INDISPENSABLE NEW MUSIC PICKS
June 2022
Kristine England
Jun 30, 2022
Frank Zappa
Zappa/Erie
Zappa freaks can rejoice! In the unlikely event they feel Frank didn’t release enough music, they can listen to three complete Mothers’ shows from the early to the mid-70s with songs from Freak Out, Bongo Fury, Apostrophe, and beyond. This is one of my top 5 favorite songs by the great man.
FEATURED TRACK: "Stink-Foot"
Wire
Not About to Die
The release of Wire’s debut album, Pink Flag, ushered in the era of post-punk and influenced countless bands. Its follow-up album, Chairs Missing, signaled a change in direction. Not About to Die is culled from a series of bootleg tapes recorded during the intervening years hints at the group's evolution.
FEATURED TRACK: "Stepping Off Too Quick (Not About To Die)"
Patty Griffin
Tape
Patty Griffin first hooked up with Robert Plant (both musically and romantically) after joining Band of Joy. The featured track from her latest release, Tape, is one of their musical pairings. After nine studio recordings, Griffin sifted through her demo tapes, choosing 10 old tracks to share with fans.
FEATURED TRACK: "Don't Mind" (feat. Robert Plant)
Bryan Senti
Manu
Every genre appears to have a post or neo subgenre these days, and classical music is no exception. Violinst Bryan Senti has released his first post-classical record, Manu, indigenous folk influences from Colombia and Cuba (celebrating the music of his parents’ native countries) in a less formal setting.
FEATURED TRACK: "Manu"
LIFE
North East Coastal Town
LIFE has released its third album, North East Coastal Town offering some post-punk likely influenced by Wire and the Fall as well. The group considers this record a love letter to the group’s hometown of Hull, UK.
FEATURED TRACK: "Big Moon Lake"
Hollie Cook
Happy Hour
A member of the reformed punk-reggae band, the Slits, Hollie Cook has an interesting musical pedigree. Daughter of Sex Pistols drummer Paul Cook and goddaughter of Culture Club's Boy George, she's a purveyor of Lovers Rock, a reggae sub-genre that's less rasta politics and more love.
FEATURED TRACK: "Happy Hour"
Mt. Joy
Orange Blood
Another band that put the pandemic touring lull to good use, psychedelic folk band Mt. Joy crafted its third album Orange Blood uncertain times. The contemplative title track was inspired by a trip to the Joshua Tree National Park, celebrating the desert sunset and living for the moment, or as the band puts it, tapping “into our subconscious and just sit still on this beautiful planet and be present.”
FEATURED TRACK: "Orange Blood"
Tim Bernardes
Mil Coisas Invisíveis
Brazilian singer-songwriter Tim Bernardes has collaborated with Gal Costa, Fleet Foxes, and David Byrne. On Mil Coisas Invisíveis. He plays most of the instruments himself (guitar, bass, keyboards, and percussion) and arranging the horns and strings on stripped-down, folky record.
FEATURED TRACK: "Nascer, Viver, Morrer"