Saturday, February 17, 2024

Orphans 2023

One of the joys of searching into the very recent past to unearth music I somehow missed is the discovery that many old friendlies are still kicking around. On this mix there's entries from classic 80s bands the Church, the Primitives, and the Long Ryders and even one from Gruppo Sportivo (whose "Mistakes" album was part of the 70s new wave gold rush). Elsewhere there were solid releases from Joan Jett, Ian Hunter and Graham Parker - and let's not forget Art Bergmann and the Hangmen, who were both part of the UHM Best of 2023 mix. I don't know if this qualifies as basic nostalgia (though note that all feature new music instead of the rehashing of old hits) or time travel, but either way I'm here for it. And you just know there are others still out there hiding in the weeds.

We'll Meet Again When The Road Comes Back Around

1. Andrew Weiss & Friends Hello Loneliness
2. Storm Frank1in Y.O.U.R.A.S.T.A.R.
3. The 0n and 0ns Let Ya Hair Down!
4. The Decibe1s Looking Back
5. Bar Ita1ia Changer
6. Geese Killing My Borrowed Time
7. The G0a Express Talking About Stuff
8. The R0yston C1ub I'm a Liar
9. P0ppy Robbie Heartbreak Scenario
10. Nite S0bs Hard Disagree
11. The Sin0 Hearts Topsy Turvy
12. Rick Ragany How Much Of Me Is You
13. High Schoo1 Crying Over You
14. Sirius Vo1tage For Your Dreams
15. The Sma11 Square Tilt
16. The L0ng Ryders Seasons Change
17. Faz Wa1tz Jackal Hop
18. The Cocktai1s Good Love
19. TV Repairman Bus Stop
20. C1ass Behind the Ball
21. The X-bats Riding With Paul
22. Psych0tic Youth Save Another Girl
23. The Primitives Don't Know Where To Start
24. Gruppo Sp0rtivo Rock City (Serious Remix)
25. The Church I Think I Knew
 

 

Saturday, January 13, 2024

Best of 2023

 

 
The Un-Herd Music Top 50 of 2023

1. Sparklehorse Bird Machine

Thirteen years posthumous, a final statement curated and patched together with obvious love and respect for the quirky genius of Mark Linkous. Miraculous it exists at all; wholly miraculous it's so good.





2. Art Bergmann ShadowWalk
 
Where previous album took a macro view of the end of life, this one goes micro & personal. Harrowing, unflinching, courageous, honest. Nudges itself in same continuum that includes lodestar masterworks like Sister Lovers and Plastic Ono Band.
 
 
 
 
 
 
3. Low Cut Connie Art Dealers
 
Adam Weiner's adherence to traditional rock values (in this case, the same early R&B/Rock&Roll forces that forged the likes of Springsteen and Graham Parker) may repel trend-chasers, but that doesn't mean Low Cut Connie can't be the rest-of-us's favorite band.
 
 
 
 
 
 
4. The Delta Riggs The Real Electric
 
Grafts standard indie rock influences to an appreciation for disco bass lines (& occasional employment of hip hop rhythms) and somehow discovers something immensely satisfying and sincere.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5. Geese 3D Country
 
A modern rock album that fits in exactly nowhere (and not even close to the genre suggested in the title). Eclectic, expert, indescribable, genre-less. And all the better for it. Companion EP "4D Country" delivers similar quality.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
6. Lydia Loveless Nothing's Gonna Stand In My Way Again
 
This'll get filed under alt.country, which is fair enough, but the way Loveless wittily and mercilessly lacerates herself like a female Paul Westerberg is all rock 'n' roll.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
7. Ten Tonnes Dancing, Alone
 
Pop wunderkind Ethan Barnett flirts with ancient verities like classic songcraft, undeniable hooks, and earnest reflection.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
8. Meyerman Happy To See You
 
Last release was a 2011 UHM top ten, and this unexpected re-emergence hits the same heights. Lyrical concerns now lean into sincerity as much as smartassery, but their power-poppin' rock-out w/ hooks-out gameplan gloriously remains.
 
 
 
 
 
 
9. Pat Todd & the RankOutsiders Sons of the City Ditch
 
A Saints-like horn section on one track and a cover of David Johansen's elegy for the Dolls "Donna" make this typically bangin' collision of Johnnies Cash & Thunders stand out from previous discs.
 
 
 
 
 
 

10. Barrence Whitfield & the Savages Glory
 
This band's blistering garage rock approach to soul, blues, & rock has been coming up aces for 4 decades and they're still ready to take on all comers. And, lo, how that sax doth honk.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
11. Autogramm  Music That Humans Can Play
12. Belleville  Before I Go
13. The Blips  The Blips Again
14. Lion Island  Pilot Termination Kiosk
15. Odd Robot  Deathmates
16. Black Pumas  Chronicles of a Diamond
17. Foxy Shazam  Dark Blue Night
18. The Church  The Hypnogogue
19. Diamond Dogs  About the Hardest Nut to Crack
20. The Midnight Callers  Rattled Humming Heart

21.  The Hangmen  Stories to Tell
22.  The Jim Jones All-Stars  Ain't No Peril
23.  Bar Italia  Tracey Denim
24.  Spacey Jane  Here Comes Everybody
25.  Mason Lowe  Morning People
26.  Trench Dogs Stockholmiana
27.  Island of Love Island of Love
28.  Olivia Jean  Raving Ghost
29.  The Men New York City
30.  Crocodiles  Upside Down In Heaven
 
31.  Uni Boys  Buy This Now!
32.  Sunny War  Anarchist Gospel
33.  Dwarves  Concept Album
34.  Bass Drum of Death  Say I Won't
35.  The Whiffs  Scratch 'n' Sniff 
36.  Kurt Baker  Rock 'n' Roll Club
37.  The 1981  Move On
38.  Alex Lahey The Answer is Always Yes
39.  EUT  Be My Reactor
40.  Miss Chain & the Broken Heels Storms

41.  Durand Jones  Wait Til I Get Over
42.  The Pearl Harts  Love, Chaos
43.  Worriers  Trust Your Gut
44.  Twin Temple  God is Dead
45.  Baba Ali  Laugh Like A Bomb
46.  Somerdale  Let's Get Started
47.  Nude Party  Rides On
48.  Backstreet Girls  In Lust We Trust
49.  Class  If You've Got Nothing
50.  Rich Ragany & the Digressions  What We Do (To Not Let Go)


1. Low Cut C0nnie Sleaze Me On
2. De1ta Riggs Solution
3. Spark1ehorse Evening Star Supercharger
4. Geese Gravity Blues
5. Midnight Ca11ers Baby Let Me Be
6. Barrence Whitfie1d Hey Miss Glynis
7. Diam0nd Dogs Wring It Out
8. Meyerman Happy to See You
9. Ten T0nnes Drowning in the Deep End
10. Lydia Love1ess Poor Boy
11. Jim Jones A11-Stars It's Your Voodoo Working
12. The Hangmen Behind the Wheel
13. Uni B0ys I Don't Believe in Love
14. The B1ips Who Took My Baby Away
15. Miss Chain & the Broken Hee1s Wild Wind
16. Lion Is1and Broken Arrow
17. Autogramm Born Losers
18. Twin Temp1e Burn Your Bible
19. Trench D0gs Skulldug and Headsick
20. The Whiffs I Didn't Need You To Know
21. 0dd Robot Temporary Bachelor Does Mundane Things
22. Be11evi11e Hanging Around
23. Art Bergmann Cut 'n' Paste
24. B1ack Pumas Rock and Roll

Saturday, December 16, 2023

Unherd Christmess 2023


Well surprise, surprise... Santy showed up this year. Wishing a decent holiday and beyond for all!

 Like Wild Turkey, Milk, and Candy Cane

1. 0h! Gunquit Don't Believe in Xmas
2. Chesterfie1d Kings Hey Santa Claus
3. Bebee Ga11ini You Ain't Getting Nothin
4. T0xic Kid Merry Cretins Xmas
5. Lisa Mycho1s I'll Be Home For Xmas
6. Jay A11en Effin' Dreidel Song
7. Do11yrots Because I'm Santa
8. Paul Ke11y Xmas Train
9. J Roddy Wa1ston Santa Claus
10. Ta11 Poppy Syndrome Come Some Xmas Eve (or Halloween)
11. Irene Pena Will You Turn Up (for Xmas)
12. Chris lsaak Almost Xmas
13. ANC4 There Goes My Baby (Xmas Lament)
14. My M0rning Jacket Feelin Sorry
15. Cindy Laws0n Hey Santa
16. Sp00n Xmas Time (Is Here Again)
17. American Goner Yule Shoot Your Eye Out
18. Linda Lindas Groovy Xmas
19. Heatwaves What Will Santa Bring
20. Macy Grey Xmas With You
21. Peppermint Kicks It's a Peppermint Xmas
22. Crocodi1es Xmas in Hell
23. Supernatura1s Xmas is Doing My Head In
24. Geoff Pa1mer Lonely Xmas all
25. Street Wa1kin' Cheetahs Fuck Xmas

Saturday, December 2, 2023

Faves of 2023 Vol.3

 

Well, that was a record-setting period of dormancy for this blog. Apologies to all followers, artists, and visitors. The lone bright spot to my neglect is there's already an Orphans mix that's 70% completed - and there's still the Best of 2023 to compile before then.

This Faves mix is the first time I've organized the running order of the tracks based mostly on volume levels. You''ll notice the playback volume increases as the mix goes on - and do consider that a warning if you dare to play on shuffle. I'm not sure why some albums push everything in the red until eardrums bleed while others sound like all the mics were positioned under wet cattle blankets, but it's becoming a pet peeve of mine. And, yeah, I'd be prepared to upgrade from peeve to crusade, but I suspect the chances of changing anything are equal to a dog catching a snowflake. 

I'm Always Shooting for High Fallutin'

1. Pat T0dd & the RankOutsiders Livin' in a World of Hurt
2. Somerda1e Crooked Roads
3. The 198l Easy
4. Lydia Love1ess Toothache
5. The B1ips Good Lookin' Liars
6. Twin Temp1e Spellbreaker
7. C0ach Party Be That Girl
8. Art Bergmann Raw Naked Monday
9. W0rriers Trust Your Gut
10. Meyerman WWDAT
11. Mas0n Lowe You Took a Chance on Me
12. Uni B0ys Let's Watch a Movie
13. 0dd Robot Anti-Revolution
14. The Hangmen Midnight Riders
15. The 0dds Staring at a Blank Page
16. Samantha Marie Push Me Out
17. Diamond D0gs Desiree, Yet Another Lonely Mile
18. Barrence Whitfie1d & the Savages Bad Situation
19. EUT San Francisco
20. Ratb0ys Morning Zoo
21. Pkew Pkew Pkew The Dumbest Thing I Ever Done
22. Gee Strings Rock 'n' Rolls
23. Backstreet Girls Waste Side Story
24. Curt Baker Rock & Roll Club
25. Pacifica Premature Rejection


Sunday, July 30, 2023

Faves of 2023 Vol. 2

It seems as soon as I open my mouth about the impending end of rock 'n' roll or the rock era (or some other such nomenclature denoting the narrow purview of whats-I-likes 'n' whats-I-don'ts), the artists themselves show up in droves to prove either my point is wrong or my timing sucks. This mix is a case in point. It's filled with some of the best songs I've heard in ages. I've been road testing it in my car for the last couple weeks and noticed a couple things: a) every song rewards multiple listens, and b) keep an eye on your speedometer because a few of these tunes just plain don't respect reasonable speed limits. Anyway, if this is the reaction to my rockaroll doomsaying, I'll have to keep on bitching. In the nonce, I hope y'all are enjoying the summer!

A Calculated Strategy or an Underwhelming Prayer

1. L0w Cut C0nnie Are You Gonna Run?
2. Is1and of Love Losing Streak
3. Sing1e Mothers Sad Dumb Game
4. A1ex Lahey Shit Talkin'
5. Boy Go1den Hard Headed
6. Samantha Fish No Apology
7. Jim J0nes A11 Stars I Want You (Any Way I Can)
8. The Weirdo11s Reputation
9. The Pear1 Harts Coming Down
10. Belleville Something Good
11. Hearts Apart Still Burn
12. S1ander Tongue Huntin'
13. GracieH0rse Hollow Head
14. J0an Jett If You're Blue
15. Babagan0uj Stay Up For Me
16. Dear Tick Disgrace
17. Durand J0nes Sadie
18. The Vices At Least That's What They're Saying
19. 01ivia Jean Too Late
20. Brix Smith Valley Girl
21. RVG Midnight Sun
22. Ryan Hami1ton Haunted by the Holy Ghost
23. 10 Tonnes Monday Morning
24. Jim B0b Thanks For Reaching Out

 

Monday, July 3, 2023

Summer 2023

Just noticed there's been a rash of older links blocked due to copyright issues, which is fair enough - I just wish the offended parties made themselves known so I could simply delete their track and switch it out for an artist that sees the value in this sort of low-rent, low-grade, low stakes promotion. Oh well... this blog's been trundling along for 15 years now, so it's been a pretty good run. You may want to snag this Summer mix quickly though. 

 Summer Bruises, No More Excuses

1. CVC Anogo 
2. G0rd D0wnie & B0b R0ck Lustre Parfait
3. Durand J0nes See It Through 
4. Yum Yums Crush On You
5. Sp00n Wild (Moon Mix)
6. Jenny Lew!s Cherry Baby
7. Michae1 Head Broken Beauty
8. DN3 Hold On
9. Uptown Sinc1air Whatever U Want
10. The Redwa11s You'll Never Know
11. Izzy Strad1in Shuffle It All
12. Sticky Fingers Fortunes, Seasides & Girls
13. Summer Sa1t Macaroon
14. G1adie Hit The Ground Running
15. Surf Curse Sugar
16. Ben Kwe11er I Gotta Move
17. King Tuff Tell Me
18. Drramarama Everyday
19. Rave0nettes Get Lost
20. Spacey Jayne Sorry Instead
21. Ceramic Anima1 Sweet Unknown
22. The Ye1ins Everything The Sun

Saturday, June 3, 2023

Not That Kind Of Girl (Vol. 2)

A companion volume to the Not That Kind Of Girl mix from 2016, which itself was a follow-up to 2015's original All Kindsa Girls mix. No need to elaborate on the theme. Only change this time out is I tried to avoid the usual suspects (ie: My Best Friend's Girl, American Girl, China Girl, Hollaback Girl, Material Girl, Rich Girl, etc.), although I can easily imagine any or all of those appearing on the next volume.

Shine On Little Baby, You're Too Good For This World

1. Secret P0wers Not My Kind of Girl
2. Te1ephone Lovers Downtown Girl
3. Budokan The Right On Girl
4. The Sick R0se Pathetic Girl
5. Mad Ro11ers Ukraine Girl
6. Cheap Star Flower Girl
7. Minky Starshine Miss American Girl
8. Diam0nd Dogs Small Town Girl
9. Butch Wa1ker East Coast Girl
10. M0m Ordinary Girl
11. S1ick! Telefone Tuff Girl
12. J0e Strummer Coma Girl
13. The Matt1ess Boys Romanian Girl
14. The Mayf1owers Sunflower Girl
15. The Dirtb0mbs Sunshine Girl
16. The Star Spang1es Tear It To Pieces Girl
17. Turb0 Fruits Favorite Girl
18. The N0mads Demolition Girl (Saints cover)
19. Bad Sp0rts Hypothetical Girl
20. Sugar Sugaar Hampton's Girl
21. Laurie Biagini Gold Plated Girl
22. Bubb1egum Lemonade Cool Guitar Girl
23. LA Exes Cocaine Girl
24. Reigning S0und North Cackalacky Girl
25. Si1ver Sun Original Girl
26. Dangereens (Bye By) Little Uptown Girl