“God Monkey Robot”, The Apparitions

This way: God Monkey Robot

The Apparitions is a rock band hailing from the heart of the high country in the mountains of western North Carolina. They play infectious retro tinged Rock N Roll that is sure to make you question genres and boundaries. This from 2006.

[Spotify] God Monkey Robot

“Incinerate”, Sonic Youth

This way: Incinerate

Always something good with theses guys, here is some late period magic. Sonic Youth was an American rock band based in New York City, formed in 1981. Founding members Thurston Moore (guitar, vocals), Kim Gordon (bass, vocals, guitar) and Lee Ranaldo (guitar, vocals) remained together for the entire history of the band, while Steve Shelley (drums) followed a series of short-term drummers in 1985, rounding out the core line-up. Jim O'Rourke (bass, keyboards, guitar) was also a member of the band from 1999 to 2005, and Mark Ibold (guitar, bass) was a member from 2006 to 2011. 

Sonic Youth emerged from the experimental no wave art and music scene in New York before evolving into a more conventional rock band and becoming a prominent member of the American noise rock scene. Sonic Youth have been praised for having "redefined what rock guitar could do" using a wide variety of unorthodox guitar tunings while preparing guitars with objects like drum sticks and screwdrivers to alter the instruments' timbre. The band was a pivotal influence on the alternative and indie rock movements.

[Spotify] Incinerate

“Two-Headed Boy”, Neutral Milk Hotel

This way: Two-Headed Boy

Neutral Milk Hotel was an American band formed in Ruston, Louisiana, by musician Jeff Mangum. They were active from 1989 to 1998, and again from 2013 to 2015. The band's music featured a deliberately low-quality sound, influenced by indie rock and psychedelic folk. Mangum wrote surreal and opaque lyrics that covered a wide range of topics, including love, spirituality, nostalgia, sex, and loneliness. He and the other band members played a variety of instruments, including non-traditional rock instruments like the singing saw, uilleann pipes, and Digital Horn.

Neutral Milk Hotel began as one of Mangum's home recording projects. In 1994, he released the song "Everything Is" on Cher Doll Records. The song's exposure convinced him to record more music under this name. In 1996, he worked with childhood friend Robert Schneider to record the album On Avery Island, which received modest reviews and sold around 5,000 copies. Mangum recruited musicians Julian Koster, Jeremy Barnes, and Scott Spillane for the band's second album, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea. Its 1998 release received mostly positive but not laudatory reviews.

While on tour, the band's popularity grew through Internet exposure. This had a negative effect on Mangum, whose mental health began to deteriorate. He did not want to continue touring and Neutral Milk Hotel went on hiatus shortly after. During the hiatus, Neutral Milk Hotel gained a cult following and the critical standing of In the Aeroplane Over the Sea rose tremendously. Several music outlets such as Pitchfork and Blender called In the Aeroplane Over the Sea a landmark album for indie rock and one of the greatest albums of the 1990s. Many indie rock groups such as Arcade Fire and the Decemberists were influenced by Neutral Milk Hotel's eclectic music and earnest lyrics. Neutral Milk Hotel reunited in 2013 and undertook a reunion tour before another hiatus in 2015. 

[Spotify] Two-Headed Boy

“Survivor Blues”, Cory Branan

This way: Survivor Blues

Cory Branan (born December 15, 1974) is an American singer-songwriter from Mississippi. After high school Branan moved to Memphis, where, among other jobs, he worked as a bartender at the Peabody Hotel. In his early 20s he began to explore the music of singer-songwriter John Prine, which led to Branan writing his own songs, which he began performing at open mic nights at Memphis' Daily Planet.

[Spotify] Survivor Blues

“Aerosol Burns”, Essential Logic

This way: Aerosol Burns

I remember hearing this crazy racket for the first time. Quite a noise. Essential Logic are an English post-punk band formed in 1978 by saxophonist Lora Logic after leaving X-Ray Spex. The band initially consisted of Lora on vocals, Phil Legg on guitar and vocals, William Bennett (later of Whitehouse) on guitar, Mark Turner on bass guitar, Rich Tea (Richard Thompson) on drums and Dave Wright on saxophone. Turner was later replaced by Jon Oliver on bass. The band split in 1981 and reformed in 2001. 

[Spotify] Aerosol Burns

“Summertime Blues”, Blue Cheer

This way: Summertime Blues

Blue Cheer was an American rock band that initially performed and recorded in the late 1960s and early 1970s and was sporadically active until 2009. Based in San Francisco, Blue Cheer played in a psychedelic blues rock or acid rock style, and are also credited as being some of the earliest pioneers of heavy metal, with their cover of "Summertime Blues" sometimes cited as the first in the genre. They have also been noted as influential in the development of genres as disparate as punk rock, stoner rock, doom metal, experimental rock, and grunge. 

Blue Cheer were formed in 1966 by Dickie Peterson. Peterson had previously been with the Davis-based band Andrew Staples & The Oxford Circle along with future Blue Cheer members Paul Whaley and Gary Lee Yoder. The original Blue Cheer personnel were singer/bassist Peterson, guitarist Leigh Stephens and Eric Albronda as drummer. Albronda was later replaced by Whaley, who was joined by Peterson's brother Jerre (guitar), Vale Hamanaka (keyboards), and Jere Whiting (vocals, harmonica). Albronda continued his association with Blue Cheer as a member of Blue Cheer management, as well as being the producer or co-producer of five Blue Cheer albums.

The band was managed by an inactive member of the Hells Angels named Allen "Gut" Terk. Early on, it was decided that the line-up should be trimmed down. Hamanaka and Whiting were asked to leave. Jerre Peterson did not want to remain in the group without them, so he departed as well, leaving Peterson, Stephens and Whaley as a trio.

Their first hit was a cover version of Eddie Cochran's "Summertime Blues" from their debut album Vincebus Eruptum (1968). The single peaked at No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, their only such hit, and the album peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard 200 chart. In Canada, the song peaked at No. 3 on the RPM Magazine chart. This from 1968.

[Spotify] Summertime Blues

[Original, Cochran] Summertime Blues

“Haunted (demo)”, The Pogues

This way: Haunted (demo)

I heard this on the soundtrack to Sid and Nancy the other day, what a great film of the tragic lives, all ending in a blaze of glory. Here is the song sung by Cait in a demo version, spectacular. 

[Spotify] not likely 

“The Heartbreak Rides”, A.C. Newman

This way: The Heartbreak Rides

Near perfect? Yes, this is a fantastic LP from A.C. Newman.

A.C. Newman (born April 14, 1968) is a Canadian musician and singer–songwriter. He was a member of the indie rock bands Superconductor and Zumpano in the 1990s. Following the breakup of those bands, he reemerged as the leader of the New Pornographers in 2000, a band who have enjoyed commercial and critical success. 

In 2004, Newman launched his solo career, performing as A. C. Newman. He has stated he chose "A. C." for his solo career because "it sounded like a pseudonym, but it's not a pseudonym.

[Spotify] The Heartbreak Rides

“Searching for Mr Right”, Young Marble Giants

This way: Searching for Mr Right

Is this the only perfect rock and roll album ever recorded? Perfection by my standards. Young Marble Giants were a Welsh post-punk band formed in Cardiff, Wales, in 1978. Their music was based around the vocals of Alison Statton along with the minimalist instrumentation of brothers Philip and Stuart Moxham. Their early sound was a sharp contrast with the more aggressive punk rock that dominated the underground at the time. Young Marble Giants released just one studio album, Colossal Youth, in 1980. They also released two EPs and recorded a John Peel session. 

[Spotify]  Searching for Mr Right

“Beat Me to the Punch”, Oneida

This way: Beat Me to the Punch

Oneida is an American experimental rock band from Brooklyn, New York, United States. Their influences include psychedelic rock, krautrock, electronic, noise rock, and minimalism, but the overall structure and intent of their music is not taken directly from any of these styles. Common elements found in their music include improvisation, repetition, driving rhythms, antique and analog equipment, and an overall eclecticism. 

[Spotify]  Beat Me to the Punch

“King‘s Highway”, Joe Henry

This way: King‘s Highway

Joseph Lee Henry (born December 2, 1960) is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer. He has released 15 studio albums and produced multiple recordings for other artists, including three Grammy Award-winning albums. 

Henry moved to Brooklyn, New York in 1985 and began performing in local music venues. He released his first album Talk of Heaven in 1986. The album earned him a recording contract with A&M, which subsequently released the albums Murder of Crows in 1989 and Shuffletown in 1990. Shuffletown, produced by T-Bone Burnett, represented a shift in musical direction towards the "alt country" genre.[citation needed] Henry's next two recordings, Short Man's Room (1992) and Kindness of the World (1993), featured members of the country-rock band the Jayhawks. The song "King's Highway" was recorded by Joan Baez in 2003 and Gov't Mule in 2005. For his 1996 album Trampoline, Henry incorporated guitarist Page Hamilton of Helmet and a reviewer at Trouserpress called the album "idiosyncratic broadmindedness."

[Spotify]  King‘s Highway

“Galaxies”, Laura Veirs

This way: Galaxies

Laura Veirs (born October 24, 1973) is an American singer-songwriter based out of Portland, Oregon. She is known for her folk/alternative country records and live performances as well as her collaboration with Neko Case and k.d. lang on the case/lang/veirs project. Veirs has written a children's book and hosts a podcast about parenting and performing. 

[Spotify]  Galaxies

“Be My Enemy”, The Bobby Lees

This way: Be My Enemy

The Bobby Lees are an American rock music group founded in 2018 in Woodstock, New York. The band comprises vocalist and guitarist Sam Quartin, bassist Kendall Wind, drummer Macky Bowman, and guitarist Nick Casa. 

Their debut album, Beauty Pageant, was released in 2018. The album's success led to The Bobby Lees opening for The Black Lips, Shannon & the Clams, Future Islands, and the Chats.

Their 2020 record Skin Suit was produced by Jon Spencer and released via Alive Naturalsound Records. Skin Suit made the San Francisco Examiner Top 10 Albums of 2020 List and was called "a raucous ride from beginning to end" by PopMatters. In 2021, the group toured with Helmet in support of Skin Suit. They also recorded new material with producer Vance Powell in anticipation of a new album for release in 2022.

[Spotify]  Be My Enemy

“The Thing I Done”, C. W. Stoneking

This way: The Thing I Done

C.W. Stoneking (born 1974) is an Australian blues singer-songwriter, guitarist and banjo player. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2009 Jungle Blues won Best Blues and Roots Album; he was also nominated for Best Male Artist, Breakthrough Artist – Album, Best Independent Release and Best Cover Art. Gon' Boogaloo peaked at No. 17 on the ARIA Albums Chart and won at the 2015 ARIA Music Awards for Best Blues & Roots Album. 

[Spotify] The Thing I Done

“Polly Wolly Doodle”, Leon Redbone

This way: Polly Wolly Doodle

Did we ever love this LP when we were in high school, nothing like it at the time. Leon Redbone (August 26, 1949 – May 30, 2019) was a singer-songwriter and musician specializing in jazz, blues, and Tin Pan Alley classics. Recognized by his hat (often a Panama hat), dark sunglasses, and black tie, Redbone was born in Cyprus of Armenian ancestry and first appeared on stage in Toronto, Canada, in the early 1970s. He also appeared on film and television in acting and voice-over roles.

In concert Redbone often employed comedy and demonstrated his skill in guitar playing. Recurrent gags involved the influence of alcohol and claiming to have written works originating well before he was born – Redbone favored material from the Tin Pan Alley era, circa 1890 to 1910. He sang the theme to the 1980s television series Mr. Belvedere and released eighteen albums. 

 [Spotify] Polly Wolly Doodle

“Why the Bright Stars Glow”, Valerie June (Featuring Mavis)

This way: Why the Bright Stars Glow

Valerie June (born January 10, 1982), known as Valerie June, is an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist from Memphis, Tennessee, United States. Her sound encompasses a mixture of folk, blues, gospel, soul, country, Appalachian and bluegrass. She is signed to Fantasy Records, and its parent company, Concord Music Group worldwide. Through music and poetry, June wants to energize individual and collective change. 

[Spotify] Why the Bright Stars Glow

“Down Down Down”, Tom Waits

This way: Down Down Down

While on the set of One from the Heart, Waits met Kathleen Brennan, a young Irish-American woman working as an assistant story editor; Waits later described encountering her as "love at first sight". They were engaged to be married within a week. Newly married and with his Elektra-Asylum contract completed, Waits decided that it was time to artistically reinvent himself. He wanted to move away from using Howe as his producer, although the two parted on good terms. With Brennan's help, he began the process of firing Cohen as his manager, with he and Brennan taking on managerial responsibilities themselves. He came to believe that Cohen had been swindling him out of much of his earnings, later relating that "I thought I was a millionaire and it turned out I had, like, twenty bucks." Waits credited Brennan with introducing him to much new music, most notably the work of Captain Beefheart, a key influence on the direction in which he wanted to take his music. He later noted that "once you've heard Beefheart it's hard to wash him out of your clothes. It stains, like coffee or blood." He also came under the influence of Harry Partch, a composer who created his own instruments out of everyday materials. Waits began to use images rather than moods or characters as the basis for his songs.

Waits wrote the songs which would be included on the album Swordfishtrombones during a two-week trip to Ireland. He recorded it at Sunset Sound studios and produced the album himself; Brennan often attended the sessions and gave him advice. Swordfishtrombones abandoned the jazz sound characteristic of his earlier work; it was his first album not to feature a saxophone. When the album was finished, he took it to Asylum, but they declined to release it. Waits wanted to leave the label; in his view, "They liked dropping my name in terms of me being a 'prestige' artist, but when it came down to it they didn't invest a whole lot in me in terms of faith". 

[Spotify] Down Down Down

“Need to Feel Your Love”, Sheer Mag

This way: Need to Feel Your Love

Sheer Mag is an American rock band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, formed in 2014. A combination of 1970s rock and punk ethos, the band continued to gather attention, releasing three 7-inch EPs before March 2016. In January 2015, Rolling Stone featured the band as one of "10 New Artists You Need To Know", describing them as "a gang of punks with a not-so-secret love of Seventies classic rock." Four of five band members attended the State University of New York at Purchase. In 2016, the band was part of the Coachella 2016 line-up and performed on Late Night with Seth Meyers. On May 10, 2017, Sheer Mag released "Need To Feel Your Love", the first track off their first full-length record, Need to Feel Your Love. On June 19, 2019, they announced their second LP, A Distant Call.

[Spotify] Need to Feel Your Love

“Let's Kill Saturday Night”, Robbie Fulks

This way: Let's Kill Saturday Night

Robbie Fulks (born March 25, 1963) is an American alternative country singer-songwriter, instrumentalist and long-time Chicago, Illinois resident. He has released 13 albums over a career spanning more than 30 years. His 2016 record Upland Stories was nominated for a Grammy for Best Folk Album and the song "Alabama at Night" was nominated for a Grammy for Best American Roots Song. 

[Spotify] Let's Kill Saturday Night

“Medicine”, Momma

This way: Medicine

Momma is an American indie rock band from Los Angeles, California. Momma consists of Etta Friedman and Allegra Weingarten, who have been friends with each other since meeting at Viewpoint School, as well as drummer Zach CapittiFenton. Momma released their first full-length album in 2018 through Danger Collective Records, titled Interloper. On February 24, 2020, Momma announced their second full-length album, Two Of Me, alongside a new song titled Double Dare. On April 6, 2020, Momma shared another song from the album titled Biohazard.

[Spotify] Medicine

“Pod”, SNõõPER

This way: Pod

SNõõPER is from Nashville, Tennessee.

[Spotify] Pod

“Let the Mystery Be”, Iris DeMent

This way: Let the Mystery Be

Iris DeMent (born January 5, 1961) is an American two-time Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter. DeMent's musical style includes elements of folk, country and gospel. DeMent was inspired to write her first song, "Our Town," by a drive through a boarded-up Midwest town at the age of 25. The song lyrics came to her "exactly as it is now," without need for re-writing, and she realized then that songwriting was her calling."Our Town" was played during the closing scene for the final episode (July 26, 1995) of CBS's television series Northern Exposure. The song has been recorded by Kate Rusby, Kate Brislin & Jody Stecher and Trampled by Turtles. 

Her first album, Infamous Angel, was released in 1992 on the Rounder-Philo label and explored such themes as religious skepticism, small-town life, and human frailty. "Let the Mystery Be" has been covered by a number of artists, including 10,000 Maniacs and Alice Stuart, and was used in the opening scenes of the film Little Buddha. In the fall of 2015, a version of "Let the Mystery Be" from the Transatlantic Sessions became the musical theme for the opening credits of the HBO series The Leftovers, replacing the original "Main Title Theme" composed by Max Richter, and it would once again serve as the opening theme for the series finale.

[Spotify] Let the Mystery Be

[Live version] Let the Mystery Be

“Ignorance No Plea”, Wire

This way: Ignorance No Plea

A new record is out with early demos from Wire in the earliest formation of the band. If you are a fan there are some great recordings here. Really one of the greatest bands of all time. This is from what would go on the classic LP 154.

[Spotify] Ignorance No Plea

“Gotta Get a Record Out”, Green

This way: Gotta Get a Record Out

The group was started by Jeff Lescher (guitar and vocals), John Diamond (bass and backing vocals), and John Valley (drums). This lineup recorded the 1984 four-song EP The Name of This Group Is Green and the group's 1986 self-titled debut album, which featured 14 songs, including re-recordings of all four songs from the earlier EP. 

Green established themselves via live shows around Chicago and undertook several national tours with the assistance of manager Cindy Illig. In 1986, Diamond and Valley elected to leave the band as Lescher announced plans for a national tour. Recruited from local music papers and from among their Chicago fan base were new bassist Ken Kurson (who had his own band, Circles, and later fronted The Lilacs), rhythm guitarist Stuart Shea, and drummer Rich Clifton. Shea departed following a brief U.S. tour, and the remaining three-piece recorded Elaine MacKenzie, including the tracks "Heavy Metal Kids", "She Was My Girl", and "Radio Caroline."

[Spotify] Gotta Get a Record Out

“Shout Bamalama”, The Detroit Cobras

This way: Shout Bamalama

The Detroit Cobras were an American garage rock band from Detroit, Michigan, which was formed around 1994 by vocalist Rachel Nagy and guitarist Mary Ramirez, with a constantly changing assortment of (mostly male) sidemen. Nagy died on January 14, 2022, and no plans to continue without her have been announced. News reports gave widely varying ages immediately following her death, but she was in fact 48 years old (born December 15, 1973.)

[Spotify] Shout Bamalama

[Original-Otis Redding] Shout Bamalama

“Ice Cream Man”, Jonathan Richman

This way: Ice Cream Man

Jonathan Richman (born May 16, 1951) is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. In 1970, he founded the Modern Lovers, an influential proto-punk band. Since the mid-1970s, Richman has worked either solo or with low-key acoustic and electric backing. He now plays only acoustic to protect his hearing. He is known for his wide-eyed, unaffected, and childlike outlook, and music that, while rooted in rock and roll, is influenced by music from around the world.

[Spotify] Ice Cream Man

[Live version] Ice Cream Man