INDISPENSABLE NEW MUSIC PICKS
December 2022
Kristine England
December 31, 2022 at 5:00:00 PM
Cat Clyde
I first discovered Cat Clyde when writing a piece for the Rosie G. spot. I loved her voice and her plaintive lyrics with an uncanny universal appeal as well as her classic country guitar twang. She’s previewing a track from her upcoming album, Down Rounder, due in February. I drop what I’m doing when I see her name and head to the nearest music site.
FEATURED TRACK: "Mystic Light"
Snotty Nose Rez Kids
The First Nations hip-hop duo met in high school growing up in a Haisla village in British Columbia. Darren "Young D" Metz and Quinton "Yung Trybez" Nyce combined forces and released their debut album in 2017, earning plenty of plaudits for telling honest and humorous stories. Now they're on album number five and show no signs of easing up.
FEATURED TRACK: “Damn Right”
Cheap Trick
Live at the Whisky 1977
Oh, to have a Wayback Machine to check out these sets! I’ve always considered Cheap Trick to be one of the most underrated bands of all time. The songs are tight, well-crafted rock. Their sound is distinctive. They employ humor to great effect while also tackling weightier topics from time to time. “He’s a Whore” is one of my favorites from their debut album, a record more people should listen to. It’s SO good.
FEATURED TRACK: “He’s a Whore”
Frank Zappa
Waka/Wazoo
If there is a new Zappa release, I can’t just ignore it. This four CD box set recounts the recording of the Waka/Jawaka and Grand Wazoo albums during his “Electric Orchestra” period. An added bonus is the inclusion of a live set from December, 1972 at San Francisco’s Winterland Ballroom and previously-unreleased Zappa-produced George Duke demos.
FEATURED TRACK: “Psychosomatic Dung" (George Duke Demo)
IDLES
Five Years of Brutalism
Has it REALLY been five years since IDLES graced us with its debut album, Brutalism? Since then, they’ve become one of the most important bands of our times. Here’s to many more increments of five to come of raw, unadultered awesomeness. This reissue of Brutalism also features a live set from the BBC Introducing Stage at Glastonbury in 2022.
FEATURED TRACK: "1049 Gotho"
