What are you Listening to?

[Saulaac]

Folky, piratey. Cornwall, or perhaps Plymouth, or maybe somewhere up in Northumberland..

Legend of Lumbar - Lydian Collective & Capital Orchestra

[Buckeye Randy]

Instantly, there is a Lennon vibe.

[costa_oscura]

Currently grooving out to Unrest's 1993 album Perfect Teeth in preparation for the March 28 "30th anniversary" reissue/remaster with an album of extra demos, tracks and rarities (Extra Teeth).  It's actually be 32 years since Perfect Teeth, and 32 years since I discovered Unrest were THE rudest band I'd ever interview in my glory days as an indie rock scribe.  But I can't entirely blame them since they were being forced to tour in support of Perfect Teeth, having signed contracts with 4AD and Warner Bros Records, when they were ready to break up and move on to other things.  Mark Robinson and Bridget Cross wanted to get started on their new project, Air Miami, and Phil Krauth just wanted to move on.  The record labels weren't ready for them to go public with their break-up, though, so they couldn't say anything until all the promotion was done.  ...Which included being interviewed by me backstage at the Los Angeles venue where they were playing with Stereolab.  Of course I had no idea they were breaking up, had no clue what was going on, so I didn't understand why they were so rude to me.  Mark gave nothing but one word answers, Bridget just giggled at every snarky thing he said, and Phil sat in a corner at the back of the room, not engaging with anyone at all.  They could have been less sh*tty to me, played the publicity game a little more.  But looking back, I can't entirely blame them.  I still enjoy their music and am looking forward to the reissue. 

[Buckeye Randy]

Sparks have released the first teaser from their upcoming album titled, "MAD!".  The Mael brothers keep it arty as usual and trying to figure out the significance or meaning of their videos/music is a good exercise with no wrong answers.

I would not say I love everything they do but I'm always interested to see what they are doing.

The tour dates for Japan and Europe have been announced with North American dates coming soon.

[Guybrush]

I'm digging around in the past as usual.

How do you guys feel about Michael McDonald? Is he good? Is he ridiculous?

For me, he's both 😄

Oh man, the 80s!

[costa_oscura]

I'm digging around in the past as usual.

How do you guys feel about Michael McDonald? Is he good? Is he ridiculous?

For me, he's both 😄

Oh man, the 80s!

He's a yacht rock hero!  I love McDonald.

[Guybrush]

He's a yacht rock hero!  I love McDonald.

I love his voice and the way he uses it, but it also sits somewhere in a kind of uncanny valley where it's also a little weird But that's part what makes him memorable and probably part of his success. Who likes those cookie cutter voices anyways?

[Buckeye Randy]

I prefer Michael's work with The Doobie Brothers over the solo material. 

On the arty farty front of music, I'm listening to this 2025 release by Cheekface.

There is certainly a novelty flavor to the band but it's fun on a Friday morning.

[QuantumSync]

[costa_oscura]

I love his voice and the way he uses it, but it also sits somewhere in a kind of uncanny valley where it's also a little weird But that's part what makes him memorable and probably part of his success. Who likes those cookie cutter voices anyways?

He's a white guy who sounds like a black guy.  He's got great pipes and songwriting skills.  Before he joined the Doobies, he worked with Steely Dan for 5 years.  Notorious perfectionist and nitpicker Donald Fagen, who couldn't stand most other musicians, tolerated McDonald and kept him around because McDonald was the only one who had the right range he wanted for Steely Dan's backing vocals.  I recall seeing an interview with one of the Doobies about the first time McDonald came to rehearse with them... I think it was for one of the recent yacht rock documentaries, but I can't remember which one... and he described McDonald as a "shy guy with a big Joe Cocker voice that we didn't expect to come out of him," which was interesting.  I kind of get the Joe Cocker comparison, but Cocker is more rough around the edges.  McDonald's always had a smoother, more soulful sound.  Interesting comparison, though.

[Meatwad]

Frenzal Rhomb - Its Up To You

[Meatwad]

Edan - Torture Chamber

[Buckeye Randy]

It's Sunday morning so it must be time for Sunday morning oldies.  This song was co-written by Tommy James and peaked at #7 in 1970.  I always thought the smokin' guitar toward the end was a little out of place but certainly fits in with the era. 

[Meatwad]

Death - Voice of the Soul

[Buckeye Randy]

The stuff you don't hear on the radio!  The drawing reminds me of Salad Fingers.

Goon Show by Tropical F*ck Storm.