“Up to My Elbows”, The Stroppies

This way: Up to My Elbows

Starting out as a recording project between Angus Lord, Claudia Serfaty and Stephanie Hughes, the germ of what would eventually become the Stroppies was formed around a kitchen table in Melbourne's inner west early 2016. The initial idea was to create open ended music, collaged quickly and haphazardly together on a Tascam 4 track Portastudio that drew on stream of consciousness creativity and a DIY attitude a la Guided By Voices and The Great Unwashed. The desire to move beyond the pre programmed drum patterns available on their Casio Keyboard led to the addition of Rory Heane on drums and a more conventional band dynamic.

[Spotify]  Up to My Elbows

“Daytona Sand”, Orville Peck

This way: Daytona Sand

Who was that masked man? Orville Peck is a South African country musician based in Canada. He wears a fringed mask and has never shown his face publicly. He released his debut album Pony in 2019, followed by the EP Show Pony the next year. His second studio album Bronco was released on April 8, 2022. Peck was born in Johannesburg, South Africa and lived there until he was 15. As a child, Peck did not receive any formal music training, he taught himself music by playing on an acoustic guitar and an old Casio keyboard. He is the son of a sound engineer, and he did voice-over work for cartoons and other media as a child. Growing up, he trained in ballet for 12 years, and performed in musical theatre. By the time he was in his early 20s, Peck had been on national tours of musicals. In his mid-20s, he moved to London to study acting at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, and later starred in a play on the West End.  

[Spotify]  Daytona Sand

“Oh!”, The Linda Lindas

This way: Oh!

The Linda Lindas are a punk rock band from Los Angeles. The all-girl group comprises Bela Salazar, Eloise Wong, Lucia de la Garza, and Mila de la Garza. In January 2018, Eloise Wong's father Martin Wong was contacted by an acquaintance, asking if she would be interested in playing alongside Kristin Kontrol and a bunch of "inexperienced kids" for a performance at a music festival called Girlschool LA, after seeing pictures and videos of her singing at Save Music in Chinatown. Martin then suggested Lucia and Mila de la Garza, daughters of his sister Angelyn Wong and brother-in-law Carlos de la Garza, since the three of them often sang, danced and performed together since they were toddlers; Carlos, who owned a backyard studio, took up the position of a second coach. After Kontrol recruited more children through social media and the first round of rehearsals were held, Angelyn and Martin's wife Wendy Lau reached out to the girls' family friend Bela Salazar, who was taking guitar lessons, to join in, thinking that they needed someone who could play an instrument. Originally, it was intended to be a one-off project, but a few months later, Salazar was invited to open a show for Frieda's Roses, and engaged Eloise, Lucia and Mila to be her backing band.  

[Spotify]  Oh!

“One More Hour”, Sleater-Kinney

This way: One More Hour

Sleater-Kinney is an American rock band that formed in Olympia, Washington, in 1994. The band's current lineup features Corin Tucker (vocals and guitar) and Carrie Brownstein (guitar and vocals), following the departure of longtime member Janet Weiss (vocals, drums, and harmonica) in 2019. Sleater-Kinney originated as part of the riot grrrl movement and has become a key part of the American indie rock scene. 

The band released seven studio albums between 1994 and 2005: Sleater-Kinney (1995), Call the Doctor (1996), Dig Me Out (1997), The Hot Rock (1999), All Hands on the Bad One (2000), One Beat (2002) and The Woods (2005). They went on hiatus in 2006 and devoted themselves to solo projects. They reunited in 2014 and released No Cities to Love on January 20, 2015, and Live in Paris in January 2017. Their second studio album after their reunion, The Center Won't Hold, was produced by St. Vincent, and released in August 2019. The band's tenth studio album and their first self-produced album, Path of Wellness, was released in June 2021. 

Critics Greil Marcus and Robert Christgau have each praised Sleater-Kinney as one of the essential rock groups of the early 2000s. Marcus named Sleater-Kinney America's best rock band in 2001. Tom Breihan of Stereogum called them the greatest rock band of the past two decades in 2015. 

[Spotify]  One More Hour

“Tennessee Stud”, Jimmie Driftwood

This way: Tennessee Stud

James Corbitt Morris (June 20, 1907 – July 12, 1998), known professionally as Jimmy Driftwood or Jimmie Driftwood, was an American folk music songwriter and musician, most famous for his songs "The Battle of New Orleans" and "Tennessee Stud". Driftwood wrote more than 6,000 folk songs, of which more than 300 were recorded by various musicians.  Driftwood was born in Timbo, Arkansas, United States on June 20, 1907. His father was folk singer Neil Morris. He is on the album Songs of the Ozarks. Driftwood learned to play the guitar at a young age on his grandfather’s homemade instrument. Driftwood used that unique guitar throughout his career and noted that its neck was made from a fence rail, its sides from an old ox yoke, and the head and bottom from the headboard of his grandmother's bed. This homemade instrument produced a pleasant, distinctive, resonant sound. 

Driftwood attended John Brown College in northwest Arkansas and later received a degree in education from Arkansas State Teacher's College. He started writing songs during his teaching career to teach his students history in an entertaining manner.

[Spotify]  Tennessee Stud

“Golden Rope”, Tiña

This way: Golden Rope

South London band Tiña. 

[Spotify]  Golden Rope

“Like That”, Mr. Airplane Man

This way: Like That

Mr. Airplane Man is an American rock band from Boston, Massachusetts. Margaret Garrett and Tara McManus met each other when they were both 10 years old. The two became childhood friends, but later separated, attending separate colleges. After beginning to play music together, the duo experimented with other band members, but preferred playing as a twosome.

[Spotify]  Like That 

“Grave’s Disease”, Matt Pond PA

This way: Grave’s Disease

Matt Pond PA is a New York-based band formed in Philadelphia by singer-songwriter Matt Pond. It has released numerous LPs and numerous EPs between 1998 and 2020.

Throughout the years Pond enlisted a rotating cast of collaborators for recording and touring, including cellists Jim Hostetter and Eve Miller, violinist Rosie McNamara-Jones, drummers Mike Kennedy and Dan Crowell, bassists Matt Raisch and Josh Kramer, and guitarists Jim Kehoe and Brian Pearl. Chris Hansen, producer and guitarist, has been a core member of the group since 2007. Cellist Shawn Alpay, who performs individually as Completions, is currently recording and touring as a member of the band.

Matt Pond announced on October 30, 2017, on his website and social media accounts that he would be retiring the Matt Pond PA moniker but would continue making music. However, as of 2020, Matt Pond continues to release music under the name Matt Pond PA.  

[Spotify]  Grave’s Disease

[Live version]  Grave’s Disease

“On the Road to Fairfax County”, The Roches

This way: On the Road to Fairfax County

The Roches (Maggie, Terre, and Suzzy Roche) were a vocal group of three songwriting American sisters from Park Ridge, New Jersey, United States. They were known for their "unusual" and "rich" harmonies, quirky lyrics, and casually comedic stage performances. The Roches were active as performers and recording artists from the mid-1970s through 2017, at various times performing as a trio and in pairs.  

[Spotify]  On the Road to Fairfax County

“Sorry Again”, Velocity Girl

This way: Sorry Again

Velocity Girl was an American indie rock band formed in 1989 in College Park, Maryland, United States, although it was generally known as a Washington, D.C.-area band. The band released three albums before splitting up in 1996. The band started as the duo of Kelly Riles and guitarist/singer Archie Moore (also of Black Tambourine) in 1989 (the two having met at university), initially going under the name The Gotterdemocrats. They became Velocity Girl with the addition of Brian Nelson (ex-Big Jesus Trashcan, also of Black Tambourine), Jim Spellman (ex-High Back Chairs), and lead singer Bridget Cross (soon to join Unrest). The band took its name from a Primal Scream B-side which appeared on the C86 compilation album. Sarah Shannon joined to replace Cross after the release of the band's debut single "I Don't Care If You Go." Unlike some 1990s rock music that featured an abrasive vocal and instrumental style, Velocity Girl's sound, especially post-1993, was more melodic and typically featured "clean" (non-distorted) electric guitar sounds and two-part harmonies. 

[Spotify]  Sorry Again

“By Tomorrow”, Black Tambourine

This way: By Tomorrow

Black Tambourine was an American indie pop band and one of the earliest Slumberland groups of the early 1990s. Formed in Silver Spring, Maryland, the band comprised vocalist Pam Berry and instrumentalists Archie Moore, Brian Nelson and Mike Schulman. Along with Tiger Trap, Lois, Honeybunch, Tullycraft, and Beat Happening, they are considered to be one of the most influential bands of the American twee pop movement. The members came to the project already acquainted with each other: Both Nelson (also of Big Jesus Trashcan) and Schulman were in Whorl together, while Schulman (also of Powderburns) co-founded Slumberland Records. Moore, meanwhile, was in Velocity Girl and played on early recordings by Lilys, and Berry had co-founded the Chickfactor zine. 

[Spotify]  By Tomorrow 

“Doe”, The Breeders

This way: Doe

The Breeders are an American alternative rock band based in Dayton, Ohio, consisting of members Kim Deal (rhythm guitar, lead vocals), her twin sister Kelley Deal (lead guitar, vocals), Josephine Wiggs (bass guitar, vocals) and Jim Macpherson (drums). 

The earliest incarnation of the band was formed by Kim Deal and Tanya Donelly in 1989 as a side-project alongside their full-time bands Pixies and Throwing Muses respectively. To record their debut album, 1990's Pod, Deal and Donelly recruited bassist Josephine Wiggs of The Perfect Disaster and drummer Britt Walford of Slint. Kim's sister Kelley was brought into the band as a third guitarist (though at the time, Kelley famously had never played guitar before joining the band) in 1992 to record the Safari EP, and shortly thereafter Tanya Donelly left to concentrate full-time on her own new band, Belly, leaving Kelley Deal as the sole lead guitarist, while Britt Walford left as well around the same time. While the band's first record wasn't initially a commercial success, the band had developed a following among indie rock fans and praises from people such as Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, who cited Pod as one of his all-time favorite albums, the band prepared to record their next album.

In 1993, the Pixies broke up, leaving Deal to concentrate on The Breeders as her full-time band. Kim recruited local Dayton, Ohio musician Jim Macpherson (previously a member of Dayton indie rock band The Raging Mantras) to replace the recently departed Walford on drums, cementing the Breeders' best-known line-up. The band's most commercially successful album, Last Splash, was released in 1993 in the midst of the early 1990s alternative rock boom. The album went on to be certified platinum by the RIAA, and is best known for its hit single "Cannonball".

[Spotify]  Doe

“Walking on Thin Ice”, Yoko Ono

This way: Walking on Thin Ice

Fantastic song! “Walking on Thin Ice” is a song by Yoko Ono, released in 1981. She and John Lennon concluded the recording of the song on December 8, 1980. It was upon their return from the recording studio to The Dakota (their home in New York City) that Lennon was murdered by Mark David Chapman. Lennon was clutching a tape of a final mix when he was shot. The song was both a critical and commercial success. Lennon's lead guitar work on the track, which he recorded on December 4, 1980, was his final creative act. He used his famous Beatles era 1958 Rickenbacker 325 to record all the guitar parts. This is the first time that he used the guitar on a studio recording since 1964/65. 

[Spotify: no] Download it here (or play it)

“Jet Fighter”, The Three O’Clock

This way: Jet Fighter

The Three O'Clock is an American alternative rock group associated with the Los Angeles 1980s Paisley Underground scene. Lead singer and bassist Michael Quercio is credited with coining the term "Paisley Underground" to describe a subset of the 1980s L.A. music scene which included bands such as Dream Syndicate, Rain Parade, Green on Red, the Long Ryders and the Bangles. The Three O'Clock originally formed under the name The Salvation Army in 1981. The original lineup included Quercio (lead vocals, bass), John Blazing (guitar), and Troy Howell (drums). They released a single ("Mind Gardens" b/w "Happen Happened") on The Minutemen's New Alliance label in November, 1981. At this juncture, Quercio (then billed as "Ricky Start") was the band's sole songwriter, and the group played in a psychedelic pop-punk style.

By the end of the year, Blazing left and was replaced by Gregg Gutierrez, later known as Louis Gutierrez. Quercio reverted to his real name, and this lineup of The Salvation Army signed with LA independent label Frontier Records and released a self-titled debut LP in May 1982. 

[Spotify]  Jet Fighter

“The Pressure”, Delta Spirit

This way: The Pressure

Delta Spirit is an American rock band from California, United States. The group consists of Jonathan Jameson (bass), Brandon Young (drums), Matthew Vasquez (vocals and guitars), Kelly Winrich (multi-instrumentalist), and William McLaren (guitar). Founded in San Diego in 2005, Jameson and Young, who had played with each other in many bands, decided to form a band with their new friend Matthew Logan Vasquez. Young first spotted Vasquez busking on a bench in San Diego at two in the morning, and the two exchanged information. Delta Spirit recorded their I Think I've Found It EP at Winrich's home studio, and he joined the band within the first year. Winrich and Vasquez had been close friends since they were 18 years old. The EP was later released by Monarchy Music on CD and 12" Vinyl in 2006. This track from 2021. 

[Spotify]  The Pressure

“Baby Needs a Cookie”, Bob Mould

This way:  Baby Needs a Cookie

Bob Mould (born October 16, 1960) is an American musician, known for his work as guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for alternative rock bands Hüsker Dü in the 1980s and Sugar in the 1990s. Still putting out fantastic music. This from 2020.  

[Spotify]  Baby Needs a Cookie

“Suburban Home”, Descendents

This way:  Suburban Home

Some kind of perfection here. The Descendents are an American punk rock band formed in 1977 in Manhattan Beach, California, by guitarist Frank Navetta, bassist Tony Lombardo and drummer Bill Stevenson. In 1979, they enlisted Stevenson's school friend Milo Aukerman as a singer, and reappeared as a punk rock band, becoming a major player in the hardcore punk scene developing in Los Angeles at the time. They have released eight studio albums, three live albums, three compilation albums, and four EPs. Since 1986, the band's lineup has consisted of singer Milo Aukerman, guitarist Stephen Egerton, bassist Karl Alvarez, and drummer Bill Stevenson. 

[Spotify]  Suburban Home

“White Elephant”, Volcano Suns

This way:  White Elephant

Volcano Suns was an American alternative rock band from Boston, Massachusetts formed by Mission of Burma drummer Peter Prescott in 1984. The band was founded in Spring 1984 by former Mission of Burma and Molls drummer Peter Prescott, the only founding member of the Suns to remain until their break-up in 1991. Prescott had auditioned for the position of drummer with Disneyland, but took two of that band's members to form Volcano Suns; The other original members were Gary Waleik and Steve Michener who would leave after a few months, before the release of the first Suns album, to form Big Dipper. Prescott then added Jeff Weigand on bass guitar and Jon Williams on guitar. This second line-up created the band's debut album The Bright Orange Years (1985), as well as its follow-up, All-Night Lotus Party (1986), both released on the now-defunct Homestead Records. 

[Spotify]  White Elephant

“Save it for Later”, The English Beat

This way:  Save it for Later

The English Beat (known in the UK as The Beat) are a British band founded in Birmingham, England, in 1978. Their music fuses Latin, ska, pop, soul, reggae and punk rock.

The Beat, consisting of Dave Wakeling (vocals, guitar), Ranking Roger (vocals), Andy Cox (guitar), David Steele (bass), Everett Morton (drums), and Saxa a.k.a. Lionel Augustus Martin (saxophone), released three studio albums in the early 1980s: I Just Can't Stop It (1980), Wha'ppen? (1981) and Special Beat Service (1982), and a string of singles. 

[Spotify]  Save it for Later

“Ssx”, The Hellp

This way: Ssx

The Hellp is a band made up of singer Noah Dillon, a photographer who previously ran Hot Mess with Luka Sabbat, and producer & composer Chandler Ransom Lucy.

[Spotify]  Ssx

“Rainy Season”, Howard Devoto

This way: Rainy Season

This guy wrote a few good songs. Howard Devoto (1952) is an English singer and songwriter, who began his career as the frontman for the punk rock band Buzzcocks, but then left to form Magazine. After Magazine, he went solo and later formed indie band Luxuria.

[Spotify]  Rainy Season

“Nudge It”, Sleaford Mods

This way: Nudge It

Warning: these are not Mods. Sleaford Mods are an English music duo, formed in 2007 in Nottingham. The band features vocalist Jason Williamson and, since 2012, musician Andrew Fearn. They are known for their abrasive, minimalist musical style and embittered explorations of austerity-era Britain, culture, and working class life, delivered in Williamson's East Midlands accent. The duo have released several albums to critical praise. This song features Amy Taylor from Amyl and The Sniffers.

[Spotify]  Nudge It

“Guided By Angels”, Amyl and The Sniffers

This way: Guided By Angels

Amyl and the Sniffers are an Australian pub rock and punk rock band based in Melbourne, consisting of vocalist Amy Taylor, drummer Bryce Wilson, guitarist Dec Martens, and bassist Fergus Romer. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2019, their self-titled debut record won the Best Rock Album category. 

[Spotify]  Guided By Angels

“Heels”, Billy Nomates

This way: Heels

Tor Maries who performs as Billy Nomates is a British post-punk musician from Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. 

[Spotify]  Heels

“Safe”, Colin Newman

This way: Safe

Colin Newman (born 16 September 1954) is an English musician, record producer and record label owner. He is best known as the primary vocalist and songwriter for the band Wire. "Not To" is the third studio album by Colin Newman, lead singer of post-punk band Wire. It was released in 1982, through record labels Beggars Banquet and 4AD. 

Like Newman's first solo record A-Z, much of the material on Not To was reworked from songs intended for Wire's never-completed fourth album, and the other members of Wire, particularly Graham Lewis, are co-credited on several of the songs.

[Spotify]  Safe

“You’re All Around”, Felice Brothers

[this >]  You’re All Around

Iantown was the first album to be released under the name The Felice Brothers; however, for the most part, it features only Ian Felice on acoustic guitar and harmonica. According to the album credits the Iantown was recorded in one evening. The album was self-released and is now out of print. 

[download me>]  You’re All Around

“Subspace Biographies”, Robert Pollard

This way: Subspace Biographies

I've been doing a deep dive on the catalogue of Pollard and his fantastic band Guided by Voices. There are a lot of hits buried in that pile. Robert typically puts out a record every 20 minutes, either under his own name, as Guided by Voices, or any other random name that suits his fancy at the moment (Boston Spaceships, Cub Scout Bowling). Here is a fantastic release from 1998. 

[Spotify] Subspace Biographies

Playlist 7 in heaven

[Spotify]  sotd a07

Dear god help us all it is 7 playlists of songs on Satans favorite streaming service—Spotify.
A person should try to make a playlist, that is what any person should do. 

Enjoy thy self, 

—brENDan

“It’s Real”, Ex Hex

This way: It’s Real

Ex Hex is an American rock band formed in 2013. The band consists of Mary Timony, Betsy Wright and Laura Harris. Ex Hex recorded its first single, "Hot and Cold" in Timony's basement, then went on to record Rips, with Mitch Easter and Jonah Takagi. on October 7, 2014, the record debuted on Merge Records. They toured extensively, playing with Speedy Ortiz, King Tuff, Rocket from the Crypt, and The Jacuzzi Boys, among others. 

[Spotify] It's Real

“Romantic Me”, Polyrock

This way: Romantic Me

Polyrock was an American post-punk/new wave band formed in New York City in 1978 and active until the mid-1980s. Strongly influenced by minimalism, the group was produced by the composer Philip Glass and Kurt Munkacsi. The band, led by singer/guitarist Billy Robertson (formerly of the group Model Citizens), had a keyboard-heavy, pattern-based sound strongly reminiscent of Glass's work; in fact, Glass performed on their first two albums.

Polyrock's lineup also included vocalist Catherine Oblasney, guitarist Tommy Robertson, drummer Joseph Yannece, keyboard player Lenny Aaron, and Curt Cosentino. The group signed with RCA by 1980, and delivered their debut album that same year. Another album followed in 1981 (Changing Hearts), but Polyrock disbanded in 1983. The band are sometimes said to have released another album in 1981 (Electro-Romantic), but, apparently, no such album exists.

In 1990, Billy Robertson and Catherine Oblasney formed the group 9 Ways to Sunday and released a self-titled album. Robertson died in September 2018. A memorial was held September 24, 2018, at the Brooklyn Ice House bar in the Red Hook section of Brooklyn, near where Robertson lived.

[Spotify]  Romantic Me 

“Down Down”, The Coathangers

 This way: Down Down

The Coathangers are an American all-female punk rock/garage band band from Atlanta, Georgia featuring singer/guitarist Julia Kugel-Montoya (Crook Kid Coathanger), bassist Meredith Franco (Minnie Coathanger) and singer/drummer Stephanie Luke (Rusty Coathanger).nLong-time keyboardist Candice Jones (Bebe Coathanger), left the band amicably in 2013. Flippantly formed in 2006, they were asked to open for The Hiss on the strength of their performance playing a house show. Since then they have headlined shows in the United States and abroad. In addition, several times they have appeared as the support act for fellow Atlanta band Black Lips's New York City concerts. 

[Spotify] Down Down

“A Mushroom Cloud”, Sammy Salvo

This way: A Mushroom Cloud

Not sure. From 1961. 

[Spotify] A Mushroom Cloud

“Modern Pressure”, Daniel Romano

This way: Modern Pressure

Daniel Romano (born 1985) is a Canadian musician, poet and visual artist based out of his hometown of Welland, Ontario. He is primarily known as a solo artist, though he is also a member of Attack in Black and has collaborated with Julie Doiron and Frederick Squire. He has also produced and performed with City and Colour, the recording project of Dallas Green. 

Romano is a partner in his own independent record label, You've Changed Records, along with Steve Lambke, of the Constantines.

Some of his notable visual work includes designs for M. Ward, Ben Kweller, Ladyhawk and City and Colour. A skilled leather craftsman, he has designed and tooled guitar straps for many of his contemporaries (Kathleen Edwards, Bahamas, Travis Good of the Sadies).

The Canadian music magazine Exclaim! has identified five distinct styles in Romano's work: a gentle, rustic folk sound personified by projects such as Daniel, Fred & Julie and Workin' for the Music Man, a retro country style on albums like Sleep Beneath the Willow and If I've Only One Time Askin', straight-ahead rock on Nerveless and How Ill Thy World Is Ordered, psychedelic rock on works like Modern Pressure and Visions of the Higher Dream, and punk rock in his works released under the band name Ancient Shapes.

[Spotify] Modern Pressure

“Rock n Roll Girl”, The Beat

 This way: Rock n Roll Girl

I played this record within inch of its life. It's a shame it wasn't more popular, probably suffered for the English band having the same name. The Beat is the debut album by American power pop band The Beat, released in 1979 on Columbia Records. 

The Beat (soon renamed to Paul Collins' Beat) is an American rock and power pop band from Los Angeles, California, United States, that formed in 1979. Paul Collins' Beat resurfaced in the 1990s and continues to tour and record new material. Front man Paul Collins has released several projects with his alternative country group The Paul Collins Band, who play Americana music inspired by country rock and folk rock.

[Spotify]  Rock n Roll Girl

[great cover by the Muffs]  Rock n Roll Girl

“Ready”, Mikal Cronin

This way: Ready

Mikal Cronin (born 1985) is an American musician and songwriter. He has released four solo albums and several singles. Cronin was a member of the bands Okie Dokie, Epsilons, Party Fowl and Moonhearts, and is a regular and longtime member of Ty Segall's live band, contributing bass guitar, backing vocals and saxophone; he has also released an album and a single in collaboration with Segall. Cronin earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts in music from California Institute of the Arts. 

[Spotify]  Ready