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

Summer 2019

It's been a little difficult to conjure up a summer mood this year. Part of that has been the weather in my part of the world - it seems my time-off has been on the exact same schedule as days of cloud and rain - and the other part is the constant mental pressure of the current political/sociological horrorshow that's attempting to dismantle all human progress. Unfortunately, neither issue can be remedied by a strong Mai Tai.

But that Mai Tai can try, right?

Don't It Make You Want To Get Some Sun?

1. Locks1ey Vilas Beach
2. S1oan You Got A Lot On Your Mind
3. U1ysses Bad Tattoo
4. L u c i a Summertime
5. Ho11erado King Kong
6. Eag1es of Death Meta1 Family Affair
7. Minky Star shine What I Want
8. Jeff Wha1en Don't Give It Up
9. 10 Tonnes G.I.V.E.
10. The Charms Candy
11. He1en Love Debbie Loves Joey
12. Kim E. Drake Flowers Over Me
13. Nancy Sinatra Ain't No Easy Way
14. Edgar Summertyme I Would Do Anything
15. F0untains of Wayne Radiation Vibe
16. B1oodboy All My Idiots
17. V.V. Br0wn I Did All That For You
18. B1eached Valley to LA
19. B1ack Pumas Touch The Sky
20. Hepcat Can't Wait
21. Justin T0wnes Ear1e Can't Hardly Wait
22. Sou1 Hoo1igan Night Owl
23. Char1ie Faye and the Fayettes Tonight's The Night
24. Rebecca Fergus0n Nothing's Real But Love

Covers Project Vol. 17

It's getting harder and harder to ignore the fact that most of my favorite songs have now been reduced to the "oldies" nomenclature. As evidence - and as crazy as it sounds to me - a 4th generation newcomer like Matthew Sweet released his "Girlfriend" album almost 30 years ago. In fact, that album marks exactly the halfway point between right now and "Meet the Beatles." Or consider the Dead Boys cover of "Tell Me." It was included on their second album "We Have Come For Your Children" and, at the time, it felt like a whole new generation laying claim, ironically or not, that even ancient oldies held value. But their version and the Stones original were separated by a mere 14 years, while"We Have Come For Your Children" came out 40 years ago last year.

Now, if you'll excuse me, it's time I grabbed my walker and made my way down to  the care home cafeteria for my soup.

You're Gonna Run To The Rock For Rescue

1. Ted Le0 Heroes (David Bowie)
2. The Regrets Soft Shock (Yeah Yeah Yeahs)
3. The Ratchets Johnny Too Bad (The Slickers)
4. Pat T0dd & the Rankoutsiders Any Other Way (William Bell)
5. The Peawees Runaround Sue (Dion)
6. Eag1es of Death Meta1 So Alive (Love & Rockets)
7. Stoo1 Pigeons Chills (Tony Orlando)
8. Anti-F1ag Gimme Some Truth (John Lennon)
9. D.0.A. Eve of Destruction (Barry McGuire)
10. The Dead B0ys Tell Me (Ro11ing Stones)
11. Green River Queen Bitch (David Bowie)
12. The Heiz Delirious (Prince)
13. E1ise LeGrow Can't Shake It (Etta James)
14. The L0ngshot I Am A Rock (Paul Simon)
15. The We11 Wishers All Over My Head (Matthew Sweet)
16. The Bangs Southern Girls (Cheap Trick)
17. Brixt0n Riot Bring on the Dancing Horses (Echo & the Bunnymen)
18. Decibe1s Big Hits (on the Underground) (The Saints)
19. T0mmy & the R0ckets Keep Your Hands Off My Baby (Little Eva)
20. CJ Ram0ne Crawling From the Wreckage (Dave Edmunds)
21. Urban D0gs Human Being (New York Dolls)
22. Ty Sega11 Isolation (John Lennon)
23. The Strutz Suffragette City (David Bowie)
24. L0w Cut C0nnie Diamond Dogs (David Bowie)

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

Beat the Clock (150k hits)

Just noticed the visit counter recently exceeded another milestone. This site isn't what anyone would refer to as a busy corner of the internet, but I still like to commemorate these occasions. And seeing as this occasion is all about numbers, how about a 70 minute mix crammed with 50 songs all under 2 minutes in length? Seemed like a thing to do. I only had three rules: 1) the songs had to be under 1:40, and 2) the songs had to be good, and 3) no Guided By Voices. I totally cheated a couple times with rule #1. Candidates for what I missed are welcome in the comments section.

Beat the Clock

1. Chixdiggit Get Down
2. Deathray Davies Don't Point at the Stoners
3. S1ick! Motherfucker
4. The L0ngshot Give It All To You
5. The Barreracudas Because
6. Tommy Womack Christian Rocker
7. E1astica Vaseline
8. Vea1 Underground
9. Jr. Gone Wi1d It Never Changes
10. Ranc1d Maxwell Murder
11. Peaches Fuck or Kill
12. BBQT Last Rocker
13. Earth Gir1s I Thought You Knew
14. DOA Fucked Up Donald
15. The Bamboo Kids Cocaine
16. Chris Devotion & the Expectations She is the One
17. Need1es//Pins Getting On Home
18. G1itz Paranoia
19. Sp00n Car Radio
20. The Interpreters Dogskin Report
21. Minutemen Political Song for Michael Jackson to Sing
22. Vio1ent Femmes Old Mother Reagan
23. Wi1dhearts Dancin'
24. First Base Crybaby
25. Detroit C0bras Home in Your Heart
26. Jesus & Mary Cha1n The Perfect Crime
27. Drugst0re Super Glider
28. Wire Fragile
29. E1vis Coste11o Welcome to the Working Week
30. Christine Tay1or Scotch Mints
31.The Backs1iders Keep a-Knockin'
32. The F1eshtones God Damn It
33. Pa1e Lips Romanne
34. Monkey Bow1 Let's Eat
35. Fashionism Nun of That
36. The Meows This Man's Crazy
37. Warren Zanes Is It Real?
38. The Suburbs Cows
39. Ween Pumpin' 4 the Man
40. The Forgotten Rebe1s Fuck Me Dead
41. The Ki11joys Space Girl
42. John More1and Everything the Hard Way
43. Turbonegr0 Hobbit Motherfuckers
44. The Vibrat0rs Yeah Yeah Yeah
45. Baby Shakes Sugar High
46. Wreck1ess Eric It's a Sick, Sick World
47. Steve C0nte Happy Hour
48. One the Jugg1er Enjoy Yourself
49. The Beat Farmers Happy Boy
50. The Undert0nes Casbah Rock

Orphans 2018

Once again, it turns out there's a ton of music that somehow slipped past me before I finalized my Best of the Year round-up - and I attempt to make amends for the oversight with this Orphans mix.  The one inescapable truth that makes itself apparent every year is that there is always better, greater, and cooler music than what is promoted through the mainstream sites. Some of these songs represent albums that should have been included in my Top 30, some of them are merely singles, but all are tracks that I wish I'd heard during the twelve months of 2018. Give a listen, and see if you share my righteous indignation over the unfair neglect of such aweomeness and awesomosity.

Got Jumped By a Bottle of Scotch

1. Dirty Sidewa1ks Rock and Roll (Save My Soul)
2. Bee Bee Sea Lou Weird
3. The Ratchets Gotta Be Cool
4. The Me0ws I Don't Care
5. Barrence Whitfie1d & the Savages Pain
6. Laura Jane Grase & the Devouring Mothers I Hate Chicago
7. Heatwave Nothing Matters
8. Locks1ey My Love Is Strong
9. Robbie Fu1ks & Linda Gai1 Lewis Wild Wild Wild
10. The Detr0it Cobras What More
11. Ryan Hami1ton & the Traitors The Ghost of James Dean
12. Skegss Smogged Out
13. The C0nnection Looking Back At You
14. The Speedways Just Another Regular Summer
15. Prima D0nna Press Your Luck
16. Loves0res Gods of Ancient Grease
17. Ace 0f Cups Feel Good
18. The Beths You Wouldn't Like Me
19. Th0mas Abban Time to Think
20. Lazy Daizies Runaway
21. Starcraw1er Pussy Tower
22. J0n Spencer I Got The Hits
23. M. Ward Miracle Man
24. The Pi1grims Fav New Kid
25. Lucer0 For the Lonely Ones

Best of 2018

The Un-Herd Music Top 50 of 2018

1. Jeff Wha1en 10 More Rock Super Hits

Leader of shoulda-been legendary power poppers Tsar delivers what amounts to a master class in melodic perfection. Hooks upon hooks, vocal hooks, guitar hooks, just mofuggin' hooks in every direction. And it's not afraid to rock either.






2. The Peawees Moving Target

Songs so good they sound like classics from a non-existent golden era where Phil Spector, girl groups and Otis Redding rubbed shoulders with the Ramones and the Replacements, but it's new and all original.




 


3. Twin Peaks Sweet '17 Singles

Collects various awesome singles released the previous year, an act which seems almost heroically retro... and that's not a wholly inaccurate way to describe the band's approach to music as well.







4. Macy Grey Ruby

After seemingly being lost in the wilderness for quite some time, Ms. Gray arrives at the intersection of classic and modern R&B with her most satisfying album since "On How Life Is."

5. Go1d Star Uppers & Downers

An album of modest glories that seems simple enough on first listen, then reveals a knack for low-key earworms underneath its shimmering twilit charm.

6. The G1ands Double Coda

Tidies up twenty-three loose ends from the storage shed of the Glands, bringing closure to a truly wondrous and tragic tale. As sprawling, slack, and hook-filled as you'd expect (and hope for).

7. Ura1 Thomas & the Pain The Right Time

Touching on ol' Stax/Volt R&B and James Brown funk with equal authority, it's hard to believe Mr. Thomas is approaching 80 years old. As impressive as it is authentic.

8. Low Cut Connie Dirty Pictures Part 2

Reportedly the band's "Boozophilia" made it onto Barack Obama's playlist back in 2012, and if there's any justice this entire album is showing up on everybody else's playlist this year. A bar band turning into a major player right in front of our ears.

9. Miesha and the Spanks Girls Girls Girls

Attempts to describe the music - in this case punky pop (or poppy punk) - may make it seem generic, but that's only because it's near impossible to quantify the charisma of Miesha's vocals, not to mention the efficacy of her hooks.

10. Prima1 Scream Give Out But Don't Give Up (Original Memphis Sessions)

Scrapped sessions with super-engineer Tom Dowd (along with the famed Muscle Shoals rhythm section) might have cost them their audience in '94, but from a 2018 vantage point their temporary commitment to sleazy southern soul could be the best thing the band ever did.

11. Simon Love Sincerely S. Love X

12. Bass Drum of Death Just Business

13. Beechwood Inside the Flesh Hotel

14. Bad Moves Tell No One

15. Minky Starshine Dirty Electric

16. Parker Millsap Other Arrangements

17. Damian O'Neill & the Monotones Refit Revise Reprise

18. The Sick Things The Sick Things

19. Shannon Shaw Shannon In Nashville

20. Twin Temple Bring You Their Signature Sound... Satanic Doo Wop

21. Rich Hope I'm All Yours

22. Blockhouses Greatest Hit Songs of All Time

23. J.P. Bimeni & the Black Belts Free Me

24. The Prettys ¡Tapas!

25. The Buttertones Midnight in a Moonless Dream

26. High Up You Are Here

27. Valley Lodge Fog Machine

28. Dot Dash Proto Retro

29. Bat Fangs Bat Fangs

30. Death by Unga Bunga So Far So Good So Cool

31. The Longshot Love Is For Losers

32. Daddy Let's Do This

33. Shannon and the Clams Onion

34. The Chills Snow Bound

35. Kurt Baker Combo Let's Go Wild!

36. Emperor Penguin Walnut Fascia

37. Extra Arms Headacher

38. Thomas Abban A Sheik's Legacy

39. Elise LeGrow Playing Chess

40. Deva Mahal Run Deep

41. Alejandro Escovedo w/ Don Antonio The Crossing

42. Neko Case Hell-On

43. The Sha La Das Love in the Wind

44. Lucy and the Rats Lucy and the Rats

45. Lovesores Gods of Ancient Grease

46. Taggart L'maskin

47. Walter Lure & the Waldos Wacka Lacka Loom Bop a Loom Bam Boo

48. Gin Wigmore Ivory

49. The Real Sickies Get Well Soon

50. Handsome Jack Everything's Gonna Be Alright

Honorable Mentions:

The Furies The Furies

Ruen Bros. All My Shades of Blue

Bee Bee Sea Bee Bee Sea Deluxe

Skytone Jangle Waves

The Vibrators Past Present and Into the Future

Robbie Fulks & Linda Gail Lewis Wild! Wild! Wild!

Willie Nile Children of Paradise

The Connection Wish You Success

The Blank Pages Before Your Summer Fades

Leon Bridges Good Thing

EPs:

The Dahlmanns American Heartbeat

The Pandoras Hey! It's the Pandoras!

The Number Ones Another Side of the Number Ones

Nick Lowe Tokyo Bay

The Regrettes Attention Seeker

It's A Goddamn Muthafuggin' Game To You

1. Jeff Wha1en Goofing Around
2. Sick Things We Got It Figured Out
3. Go1d Star This Is The Year
4. The Peawees Justify
5. Prima1 Scream Call On Me
6. Beechwood Bigot In My Bedroom
7. Bass Drum 0f Death Odds Are Good
8. Bad Moves Give It A Shot
9. The G1ands So High
10. J.P. Bimeni & the B1ack Belts Stupid
11. The Buttertones You and Your Knife
12. Minky Starshine Everybody Loves a Party
13. Rich Hope It Come Alive
14. Miesha and the Spanks Stranger
15. The Prettys Let Me Know
16. Daddy Pissed Off At The World
17. High Up Before The Storm
18. Low Cut Connie Master Tapes
19. Va11ey Lodge Stand
20. Ura1 Thomas and the Pain Vibrations
21. Simon Love Joey Ramone
22. Parker Mi11sap Gotta Get To You
23. Blockhouses You Always Say No
24. Twin Peaks Tossing Tears
25. Macy Grey Buddha