Ken's Best of 2025 - #2: The New Eves - The New Eve is Rising

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When I first heard "Cow Song" back in June, I was instantly enamored with The New Eves. I was afraid that the rest of the songs wouldn't be able to compare to the first single, but as each single was released, I became more and more excited for the release of The New Eve is Rising. 

One thing for sure is that this album is not going to be for everyone, and that's perfectly okay. It starts off with the psychedelic freak out "The New Eve," which seems more like a mission statement than a song. It sets the tone for the rest of the album, and then you truly get in with "Highway Man." This one is more of a danceable psych-folk/indie rocker, and it's how you're going to know if The New Eve is Rising is going to be for you. 

There are so many elements to The New Eves' music, while the songs still have this almost primal and basic vibe to them. They have that rawness of The Stooges, but instead of being protopunk, this is more of a freak folk sound. I've been joking since the summer that it's almost like Transgressive Records was trying to find the next Wet Leg or The Last Dinner Party, and instead accidentally signed The New Eves. 

The New Eve is Rising ended up being one of the most original and engaging releases of the year, and it thrilled me every single time I put it on. As someone who listens to a lot of music as it's released, The New Eves were a delightful and exciting discovery.

Songs of note: "Highway Man," "Cow Song," "Circles," and "Rivers Run Red"

On Repeat...

Minibeast - "High Sea"

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Somehow Peter Prescott of Mission of Burma and Volcano Suns has another band that I never knew about. Minibeast already released an album that I completely missed back in 2012, and they are currently at work on the follow up, Free Will. Based on a track from the upcoming album, "High Sea," Minibeast shares some common sonic ground with Mission of Burma, but with an added emphasis on the groovy side of things. It's basically the noise and dissonance of Burma but heard through a 60s surf groove, as if Frankie and Annette were punks. You can listen to "High Sea" below. Minibeast currently have a Kickstarter to help fund the final production of Free Will. You can get more information on that here . It should be out sometime in June.
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Monday Mix: Newport Folk Festival 2014 Must See Bands

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With this weekend's upcoming Newport Folk Festival, we thought we'd highlight some of this year's can't miss acts. We're focusing on the bands playing smaller stages and earlier in the day. I mean, you're obviously going to see Ryan Adams and Jack White. Instead, these are the acts worth getting there early for, and seeking out the smaller stages. Phox Friday, 1:50, Quad Stage Phox hails from Baraboo, WI, the winter home of the Ringling Brothers' Circus. I'm not sure if that is connected to their music or not, but Phox has an otherworldly charm and a magical feel. They come across as a more grounded St. Vincent or a less intense version of early Tori Amos. Their music is simply beautiful and uplifting.  Reignwolf Friday, 2:55, Quad Stage Truly pushing the boundaries of what can be considered "folk" are Reignwolf. Reignwolf is Jordan Cook, who sounds like a mixture of The Black Keys and Queens of the Stone Age, mixed with just a lit...
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There's a new Limp Bizkit video, because sure, why not?

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Earlier this week I was expressing sympathy for Limp Bizkit. Limp Bizkit just don't seem to be riding that surge of 90s nostalgia that all sorts of other terrible bands from that era are. Sure, they're terrible. But are they really  that much worse than Filter, Alien Ant Farm, and other bands on those 90s nostalgia packages. And then this video is released. The first lyrics to the song are literally "Go fuck yourself." It then features Fred Durst sitting on a toilet, bikini clad chicks pretending to fellate garden hoses and leaf blowers, and Fred Durst talking about fucking bitches, all while wearing a hoodie and a backwards red baseball hat. Then Lil Wayne comes out. Please keep in mind Fred Durst is a 42 year old man.
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