Faves of 2026 Vol.1

As much as I'm tempted to take a victory lap for finally getting a 2026 mix posted, I think I'll wait to see how the rest of the year goes. Life is still complicated, the world's still fucked up, and - like one of the songs on this mix states - the idiots have taken over. Still, plenty of great music emanating from the bands and artists out there - and there should be a summer mix coming along in the next few weeks, so get them frosty cocktails prepped. Cheers, all.    

I'm Concerned And That's The Truth 

1. Langh0rne Slim Rock N Roll  

2. Deer Tick  Everything Born

3.  Josephine Network Hooked 

4. The Mo1otovs Today's Gonna Be Our Day 

5. The Lem0n Twigs Nothin' But You

6. The Ra11ies This Time

7. Honeymoon Sta11ions Stay a Little Longer

8. Boy Go1den Suffer

9. Brown H0rse Total Dive

10. Vona Ve11a You Can Be So Ugly

11. King Tuff Unglued

12. Remember Sp0rts Across the Line

13. The F0rmat Ho1y Roller

14. Ryan A11en This Ugly

15. Radi0 Days Flying High

16. Taxi Gir1s Say It!

17. Genera1 Chaos The Idiots Have Taken Over

18. G1uecifer Same Drug New High

19. Weird Nightmare Baby Don't

20. Marc Va1entine NY UAP

21. Backstreet Gir1s Paradise

22. Sour 0ps The Power of Right Now

23. Jim Jones A11 Stars L U V U

24. The 0n and 0ns Rebel Gone Bye

Faves of 2025 Vol. 2

 

Thinkin' 'Bout How Easily Everything Breaks 

1. The Lucky Sh0ts Jump Start

2. The G1ad Machine So High

3. The We11ingtons Always Gonna Be That Girl

4. Maura Weever I'm Not Sleeping

5. Peppermint Kicks #1 Record

6. The H0neydogs Kill Switch

7. L0s Pepes Sweet Appeasement

8. Amanda Shire Piece of Mind

9. Geese Bow Down

10. Yukon B1onde Colours of My Dreams

11. The Jives Good Time Call

12. S1oan Here We Go Again

13. The Critica1s Here Comes My Doll

14. Mi1es Kane Without You

15. Native S0n Whose Kids

16. Bass Drum 0f Death Do Nothing

17. The Prize Say You're Mine

18. Smug Bros. Take It Out On Me

19. 20th Century B0ys Suzy

20. Supersuckers Rocket 69

21. Smackbeat Meet Me In Hawaii

22. The Cape11as Good Woman

23  Finn Wo1fhard Choose The Latter

24. The D0gmatics Key of B

25. White Reaper Freakshow 

 

Faves of 2025 Vol. 1

Whelp, that was a long gestation period for this mix. Should be worth the wait though, as well as a sweet sonic intro to summer. There's a clutch of bands included that have been around for some 40+ years, and hearing them is like reconnecting with an old friend... Hmm, new music from old bands; that might be a decent idea for a future mix. I'll have to start compiling, looking in every corner for something that might have first gone unnoticed. If you've got any reunited band suggestions, please place 'em in the comment section. The only ground rule is it can't be a straight nostalgia tour - there has to be new music involved.  

 

I Know a Thing or Two About a Couple Things

 

1. The Je11ybricks Age of Stupid

2. Ricky Byrd (Ya Get) 1 Life

3. B1ack Eyed Sons Lie To Me

4. Ryan A11en I Should (But I Don't Really Wanna)

5. Crue1 Sea Straight Into The Sun

6. Spacey Jane All The Noise

7. Wi1dhearts Kunce

8. bi1k RNR

9. The Ra11ies Comes and Goes

10. Ex-V0id Swansea

11. Mek0ns You're Not Singing Anymore

12. 20/20 Back To California

13. Creem Circus Riff Down

14. C0urting Namcy

15. Wy1d1ife Little Headcase

16. H0tWax Wanna Be A Doll

17. Gyasi Lightning

18. Sick Things Waste My Time

19. The Vap0rs Forever and Ever

20. The Number 0nes Sorry

21. M. R0ss Perkins Baby My Bad

22. Lulu Sur La Corde

23. L0s Pepes All I've Got Is Time

24. Rea1 Sickies Summer
 

Faves of 2024 Vol. 2

 

Ain't gonna lie... I was just about to get on the ol' soapbox to once again bemoan the current state of music (and you know shit's gone real wrong when the word "bemoan" gets trotted out) - but eff me if things didn't get hopeful once we turned the corner on summer. Suddenly there was a growing multitude of worthy releases to cram onto this mix, many of which I could envision making the Best Of The Year list. And, of course, there's still more coming, including anticipated albums by the Fleshtones, the Linda Lindas, Japandroids, Kim Deal, and Amyl & the Sniffers. So I guess  my bemoaning will just have to bewait, because this Fall seems like it's gonna be rockin'.

 

When You Know You Know, Ya Know

 

1. Friends of Cesar R0mero More Like Norman Fucking Mailer

2. The Be11Rays Down On My Knees

3. Dangereens Friday Night

4. Good L00ks Can You See Me Tonight

5. Benny Tr0ken Nowhere to be Found

6. Mo1ecular Steve Heavens to Betsy

7. The Shivas Closer To Me

8. Hinds On My Own

9. The C0urettes Stop! Doing That

10. Th' L0sin Streaks Well I Never

11. Juni0r Varsity Back to Reno

12. JD McPhers0n Sunshine Getaway

13. Beans & Fatback Black and Blue

14. Colman G0ta Always Late

15. Swami & the Bed of Nai1s Teen Hate

16. Bad M0ves Hallelujah

17. 0ceanator First Time

18. Laughing Sour Note

19. Tamar Berk Good Impression

20. The Dictat0rs Let's Get The Band Back Together

21. The Privates Don't Take It Out On Me

22. Jessica B0udreaux Doctor

23. Dune Rats Beers, Bongs & Bullshit

24. Pat T0dd & the Rank0utsiders That Little Bit of Nothing

Faves of 2024 Vol. 1

Last spring my wife and I took a trip to Las Vegas. It was my first time there. Got nothing against it or anything, but being neither a gambler nor golfer I've never really felt the necessity to visit. For that trip, though, my wife found us the Punk Rock Museum (she's pretty awesome that way)(and in most other ways). Now, I'll admit I was dubious. I mean, what kind of glitzy, sanitized silicone version of punk rock would a place like Vegas present? But my suspicions were erased immediately. Our tour guide was Greg Hetson (Circle Jerks, Bad Religion), which was some good OG cred and he was a really cool guy as well. And then we stepped into the first chamber, which was a shrine to the New York punk pioneers (Velvets, Dolls, Suicide, that whole Mercer Arts scene). They even had Johnny Thunders' red leather jacket - the one he was wearing outside of Gem Spa on the back cover of the Dolls debut album. It just got better from there, moving across the US, UK, and Canada (only major omission was Art Bergmann, which is almost unforgivable, given his "Bound For Vegas" should be their theme song). I don't promote much other than songs I like on this site, but I heartily recommend a visit if you're ever in the area. Punk rock people are the best.   

You Can Be Free If You Want To

1. Amp1ifier Heads w/ Barrence Whitfie1d They Came To Rock

2. Danie1 Romano You Can Steal My Kiss

3. Jeen Just Shadows

4. Band of the Underhand Hold On Wait a Minute

5. The Libertines Mustangs

6. Stephie James Party Doll

7. Marc Va1entine Eve of Distraction

8. The Bacarrudas You Can Have My Love If You Want It, Okay?

9. The Baby Sea1s My Labia's Lopsided But I Don't Mind

10. Jesus & Mary Chain Girl 71

11. Coach Party Hi Baby

12. Sheer Mag Eat It & Beat It

13. Extra Arms Everything Disappears

14. The Peewees The Wolf

15. Emperor Penguin I Wouldn't Put It Like That

16. Shannon & the C1ams Oh So Close Yet So Far

17. Mad 0nes Last Summer

18. Maddam Nick

19. The Prize First Sight

20. Wi1der Lee Riot

21. Jordan J0nes Can I Stay

22. The Ref1ectors Time Is All I Have

23. Aeria1 Cadence

24. The Yum Yums Baby Doll

25. The Lem0n Twigs Rock On (Over and Over)

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

 

 

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

 

Faves of 2023 Vol.1

Y'know, I was gearing up for a rant about the sheer idiocy of burning books, Beatles records, and/or Bud Light cases, but I think I'll instead continue with my original policy of keeping politics buried in the subtext of this blog. Besides, the featured pic, with its questionable grasp of grammar and syntax, succinctly sums up everything I have to say about pretty much everything... and I don't see the upside to belaboring the essential point.  

It Ain't Hard to See What the Fuck is Happening

1. The Men Hard Livin'

2. Crocodi1es Upside Down in Heaven

3. Eye1ids Swinging in the Circus

4. B1ack Star Riders Better Than Saturday Night

5. The Reyt0ns Cash In Hand and Fake IDs

6. Nude Party Hard Times (All Around)

7. Grade Two Fast Pace

8. Mark Busat0 Sunken Ships

9. Sunny War No Reason

10. Spacey Jane Sitting Up

11. Arxx Baby Uh Huh 

12. Bass Drum 0f Death Keys to the City

13. Ron Ga11o San Benedetto

14. Lucer0 One Last FU

15. Trench D0gs Georgian Red

16. White Reeper Fog Machine

17. Frankie R0se Anything

18. The No 0nes Throwdown in Whispertown

20. B1ues Lawyer Salary

21. Sun R00m Cadillac

22. Daddy L0ng Legs Nightmare

23. Gh0st W0man End of a Gun

24. F0xy Shazam I Can Change For You

 

Faves of 2022 Vol. 2

Right off the bat I'll cop to cheating a little on this mix. There's two songs from 2021 that I neglected to find last year (I know, right? How can such a thing happen?) and I'm including them here for no other reason than they're all kindsa awesome.

 

Of course, "all kindsa awesome" describes the other 22 songs as well. Seems that as soon as I start to despair that my antiquated rockist preferences are outmoded, old fashioned, and/or laughably out of date, a new batch of young bands shows up to casually storm the Bastille. So as much as rock n' roll may already be a desiccated corpse lying in an open coffin, it turns out all you gotta do is shoot some electricity through it to keep that carcass moving.

 Do You Think It's Better Not Feeling Any Of This At All?

 

1. C0urettes Talkin' About My Baby

2. Beach Day Saturday Night

3. R00ni Indigo

4. Peter D0novan This Better Be Good 

5. The Spark1ers Late Great Saturday Night

6. Dr. B00gie You're Not The Only One

7. Bandit0s Time Wasted

8. The Sweet Things Ride It Home

9. Gyasi Black Strap

10. Spira1 Stairs Pressure Drop (End of the Hurricane)

11. R0wan Nothing's Gonna Change

12. Dirty F1ix I Agree

13. Michae1 Monroe Can't Stop Falling Apart

14. The G00n Sax In The Stone

15. Pkew Pkew Pkew Mom's Dime 

16. Extra Arms Big Dogs

17. Dirty Bynum I Don't Wanna Be Alone

18. Sunf1ower Bean Baby Don't Cry

19. Go1d Star Cherry Red

20. Shanda & the How1ers Whatcha Gonna Do Now?

21. The Interrupters My Heart

22. Supercrush Perfect Smile

23. Bishop's Daredevi1 Stunt C1ub Hold You Up

24. The Lings Neverending Lonely Rush M.A.

Faves of 2022 (vol. 1)

When it comes to losing one's idols, this has been a rough first quarter to the year. Bad enough that Pat Fish (aka the Jazz Butcher) shuffled off his mortal coil far too soon, but the recent death of Chris Bailey on top of that was a total gut punch. I fell in love with that first Saints album on its initial release. The combination of Ed Kuepper's assaultive guitar and Bailey's charismatic rasp (which was somehow both flat AND tuneful) hit me right between the eyes. I remember sneaking side one on at a house party in small town British Columbia in 1977 and even though my fellow revelers were a million times more into Steve Miller and Fleetwood Mac that didn't stop the entire party from literally pounding the walls for all five minutes of "Messin' With The Kid." Definitely one of those moments that rivals anything referenced in Roy Batty's dramatic "tears in the rain" speech at the climax of Blade Runner. 

RIP Chris Bailey, Pat Fish, Mark Lanegan, Ronnie Spector, King Louie Bankston (Exploding Hearts), Rachel Nagy (Detroit Cobras), Betty Davis

 

Don't Need No Weatherman To Know Who Doesn't Give A Damn

 

1. Simon L0ve You and Me

2. Mattie1 Subterranean Shut-In Blues

3. Wet Leg Wet Dream

4. Swami J0hn Reis I Ain't Your Pawn

5. H00doo Gurus Carry On

6. Sp00n The Hardest Cut

7. Pink M0untaintops Nervous Breakdown

8. D0pe Lemon Rose Pink Cadillac

9. King Hanna All Being Fine

10. Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard Break Right In

11. Y0ung Guv Lo Lo Lonely

12. He11acopters Tin Foil Soldier
13. Faz Wa1tz Shame On You

14. Diam0nd Dogs Alright Brutus, I'm On

15. Urge 0verki11 Freedom!

16. Cheap Star Holding On

17. F0xy Shazam Love Rush Ecstacy

18. Beechw00d Front Page News

19. The Linda Lindas Growing Up

20. J0n Spencer & the HITmakers My Hit Parade

21. The Dip Paddle to the Stars

22. Beachheads Break Right In

23. Ex-V0id (Angry At You) Baby

24. Gaso1ine Who's Gonna Stop Me?

25. Ceramic Anima1s Tangled

26. The Jazz Butcher Goodnight Sweetheart

Faves of 2020 (Vol. 1)

I generally try to keep my political views away from this blog. Obviously, some of it will creep in, usually hidden among the assembled track lists. And I'm (probably) going to maintain that stance in the future... but in this moment in time I'm going to go on record and say I've been impressed and heartened by the overwhelming world response to systemic injustice. It's been a motherfucker of a year, but there may be hope yet. In the meantime, stay safe, everybody - and now back to our regularly scheduled programming...

Life is Strange and You Do What You Gotta Do Just to Survive

1. C1ose Lobsters All Compasses Go Wild
2. Speedwayz Kisses Are History
3. The Vap0rs Crazy
4. Dangereens Worried Mind
5. Ref1ectors Teenage Heart
6. Duncan Reid & the Big Heads Motherfucker
7. R00kie I Can't Have You But I Want You
8. C0rnershop No Rock Save in Roll
9. Nico1e Atkins Domino
10. Twin Peeks Cawfee
11. Wy1dlife Crime of the Scene
12. Hay1ey & the Crushers Jacaranda
13. X Water and Wine
14. Green Day Stab You In The Heart
15. B1ack Lips Angola Rodeo
16. Kid Gu11iver Susie Survived Chemo
17. Si1ver Sun Over Me At All?
18. Music Band You Can't (Make Someone Love You)
19. Answering Machine Bad Luck
20. Wi11ie Nile New York is Rockin'
21. Brad Marin0 False Alarm
22. Brett Newski Do It Again
23. L0w Cut C0nnie Private Lives
24. Chuck Pr0phet High as Johnny Thunders

Faves of 2019 (vol. 3)

Although I'm slipping this latest faves mix in on Halloween night, don't expect a horror theme of any sort. It's the usual UHM combination of obsessions, with a couple curveballs (one in the form of a well-loved band's most well-known track saved by a new mix, another a Thin Lizzy soundalike by a band featuring one of the original Lizzy members, and the last a release of an 80s noo wave album that's been lost for 30 years). There's plenty here that will eventually find its way on to my Best of 2019 list. See what you think.

RIP Kim

1. The Muffs That's For Me
2. O1ivia Jean Night Owl
3. Stag E1ectric Mistress
4. Whlte Reaper Rea1 Long Time
5. Gospe1beacH Nothing Ever Changes
6. The De1ta Riggs Modern Pressure
7. Pernlce Bros. Mint Condition
8. Twln Peaks Lookout Low
9. The Rallies All Over Town
10. Nine Be1ow Zero Ter Wit Ter Woo
11. Starcraw1er No More Pennies
12. Llsa Prank Brighton B1vd
13. Diamond D0gs Small Town Girl
14. Wlves The 20 Teens
15. Magnap0p Dog on the Door
16. Extra Arms F.L.Y.
17. Sorry Gir1s Waking Up
18. Josie C0tton Hand Over Your Heart
19. Råttanson Small Venue Concerts
20. Shear Mag The Right Stuff
21. The Rep1acements I'll Be You
22. B1ack Star Riders Poisoned Heart
23. Rhe0statics Rearview
24. Papernut Cambrldge No Pressure

Faves of 2019 (Vol. 2)

This has been a disappointing year so far. That's been true in many respects, although it should come as no surprise that I'm mostly (and myopically) referencing my personal quest for new music. Some of my favorite recent bands have released albums this year that, for whatever reason, just didn't quite resonate with me. I'm not going to catalogue them here, as the Roy Pearl/UHM mandate has developed into reinforcing the positive rather than dog-piling on the negative. If there's any good news to any of it, I suspect we're about to experience a rebirth of righteously pissed-off artists from around the world, and their work will echo that explosive emotional state. Or, I suppose it's possible we won't fight back at all. Maybe we'll simply congeal into a sour gelatin of Tay1or Swift-ian avoidance and ooze our way to oblivion. If those are the two options, then allow this tiny gesture of a new faves mix as evidence that the former has already begun.

Give Me A Sec To Finesse The Mess In My Brain

1. Ho11erado Get Over It
2. Danceha11 Burn
3. J0rdan J0nes Rumors Girls
4. U1ysses Looking For a Guru
5. Mattie1 Rescue You
6. Geoff Pa1mer Make It
7. Curt Baker C0mbo (I Can't Help) Failing in Love
8. Te1ethon (I Guess You'd Call It) An Undertone
9. Sweet Things Dead or Worse
10. The B0rn Readies Mean Genes
11. The Embry0s Wake Up Screaming
12. R00ni Label
13. The Regrets California Friends
14. Young Gov Every Flower I See
15. The Coo1ies Uh Oh
16. Steven Duffy Seventeen
17. Serat0nes Lie to My Face
18. A1ex Lahey Black RMs
19. The Successfu1 Fai1ures No White Knight in Knoxville
20. B1eached Rebound City
21. Lowest of the L0w Imogene
22. Redd Cross Beyond the Door
23. The Jackets Be Myself
24. Amy1 and the Sniffers GFY

Faves of 2019 (Vol. 1)

Here we go again. The first faves mix of the new year. I'll admit it took a little longer to compile than I would have preferred - almost a full five months of searching - but this kind of quality isn't easily found (these days). That said, I feel I should put in a word for all the bands and artists that continue to raise the level of modern music - and that word is "thanks." I know it's a tough gig, and that no one wants to pay for anything anymore, but - if it helps - each one of these songs makes this timeline a slightly better place to exist than it would be otherwise. And this timeline needs all the help it can get. Dig in. If you find something you like or love, the album title is in the info.

I Got A Hot Air Balloon In A Rocket Ship Race

1. Reece McHenry Detroit
2. Attic Lights Louis
3. Ten T0nnes Better Than Me
4. Litt1e Steven & the Discip1es of Sou1 Soul Power Twist
5. Indiano1a How Did I Get So Rock 'n' Roll
6. Ex Hex Radiate
7. Pa1e Lips You're a Doll
8. Terry & Louie Rebel Ways
9. The Wi1dhearts Fine Art of Deception
10. Spira1 Stairs Hyp-No-Tized
11. 0utside Voices Bourbon in Bed
12. The Wi1d Reeds Moving Target
13. Reigning S0und Can't Hold On
14. Deer Tick Hey! Yeah!
15. L0ng Ryders Greenville
16. Crocodi1es Wait Until Tomorrow
17. Nick Waterh0use Wherever She Goes (She Is Wanted)
18. Ho1y Mo1y & the Crackers Can't Get Enough
19. The Dip She Gave Me The Keys
20. Char1ie Faye & the Fayettes The Whole Shebang
21. Nata1ie Sweet I Don't Want to Need You (Tonight)
22. Pat T0dd & the Rank0utsiders You Made a Hit
23. Brad Marin0 C'mon C'mon C'mon
24. F0xygen Livin' a Lie

Faves of 2018 (vol. 1)

I'm happy to report that the first quarter of this year has delivered some truly outstanding music and, as evidenced by this mix, it's stylistically all over the map... well, all over the Un-Herd map, anyway. Don't be expecting anything too far removed from the blog's usual purview. No vapor wave, baby metal, clown step, truffletone, or Fripp hop (I may have made up some of those). Regardless, I can tell you that I had the chance to road test this mix on a long distance drive and it passed with flying colors. 80 solid minutes of non-stop should-be hits that somehow flow together.

If They Can't Find You They Can't Take It From You

1. Bat Fangs Turn It Up
2. Sam C0ffey & the Iron Lungs Tough
3. E1ise LeGrow Hold On
4. High Up Your System Failed You
5. Shannon & the C1ams The Boy
6. Twin Peaks Under the Pines
7. H0t Snakes Six Wave Hold-Down
8. Ruby B00ts It's So Cruel
9. Meisha & the Spanks Be Alright
10. Gin Wigm0re Dirty Mercy
11. The Regrettes Red Light
12. Act0rs Slaves
13. H0ckey Dad My Stride
14. Pub1ic Access TV Your God and Mine
15. Deva Maha1 Snakes
16. The B0rn Readies Automatic
17. Death by Unga Bunga Soldier
18. Dream Wife Let's Make Out
19. Amy1 & the Sniffers I'm Not a Loser
20. Faz Wa1tz Julie
21. The Number 0nes Long Way to Go
22. The Pand0ras Just a Picture
23. Erika Wennerstr0m Twisted Highway
24. Buffal0 Tom Overtime

Faves of 2017 (vol. 3)

Well durn, it took a lot longer than usual, but here's the final installment of UHM Faves for this year. Of course, that doesn't include the inevitable Orphans mix that'll show up sometime early in the new year, which will compile all the great stuff I somehow missed in 2017. Nor does it include the upcoming Best Of 2017, which will join the yearly summation of my favorite albums (many of which are represented on this very mix). And there's probably still a Xmas compilation to post before the year is over.

I guess what I'm trying to say is sorry for taking so long. And, as usual, let me know what's missing! 

Discount Bins of Broken Things

1. Stag The Bedazzler
2. The Crazy Squeeze Twisted Little Secrets
3. The R1ch Hands Fast and Loose
4. First Base Sandra
5. Twin Temp1e Girl Trouble
6. QTY Dress/Undress
7. The Stan1eys What Are We Gonna Do
8. Terra Lightf00t Stars Over Dakota
9. Kitty, Daizy & Lewis Just One Kiss
10. Sweet Sp1rit Pretty Baby
11. Justine & the Unc1ean I'm In Love With You, Jackass
12. The Cheep Cassettes Hieroglyphics in Lipstick
13. JD McPhers0n Crying's Just a Thing That You Do
14. The High-tai1s So Long
15. A1ex Lahey I Love You Like a Brother
16. Ind0nesian Junk I'll Run Away
17. The Pink Ti1es Rocky Road
18. Shi1pa Ray Shi1pa Ray's Got a Heart Full of Dirt
19. Fuzzy V0x I Fell In Love With the World
20. Bu11et Proof Lovers One Last Night
21. D1rty Fences Never Over
22. The Dah1manns Conny Converse
23. Ha1ey Thompson-King No Room For Jesus
24. Watts All Done With Rock & Roll
25. Backstreet Gir1s Back Again

Faves of 2017 (vol. 1)

No case needs to be made for the importance of Chuck Berry to our modern world. He was simply one of the giants who shaped it. Pretty much every speck of sound spattered across these UHM posts wouldn't exist without his contribution to the continuum. And while it's true he had a long run and we all can't live forever, it's also true that Chuck took as good a shot at immortality, armed with nothing but a guitar and an idea, as is humanly possible. Goes to show you never can tell.

Let's a-Rock n' Roll Till the Break of Day

1. The Regrette5 A Living Human Girl
2. Dude Y0rk Tonight
3. B1ack Joe Lewis Wasted
4. Ba5h & Pop On The Rocks
5. Chuck Pr0phet If I Was Connie Britton
6. Vant I Don't Believe in God
7. Cl0ud Nothings Enter Entirely
8. B0ss Hog Black Eyes
9. Hanni E1 Khattib Gun Clap Hero
10. C0c0 Hames Tiny Pieces (Bash & P0p cover)
11. The G0dfathers You Don't Love Me
12. The Orwe11s They Put a Body in the Bayou
13. Ron Ga11o Young Lady, You're Scaring Me
14. Manche5ter Here Today, Gone Tomorrow
15. Samantha Fi5h I'll Come Running Over
16. Two C0w Garage Let the Boys be Girls
17. The Pi1grims Fuckuitude
18. Wy1d1ife Get Loud
19. White Reeper The Stack
20. Po1ish Club Whachuknow
21. T.S.0.L. Why Can't We Do It Again
22. Granddaddy Way We Won't

*Super secret hidden bonus track included

Best of 2016

Sometimes I don't know if I should be proud or embarrassed that the UHM year's best lists are always so far removed from our pop culture status quo. All I can say in my defense is that these lists aren't mere obstinate contrarianism; they honestly represent the albums I listened to and enjoyed the most over the past year. That is my only criteria (although, in the interest of full disclosure, this year I actually found myself enjoying Lady Gaga's Joanne (which by itself should be bad news for her, at least economically speaking) but disqualified it on the basis of not quite fitting in the Un-Herd purview, so there is a certain conscious avoidance of the mainstream at work). Next up: the '16 Orphans mix that compiles everything I missed over the year - so let me know if I missed one of your faves!

The Un-Herd Music Top 40 of 2016

1. Hunters Dead End

Shaggy pack of garage punks from Finland summon the typical scuzz lineage from the Stooges to the Dead Boys, but also have the style and sense to throw in a classic pop sense of melody, with the end result sounding a lot like what you'd get if Rancid's Tim Armstrong fronted the New York Dolls while mangling a cover of "Suffragette City." 

2. Public Access T.V. Never Enough

Comparisons to a certain NYC nu-garage band seem to accompany every review of Never Enough, but a) the Strokes haven't managed this amount of ear candy hooks since Is This It, and b) Public Access T.V. is less a summation of 70s Noo Yawk and more a party hearty compendium of every cool sound since.

3. Twin Peaks Down in Heaven

Continuing their trajectory towards a growing command of pop song perfection, this time out Twin Peaks opted for a cleaner, clearer production style that allowed their seemingly effortless melodicism to stand on its own.

4. Slick! Slick!

The songs mostly clock in under the two minute mark and yet they still manage to touch on 50s rock 'n' roll, 60s bubblegum, 70s glam, and classic punk.

5. The Prettys Soirée

Vancouver band came out of next to nowhere with this one. What could have been standard indie punk bamalama gets rudely goosed by an ultra-melodic guitarist, an advanced sense of dynamics, and a honking, squealing saxophone. More please!

 6. Elijah Ford & the Bloom As You Were

Extremely satisfying album that hues closely to conventional classic rock - think Tom Petty for the old school, James Younger for the new - without sacrificing energy or hooks.

 7. Pat Todd & the RankOutsiders Blood & Treasure

Madman rock 'n' roll alchemist continues his noble life pursuit of mixing equal parts Johnny Cash and the New York Dolls, which might be slightly less impressive if the songs weren't so damn good.

 8. Pale Lips Wanna Be Bad

Slammin' Montreal sirens play girl group melodies at Mach III speed with lyrics (sample title: "Mary Lou Sniffin' Glue") that refuse to give a single inch of ground to the patriarchy. All hail.

9. Nick Waterhouse Never Twice

The cover image perfectly places Waterhouse in a classy black & white past, out of time with current trends but no less hip for it. This is sleek old time rhythm 'n' blues that moves and grooves without the need for over-bearing volume or hysterics.

10. Telephone Lovers Telephone Lovers

Twelve great proofs that rock 'n' roll is most effectively delivered in a three minute single. Somewhere, Paul Collins must be smiling with an "I told ya so" glint in his eye.






11. Role Models Forest Lawn
12. The Fleshtones The Band Drinks For Free
13. Javier Escovedo Kicked Out of Eden
14. Sheer Mag III (ep)
15. Ronnie Spector English Heart
16. Tim Easton American Fork
17. The New Frustrations Dee-Bacle (ep)
18. Somerdale Shake It Maggie
19. The I Don't Cares Wild Stab
20.  The Connection Just For Fun

21. Ryan Allen & His Extra Arms Basement Punk
22. Hey! Hello! Hey! Hello! Too!
23. The Seratones Get Gone
24. Dot Dash Searchlights
25. The Excitements Breaking the Rule
26. Farewell Milwaukee FM
27. Propeller Fall Off The World
28. Margaret Glaspy Emotions and Math
29. Steve Conte International Cover Up
30. Ulysses Law and Order

31. Izzy Bizu A Moment of Madness
32. Belleville Turn the Medicine Down
33. Watts The Black Heart of Rock & Roll
34. Lydia Loveless Longer
35. Kurt Baker In Orbit
36. Ian Hunter Fingers Crossed
37. Papernut Cambridge Love the Things Your Lover Loves
38. Car Seat Headrest Teen Denial
39. Earth Girls Wanderlust
40. D Generation Nothing is Anywhere

You're On The List Now

1. Hunters Before You
2. S1ick! Coming Down
3. Pub1ic Access T.V. Evil Disco
4. E1ijah Ford The Way We Were
5. Farewell Mi1waukee Figure You Out
6. Twin Peaks Wanted You
7. Ronnie Spector Because
8. The New Frustrations Right as Rain
9. The Prettys Uneasy
10. Te1ephone Lovers Take You Home
11. Pa1e Lips Jangaroo
12. Ro1e Models Bullshit Corner
13. Pat Todd & the RankOutsiders Ole Fortune and Fame
14. Prope11er It's Kinda Why I Like You
15. The Seratones Chandelier
16. Javier Escovedo It's So Easy
17. Hey! He11o! A History of Lovers
18. Sheer Mag Worth The Tears
19. Dot Dash Dumb Entertainment
20. The Connection Stay With Me
21. Somerdale Waiting For You
22. Nick Waterhouse L.A. Turnaround
23. The 1 Don't Cares King of America
24. Watts Bye & Bye
25. The F1eshtones Before I go

Faves of 2016 Vol. 1

This first faves mix is coming a little earlier than in most years. That means one of two possibilities: either 1) this year is gonna be packed full of the punkpopglamtrash'n'roll this blog is dedicated to, or 2) my quality control has jumped the shark along with a variety of other sea creatures. And frankly, I don't believe that last one for a second.

Only extra note is that the Wy1dlife song is from 2015 - but I missed it and it's awesome, so it's included with the hopes that the boys have a new reckid comin' down the pike for this year.

Don't hesitate. Jump on in.

I Believe in Underachieving as a Systematic Tactic to Preserve Your Freedom

1. The Wi1d Feathers Happy Again
2. Muncie Gir1s I Don't Want to Talk About It
3. Jack Ob1ivion & the Sheiks Fast Friends
4. Javier Escovedo Downtown
5. The 1 Don't Cares Born for Me
6. B1eached Sour Candy
7. Hinds Chi1i Town
8. Prope11er You Remind Me of You
9. Aubrie Se11ers Dreaming in the Day
10. Dany Laj & the Looks Sma11 Town Kid
11. M. Ward Time Won't Wait Up
12. Mother's Chi1dren No Rules
13. Pub1ic Access TV On Location
14. Tacocat I Hate the Weekend
15. Cheap Star The Other Side
16. The Breakdowns Your Hand in Mine
17. Dr. Dog Dead Record P1ayer
18. Wy1d1ife (It's Ca11ed) Rock 'n' Roll
19. Ginger Wi1dheart Do You?
20. Bent Shapes Rea1ization Hits
21. Benji Hughes Longshot
22. Basia Bu1at Long Goodbye

Faves of 2015 Vol. 3

I lost a lot in 2015: friends, friends' loved ones, my pet, and my hard drive. The hard drive was the least significant, of course, but its crash destroyed a number of mixes and random music that I'd planned to post here. I've managed to cobble together a final volume of 2015 faves - and I only wish those other losses were as easy to replace. Take care out there, everybody.

I Wouldn't Do It Different, I'd Just Do It All Again

1. Simon Love (****) Is A Dirty Word
2. Lucero Can't You Hear Them How1
3. Simi Stone Bitches F1y
4. Dan Ke11y Never Stop The Rot
5. Sweet Spirit Rebe1 Rebe1
6. Josh Ritter Where The Night Goes
7. Bott1e Rockets Monday
8. Wreck1ess Eric Several Shades of Green
9. Shi1pa Ray Johnny Thunders Fanstasy Space Camp
10. The Kickback Scorched Earth Brouhaha
11. Young Riva1 Interior Light
12. Terra Lightfoot Home To You
13. Beach S1ang Hard Luck Kid
14. Jesse Ma1in Whitestone City Limits
15. Vidunder Gone With Dawn
16. Spoon I've Been Good Too Long
17. The Libertines Gunga Din
18. Thunderbitch Eastside Party
19. You Am I Buzz The Boss
20. Summer Twins Juju
21. Sugar Sugaar Strange
22. Ho11y Go1ight1y & the BrokeOffs Coulda Shoulda Woulda
23. Andra Dey Gin & Juice (Let Go My Hand)
24. Rooni Roses