Spaghetti & Frank (Mostly) Cover Tom Petty

Spaghetti & Frank is the collaboration of Eddie Spaghetti of the Supersuckers and Frank Meyer of The Streetwalkin' Cheetahs. The duo decided to cover Tom Petty's 1987 classic "Jammin' Me," from the wildly overlooked album Let Me Up (I've Had Enough). It's not a straight up cover, as Spaghetti & Frank have updated some of the lyrics. Since Petty's original discussed the pop culture of the day, such as Joe Piscopo and Eddie Murphy, Spaghetti & Frank used it to discuss more current celebrities like Paris Hilton, Bill Cosby, and Mar-a-Largo. Plus, as you would assume, the cover rocks much harder, going more towards Spaghetti & Frank's punk roots and less in the post New Wave of Petty's. 

You can watch the video for Spaghetti & Frank's version of "Jammin' Me" below. The song is available as a single via Acetate Records. You can download a copy of the song via the band's Bandcamp. 

RebUke - 45...not a LP

Here's a sentence I never ever thought I'd write: Milo Aukerman of the Descendents has released an anti-Trump EP that recorded on the ukulele. These three songs were originally recorded for his band, but he wanted to get them released before the election, so he cranked out these three songs solo. I can guarantee that you've never heard anything this angry on a ukulele before, or probably ever will. It has the full range of Aukerman's anger that we've ever heard before. In fact, I don't think we've ever heard him this angry before. Sure, there are some other instruments, like some electric guitar and cowbell, but it's mostly just Aukerman and a ukulele. And it's simply great.

Milo Aukerman says of the songs on 45...Not a LP: “I’ve spent most of my punk rock life avoiding the temptation to write political songs; it always seemed like politics is the obvious go-to subject of punk and thus not of interest to me. Unfortunately, after the 2016 U.S. Presidential election I find myself virtually unable to write songs about anything else."

You can watch the video for "On You" below. 45...Not a LP is available as a pre-order via Fat Wreck Chords here, or currently streaming everywhere. 

Thrust Club - "Why Does Your Congressperson Want Me Dead?"

 

Photo by Carissa Johnson

As far as modern punk goes these days, there are really two kinds: The more old school, noisy style and a more dance friendly, upbeat style. On their new single, Boston's Thrust Club marry those two styles. "Why Does Your Congressperson Want Me Dead?" starts off with a little bit of a synthy groove and slacker style vocals. And then the chorus of "Why does your Congressperson want me dead" kicks in like a boot to the head over and over again until you lose count of just how many times it has happened. Yeah, it's pretty great. It's the perfect pairing of the new modern dance punk that's all the rage with the kids and the kind of punk us old fogeys grew up loving.

You can listen to "Why Does Your Congressperson Want Me Dead?" below. The song is available on Thrust Club's Bandcamp, with proceeds going to the Loveland Foundation, the Nina Pop Mental Health Recovery Fund, and the Tony Dade Mental Health Recovery Fund. For more on Thrust Club, check out their website.

Science Man - "Into the Rift"

If you're looking for a new noisy beyond belief artist to become obsessed with, please come join me on the Science Man bandwagon. The Buffalo, NY artist is most certainly not going to be for most people, and I'm fairly certain that's the point. The project's latest single, "Into the Rift," is what it might sound like if Al Jourgensen decided to shred with Lightning Bolt. While "Into the Rift" isn't exactly industrial, there is something reminiscent of heavily machinery crashing into itself here. But the song still maintains a fairly standard song structure, and it keeps the bare minimum of tunefulness required to still be "music" by most people's standards.

You can watch the video for "Into the Rift" below. Science Man II, the upcoming new album from Science Man, is due out November 6 on Big Neck Records. You can pre-order a copy here. For more on Science Man, check out the artist's Bandcamp.

Jeff Tweedy - "Gwendolyn"

Photo by Sammy Tweedy

At this point, we all kinda know what we're going to get with a new Jeff Tweedy solo song. "Gwendolyn" is exactly that. It's a little more country than modern Wilco, but nowhere near as country as early Wilco was. It's solidly laid back Americana. It has just the slightest hint of a groove to it, particularly in the guitar. Plus, since it is Tweedy, there is some odd noise to keep the indie rockers happy. Yeah. "Gwendolyn" is a prime example of the type of Americana us middle aged indie rock fans gravitate towards these days. And that's pretty much perfect.

You can watch the video for "Gwendolyn" below. Love is the King, the new album from Jeff Tweedy, will be out October 23 on dBPM Records. To order the album, and for more information on Jeff Tweedy, check out Wilco's website.

First Listen: New Releases for 2 October

An odd week...

Artist: Bonnie Whitmore
Album: Last Will & Testament
Quick Description: Latest album from the country-adjacent folkie.
Why You Should Listen: Whitmore has a fairly unique approach.
Overall Thoughts: I liked Bonnie Whitmore's last album quite a bit, and this new album feels a little quieter, a little more introspective, maybe? The songwriting is strong and it's a pretty solid listen this week on a whole.
Recommendation: Give this a listen.

Artist: Anne Malin
Album: Waiting Song
Quick Description: Unique, fragile folk.
Why You Should Listen: In some ways, this feels like it comes from some distant forest dimension rather than from here.
Overall Thoughts: This is a band that isn't going to sound like anything else this week, this month, or at all lately. This surprised me from the very start, and I kept finding little bits that I enjoyed throughout. This will be a weird comparison, but I'm reading a gothic horror book right now, and this album sort of evokes the gloomy, ominous tone you get from some gothic-themed art. There's a lot to this, and it's one of my favorites this week.
Recommendation: Don't miss out.

Artist: Sa-Roc
Album: The Sharecropper's Daughter
Quick Description: New album from an underappreciated rapper.
Why You Should Listen: I'll take Sa-Roc over Cardi B or Nicki Minaj any day of the week.
Overall Thoughts: An old friend said that Sa-Roc was his favorite rapper a while back, and that's a bold claim no matter what. But I listened to some of her older stuff and thought it was pretty solid. The new album drops this week, and my goodness - this is really solid rap music from a unique voice that's worth a lot of your time. The way she smoothly transitions from something like "EmergencE" to a more party-like song like "Goddess Gang" to a more straightforward effort like "Gold Leaf" says a lot about her ability. It's been a while since she released new music, so this is a welcome return.
Recommendation: A must-listen this week as one of the great rap efforts of the year.

Artist: Deserta
Album: Black Aura My Sun
Quick Description: Gloomy, dark shoegazey post-rock.
Why You Should Listen: This has a real mood to it.
Overall Thoughts: We missed this one from the beginning of the year, and I'm glad I tripped up on it now. Deserta is a project from a musician with a long history, and this is a heavier, darker-toned album that I really enjoyed this week. As we hit the spooky season and with no end to the worldwide craziness in sight, it's kind of nice to listen to something that inadvertently reflects the feeling in the air.
Recommendation: Add to your rotation this week.


Of note:

* The Jaded Hearts Club - You've Always Been Here (Oddball supergroup doing covers of some 1960s-70s hits.)
* Jonsi - Shiver (Sigur Ros lead singer, this is an interesting listen.)
* Laura Jane Grace - Stay Alive
* six impala - WFLYTD NIGHTCORE
* Eelke Kleijn - Oscillations
* Elvis Perkins - Creation Myths
* Dirty Projectors - Earth Crisis
* Rakes - Rakes
* Hudson Mohawke - Airborne Lard
* Drive-By Truckers - The New OK
* Death Valley Girls - Under the Spell of Joy
* Dawes - Good Luck With Whatever
* Field Medic - Floral Prince
* The Nude Party - Midnight Manor
* Carmanah - Iris

EPs:

* Lemondrop - Shut Up Move On (Don't sleep on this.)
* Lazerbeak - Penelope
* mxmtoon - dusk
* recovery girl - recovery girl
* Ivy Hollivana - Loverdiamond
* Deerhoof - Love-Lore
* Tiffany Day - OVERDRAMATIC
* Gladie - Thank You Card
* Laura Marano - YOU

Also out:

* Groove Armada - Edge of the Horizon
* Dawn Landes - ROW
* Melanie C - Melanie C
* Kelsy Karter - Missing Person
* William Shatner - THe Blues
* Rodrigo Y Gabriela - Mettavolution Live

Ruby Mack - "Milktooth"

Photo via Facebook

Every so often we stumble on new music that ends up being deeply beloved. We just stumble on a band, and become simply and slowly more and more intrigued. That is going to be the case with Ruby Mack. The Pioneer Valley, MA based feminist folk quartet recently released a new single, "Milktooth." "Milktooth" is quite simple, and perfectly gorgeous. The song focuses on the vocals and harmonies of the four members with very simple and sparse instrumentation. As traditional as "Milktooth" might be, it's also completely modern in its use of harmonies (if that makes any sense...). 

You can listen to "Milktooth" below. Devil Told Me, the upcoming album from Ruby Mack, will be out October 23. You can pre-order a copy via Bandcamp. For more on Ruby Mack, check out the band's website.

Lunchbox - "I Really Wanna Know"

One of my favorite forgotten bands from my college radio days is back with an upcoming new album! Apparently Lunchbox kept existing long after they moved out of my attention, and have a new single to check out. "I Really Wanna Know" sounds like a bizarro early 60's pop song. It's the kind of early rock 'n' roll or soul that The Beatles would have covered, but with this modern indie rock swirl/warped sound. It has all the beauty and catchiness from music six decades past, but with a modern indie feel.

You can watch the video for "I Really Wanna Know" below. After School Special, the upcoming album from Lunchbox, will be out October 30 on Slumberland Records. You can pre-order a copy here. For more on Lunchbox, check them out on Facebook and Twitter.

Trinary System - "Remember Easter Island"

Trinary System, aka Roger Miller's current musical project post Mission of Burma, has released a new single. "Remember Easter Island" isn't like anything that his previous band put out, but there is still plenty here for Mission of Burma fans to like. First of all, "Remember Easter Island" is fairly funky. It's not a funk song by any means, but it grooves much more than you'd expect. Trinary System do remain fully in the alt-rock/post punk world, and this song keeps that sound. It's noisy, and without a clear chorus. Plus, I wouldn't exactly call it catchy. But "Remember Easter Island" keeps the political aspect of Miller's work alive, with lines like "If you don't believe in science, then please don't use the light switch" and "Remember Trayvon Martin." Not to mention that all proceeds of the single to go The Bail Project - Louisville and the credits include the line "Recorded separately during the Trump Plague of 2020." It's safe to assume what they mean by the repeated word "Vote" at the end of the song.

You can listen to "Remember Easter Island" below. The song is available on Trinary System's Bandcamp. For more on Trinary System, check out their website.

Gulfer - "Nature Kids"

Get ready for some serious 90's vibes. Gulfer's latest single, "Nature Kids," might be one of the most 90's things to come out this year, and that's saying a lot. The song sounds like a crunchier version of Dinosaur Jr, but particularly what Dinosaur Jr would sound like in 2020 if Lee Ranaldo had fully joined the band. It's slacker vocals and fuzzy, driving guitars in an abundance that you haven't heard in years.

The nostalgia also takes over the video. Starting off with a shot of CDs (*sigh*), the video is a tribute to 90's skate videos. Vocalist/guitarist Vincent Ford explains that "... "it takes its inspiration from old skate movies like Shorty’s Fulfill The Dream and features skaters from a Montreal-based brand called Blacklisted. We wanted to replicate the feel-good vibes in those late ‘90s skate videos and capture that 'endless summer' feeling: hanging out with your buds and wishing the summer would never end. Joey’s lyrics capture that feeling, and we feel like the video does, too!"

You can watch the video for "Nature Kids" below. Gulfer's self-titled album will be out October 16 on Top Shelf Records and Royal Mountain Records. You can pre-order a copy here. For more on Gulfer, check out the band's Twitter and Facebook.