Sometimes, it gets tidied up; other times, not so much.
When all else fails: there’s video!
(“Ahhhh” Fitz and The Tantrums)
I have two Fitz and The Tantrums songs in my wake-up playlist – somehow I missed an entire album from November
(Missed Music Monday opener)
Early in 2023 in Philly, I saw a Fitz and The Tantrums show. Incredible. I was mesmerized. Loved the engery and happiness that it set off. I was all in on the band and Fitz himself.
(“Head Up High” clip)
This is a Fitz only album – his 2nd solo album called: Summer of Us. I’m still listening, but I like “Wind in My Sails”
(clip)
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My Spotify Artist of the Year. And – guess who has a new album out
(The National “Once Upon a Poolside”)
(New Music Friday)
Happy Weekend! Welcome to mid-December. 2025 is so close. You know what’s also close – “Cookies for Breakfast” week. (clip) I cannot believe that there is a song out there called “Cookies for Breakfast.” I will have it saved on my Spotify playlist.
(Countdown Video)
New Music Friday:
I put together a Spotify playlist of the songs that I talked about and thought about today for New Music Friday. Click here for that!
First up – British rockers: THE DARKNESS (clip) “I Believe in a Thing Called Love” was released back in September of 2003. BUT – this most recent September – the song hit number one on the iTunes Rock Chart – all because of two people singing along to it at the US Open (clip) Yup – Kansas City Chief Travis Kelce and his girlfriend (clip) Back to THE DARKNESS. The 1st release off their forthcoming eighth studio album: Dreams On Toast was released in the Fall (clip) I guess it’s still the Fall until next weekend. Today, we got release #2 called “I Hate Myself” (clip) The full album – Dreams On Toast arrives in March. By the way, there is a YouTube show called “Justin Hawkins Rides Again” – that’s the lead singer of THE DARKNESS – very entertaining and informative on the musical scene. I’ll provide links!
Next – we’ve got Benjamin Booker (clip) That’s like the first 10 seconds of the song. I’m loving on that fuzzy guitar sound. Song is called “Same Kind of Lonely” (another clip) Little scary there in the video. The kid heard laughing is that of his daughter. Just prior to this scene, there’s a clip used from an actual school shooting.. Very serious stuff – when asked, Booker says he included this audio because those random moments of horror ‘happen in our lives, just out of nowhere.” I still like the song. (clip) FYI – this is Booker’s 3rd release from his first new album in 7 years, LOWER – arrives next month on January 24th. By the way, thank you to Josh Sharpe for his article with Broadway World – that’s where I got some of my info.
(Tom Petty clip) “Mary Jane’s Last Dance” via Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers was released back in November of 1993. Today, Snoop Dogg has his own version (clip) Snoop’s song is called “Last Dance with Mary Jane” and is off his new album that’s all out in its glory today called: Missionary. (clip) That’s Sting rapping on the song “Another Part of Me.” A lot of special guests on this album: Jelly Roll, Method Man, 50 Cent, Eminem. Snoop Dogg has that pull. I don’t think it’s the T-Mobile commercials either. He’s just the man. //
Several quick hits of new music: This guy has been off of my radar for awhile – and I was all over his first couple albums in the early 2000s. Ben Kweller has a new song out called “Optimystic” – the entire album called Cover The Mirrors drops next May // Dead Poet Society’s song “HURT” is off their album – FISSION – which was released earlier this year. By the way – that album is in my top 10 for 2024. That video is coming next week. Anyway – the song “HURT” was redone by the band along with the help of the three sisters from: The Warning // My Spotify Artist of the Year – The National – released a live album called Rome. It’s from when they performed there during their recent tour. 21 songs spread out over nearly 2 hours of music. I can’t wait. Need it on vinyl, Santa. // I’ve talked a lot about Myles Smith this past year. AND – I probably talked about this song “Nice To Meet You.” However, he redid it the some bells and called it the Mistletoe Version (clip)
Amazing how jingling bells can make one think of the holidays. I was looking for some of our bells to jingle, but I think we got rid of all of them because of our dogs.
Thank you to Spotify, Rolling Stone, Apple Music, uDiscoverMusic, Pigeons & Planes, Pitchfork, Louder, Spill Magazine, Dan Deluca of the Philly Inquirer & I know there’s more.
Josh Sharpe for his article with Broadway World
Be sure to check out the playlist on Spotify. As I mentioned in the beginning, it’s a playlist of songs that I’ve talked about and thought about: so, you’ll see some new music there from Beta Radio, Old Sea Brigade, and anything that I really messed up and missed – well, that’s why I’ll be doing Missed Music Monday on Monday.
Please subscribe on YouTube and spread the Babble wherever you can – Thank you!
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “You gotta lean towards the things that make you like yourself. Forget everything else.” – by Matt Berninger – he sings songs for The National
The Black Crowes, Billie Eilish, Brittany Howard, Friday Pilots Club, Judah & The Lion, and Linkin Park (clip)
20) Green Day – Saviors
I forgot how good this album was. (clip) Some people ripped it because it sounded like a Green Day album. BUT – that’s what I wanted. I wanted a Green Day album. (clip)
19) Taylor Swift – The Tortured Poets Department
At #19, I’ve got this one on vinyl. Double Disc Album purchased on Record Store Day 2024. (Post Malone clip) It’s a good album. What made it even better for me was waiting in line with my little girl and seeing her excitement with this purchase. Besides the Post Malone song, I also enjoyed the song “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart” (clip)
18) The Black Keys – Ohio Players
I’m a huge fan of Beck and he was a major player with the making of this album (clip) Recently, The Black Keys came out with an extended version of the album with 4 extra tracks. By the way, Ohio Players is the band’s 12th overall. My favorite song off the album that I know I played the junk out of on New Music Friday was “Beautiful People.” (clip)
17) MJ Lenderman – Manning Fireworks
I was so late to the party on this one. (Wristwatch) Wilco meets Beck with a definite Sad Dad Rock feel to it. The quirky lyrics are splendid. Feeling Christmasy – Don’t listen to “Rudolph”
16) Jake Bugg – A Modern Day Distraction
Unfortunately, I haven’t found this on too many countdowns. (clip) “Zombieland” has gotten a ton of listens, but that’s not my favorite. “I Wrote the Book” / “All Kinds of People” /
15) Sia – Reasonable Woman
This is one that I forgot how good it was until I went back and listened again (clip) The songs feel like anthems – I find myself wanting to sing along loud and proud, but they aren’t necessarily dude songs. (Immortal Queen clip)
I’ve always said Beck and Sia – I wish they would testimonials for me.
14) AWOLNATION – The Phantom Five
5th Studio Album arrived at the very end of Summer. (“Jump Sit Stand March”) Emily Armstrong appearing on that song. “Panoramic View” was probably the big hit off this album, but that’s not the one that I played over and over again on my way to the gym in the morning – “I Am Happy” (clip)
13) Sabrina Carpenter – Short n’ Sweet
We just talked about AWOLNATION’s 5th Studio Album, but Sabrina Carpenter has her 6th (clip) Short n’ Sweet is the album and it had what many consider the song of the summer (“Espresso”) I love coffee, but I didn’t see too much coffee. Let’s see another clip (another Espresso) No java bean seen.
12) Shaboozey – Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going
Ahhh – this album includes my song for the summer which is why it’s kicked up a notch on this countdown. (clip) I like the one from Miley;s younger sister – Noah Cyrus. But the other fun song that I enjoyed was the song “Drink Don’t Need No Mix” (clip)
11) Orville Peck – Stampede
This is a fun album from interesting guy. (clip) Wikipedia states – Orville Peck, is a South African country musician based in the United States and Canada. He is well-known for wearing a mask and not showing his face publicly. (clip) The song that I enjoyed the most is the one that Beck in on – “Death Valley High” (clip)
Did I just end with back to back country albums? There’s another one in my top 10.
Sometimes, it gets tidied up; other times, not so much.
When all else fails: there’s video!
(“I Missed Again”)
3 Artists that I missed on this past Friday: David Kushner, Henrik, and Sam Fender
(Missed Music Monday opener)
1) The storytelling David Kushner delivered a haunting Christmas song called “Empty Bench” / It makes you feel the struggle of Longing and Loss – it’s not a pick me up like Jingle Bells, but still very good (clip)
2) A very appreciative Henrik puts forth more South Jersey music with his song – “Be Alive”
3) Early next year, British rocker Sam Fender will release his new album called: People Watching – that’s always fun to do. It’s when you point, it’s bad. Fender just released a six-minute song from the album – “Wild Long Lie”
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My Spotify Song of the Year “Golden Boy” by Bryce Fox / When he comes to Philly’s TLA next April with AWOLNATION, I’m going to flash him the screenshot.
(Bryce Fox “Golden Boy”)
(New Music Friday)
2024 on its last leg – How do you know? All these countdowns or best of’s – I feel like I need to do one. So, I will – not today. Next week – I’ll put out my 20 to 11 albums for 2024 and then the following week, my top 10 albums for 2024. Everybody likes a countdown
(Countdown clip)
New Music Friday:
I put together a Spotify playlist of the songs that I talked about and thought about for today’s New Music Friday. Click here for that!
1st – let’s say it together – Rosier. Now, switch the R to an H. Hozier. (“Take Me to Church”) Last year in August, Hozier released his album: Unreal Unearth, but then this past August, he released an extended version called: Unreal Unearth: Unaired (“Too Sweet”) “Too Sweet” was included on that recent one. Today, he released onto triple LP vinyl: Unreal Unearth Unending and it includes a previously unreleased track called “Hymn to Virgil” (clip)
Back on November 1st, I talked about this album dropping because of the song that had gotten stuck in my head – “Crocodile Tears” (clip) Today, we have that entire album called Vicious Creature from Lauren Mayberry (Chuvrches “Here With Me” clip) She’s also the lead singer of the band: Chvrches. On the band’s Australian tour she hit some tough times with the band that made her think of doing this solo thing – what helped her through it (Taylor Swift’s Cruel Summer.”) Me too girl. What? Too much sharing? Anyway – I’ve listened to the album – definitely more of a pop sound. I enjoyed the delicately soft song of “Oh, Mother”, but another song which has a good upbeat sound to it is “Punch Drunk” (clip)
Back in June within Spotify, I liked a 4-pack of this band’s songs (“What’s My Name”) Band’s name is Noshows. In an interview, lead singer – Max Satow (Say-toe) described the band’s sound as being Indie-Hop. (“Portrait”) Noshows isn’t just putting out good music , they’re also helping people navigate anxiety through music and pop-up events – the community is called: Magnify the Mind. I’ll provide a link (clip) That song is called “Decisions” and it willl be found on the new EP called Tightrope which drops next year – February 21st to be exact. Check out that band – Noshows //
Several quick hits of new music: Dua Lipa just released: Dua Lipa Live From The Royal Albert Hall. The new live album features a reimagined version of her recently released album – Radical Optimism performed in its entirety front-to-back, along the 53-piece Heritage Orchestra, a 14-strong choir and her 7-piece band. // Sabrina Carpenter’s song “Taste” was just redone by a band that I’ve been enjoying a lot lately – Daisy Grenade. I was so hoping that it was “Taste It” from INXS (clip) I can’t be the only one? That’s a good song. // Advent calendars are being opened up daily all across the land and the Santa day is definitely getting closer, so here’s a new holiday song from Mat Kearney called “Christmas Chevrolet” (clip)
Thank you to Spotify, Rolling Stone, Apple Music, uDiscoverMusic, Pigeons & Planes, Pitchfork, Louder, Spill Magazine, Dan Deluca of the Philly Inquirer & I know there’s more.
Be sure to check out the playlist on Spotify. As I mentioned in the beginning, it’s a playlist of songs that I’ve talked about and thought about: so, you’ll see some new music there from Maggie Rogers, Fuller, Andrew Bird, and anything that I really messed up and missed – well, that’s why I’ll be doing Missed Music Monday on Monday.
Please subscribe on YouTube and spread the Babble wherever you can – Thank you!
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “The only truth is music . . . . music blends with the heartbeat universe and we forget the brain beat.” – by Jack Kerouac (Care o ack) – novelist and poet
Sometimes, it gets tidied up; other times, not so much.
When all else fails: there’s video!
(“Freedom” cut)
From one of my favorite albums in 2021 – song is “Freedom” / Album is We Are / Artist is Jon Batiste / He came out with a new album – just a couple weeks ago.
(Missed Music Monday opener)
Jon Batiste has been everywhere. Served as the house band on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. (clip) Composed music & won Grammys for his work on the Pixar film – Soul (clip) and now he reinterprets the Beethoven classics on his new album ‘Beethoven Blues’ (clip)
Oh, and he’s going to sing the National Anthem for this upcoming Super Bowl. Busy man – go listen to any of his stuff.
Please subscribe on YouTube and spread the Babble wherever you can – Thank you!
Sometimes, it gets tidied up; other times, not so much.
When all else fails: there’s video!
(“Do They Know It’s Christmas?”)
“Thank God it’s them. Instead of you.” Is that really the holiday spirit?
(“Do They Know It’s Christmas?”)
(New Music Friday)
Happy Turkey Day Weekend! I think that’s what makes Thanksgiving an easy favorite for a lot of people – it has a built in long weekend that follows. For most people. I realize there’s doctors, nurses, cash register people. Thank you. (clip) And the transition continues towards Christmas – “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” was recorded on three separate occasions, over three separate generations. The OG is from 1984. Today, producer Trevor Horn blended all the voices of those 3 separate generations into one and called it “Band Aid – 2024 Ultimate Mix” (clip)
(Countdown)
New Music Friday:
I put together a Spotify playlist of the songs that I talked about and thought about today for New Music Friday. Click here for that!
1st up – Kesha (“Timber” ) That’s old Kesha who has her own record label now creatively titled – Kesha Recods. The first release was experienced this past summer called “JOYRIDE” (clip) I’m going to show my age, because whenever I hear of a song called “Joyride”, my mind travels back to 1991 and I think about Roxette (clip) Sorry – back to Kesha. The 2nd release off of her own label is now out for us all to embrace – “Delusional” (clip)
The Juice WRLD team just released the late rapper’s third posthumous album and apparently the final one called: The Party Never Ends. Here’s the Spotify pushed song – “Misfit” (clip) 18 songs in total with appearances from Nicki Minaj, Eminem, Fall Out Boy, and Offset (clip) That’s Offset sounding like something that he would have done for a Migos album. Also, Juice WRLD has made his way into Fortnite again. (clip)
Back in June, Canadian man – Jesse Roper released the song “Georgia Train” (clip) Then to follow that up in September, he came out with “True Lovin’ Ain’t Easy.” (clip) FYI – he’s a fun follow on Instagram. The other day he wrote – “I’ve got a couple more tunes to toss into the pool before I put an album out there.” AKA – gotta wait until 2025. He continues: “Here’s another one! It’s about confronting problems in my path and being scared to solve them.” Give Jesse Roper a follow and listen to his latest called “Roll This Stone” (clip)
Several quick hits of new music: Via Instagram, Lana Del Rey has announced a new album called The Right Person Will Stay. Full album drop on May 21st. At this very moment – nothing yet, but be on the lookout for the first single called “Henry” // The late Martin Phillipps turned early unrecorded Chills songs into a new album. The double album will arrive next year on February 28th. Today we get “If This World Was Made For Me” // Emmaline makes us all want to put on our santa hat and play the big jolly fella (clip) ‘Zat You, Santa Claus – originally performed by the great Louis Armstrong, but now, there’s Emmaline (clip)
Thank you to Spotify, Rolling Stone, Apple Music, uDiscoverMusic, Pigeons & Planes, Pitchfork, Louder, Spill Magazine, Dan Deluca of the Philly Inquirer & I know there’s more.
Be sure to check out the playlist on Spotify. As I mentioned in the beginning, it’s a playlist of songs that I’ve talked about and thought about: also, anything that I really messed up and missed – well, that’s why I’ll be doing Missed Music Monday on Monday.
Please subscribe on YouTube and spread the Babble wherever you can – Thank you!
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “My heroes are the ones who survived doing it wrong, who made mistakes, but recovered from them.” – by Bono
