“No More Nukes/Nasty Secretary”, Joy Ryder + Avis Davis

This way: No More Nukes/Nasty Secretary

Joy Ryder embodied the best of all possible styles ... Although Ryder has been called a blues singer, she was a jack of all trades: jazz stylist, punk diva, and rock 'n' roll rabble rouser and deeply and widely loved by the whole of NY's musical community who are the poorer for her loss.

Brooklyn-born Ryder (nee Denise Whelan) was the daughter of jazz singer and bassist Phil Whelan, who had a hit with the song "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer" with his band The Five Encores. Her childhood was filled with her father's rehearsals and her own piano lessons from the age of four. 

This Track from 1979.

[Spotify] No More Nukes

“Just What I Need”, Nikki and the Corvettes

This way: Just What I Need

Nikki Corvette (born Dominique Lorenz in Detroit, MI), is a singer best known as a member of the band Nikki & The Corvettes from 1977 through 1981.

Corvette grew up in Detroit, Michigan. She was always fascinated with music, and at 16 ran away from home because her mother refused to allow her to attend an MC5 concert. 

Nikki and the Corvettes

In late 1977 or early 1978, a friend of hers arranged for Nikki to headline a concert at a bar. At the time, she was not a member of a band, and she spent the next few weeks organizing Nikki and the Corvettes. The new band had never rehearsed, and played together for the first time at the concert. Originally, they played mainly cover songs as well as a few original songs written by Corvette and her former boyfriend Peter James, who had played with The Romantics. The Corvettes were signed by Bomp! Records and released an album, Nikki and the Corvettes, in 1980.[1] Mike Miliard of the Boston Phoenix described the album as "power pop perfection" which "[split] the difference between the Ronettes and the Ramones".[1] Adrian Mack of The Georgia Straight describes Corvette's early work as a "brief, if beautiful, career belting out innocently snotty bubblegum punk with the gutter-budget girl group Nikki and the Corvettes. Their solitary, highly prized 1980 album is still launching new bands and teenage-misfit boners, though Corvette herself didn't realize its impact until a reissue in 2000."[2]

Nikki and the Corvettes disbanded in 1981. At this time, it was still more common for a man, rather than a woman, to front a rock band. The notoriety that Nikki Corvette earned for her role in breaking those barriers led to her being namechecked in the song "Gimme My Radio" by The Donnas.

Nikki and the Stingrays

Corvette returned to music in 2003, forming a new band called Nikki and the Stingrays. Corvette described the new band as "the next progression of the Corvettes. It's got the same quality to some of it, but I grew up a little bit. Which is good, since it's only what, 27 years later?" The Stingrays released an album, Back to Detroit on Dollar Records.

[Spotify] Just What I Need

“The Song of a Hundred Toads”, The Handsome Family

This way: The Song of a Hundred Toads

The Handsome Family is an American music duo consisting of husband and wife Brett and Rennie Sparks formed in Chicago, Illinois, and as of 2001 based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. They are perhaps best known for their song "Far from Any Road" from the album Singing Bones, which was used as the main title theme for the first season of the 2014 crime drama True Detective. The band's tenth album, Unseen, was released in 2016. The band's 11th studio album Hollow, was released on September 8, 2023.

Husband-and-wife duo Brett Sparks (vocals, guitar, keyboards) and Rennie Sparks (bass, banjo, vocals) formed the band in 1993, along with drummer Mike Werner. The band would later revolve around Rennie, who writes the lyrics, and Brett, who writes the music. Guest musicians complete the band line-up for recordings and live work. 

Regarding the band name, Brett said in an interview: "It's just kind of a stupid name. We used to have this really obnoxious drummer, and he used to call me 'Handsome', that was his nickname for me, I think for sarcastic reasons... And he wanted to call it the Handsome Family... and we thought it was funny, too. We thought it was a good name."

[Spotify] The Song of a Hundred Toads

“Gutters of Love”, Quivers

This way: Gutters of Love

Quivers, of Melbourne, Australia, have been a cathartic jangle pop band for long enough now to get supportive ears at Pitchfork, NPR, JJJ and even the band R.E.M., who once slid into the bands DMs to send fire emojis. Quivers have performed at Dark Mofo, Meadow, Boogie, and SXSW after which they filmed a session for beloved Seattle station KEXP. They have also supported the likes of The Hold Steady, Sonny & the Sunsets, and Methyl Ethel.  Late 2022 saw Quivers love every minute of a much postponed 16-date US tour to celebrate 2nd album Golden Doubt, described by Pitchfork as “like a Go-Betweens with Coachella-conquering ambitions”. With a Bella-sung 7” single, If Only, now nearly sold out.  

[Spotify] Gutters of Love

“On+on+on”, The Vanilla Milkshakes

This way: On+on+on

This band from Denver, Colorado is the result of a wild and tough sled of a life by singer/guitarist David McGhee. He moved to Denver at 18 years old after growing up the the southeastern US.  The freedom and chill vibe of his new surroundings was refreshing but also led to some bad things like heroin abuse and depression. After being diagnosed with Asperger's life started to make sense and turn much happier. The joy led to hooking up with drummer and vocalist Frank Registrato and later bassist JanKarl Hayes. Their sound is an interesting mix of 90’s punk and grunge sounds but most of all it is refreshing to hear the joy spill into the music. 

[Spotify] On+on+on

“You Avoid Parties”, The Posies

This way: You Avoid Parties

The Posies were an American rock band formed in Bellingham, Washington in 1986. The group initially consisted of songwriters Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow but later added other members.

The group's musical style has often been described as "power pop". Their music has its origins in Merseybeat and the Hollies. They are influenced by Hüsker Dü, XTC, Elvis Costello and Squeeze. 

The band split up in October 2021, following several allegations of sexual misconduct made against bandmember Ken Stringfellow.

Core members Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow, who met as students at Sehome High School in Bellingham, Washington, began writing songs together in late 1986 while Stringfellow was in school at the University of Washington. Their first public performance came as an acoustic duo in 1987 while Stringfellow was home in Bellingham. They recorded twelve songs in Auer's family's home studio. Though intended as demos to attract other members and form a full band, the recordings became the Posies' first self-released album, Failure.

This track from 1990.

[Spotify] You Avoid Parties

“Loneliness”, Minimal Man

This way: Loneliness

Minimal Man was an American industrial and experimental rock project, formed in 1979 in San Francisco, California by leader Patrick Miller. Minimal Man was formed in San Francisco, California in 1979 by leader Patrick Miller, a visual and sound artist who moved to San Francisco in the late 1970s. The band often changed members, featuring at different times members of bands such as Tuxedomoon, Factrix and others active in the then-thriving San Francisco experimental, post-punk and industrial scenes. Minimal Man remained active in San Francisco recording on the Subterranean Records label until the mid-1980s, after which Miller relocated to Europe, often working with compatriots Tuxedomoon who had made a similar move previously. 

The Minimal Man output ceased after the 1980s, and Miller returned to Los Angeles, where he worked as a set dresser. Miller died at his home in Eagle Rock on December 14, 2003.

This track from 1981.

[Spotify] Loneliness

“Sick of Myself”, Matthew Sweet

This way: Sick of Myself

Matthew Sweet (born October 6, 1964) is an American alternative rock/power pop singer-songwriter and musician who was part of the burgeoning music scene in Athens, Georgia, during the 1980s before gaining commercial success in the 1990s as a solo artist. His companion albums, Tomorrow Forever and Tomorrow's Daughter, were followed by 2018's Wicked System of Things and 2021's Catspaw, his 15th studio effort. 

Sweet was born in Lincoln, Nebraska. He graduated from Southeast High School in Lincoln, in 1983. Upon graduation he moved to Athens, Georgia to attend college. As a high school student in 1980, Sweet wrote songs and recorded them on four-track cassettes. He joined the band The Specs and released his first recording on a battle of bands LP produced by a local radio station,  and fronted his own local band called The Dialtones. After graduating, Sweet traveled to Athens, Georgia, to attend college during the vibrant Athens music scene. That same year, Sweet, who had met the band R.E.M. when they played a show in his hometown the previous year, collaborated with frontman Michael Stipe in a duo group under the name Community Trolls, as well as played guitar in Stipe's sister Lynda Stipe's band, Oh-OK. In addition, he formed another duo, The Buzz of Delight, with Oh-OK drummer David Pierce, releasing an EP, Sound Castles, in 1984 on DB Records. On the strength of this 12" vinyl, Sweet was signed to a solo recording contract with Columbia Records.

[Spotify] Sick of Myself

“Nine Pin”, Kaia Kater

This way: Nine Pin

Kaia Kater (born in Montreal, Quebec) is a Canadian singer-songwriter, guitar, piano and banjo player.

Kater was born in Montreal, Quebec, where she spent her early childhood in Mile End. She started playing the banjo at 12 years old. She also lived in Wakefield, Ottawa and Winnipeg before attending Davis & Elkins college in Elkins, West Virginia on a banjo scholarship. In Elkins, she also learned to flatfoot and deepened her knowledge of body percussion (hambone). Kater spoke about her experience being a woman of color in West Virginia, and experiencing racism. "If 70 or 75 percent of the time it was a wonderful experience, there was also that other part of the experience where I did encounter some racism, or I witnessed racism. I felt the racial divide very strongly, more so than in Canada".Her mother is from Quebec, and her father immigrated to Canada from Grenada as a teenager in 1986 as part of a young speakers program, after the U.S. invasion. She grew up spending significant time in the North American folk music community, attending festivals, camps and conferences frequently during her teen years. 

[Spotify] Nine Pin

Playlists on Spotify

Here is the compendium of all the playlists for SOTD: Screaming on Spotify.

This way to spot: sotd b02

This way to spot: sotd b01

Pure pop drivel for those masses

Please enjoy responsibly, 

Thanks a million,

—brENDan, screaming

also:

playlist 10: a10

playlist 9: sotd playlist #9

playlist 8: sotd playlist #8

playlist 7: sotd playlist #7

playlist 6: sotd playlist #6

playlist 5: sotd playlist #5

playlist 4: sotd playlist #4

playlist 3: sotd playlist #3

playlist 2: sotd playlist #2

playlist 1: sotd playlist #1

“Hex”, Jon McKiel

This way: Hex

Jon Mckiel, New Brunswick musician . . . 

[Spotify] Hex

“Shiny, Shiny, Pimpmobile”, East River Pipe

This way: Shiny, Shiny Pimpmobile

F.M. Cornog is an American songwriter, singer, self-taught musician, and home-recordist who records under the name East River Pipe. The New York Times describes Cornog as "the Brian Wilson of home recording." 

Cornog was born in Norfolk, Virginia, and raised in Summit, New Jersey. After high school, Cornog worked a series of menial jobs before succumbing to alcoholism, drug abuse, mental illness, and eventual homelessness, ending up in the Hoboken train station.

During this time he met Astoria, Queens-resident Barbara Powers, and with Powers' support and label (Hell Gate), Cornog released some home-recorded cassettes and 7" singles under the name East River Pipe, which he chose after observing a sewage pipe spewing out raw waste into the East River. These initial 7" singles attracted the attention of UK-based Sarah Records who released his records from 1993 to 1996, making Cornog one of the few American artists ever signed to the label.

[Spotify] Shiny, Shiny Pimpmobile

“Magneto”, Messer Chups

This way: Magneto

Messer Chups is a surf rock band from Saint Petersburg, Russia.The group was formed in 1998 by composer and guitarist Oleg Fomchenkov.

The band was founded by Oleg Fomchenkov (also known as Oleg Gitarkin) who had previously performed with Oleg Kostrov as Messer für Frau Müller [ru]. Messer Chups is often considered a "spin-off" band of Messer für Frau Müller. In the group's name, "Messer" is taken from the German word for "knife" and "Chups" from Chupa Chups lollipops. The band was originally a duo of Gitarkin on bass guitar and Annette Schneider on synthesizer. During 2000–2002 Messer Chups consisted of Gitarkin and Igor Vdovin [ru] on synths.

In 2003, Oleg Tarasov, the producer of Messer Chups and head of their home label Solnze Records, invited the world famous theremin player Lydia Kavina to join them. Together they have released several albums and reworked their previous releases. In 2005, Messer Chups became a duo consisting of Gitarkin and Svetlana "Zombierella" Nagaeva on bass. In 2007, they became a trio, with drummer Denis "Kashchey" Kuptsov [es] from the band Leningrad. In 2008, they changed their drummer to Alexander Belkok, and Alexander Skvortzov became their vocalist.

[Spotify] Magneto

“In Virus Times”, Lee Ranaldo

This way: In Virus Times

Lee Ranaldo (born February 3, 1956) is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter, best known as a co-founder of the rock band Sonic Youth. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked Ranaldo at number 33 on its "Greatest Guitarists of All Time" list. In May 2012, Spin published a staff-selected top 100 guitarist list, ranking Ranaldo and his Sonic Youth bandmate Thurston Moore together at number 1. 

Ranaldo was born in Glen Cove, Long Island, studied art and graduated from Binghamton University. He has three sons, Cody, Sage and Frey, and is married twice, first with Amanda Linn in 1981 but later divorced, and now with experimental artist Leah Singer.

Ranaldo started his career in New York in several bands, including The Flucts, and by playing guitar in Guitar Trio with Rhys Chatham before joining the electric guitar orchestra of Glenn Branca. In Branca's orchestra he played mainly electric guitar, but he also played some of the harmonic guitars Branca designed and built. In 1981, Ranaldo and David Linton briefly joined the band Plus Instruments that had been formed by Truus de Groot. With this line-up they recorded the album February - April 1981, released on the Dutch Kremlin label. After the release of the album, Ranaldo left the band and started Sonic Youth with Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon. 

[Spotify] In Virus Times

“Pour over Ice”, Rosali

This way: Pour over Ice

Philadelphia-based rock musician, Rosali.  

This from 2021. 

[Spotify] Pour over Ice

“Sports”, Viagra Boys

This way: Sports

Viagra Boys is a Swedish punk band formed in Stockholm in 2015. The line-up currently consists of lead singer Sebastian Murphy alongside musicians Linus Hillborg (guitar), Elias Jungqvist (keyboards), Henrik Höckert (bass), Tor Sjödén (drums), and Oskar Carls (saxophone). The band's lyrics are known for using satire and dark humour to criticise right-wing populism, hypermasculinity, and far-right conspiracy theories.

Viagra Boys was formed in Stockholm in 2015 by members active in other bands such as Nine, Les Big Byrd, Pig Eyes, Nitad, and Neu-Ronz. Lead singer Sebastian Murphy is the only foreign-born member of the group, being an American from San Rafael, California, who moved to Stockholm to live with his aunt at the age of 17. His mother is from Sweden and he grew up speaking Swedish. A heavy drug and alcohol addict at the time, Murphy worked as a tattoo artist and met the other band members while performing Mariah Carey's song "We Belong Together" at a karaoke night. Murphy is the chief songwriter of the band.

In 2018, the band released their debut album, Street Worms, on the Swedish independent label Year0001. Nils Hansson of Dagens Nyheter described the band favorably, praising their musical style as well as their use of black humor and satire, and rated the album 5/5.nIn 2019, the band won the Independent Music Companies Association (IMPALA) Album of the Year Award for Street Worms.[9] The band's second album, Welfare Jazz, was released in January 2021. In October of that same year, founding member and guitarist Benjamin Vallé died at the age of 47. While he appeared on Welfare Jazz, he was not an active member of the band at the time of his death. Viagra Boys' third studio album, Cave World, was released in July 2022. The band played at multiple festivals in 2022, including Coachella and Primavera Sound, and performed at Glastonbury in 2023. Viagra Boys won the Swedish Grammis award for Rock of the Year in 2023, and supported Queens of the Stone Age during their North American tour that same year.

[Spotify] Sports 

“Filthy”, Haunt Me

This way: Filthy

Haunt Me is currently a three piece Punk/Darkwave/ Alternative band who draws insipirations from the classic and legendary sounds of bands from the 80s, as well as more modern bands. From Austin Texas of all places.   

[Spotify] Filthy

“Stomp”, Antietam

This way: Stomp

Antietam is an indie rock band from Louisville, Kentucky formed in 1984 by members of the Babylon Dance Band, husband and wife duo Tara Key and Tim Harris. They released six albums between 1985 and 1995, and since the late 1980s have been based in New York. Their latest album is Intimations of Immortality, released on Motorific Sounds in 2017. 

Key and Harris (both vocalists and multi-instrumentalists, and half of the Babylon Dance Band) initially recruited Wolf Knapp and Michael Weinert to complete the Antietam lineup, the name taken from the site of a battle in the American Civil War. They signed to Homestead Records who issued their eponymous debut in July 1985. By the release of second album Music from Elba, former Babylon Dance Band drummer Sean Mulhall had taken over on drums for that recording only. It would be three years before their next release, the "Eaten up by Hate" twelve-inch single, now on Triple X Records. They followed this with the album Burgoo in 1990, produced by Ira Kaplan and Georgia Hubley of Yo La Tengo, and with Charles Schultz on drums. In late 1990, Josh Madell replaced Schultz, and played on Everywhere Outside (1991) and the live album Antietam Comes Alive!, recorded at CBGB. The band returned to Homestead for the album Rope-a-Dope in 1994. The band's last release from this period was the "Alibi" single in 1996.

Tara Key released two solo albums in 1994 and 1995, featuring Harris and various members of Antietam. After Antietam, Key recorded with Eleventh Dream Day's Rick Rizzo on the album Dark Edson Tiger (2000), and they collaborated again on the 2011 album Double Star. Harris went on to record with Yo La Tengo and The Special Pillow. Madell went on to drum for Codeine and Retsin. In 1996, Key performed with Yo La Tengo as The Factory's house band in the film I Shot Andy Warhol. 

[Spotify] Stomp

“billard player song”, Shellac, RIP Steve

This way: billard player song

Sad days in Rock and Roll land. The passing on of Steve Albini, a true meteorite in the music world. Dead too soon for sure. His music was always a jolt to the system, and his words were a direct blast at the music industry in general. 

Shellac was an American noise rock band from Chicago, Illinois, composed of Steve Albini (guitar and vocals), Bob Weston (bass guitar and vocals) and Todd Trainer (drums and vocals) and formed in 1992. Albini died in May 2024.

They have been classified as post-hardcore and math rock, but described themselves as a "minimalist rock trio."

Shellac formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1992 as an informal collaboration between guitarist Steve Albini and drummer Todd Trainer. Former Naked Raygun bassist Camilo Gonzalez sat in on early rehearsals and played on one song on Shellac's first single before permanent bassist Bob Weston joined. Both Weston and Albini were recording engineers. They prefered a sparse, analog recording sound with little or no overdubbing, and were meticulous about microphone placement and choice of equipment.

Shellac had a distinctive, minimalist sound based on asymmetric time signatures, repetitive rhythms, an angular guitar sound, and both Albini's and Weston's surreal, bitingly sarcastic lyrics. Songs typically do not have traditional verse/chorus/verse structure and the arrangements were sparse, to the point where some described them as "amelodic". Shellac's signature sound was often associated with their enthusiasm for vintage Travis Bean guitars, a rare brand of aluminium-necked instruments, and the Interfax "Harmonic Percolator" distortion pedal. Albini was known to use copper plectrums and typically wrapped his guitar strap around his waist rather than over his shoulder.

This track, the first single, from 1993.

[Spotify] No!

“That Kind of Girl”, All Dogs

This way: That Kind of Girl

All Dogs is a pop punk quartet from Columbus, Ohio. Its members are singer/guitarist Maryn Jones, who has also played with Saintseneca, drummer Jesse Wither, who has also played with the punk band Delay, bassist Amanda Bartley of the band Swearin’, and guitarist Nick Harris, who also played in the Philadelphia based band Slaughter Beach, Dog.

All Dogs was founded in 2012, and released their first cassette in July 2013, as their half of a split cassette with Slouch, another Ohio band. On this cassette, All Dogs contributed 6 songs, 5 of which were originals and one of which was a cover. In 2015, the band released their debut album, Kicking Every Day, on Salinas Records. In the fall of 2016, the band performed their last show together before going on an extended hiatus. All Dogs' frontwoman, Maryn Jones, moved from Columbus to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania after Kicking Every Day was released. In 2018, Gabriela Claymore pointed out that "All Dogs’ fate remains uncertain now that its members are scattered between two cities, and Jones is no longer able to play in Saintseneca from out of state." In an interview with Claymore, Jones stated that "All Dogs stopped touring because of personal things." In June 2023, they reunited for their first show in seven years, opening for Wednesday in a performance at the Philadelphia music venue Union Transfer.  

[Spotify] That Kind of Girl

“IF YOU DO”, Trace Mountains

This way: IF YOU DO

Trace Mountains is the musical project of American indie rock musician Dave Benton. Benton was formerly the lead singer of lo-fi band LVL UP. 

In 2016, Benton released a collection of songs titled Buttery Sprouts & Other Songs, his first release under the moniker Trace Mountains. Benton released his first full-length album as Trace Mountains in 2018 titled A Partner to Lean On. In 2020, Benton released his second album as Trace Mountains titled Lost in the Country. Benton released his third full-length album as Trace Mountains, House of Confusion, on October 22, 2021. 

[Spotify] IF YOU DO

“Requiem”, Killing Joke

This way: Requiem

Killing Joke are an English rock band formed in Cheltenham, England in 1979 by Jaz Coleman (vocals, keyboards), Paul Ferguson (drums), Geordie Walker (guitar) and Youth (bass).

Their first album, Killing Joke, was released in 1980. After the release of Revelations in 1982, bassist Youth was replaced by Paul Raven. The band achieved mainstream success in 1985 with the album Night Time and particularly the single "Love Like Blood" which reached the top ten in Belgium, the Netherlands and New Zealand. Their style evolved over many years, at times incorporating elements of gothic rock, synth-pop and electronic music, but always featuring Walker's prominent guitar and Coleman's "savagely strident vocals". Killing Joke have influenced many later bands and artists, such as Metallica, Nirvana, Nine Inch Nails and Soundgarden. 

Following Raven's sudden death in 2007, all four founding members returned to the band's lineup the following year. Coleman and Walker were the only constant members of the band until Walker's death in 2023.

Paul Ferguson was the drummer in the band Matt Stagger when he met Jaz Coleman (from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire) in Notting Hill, London in late 1978. Coleman was briefly the keyboard player in that band. He and Ferguson then left to gradually piece together Killing Joke.[4] In the following months, they placed advertisements in Melody Maker and other music papers. Guitarist Geordie Walker joined them in March 1979, followed by bassist Youth. The band was formed in June 1979. Coleman said their manifesto at the time was to "define the exquisite beauty of the atomic age in terms of style, sound and form". 

[Spotify] Requiem

“Nothing Lasts”, Bnny

This way: Nothing Lasts

Bnny is an American indie rock band led by Jessica Viscius. The band also consists of Alexa Viscius Adam Schubert, Tim Makowski and Matt Pelkey. Originally a solo project of Jessica's named Bunny, Jessica Viscius released a couple of singles in 2017 before releasing her debut EP, Sucker the same year. The band released their first full-length album, Everything, in 2021. Their second album, One Million Love Songs, was released April 26, 2024.  

In 2017, Jessica, also known as Jess, Viscius formed a musical solo project called Bunny. She came up with the name after purchasing a vintage patch with a red bunny on it. Bunny had been preparing to tour and release an EP when Viscius' partner Trey Gruber died. Viscius moved away from the initially EP and recorded new music at Public House in Chicago. Bunny's debut EP, Sucker, was released in 2017. 

Tim Makowski, Matt Pelkey, and Jessica's twin sister, Alexa Viscius, joined the band and changed the name to Bnny. Adam Schubert joined later. Jess Viscius sings and is the group's primary songwriter. Alexa Viscius is the band's bassist. Schubert and Makowski play guitar while Pelkey is the group's drummer.

[Spotify] Nothing Lasts

“Annie's a Witch”, LVL UP

This way: Annie's a Witch

LVL UP was an American lo-fi band from Purchase, New York, United States. 

LVL UP formed in 2011 at SUNY Purchase as a recording project between Mike Caridi, Dave Benton, and their friend Ben Smith, with the original intention of releasing a split cassette with Nick Corbo's then-solo material. They instead released their debut album, Space Brothers via Evil Weevil Records, as one band, and Greg Rutkin joined shortly afterwards for the group's first show. Smith left the band for personal reasons just before the release of second album Hoodwink'd, a joint release on Caridi and Benton's label Double Double Whammy and Exploding in Sound.

In 2016, the band's third LP Return to Love was released by Sub Pop. The album received favorable reviews with comparisons being drawn to the works of Dinosaur Jr. and Pavement.

On June 11, 2018, the band announced they were retiring the project after their fall tour. Their last show was September 28 in New York City. 

[Spotify] Annie's a Witch

“What's Going On”, Hüsker Dü

This way: What's Going On

Best band of all time? Could be, certainly one of my all time favs. And this LP Zen Arcade is so good it hurts. 

Hüsker Dü was an American punk rock band formed in Saint Paul, in 1979. The band's continuous members were guitarist/vocalist Bob Mould, bassist Greg Norton, and drummer/vocalist Grant Hart. They first gained notability as a hardcore punk band, and later crossed over into alternative rock. Mould and Hart were the band's principal songwriters, with Hart's higher-pitched vocals and Mould's baritone taking the lead in alternating songs.

The band issued their debut studio album Everything Falls Apart on Reflex Records in 1983 and subsequently released three LPs and an EP on the independent label SST Records, including the critically acclaimed Zen Arcade in 1984. Hüsker Dü signed to major label Warner Bros. Records in 1986 to release their final two studio albums. They disbanded in January 1988. Mould later released two solo albums before forming Sugar in the early 1990s, while Hart released a solo album on SST and later formed Nova Mob.

[Spotify] What's Going On

“Black Sheets of Rain”, Bob Mould

This way: Black Sheets of Rain

Black Sheets of Rain is the second solo album by former Hüsker Dü guitarist and singer Bob Mould and features the Modern Rock Top 10 hit "It's Too Late." The album was a return to a heavier sound following his folk influenced solo debut, Workbook. Bassist Tony Maimone and drummer Anton Fier, both veterans of Pere Ubu, once again served as Mould's rhythm section. 

Following this album, Mould would take a detour from his solo career to lead the band Sugar, before returning to it once again with his self-titled 1996 album. 

[Spotify] Black Sheets of Rain

“Beauty Queen”, Roxy Music

This way: Beauty Queen

Roxy Music are an English rock band formed in 1970 by lead vocalist and principal songwriter Bryan Ferry and bassist Graham Simpson. By the time the band recorded their first album in 1972, Ferry and Simpson were joined by saxophonist and oboist Andy Mackay, guitarist Phil Manzanera, drummer Paul Thompson and synthesizer player Brian Eno. Other members over the years include keyboardist and violinist Eddie Jobson and bassist John Gustafson. The band split in 1976, reformed in 1978 and split again in 1983. In 2001, Ferry, Mackay, Manzanera and Thompson reunited for a concert tour and have toured together intermittently ever since, most recently in 2022 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their first album. Ferry has also frequently enlisted band members as backing musicians during his solo career.

Roxy Music became a successful act in Europe and Australia during the 1970s. This success began with their first album in 1972. The band pioneered more musically sophisticated elements of glam rock while significantly influencing early English punk music, and provided a model for many new wave acts while innovating elements of electronic composition. The group also conveyed their distinctive brand of visual and musical sophistication with their focus on glamorous fashions. Roxy Music's final studio album was Avalon (1982), which was certified Platinum in the United States, where the band had spent their first ten years as a moderately successful cult band.

Outside of the band, Ferry and Eno have had influential solo careers, with Eno also becoming one of the most significant British record producers of the late 20th century. In 2019, Roxy Music were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 

[Spotify] Beauty Queen

“I've Never Been Married”, Blood on the Saddle

This way: I've Never Been Married

Blood on the Saddle are an American country-punk band, though often referred to as a cowpunk band, from Los Angeles, California, United States. Greg Davis (vocals, guitar) formed the band in early 1983 with the original line-up of Ron Botelho (upright bass, bass) and Hermann Senac (drums, vocals). Annette Zilinskas (vocals, guitar) joined in the summer of 1983. They released three albums and songs on one compilation before that line-up broke up in 1987. Band leader Greg Davis has continued the band to present day, with one break to work with The Vandals and Candye Kane. Eventually the band recorded two more EPs and six more albums, getting three of them out officially, which were released in 1993, 1995, and 2001, respectively. A fourth album, The Mud, the Blood & the Beer, was recorded in 2008 and released to all digital platforms in 2020. A fifth album, True Blood, was recorded in 2013, and has been available since 2019 on all digital platforms. 

[Spotify] I've Never Been Married