Heyo!
I hope this email finds you and yours well and happy and having a great new year so far.
I’ve seen a lot of new subscribers to this newsletter over the last month or so, and so I’d like to thank everyone who subscribes for inviting me into your inbox each week. Speaking of being invited into your inbox each week, I have a question for you:
This first week of 2023 has been a big one, musically speaking. So, without further adieu, let’s get into it…
“A mind is like a parachute. It only works when it's open.”
―Frank Zappa
HEAVY ROTATION
New weekly playlists highlighting great music
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WEEKLY PLAYLIST #39
Patchnotes • Peter Gabriel • Iggy Pop • Twin Ritual • Say She She • Omar Apollo • Kira Lise • Philip Selway • Ryan Adams • Bridger
MASTER PLAYLIST (ALL WEEKS)
MUSIC NEWS
The latest happenings in the world of music
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The Associates’ Alan Rankine Dies at 64
Rankine also produced for Cocteau Twins and was integral to Electric Honey, the label that brought the world Belle and Sebastian. [Pitchfork]
Phoebe Bridgers Announces the Death of Her Father
"Rest in peace dad," the singer wrote on Instagram. [Billboard]
Billy Idol Gets Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
Henry Rollins and Shepard Fairey made speeches to honor the legendary rocker. [Consequence]
Nick Cave Starts Work on New Bad Seeds Album and Shares Early Lyrics
“My plan for this year is to make a new record with the Bad Seeds. This is both good news and bad news. Good news because who doesn’t want a new Bad Seeds record? Bad news because I’ve got to write the bloody thing.” [NME]
Nirvana, the Supremes, Nile Rodgers, and More Get 2023 Lifetime Achievement Grammys
Slick Rick, Ma Rainey, Bobby McFerrin, and Heart’s Ann Wilson and Nancy Wilson are the other recipients. [Pitchfork]
Eagles Announce Check-In Dates for “Hotel California Tour” 2023
The new leg kicks off in February and runs through April. [Consequence]
Marilyn Manson Sexual Assault Lawsuit Dismissed
In October, Jay Ellwanger withdrew as Smithline’s attorney; she did not meet a deadline by December to acquire new representation or represent herself, leading to the court’s decision. [Pitchfork]
Steve Perry Withdraws Lawsuit Against Journey Over Band’s Trademarks
Former frontman sued group in Sept. 2022, accusing ex-bandmates of "fraud on the trademark office." [RollingStone]
Alan Sparhawk Discusses Fight To Get Low’s Masters Back From UMG
In the two months since Low’s Alan Sparhawk suffered the loss of his wife and bandmate Mimi Parker, he has remained active both online and off, playing shows with his other band DAMIEN and keeping up a steady stream of communication via Twitter. [Stereogum]
Morrissey Hits Back at “Cancel Vultures” Suggesting Miley Cyrus Dropped Off Collab Due to His Political Views
He also denied the notion that he subscribes to far right politics, insisting he is apolitical. [NME]
Cage the Elephant’s Matt Shultz Arrested for Gun Possession
Police found two loaded firearms in his room at the Bowery Hotel, according to the NYPD. [Billboard]
Grammy-Winning Recording Engineer Shot and Killed by SWAT in Nashville
Police responded to an incident in which Mark Capps had allegedly held his wife and stepdaughter at gunpoint. [RollingStone]
OFF TOPIC
May or may not be music-related
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Ex-Mobsters Can’t Escape Their Criminal History — So They Promote It on YouTube
Ex-wiseguys from all five New York families and beyond have taken to rose-colored internet storytelling. [RollingStone]
Lou Reed’s Writings on Martial Arts Set for Release, With Laurie Anderson Foreword
The Art of the Straight Line collects the accomplished shadowboxer’s unpublished writings on tai chi, music, and meditation. [Pitchfork]
Annie Lennox Celebrates 40 Years of ‘Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)’
"Songs are like ships… They have their own particular voyages and destinations," Lennox said of her Hot 100 chart topper. [Billboard]
Viral ‘Wednesday’ tattoo mocked for looking “more like Samuel L. Jackson”
A fan’s Wednesday Addams tattoo has gone viral after social media users noted that it looks more like Samuel L. Jackson than Jenna Ortega, the star of the hit Netflix series. [NME]
GOOD READS
Read it to believe it
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Ethel Cain’s New Americana
by Madeline Dovi
[via Medium]
VIDEO SPOTLIGHT
See it to believe it
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The Grimm Life Collective: Frank Zappa
Michael and Jessica document their adventures searching out real-life horror locations, filming locations, famous graves, true crime locations and all of the weird, strange, and odd stuff that they can find along the way. In this episode, they visit Frank Zappa’s house where he lived, recorded the majority of his music, and eventually died, as well as his unmarked grave in a famous Hollywood cemetery. [via YouTube]
NEW RELEASES
Listen to these recently dropped albums
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Iggy Pop: Every Loser [listen]
UPCOMING RELEASES
These albums are coming soon
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JANUARY 13
Bob Weir: Ace (50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) • Margo Price: Strays • Tycho: Dive (Reissue)
JANUARY 20
Bad Brains: The Youth Are Getting Restless (Reissue) • Ella Fitzgerald: Live At Montreux 1969 • Guided By Voices: La La Land • John Cale: Mercy • Måneskin: Rush!
JANUARY 27
The Arcs: Electrophonic Chronic • Elle King: Come Get Your Wife • Green Day: Nimrod (25th Anniversary Edition) • Kimbra: A Reckoning • Meg Baird: Furling • New Order: Low-Life (Definitive Edition Box Set) • Pelican: City of Echoes
JANUARY 31
The Smashing Pumpkins: ATUM – Act 2
ON THIS DATE
Musical happenings of historical significance
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JANUARY 9
Birthdays: Joan Baez (1941) • Scott Walker (1943) • Jimmy Page (1944) • David Johansen (1950) • Dave Matthews (1967) • Paolo Nutini (1987) • Stars paid tribute to Motörhead frontman Lemmy at his funeral at Forest Lawn Memorial Cemetery. Motorhead drummer Mikkey Dee, Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl, Slash from Guns N' Roses, Robert Trujillo and Lars Ulrich from Metallica, Judas Priest singer Rob Halford and Anthrax frontman Scott Ian all spoke at the service. (2016)
JANUARY 10
Birthdays: Producer and record company executive, Jerry Wexler (1917) • Scott McKenzie (1939) • Jim Croce (1943) • Rod Stewart (1945) • Aynsley Dunbar, drums, Journey (1946) • Donald Fagen (1948) • Pat Benetar (1953) • Shawn Colvin (1958) • David Bowie died from liver cancer at his New York home two days after releasing the album Blackstar on his 69th birthday. (2016)
JANUARY 11
Birthdays: Slim Harpo (1924) • Clarence Clemons (1942) • Lee Ritenour (1952) • Nirvana appeared on NBC-TV's Saturday Night Live performing two songs, 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' and 'Territorial Pissings'. (1992)
JANUARY 12
Birthdays: Chris Bell of Big Star (1951) • Blixa Bargeld of Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds (1959) • Charlie Gillingham of Counting Crows (1960) • Guy Chambers of The Waterboys & World Party (1963) • Zack de la Rocha (1970) • Maurice Gibb from The Bee Gees died aged 53 in Miami Hospital, Florida following a heart attack during abdominal surgery. (2003)
JANUARY 13
Birthdays: Joe Pass (1929) • Graham McPherson of Madness & Wayne Coyne of Flaming Lips (1961) • American soul and gospel singer-songwriter Donny Hathaway took his own life at the age of 33, following well-documented struggles with his mental health. (1979) • Teddy Pendergrass died at the age of 59 following a difficult recovery from colon cancer surgery. (2010) • New York Dolls guitarist Sylvain Sylvain died from cancer at the age of 69. (2021)
JANUARY 14
Birthdays: Allen Toussaint (1938) • Patricia Morrison of The Sisters Of Mercy (1962) • Zakk Wylde (1967) • Dave Grohl (1969) • Caleb Followill of Kings of Leon (1982) • David Bowie released his eleventh studio album Low. (1977) • Jerry Nolan, drummer for The New York Dolls, died from a fatal stroke, aged 45. (1992)
JANUARY 15
Birthdays: Don Van Vliet, a.k.a. Captain Beefheart (1941) • Ronnie Van Zant (1948) • Boris Blank of Yello (1953) • Doug Erickson of Garbage (1953) • Adam Jones of Tool (1965) • The Eagles were at #1 on the U.S. album chart with Hotel California, the group's third U.S. #1 album. (1977) • English bass guitarist Dee Murray died after suffering a stroke aged 45. He is best known as a member of Elton John's band. (1992) • Harry Nilsson died in his sleep of heart failure. (1994) • Chicago blues vocalist/harmonica player, Junior Wells died aged 63. (1998) • Dolores O’Riordan from The Cranberries died unexpectedly while she was in London for a recording session. (2018)
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🤘🏻
CZ
🤘🏽
Thanks for that link on Ethel Cain!!! So good.