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Stephen Heath – “I Can’t Take It” : Listen
Known for his precision guitar work in L.A. Takedown, as well as for acts like Paul Bergmann, Weyes Blood and Death Valley Girls, Stephen Heath lends his craft to a propulsive collection of original material—bristling with static, impulse, and freedom. His solo debut Gavin Gruesome, out now on Perpetual Doom, is a record of fuzzed-out, wide-eyed rock’n’roll. “I Can’t Take It” is an embodiment of frustration and being fed up…with…
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Best of Stills : Playlist
I grew up on CSNY but until recently, had never dug deeply into Stephen Stills’ solo albums or any of his work outside CSNY. The more I learn about his career, the more blown away I am. From his nearly complete mastery in recording CSN’s self-titled debut, Supersession with Al Kooper and Mike Bloomfield, the Manassas years, collaborating with Jimi Hendrix, playing guitar on Blue, writing some of the best…
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Redray Frazier – Better Man : Listen
Portland, Oregon-based rock ’n’ soul troubadour, Redray Frazier has some serious musical chops, opening for the likes of Lenny Kravitz and Ben Harper to touring with David Byrne. This is his first single for New York Greystone Music Group (run by Redray’s brother, whom I met at… where else? 11th Street Bar) after spending the better part of the last ten years playing shows, touring, and collaborating with a band. Redray says, “My record…
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Buck Curran: WFMU ‘The Frow Show’ Live Session (Feat. Jodi Pedrali) : Listen
Buck Curran: WFMU 'The Frow Show' Live Session (Feat. Jodi Pedrali) by Obsolete Recordings Bergamo-based guitarist Buck Curran and keyboardist Jodi Pedrali created this mostly-improvisational recording for Jesse Jarnow’s “The Frow Show” on WFMU. Buck’s 2020 record No Love is Sorrow and Morning Haikus, Afternoon Ragas have both been heavily in my rotation the last few months, both albums sensitive and intimate, slightly melancholy, and always atmospheric. It’s exciting to…
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Upupayāma – Track by Track
Upupayāma is Alessio Ferrari, resident of a small mountain village in the Apennine mountains in Italy. Upupayāma’s self-titled debut is really an impressive feat – Alessio plays every instrument himself and the sound is as sophisticated and psychedelic as you’d expect from more seasoned loner psych players, with intricate musicianship, imaginative storytelling, invented languages, and field recordings, recorded in an old barn. Alessio describes his sound as “Kikagaku Moyo drinking…
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Trevor Beld Jimenez – Everybody, It’s Christmas
It’s difficult for everyone this year to muster up the holiday spirit. Fortunately for us all, Trevor Beld Jimenez, who just released his solo debut last month, is back, releasing more Christmas magic to bring good cheer and tidings to all with this special Christmas song, “Everybody, It’s Christmas.” If you’re having a blue Christmas, bundle up, fix yourself some hot cocoa, and let Trevor’s latest lift your spirits. Trevor…
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Medicine Hat – Take Your Medicine : Playlist
Something about Medicine hat, the Americana duo from Ventura, California, instantly feels like home. The band, comprising of Michelle Votrian and Robert Ramirez, play music that’s both familiar and filtered through a unique, softly psychedelic lens. The single “Rear View Mirror” off their latest album, Fences, exemplifies this sort of obscured nostalgia – capturing the essence of looking back, though hazy memories may be rosier than they appear. They got…
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20 Years of Beachwood Sparks
Just over 20 years ago, the definitive, and one of the greatest modern Californiana records was released. Today, founding Spark Brent Rademaker’s Curation Records reissues a remastered, refreshed, revitalized sparkling, fully-loaded array of re-issue offerings. The double-LP features one record containing the original tracks mastered by John Golden re-imagined for vinyl by JJ Golden; while disc 2 features bonus tracks and unreleased versions of “This Is What It Feels Like,”…
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Chasing Rainbows – I Don’t Wanna (Go To Bed Tonight) : Listen
Chasing Rainbows is a Dutch/American band. Their album Until We’re There came out earlier this year on Drink Me. Born of decades of international friendship, their latest album is a festive reunion of the friends who worked on their first album, recorded at the same studio, a dive into nostalgia and a celebration of community. Get the album on Bandcamp. Video by Martha Colburn and Pat O’Neill
