NEW MUSIC FOR OLDS #30
These pipes are clean.
Greetings, dear reader. What a pleasure to be back in your box.1
Here’s what’s up: As is typical this time of year, new music is coming out Dom Toretto style: fastly, furiously. My playlist runneth over and something’s got to give!
Soooooo, NMFO #30 is all about Spring cleaning. We’ll be (mostly) skipping SOME BULLSHIT, but doubling up on GOOD STUFF—six songs, instead of the standard three.
“S-s-six songs?” you sputter. “Finnegan, have you gone mad?”
Maybe, just maybe. But there are some potentially great albums coming down the pike over the next few weeks, and that’s just the stuff I’m aware of. So to paraphrase classic cinema, it’s time it’s to clean the pipes.
On the docket:
Foo Fighters? Really??
DIY pop chops
Spacious metal
Saucy tart music
Math rock for non-geeks
The goofiest of earworms
And a bit of shameful self-promotion
NEW MUSIC FOR OLDS…engage!
GOOD STUFF
Your Glossary of Terms.
Foo Fighters, “Rescued”
Listen on Apple Music // Listen on Amazon Music
Album: But Here We Are
Nutshell: Arena rock
Voltage: 7
Thoughts: Look, I’m as surprised as you are. As you may recall, I have complicated feelings about Dave Grohl. But this guitar riff is stadium-ready and the melody is sticky like a cinnabon. Recent Foo Fighters history has been gratingly self-aware (“Look, we’re playing disco! Now we’re doing a heavy metal! Tee-hee-hee!”). By comparison, “Rescued” feels effortless—all the more impressive, given the weight of Taylor Hawkins’ passing. I’m big enough to admit that David Grohl may have a future in rock and roll.
Pairing Suggestion: Paying $18 for a beer at The Chase Fargo Civic Dome
Corook, “CGI”
Listen on Apple Music // Listen on Amazon Music
Album: CGI (single)
Nutshell: Laptop pop
Voltage: 5
Thoughts: “CGI” seems to be an anomaly for this artist, who mostly operates in the anti-folk realm. Their acoustic singalong “if i were a fish” is a TikTok smash, but it’s nothing you wouldn’t hear on an old Moldy Peaches album. “CGI”, on the other hand, is a near-perfect pop gem. There’s not one extraneous note and, given a million-dollar spit shine, you can imagine it performed by an Arianna Grande or even a Beyonce. Don’t get me wrong, I prefer this version, which sounds like it was recorded using Garage Band or Audacity. But if Corook ever wants to be the next Max Martin, they have the chops.
Pairing Suggestion: Crushing hard
Spotlights, “Repeat the Silence”
Listen on Apple Music // Listen on Amazon Music
Album: Alchemy for the Dead
Nutshell: Shoegaze metal
Voltage: 8
Thoughts: If you’re a fan of heavy rock that relies on texture and atmosphere (think Failure and Deftones), Spotlights will be right up your alley. I’ve been a fan for a while now, but Alchemy for the Dead feels like a major step towards accessibility. No one’s going to confuse this with Pet Sounds, and “Repeat the Silence” is a slow burn, but there’s more emphasis on melody than in past recordings—it helps that the vocals have been pushed towards the front of the mix. This may not be your bag, but who’s to say you need only one bag?
Pairing Suggestion: Zero gravity fight club
Magdalena Bay, “EXO”
Listen on Apple Music // Listen on Amazon Music
Album: Mini Mix Vol. 3 (E.P.)
Nutshell: Synth pop
Voltage: 7
Thoughts: Magdalena Bay is a keyboard-driven duo from Miami. They’ve only released one proper album, but this is their 3rd “mini mix”. The songs on Vol. 3 are slight, almost like sketches, but each is a feast for the ears with a juicy hook. “EXO” sounds something excavated from Prince’s vault, laid down in a 1987 studio all-nighter and handed off to one of his lingerie-clad “protégés”. And coming in right around 2:00, it doesn’t overstay its welcome.
Pairing Suggestion: Sauntering around like a saucy little tart.
COVET, “firebird”
Listen on Apple Music // Listen on Amazon Music
Album: catharsis
Nutshell: Instrumental math rock
Voltage: 6
Thoughts: The term “math rock” can be off-putting and some of you pop-minded folks may be tempted to skip right by this, but fear not—this goes down easy. Sure it’s musician-y, but never to the extent that it feels like homework. No Simone Biles Filter necessary! I’d never heard of guitar demigod Yvette Young before last week, but she’s the real deal with a truly unique style. More, please.
Pairing Suggestion: Doing that thing on a swing set where you twist the chains up and then let go, so you whip around in a circle
Pearl & The Oysters (feat. Laetitia Sadier), “Read the Room”
Listen on Apple Music // Listen on Amazon Music
Album: Coast 2 Coast
Nutshell: Franco/Space Age Pop
Voltage: 5
Thoughts: A cheerful synth pop confection, featuring the icy cool vocals of Stereolab’s Laetitia Sadier. Two minutes long, with lyrics comprised of three (and only three) words. Bet you can’t guess what they are! I don’t have anything weighty to say about this goofy little nothing of a tune, but I guarantee it will be stuck in your head for at least the next 24 hours.
Pairing Suggestion: Failing to get this out of your head
Substack won’t allow six options in a poll, so you’ll have to tell me what you like (or hate) the old fashioned way. Declare thyself!
Oh, you’d like to share this post? Well, far be it from me…
SOME BULLSHIT
It’s not a terrible idea to remind you every once in a while that I’m a professional standup comic. As such, I’d like to alert you to some big shows later this month in NYC and Boston.
NEW YORK — Thu 5/25:
I’m presenting my latest hour of standup at QED Astoria, the venue owned and operated by my lovely wife (with a degree of assistance from yours truly). It’s all new stuff that doesn’t appear on any album or special. I’m also attempting to nail down a rather special guest (shhh!).
If you live in or around NYC, get your butt into a seat!
BOSTON (or thereabouts) — Fri 5/26 and Sat 5/27:
I’m headlining Off Cabot Comedy in Danvers—my first MA shows in over a decade. I was raised a Masshole, so these shows will be extra special. Please don’t embarrass me in front of my dad!
Folks, we have reached the end of NMFO #30 and I think we can all agree…
Paid Subscribees, see you next week. The rest of you, let’s hook up in fourteen days for three new songs and assorted brain dribblings.
Subtle reminder:
As always, I thank you for your support.
I regret nothing!
Love that gif - syncs pretty darn well! LOL
In addition to great song recs, I get fresh lols with every post. VALUE.