late for jazz-related reasons
plus the week's best new songs
Hi yes, late again! I have a longer take that is still in ugly draft form about how taste might be a bit, but I’ve been too busy rehearsing the live band for Subway Takes LIVE this Saturday. If you’ve ever wanted to see someone nervously try and sound like they can play jazz, well you know where to be.
Even if they’re late, the links remain Very Good:
Yes, the name is literal – No plans tonight? In NYC? Everybody Gets Soup, one of my favorite (and perhaps the only?) cooking/comedy show is at UCB tonight. Go if you’re a fan of comedy and/or soup!
Reissued Up So Sexual – Todd Fink of the Faint talked with Stereogum about the early days of the band, whose LPs got the reissue treatment last Friday
I mean he’s already yelling anyways – Canadian chef and man aboot town Matty Matheson debuted his hardcore band Pig Pen this week. Why not!
Casually Encounter…this song – Deerhoof debuted their new track on Craigslist this week, as part of announcing their 20th(!) LP Noble and Godlike Ruin
If you remember the bathrooms at Glasslands you’re obligated to buy this – If you hung around 285 Kent or Death By Audio a lot around 2009-2010, you remember the lovable indie-pop group Darlings. They’re reissuing a tour shirt designed by their friend Ryan MacFarland, who recently passed away, to raise funds for the Trevor Project. Buy one, you jerks!
On to the best of the week. As always, you can follow along on our playlists on Spotify and Apple Music, which update every Tuesday along with the newsletter. Enjoy!
DEBBY FRIDAY – 1/17
How long can they hold the beat drop? How long can you wait?? Euphoric trance-house meets self-aware pop, right down to how long they string you out on arpeggiators til you demand drums FINALLY crash into the track. Sometimes the fastest path to transcendence is through the silliest choices, and the track’s goofy moments (“poetry and nude selfies!”) never undercut their serious desire to deliver honest-to-goodness pop joy.
Lindstrøm – Cirkl
Hans-Peter Lindstrøm is back with a new LP, Sirius Syntoms, and the first single (and opening track) “Cirkl” dropped this week. The track is ebullient, forever-rising nu-disco that fits right alongside the best of Lindstrøm’s other…ebullient, forever-rising nu-disco. If you need a reason to spend time with a rubbery, addictive bassline – you may be reading the wrong Substack.
Alex Orange Drink – Everything Is Broken
Alex Orange Drink has been on a hot streak over the last few months, co-writing and playing alongside Conor Oberst & Co for the new Bright Eyes LP Five Dice, All Threes. His latest solo single “Everything Is Broken” finds a midpoint between his contributions to that record and his NY/NJ pogo energy from his former outfit the So So Glos. His real trick is stacking parts so you keep thinking you’re at the chorus, only to turn the corner into yet another huge chorus.
Chappell Roan – The Giver
What, like I’m not going to include this?? The country sonics feel authentic on Chappell, but the whole bit still feels sort of costume-y, in a fun way, which is to say it doesn’t feel like a bit but the winks feel extra wink-y. Every move is flawless, but it all feels…like a move. If anything, it’s heartening to see her and producer Dan Nigro take extra time on writing her followup LP while this song hits the charts. Ever
throwback
Clarence Reid – Masterpiece
I moved last week, which of course means thoughtfully looking through all of my records. I busted out Soul Sides Vol. 1 for the first time in forever, remembering how relevatory O-Dub’s blog was when he dropped this first compilation – “Masterpiece” stuck with me as an all-time nasty verse groove, even before I knew about Reid’s work as Blowfly. Do yourself a favor and stick around until the song drops back into the groove out of the chorus. Nasty!