Zappagram #21
Discover more from Zappagram
Zappagram #21
Arcade Fire drama, Ozzy talked to a horse, and Björk is launching a podcast...
Hey friends,
It’s hard to believe that summer is almost gone. The official first day of fall is September 22nd which is just around the corner. It won’t be long before everything is pumpkin-spiced. Someone should get on making a pumpkin spice playlist. Oh wait, that’s already a thing. God help us all.
There are a couple more days in August, which means there are a couple more days to get in on the savings for a paid subscription. Click the button below to convert your subscription to a paid one and receive 20% off the normal modest price for the next 12 months! Your support allows me to keep going, and I am eternally grateful that you’re here.
As usual, there’s a lot going on in the world of music, so without further adieu, let’s jump right in…
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
Inquiring minds want to know
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“Musicians want to be the loud voice for so many quiet hearts.”
―Billy Joel
RECENT ESSAYS
The latest essays by Chris Zappa
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HEAVY ROTATION
New weekly playlists highlighting great music
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WEEKLY PLAYLIST #21
Georgia Harmer • The National & Bon Iver • Whitney • Pixies • Silversun Pickups • Cass McCombs • Flock of Dimes • Spoon • MGMT • The Alan Parsons Project
MASTER PLAYLIST (ALL WEEKS)
MUSIC NEWS
The latest happenings in the world of music
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Arcade Fire’s Win Butler Accused of Sexual Misconduct by Multiple Women; Frontman Responds
Allegations of inappropriate behavior in his life offstage contrast with Butler’s virtuous public reputation. In lengthy comments, the frontman claims his extramarital relationships were consensual. [via Pitchfork]
Ozzy Osbourne Reveals U.S. Mass Shootings Influenced Family’s Move Back to England
“Everything’s fucking ridiculous there. I’m fed up with people getting killed every day. God knows how many people have been shot in school shootings. And there was that mass shooting in Vegas at that concert… It’s fucking crazy.” [via RollingStone]
Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame Headed to Mississippi Delta Town
A small town in the Mississippi Delta with ties to the civil rights movement will soon be home to the National Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame. The project is the culmination of a 50-year effort to build a hall of fame for R&B musicians such as James Brown, Aretha Franklin and B.B. King. [via Billboard]
David Bowie Documentary Gets Companion LP Full Of Rare Tracks
The highly anticipated David Bowie documentary “Moonage Daydream” will be accompanied by an album of the same name featuring a host of rare and previously unreleased material, as well as new mixes made especially for the film. [via Spin]
Pink Floyd Reportedly Set to Make $500m from Back Catalogue Sale
The likes of Neil Young, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen and more have already sold the rights to their work in the last few years. [via NME]
Björk to Launch New Podcast Discussing Famed Albums
The Icelandic artist announced the news on Thursday that her new show will be called “Björk: Sonic Symbolism.” And according to a press statement, she will be discussing the “textures, timbres, and emotional landscapes” of each of her records. [via AmericanSongwriter]
Joni Mitchell Receives Honorary Doctorate From Berklee College of Music
The 78-year-old singer said she wished her mom was there to see it, since she always called her a quitter for dropping out of art school. [via Billboard]
Arctic Monkeys Announce New Album The Car
The band announced that the new album will be out this fall. [via Stereogum]
MGMT will release new music this year
According to says frontman Andrew VanWyngarden, "The MGMT drought ends this year." [via NME]
Crowded House Postpone North American Tour
The group has been forced to postpone the trek while drummer Elroy Finn heals up from a lower back injury. [via Consquence]
OFF TOPIC
May or may not be music-related
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Neal Casal Fellowship Launched to Support Mental Health in Music
A fellowship has been launched in Neal Casal’s honor to mark the third anniversary of the singer-songwriter’s death. The Neal Casal Fellowship, will allow a Neal Casal Fellow to work within Backline to help provide mental health and wellness resources to members of the music industry and their families. [via Pitchfork]
Spotify has a challenger on the horizon: TikTok Music
TikTok is working tirelessly to make all your favorite apps obsolete. First, it came for Facebook and Instagram. Next up: Spotify. The video app filed a patent for TikTok Music in May. [via Mashable]
How Indie Artist Bartees Strange Is Bringing ‘Farm to Table’ to the Stage for His Anticipated Tour
The Washington, D.C.-based artist shares his plans for his first North American headlining trek. [via Billboard]
Ozzy Osbourne Swore Off Acid After Talking to a Horse for an Hour
"In the end, the horse turned round and told me to fuck off. That was it for me." [via Consequence]
NEW RELEASES
Listen to these recently dropped albums
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Ezra Furman: All of Us Flames [listen]
Julia Jacklin: Pre Pleasure [listen]
Muse: Will of the People [listen]
Regina Spektor: 11:11 [listen]
Stella Donnelly: Flood [listen]
William Orbit: The Painter [listen]
UPCOMING RELEASES
These albums are coming soon
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SEPTEMBER 9
The Afghan Whigs: How Do You Burn? • Built to Spill: When the Wind Forgets Your Name • Charles Stepney: Step on Step • Jockstrap: I Love You Jennifer B • John Legend: Legend • Oliver Sim: Hideous Bastard • Ozzy Osbourne: Patient Number 9 • Preoccupations: Arrangements • Santigold: Spirituals
SEPTEMBER 16
Creedence Clearwater Revival: Creedence Clearwater Revival at the Royal Albert Hall • Dan Wilson: Dancing on the Moon EP • Death Cab For Cutie: Roman Candles • Gogol Bordello: SOLIDARITINE • Joe Strummer: Joe Strummer 002: The Mescaleros Years To Honor • Lou Reed: Words & Music, May 1965 • The London Suede: Autofiction • Marcus Mumford: (self-titled) • The Mars Volta: The Mars Volta • Pink Floyd: Animals 2018 Remix • Ringo Starr: EP3 • Wilco: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (Super Deluxe Edition)
SEPTEMBER 23
ABBA: ABBA Gold (Reissue) • Alice In Chains: Dirt (30th Anniversary Edition) • Beth Orton: Weather Alive • Billy Idol: The Cage EP • Daniel Lanois: Player, Piano • Joni Mitchell: The Asylum Albums (1972 – 1975) Boxed Set • Khruangbin and Vieux Farka Touré: Ali • Magdalena Bay: Mercurial World (Deluxe) • Nils Frahm: Music For Animals
SEPTEMBER 30
Dead Kennedys: Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables (2022 Mix) • High Vis: Blending • Keith Jarrett: Bordeaux Concert • Lambchop: The Bible • Office Culture: Big Time Things • Pixies: Doggerel • Titus Andronicus: The Will to Live • Wilco: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (Deluxe Edition) • Yeah Yeah Yeahs: Cool It Down
VIDEO SPOTLIGHT
See it to believe it
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PJ Harvey: Dress (Live, August 2003)
Watch PJ Harvey’s kickass live performance of “Dress” from the 2003 V Festival, Hylands Park, Chelmsford, Essex, U.K. [via YouTube]
ON THIS DATE
Musical happenings of historical significance
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AUGUST 29
Birthday: Michael Jackson (1958) • Three people were arrested in Memphis after trying to steal Elvis' body. As a result, his remains would be later moved to Graceland. (1977)
AUGUST 30
Birthdays: John Phillips of The Mamas & the Papas (1935) • John Peel (1939) • Paul Oakenfold (1963) • Sterling Morrison of the Velvet Underground died of cancer at his home in New York City two days after his 53rd birthday. (1995)
AUGUST 31
Birthdays: Bob Welch & Van Morrison (1945) • Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, and Stevie Wonder sang “Amazing Grace” at Stevie Ray Vaughan’s memorial service. (1990) • Hilly Kristal, founder of the New York punk club CBGB, died from complications arising from lung cancer at the age of 75. (2007)
SEPTEMBER 1
Birthdays: Archie Bell (1944) • Barry Gibb (1946) • Blondie signed their first major record company contract with Chrysalis Records. (1977)
SEPTEMBER 2
Birthdays: Billy Preston (1946) • Steve Porcaro (1957) • Thieves broke into the London home of Icelandic singer Bjork and stole valuable recording equipment. The 36-year-old singer was asleep in the flat at the time of the incident. (2002) • Australian rock musician Conway Savage, from Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds died, aged 58. (2018)
SEPTEMBER 3
Birthdays: Blues guitarist Freddie King (1934) • Al Jardine (1942) • Steve Jones of Sex Pistols (1955) • David Mead (1973) • Walter Becker, co-founder and guitarist for Steely Dan died aged 67. (2017)
SEPTEMBER 4
Birthdays: Kim Thayil of Soundgarden (1960) • Mark Ronson (1975) • Beyonce (1981) • The first guitar torched on stage by Jimi Hendrix sold for $328k at an auction of rock memorabilia. (2008)
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Love, peace, and harmony…
CZ 🤘🏻
Zappagram #21
Hope my neighbors like the new High Vis record when it comes out!
Wonderful news about the R&B Hall of Fame becoming a reality!