Forgive me Christian for impolitely piggybacking onto you this week. I hope it’s helpful, to listeners, fellow Kamala voters, the musicians and, might I dare to believe?, to you.
Thanks, Bill! As a longtime Fishbone soldier, this means a lot to me. I'm glad you made me revisit RPOS. On first listen I thought it was too gimmicky. But it's growing on me. And fuck it, maybe a gimmick is what we need right now. Most importantly, it sounds like classic fishbone, which makes me excited for more new music.
I also really dig this Aaron Lee Tasjan dude. Was unfamiliar! Listening to his latest album and I think I'm fully onboard.
I missed out on Tasjan until his new album too - It kills me, cuz when I learned he was a part of Semi Precious Weapons, who Lady Gaga opened for when they were both struggling NYC musicians, and who I’ve known of since 2006-ish, I just never before picked up on anyone else from the band besides Justin Tranter (you probably are aware of that name) having a solo career. Tasjan’s album is my second favorite of 2024 ( morgxn is #1 ).
I also adore Fishbone. I placed RPOS atop my November playlist because, to quote myself lol, “Fishbone may not be queer but their new song is irresistible”. Aside: How the fuck Fishbone and Living Colour and Bad Brains have never even been nominated for the Rock Hall — F___! So aggravating.
Blake Rave also is recently new to me and seems to have been around for years. As I guy of a certain age, although I guard against kneejerk nostalgia, I was a big fan of Cat Stevens, prime James Taylor , Melanie , and that others on folkie side of Rock. Rave’s album, I just discovered this week, sets off an undeniable nostalgic response in me. He captures that whole sincere but not wimpy vibe I love. I’m still relistening to his new songs and they get better with repeated auditions.
I'm honestly surprised Bad Brains isn't. Fishbone has a stronger case, musically, but not in terms of rep. Living Color comes up short, I think. They'd need one or two more great albums.
The Blake Rave thing felt very Obama Era to me. Like, "Civil Rights...brought to you by Febreze!" But maybe I'll give it a second pass.
Funny, I thought Bad Brains had the weakest case. The way the Rock Hall often seems to work is the inductees organize to get folks they’re fans of in. Springsteen & E Street for Darlene Love a prime example. I appreciate that one. I overlooked her. But as I recall she’s on many more big hits than given credit. Elton John for Leon Russell - oh that made me so so happy. I’ve reasons… But I’ve digressed already, as usual. Point is, I’d think Living Colour would have the most fans among inductees, and were most likely to succeed, so to speak. Though I suppose the Stones , their primary star-powered boosters when LC were new, don’t get involved in that sort of thing.
Perhaps my experience is close to unique but I saw them play live in 2007 I think. They had a few great new songs and , astonishingly to me, they had all the chops one might’ve expected out of them in the 80s. Even Corey Glover’s voice was ALL THERE. So despite the lack of big new albums after, when? the mid 90s?, their performance quality outshines people I happily saw inducted with just a tad more commercial success but fewer serious chops, like Cheap Trick. (Another one I m glad didn’t get overlooked, but 3 maybe 4 commercial success albums?)
Neither Bad Brains nor Fishbone had mainstream hits, did they? They’re “merely” as influential as the Ramones, based on what a lot of bands sounded like after them.
Blake Rave feels Obama era?? Maybe W Bush era, when Steve Earle, Michael Franti, and so many others were anti-Iraq War. Obama era was “When they go low, we go high” , “Yes we can” and “Fired up!” They barely acknowledged the existence of underdogs. Rise Up has more in common with Peace Train or Fortunate Son or even with Thatcher era Tubthumping than with ( having trouble remembering any crossover politically motivational semi-folkie Obama era songs…)
That Yoo Doo Right track does seem to capture the vibe of the moment. I've been listening to the early 2000's Mogwai albums myself, which seem to have a similar feel. Hang in there.
I'm an oldster, so I gravitate towards their turn of the century stuff. Rock Action, and Happy Songs for Happy People come to mind. I think their release I've listened to the most is an EP released in 2001. That's got some simultaneously ominous and soaring tracks.
Thanks, man. I spent the longest time confusing them with some other band. Like, I thought for the longest time they were a triphop thing. Maybe I was thinking Moloko? Then I finally heard them 10-15 years ago and felt dumb. Been meaning to do a deep dive.
You summed everything up perfectly, as always! Doubling down on the distraction coping mechanism, I’m wondering about your thoughts on “dad rock.” Apple Music keeps offering me a list of artists/songs they’re inexplicably calling dad rock, like the Shins and Spoon??? I’m not buying it, Apple!
I regret to inform you that Spoon and The Shins fall pretty easily into the current definition of Dad rock. Basically, it just means “What were 40 year-old, marginally alt-coded white dudes listening to whilst in college?” So the window is elastic, a la classic rock. Newer bands eventually get absorbed into the Dad Rock borg.
As difficult as this news is to accept (would that it were the only tough news of the week… sigh), I think “the Dad Rock borg” is the best concept I’ve heard in a long time. Very well done!
Doomy instrumental rock is definitely my vibe this week.
Yeah, talk about perfect timing.
I already had Pelican in heavy rotation. This fits right in.
Take Shelter does indeed, rule.
I have three OTHER new songs to recommend, sir, which may be heartening for the disheartened, if you will allow it:
Rise Up by Blake Rave
https://open.spotify.com/track/0NMakzU6bNFxO60UP28B96?si=cTB8lg-CQIusSCm3m6BQpw
I Love America Better Than You by Aaron Lee Tasjan
https://open.spotify.com/track/4BgtXMp0C3Lxqsyg4afWTp?si=2f9akNoMQOyMcjfAJ_FMWQ
Racist Piece of Shit by Fishbone
https://open.spotify.com/track/4OJIWK9Ws8agxv1h0AaGH9?si=H0edfSJTR9OEUD2DcOzTMA
More at my Spotify account “Bearealman”.
Forgive me Christian for impolitely piggybacking onto you this week. I hope it’s helpful, to listeners, fellow Kamala voters, the musicians and, might I dare to believe?, to you.
Thanks, Bill! As a longtime Fishbone soldier, this means a lot to me. I'm glad you made me revisit RPOS. On first listen I thought it was too gimmicky. But it's growing on me. And fuck it, maybe a gimmick is what we need right now. Most importantly, it sounds like classic fishbone, which makes me excited for more new music.
I also really dig this Aaron Lee Tasjan dude. Was unfamiliar! Listening to his latest album and I think I'm fully onboard.
Muchos gracias.
I missed out on Tasjan until his new album too - It kills me, cuz when I learned he was a part of Semi Precious Weapons, who Lady Gaga opened for when they were both struggling NYC musicians, and who I’ve known of since 2006-ish, I just never before picked up on anyone else from the band besides Justin Tranter (you probably are aware of that name) having a solo career. Tasjan’s album is my second favorite of 2024 ( morgxn is #1 ).
I also adore Fishbone. I placed RPOS atop my November playlist because, to quote myself lol, “Fishbone may not be queer but their new song is irresistible”. Aside: How the fuck Fishbone and Living Colour and Bad Brains have never even been nominated for the Rock Hall — F___! So aggravating.
Blake Rave also is recently new to me and seems to have been around for years. As I guy of a certain age, although I guard against kneejerk nostalgia, I was a big fan of Cat Stevens, prime James Taylor , Melanie , and that others on folkie side of Rock. Rave’s album, I just discovered this week, sets off an undeniable nostalgic response in me. He captures that whole sincere but not wimpy vibe I love. I’m still relistening to his new songs and they get better with repeated auditions.
I do go on and on, don’t I? Lololol
I'm honestly surprised Bad Brains isn't. Fishbone has a stronger case, musically, but not in terms of rep. Living Color comes up short, I think. They'd need one or two more great albums.
The Blake Rave thing felt very Obama Era to me. Like, "Civil Rights...brought to you by Febreze!" But maybe I'll give it a second pass.
Funny, I thought Bad Brains had the weakest case. The way the Rock Hall often seems to work is the inductees organize to get folks they’re fans of in. Springsteen & E Street for Darlene Love a prime example. I appreciate that one. I overlooked her. But as I recall she’s on many more big hits than given credit. Elton John for Leon Russell - oh that made me so so happy. I’ve reasons… But I’ve digressed already, as usual. Point is, I’d think Living Colour would have the most fans among inductees, and were most likely to succeed, so to speak. Though I suppose the Stones , their primary star-powered boosters when LC were new, don’t get involved in that sort of thing.
Perhaps my experience is close to unique but I saw them play live in 2007 I think. They had a few great new songs and , astonishingly to me, they had all the chops one might’ve expected out of them in the 80s. Even Corey Glover’s voice was ALL THERE. So despite the lack of big new albums after, when? the mid 90s?, their performance quality outshines people I happily saw inducted with just a tad more commercial success but fewer serious chops, like Cheap Trick. (Another one I m glad didn’t get overlooked, but 3 maybe 4 commercial success albums?)
Neither Bad Brains nor Fishbone had mainstream hits, did they? They’re “merely” as influential as the Ramones, based on what a lot of bands sounded like after them.
Blake Rave feels Obama era?? Maybe W Bush era, when Steve Earle, Michael Franti, and so many others were anti-Iraq War. Obama era was “When they go low, we go high” , “Yes we can” and “Fired up!” They barely acknowledged the existence of underdogs. Rise Up has more in common with Peace Train or Fortunate Son or even with Thatcher era Tubthumping than with ( having trouble remembering any crossover politically motivational semi-folkie Obama era songs…)
That Yoo Doo Right track does seem to capture the vibe of the moment. I've been listening to the early 2000's Mogwai albums myself, which seem to have a similar feel. Hang in there.
I don’t know Mogwai super well, but yeah, I hear that. What’s their best album, in your opinion?
I'm an oldster, so I gravitate towards their turn of the century stuff. Rock Action, and Happy Songs for Happy People come to mind. I think their release I've listened to the most is an EP released in 2001. That's got some simultaneously ominous and soaring tracks.
Thanks, man. I spent the longest time confusing them with some other band. Like, I thought for the longest time they were a triphop thing. Maybe I was thinking Moloko? Then I finally heard them 10-15 years ago and felt dumb. Been meaning to do a deep dive.
Hope you like them. I've heard some great songs that I never would have found if it weren't for your posts, so it would be nice to return the favor.
You summed everything up perfectly, as always! Doubling down on the distraction coping mechanism, I’m wondering about your thoughts on “dad rock.” Apple Music keeps offering me a list of artists/songs they’re inexplicably calling dad rock, like the Shins and Spoon??? I’m not buying it, Apple!
I regret to inform you that Spoon and The Shins fall pretty easily into the current definition of Dad rock. Basically, it just means “What were 40 year-old, marginally alt-coded white dudes listening to whilst in college?” So the window is elastic, a la classic rock. Newer bands eventually get absorbed into the Dad Rock borg.
Thanks for the kind words, btw!
As difficult as this news is to accept (would that it were the only tough news of the week… sigh), I think “the Dad Rock borg” is the best concept I’ve heard in a long time. Very well done!
Even though I'm not in love with the audio mix on the new Cure album, I gotta admit that the songs are damned good. "Drone:Nodrone" fuggin' RAWKS!!!
Yeah that’s probably my second favorite track. I’m hoping the whole thing will grow on me more.
Such a great trio of songs and such a welcome up-front message. Thank you very sincerely for that.
Thanks for giving a poop.