Ignorance, the 2021 album from this group led by Toronto-based songwriter Tamara Lindeman, deserved all of the many accolades it received. I’m glad to learn that the Weather Station has a new album coming out in January, Humanhood—and that this first single, released yesterday, is excellent.
Music
“Sick Sweet” by Wishy
There’s a good debut album out today from Wishy, an Indiana band that put out 2 great EPs since last year. Triple Seven got a 7.3 on Pitchfork yesterday, which is about right: there are some super catchy tracks, but a minority that aren’t quite there.
Sound is poppy (not sludgy/heavy) shoegaze. Here’s the album’s first track, “Sick Sweet.”
Wednesday (the Band) on Tuesday Night
At Washington’s 9:30 Club, Karly Hartzman screams through the harrowing final minutes of “Bull Believer,” from last year’s phenomenal album Rat Saw God.
“Right Back to It” by Waxahatchee (feat. MJ Lenderman)
New Waxahatchee song with MJ Lenderman (from Wednesday and solo stuff) on guitar? Yes please.
Young Fathers Live on KEXP
I was enjoying Young Fathers’ latest album. Then last night, I watched this and immediately got on my phone and bought tickets for when they come through Washington in April.
J Mascis: “Can’t Believe We’re Here”
New single from the co-founder of Dinosaur Jr. Love it.
“The Window” by Ratboys
I’m angry at Ratboys (a group I’ve seen twice, because they’re always touring and open for everybody) for writing a song that’s absolutely brilliant and instantly catchy—but I can’t seem to hear without tearing up.
Stereogum explains why:
“I wrote this song a few days after the death of my grandma in June 2020,” says Ratboys’ Julia Steiner. “She didn’t have COVID, but because of the pandemic my grandpa wasn’t able to visit her in person at the nursing home to say goodbye. He ended up standing outside her room and saying goodbye through an open window. A lot of the lyrics are direct quotes of things he said to her in those final moments.”
Gorgeous but gutting. Damn it, got something in my eye again.
“Soapbox Soliloquy” by Speakers Corner Quartet
“I’m the President” by Knower
Come for the low-budget energy, stay for the piano solo at 2:55.
“Sole Obsession” by Nation of Language
Does it sound like a Depeche Mode song from 40 years ago? Sure. Is that good? Absolutely.
“American Teenager” by Ethel Cain
Had this in heavy rotation lately.
The Beths, 9:30 Club, Washington DC, March 4
Great to see New Zealand’s The Beths, an indie-pop group at the height of their powers, at a sold-out 9:30 Club in Washington.
A much larger space than where I last saw them, in October 2018 at the Songbyrd Music Hall basement in Adams Morgan, which has since moved to a bigger and far better space. Here, my view of lead singer / guitarist Elizabeth Stokes was obscured by a post.
Have a good weekend
Seattle’s KEXP just posted this video of The Smile—Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood from Radiohead with drummer Tom Skinner from Sons of Kemet—playing 3 songs from last year’s album.
Back at work
Holiday break is over. Jury duty is over (they almost picked me for a week-long civil trial, but chickened out). I’m back at the job, full time.
Here’s a nice live version of New Zealand’s The Beths playing “Expert in a Dying Field”:
Have a good weekend
Here’s Bartees Strange performing Bon Iver’s “Skinny Love.”
A favorite corner of the internet
I’m no authority on mid-20th century jazz, but I keep coming back to this YouTube channel and its well-curated footage.
Sharon Van Etten & Angel Olsen – “Like I Used To”
A great and unexpected collaboration.
The best song I washed dishes to tonight
“The Steps” by HAIM (2020).
The best song I washed dishes to tonight
“Cameo” by Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever (2020).
The best song I washed dishes to tonight
“Hard Life” by Sault (2020).
The best song I washed dishes to tonight
“Printer’s Devil” by Ratboys (2020).
The best song I washed dishes to tonight
“Animal” by Katie Malco (2020).
The best song I washed dishes to tonight
“Luminous Spaces” by Jon Hopkins & Kelly Lee Owens (2019).
The best song I washed dishes to tonight
“Forever Half Mast” by Lucy Dacus (2019).
The best song I washed dishes to tonight
“Mwana” by Sampa the Great (2019).
The best song I washed dishes to tonight
“The Onely Ones” by Lightning Bug (2020).
Songs I had on heavy rotation in May
From my regular nightly music posts from May, as Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal, and YouTube playlists.
The best song I washed dishes to tonight
“First Feeling” by Spice (2020).
The best song I washed dishes to tonight
“New Normal” by Caroline Polachek (2019).
The best song I washed dishes to tonight
“Oxbow” by Waxahatchee (2020).