mdou Moctar. Funeral For Justice. [Matador]. May 3, 2024.

Arab Strap. I'm Totally Fine With It... [Rock Action]. May 10, 2024.

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