This isn’t a competition. It’s a collaboration.
More beautiful & way less weird than I went in expecting, mostly due to me being sceptical of people using the term "genius" & “before its time" & a little bit just not trusting people in general. Unrelated: I kept finding myself thinking “I bet José González really loves this record.”
EPISODE 060 kicks off with some Wilder Maker and closes out with a track from that Elliott Smith cover album from Seth Avett & Jessica Lea Mayfield that I totally forgot had happened. In between those, you'll hear some new-to-me Isaac Brock solo stuff, newish Beirut and oldish Cory Branan… and a whole bunch more.
“Talk to strangers...or at least eschew the bubble a bit more than you feel comfortable with. If you don’t then you may make yourself blind or ill.”
“Expected this to be good but, wow, I didn't expect it to be this awesome! If you love White Lighter don't hesitate, you'll love this!”
“I'm Qualified To Satisfy You"—with its perfect combination of confidence and practicalness—is probably the best chat-up line ever. That Barry does not beat around the bush, even though that's exactly what he wants to do (if you catch my drift).
“Dan Willson of Withered Hand lore is the best writer of melodies currently alive (believe me, I've looked). He hasn't written a song I don't adore. The streak continues here. I'm also happy to report that the songs from a Singer of Songs are also quite lovely, especially the last. Buy this and everything these two outfits have ever produced.”
“This album is the bastard love child of an Iron Maiden and Barry White album—left abandoned in a wicker basket outside a notoriously dangerous pub at the end of the darkest road in some middle of nowhere village.”
EPISODE 080 kicks off with a banger from Carey, and before things close out with an aged-finer-than-wine gem from Yo La Tengo, you'll hear Sarah Jaffe, Psychic Ills, Aidan Knight, and a bunch more goodness.
“I like to go for walks with headphones or a camera every day. I think it's important to take some time to let your mind be still, to just breathe.”
“Nice Legs are a mix of several related indie-pop genres. Dream pop. c86. experimental. Bedroom pop. They pick up the best of all those and do something new with them. Very good."
EPISODE 63 kicks off with the lovingly lofi Katie Von Schleicher, and before things close out with an absolute surprise from LUKA, you'll hear: Joshua James singing Modest Mouse, Pet Cemetary sampling I Heart Huckabees, Ed Harcourt, my favourite chorus of the year from (Ariel Sharratt & Mathias Kom) and even more 'good for the ears' things.
