It’s a quiet week for New Music, unless you count the several Xmas Albums that have dropped. The chance of getting a recommendation of a new Xmas album from me is about the same as the odds for the reincarnation of Bing Crosby.
I merely have two titles to bring before you this week; one single and one album, so I shan’t keep you long.
A fantastic and fun band from Nashville released a great album back in July that is sure to be a contender for the 2023 New Music Jason Prize. Snooper has followed it up with a tight and frenetic new single. Company Car begins with fuzzy bass, followed by thrashing drums. Vocalist Blair Tramel offers you a ride in the title automobile just to show off how sweet the ride is. Two minutes of endorphins dancing.
Check back on Sunday, December 3 for the Longlist of nominees for the New Music Jason Prize.
My Feature Pick (if only by default) comes from the City Of Compton. Electronic Music Producer AshTreJinkins has been making glitchy experimental Music that spans House and Deep Bass for over a decade. His latest album IT’S TRASH NOWis spacing out the denizens of The Chillout Room with its synthesized arpeggios, crooked beats and disjointed samples.
I’ll talk to you again on Sunday, but in the meantime, give yourself a hug. You’ve earned it. If that feels too weird, just give yourself a hi-five. You are awesome.
Now that the Holiday gift-giving Season is in full swing, the New Releases are starting to slow down. But not before we get one or two sure-fire gift ideas. I’m looking in the direction of Living Saint Dolly Parton, who has enough guest stars on her new Rock album to stage another Live Aid.
Dolly Parton – Let It Be(feat. Paul McCartney & Ringo Starr)
There really isn’t a ton of Big Name Artists putting out New Music this week (metric or Imperial). The most anticipated in many circles, including me, is the new Danny Brown album. My favourite MC is back, not long after his fantastic collaboration with JPEGMAFIA. I hope this release harkens the return of the rest of the Bruiser Brigade.
Danny Brown – Jenn’s Terrific Vacation
Scratching the surface of the Release schedule, there is plenty to sink your ears into. Not the least of which comes from André 3000(?!?), Kurt Vile, Sabrina Carpenter, The Polyphonic Spree, Iron & Wine and Lil Wayne with 2 Chainz.
2 Chainz, Lil Wayne – Presha
My BandCamp Wishlist began with fifteen titles, but I’ve since pruned it down to a more manageable eight. Today I’ll highlight the London duo of Emma Sullivan and Chlöe Herington. As VÄLVĒ, they create Electronic AvantFolk. I just made that term up, which is my right as a music journalist. Their second album, Tiny Pilots, comes out Friday.
The New Music, it keeps on a-flowin’ at a torrential pace this week, along with some very big Artists reissuing their Old Music (for monetary reasons).
You know, this whole “re-recording your music because you don’t own the originals” didn’t start with Taylor Swift. Ripping off musicians is a time-honoured tradition, and I’m pleased to see her get her bag. Also, Nirvana’s swan song, In Utero is getting its 30th anniversary release. That record holds a special place with me, as I was able to receive it the weekend before it was officially released, thanks to the kind owner of Collingwood’s 91 Discs who cared not about Street Date Embargos. They’re closed now, of course.
Nirvana – Milk It (Live In Seattle 1/7/94)
Leading the pack for New Music this week are Australia’s resident weirdos King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Future, Poppy, DJ Shadow, Sigrid and my favourite New Romantics, Duran Duran.
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard – Theia/The Silver Cord/Set
Looking beyond the headlines, we have a panoply of Artists pitching their wares. I’m curious to hear the new sounds from Black Pumas, Sigrid, Mariah the Scientist, The Gaslight Anthem, Taking Back Sunday, Marina Herlop, James Blunt and Mayer Hawthorne.
Black Pumas – Ice Cream (Pay Phone)
My BandCamp Wishlist is sitting with nine titles that are due for release by week’s end. Today I’ll spotlight a duo from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Known as SPLLIT, they make Mathy ElectroRock with punchy angular stabs. Hope the new album, Infinite Hatch stands for itself when it comes out on Friday.
One more album I want to call out is coming from an Artist I love, and left us far too soon. Not enough people know about the amazing singer Kirsty MacColl, so I’m happy to be able to recommend a Career-Spanning collection due for release this week. See That Girl comes out Friday, and you should do yourself a favour.
Kirsty MacColl – England 2, Columbia 0 (Live At The Jazz Café, London, UK, 12th October, 1999)
Be a dear, if you’re back this way again and are in the market for some New Music; check out my weekly picks every Friday. Say, about noonish?
You would think that with having the name Jason, I’d be excited for Friday The 13th. I’ve never been superstitious, and unless I was worried about being chased by a maniacal killer (which has only happened twice), it’s never been a concern of mine. As it happens I have no special plans to celebrate it, just a regular weekend of taking my goalie mask and machete out to Crystal Lake for a jog.
This week’s New Releases are killer, with an onslaught of titles to tickle the tastes of all you budding mass murderers. Leading the charge to topple Drake and that pesky Morgan Wallen from the top of the charts are Bad Bunny, Gucci Mane, and Westside Gunn. But it doesn’t really matter, because Taylor Swift has a Live album coming out. Because she doesn’t have all the money yet.
Taylor Swift – The Eras Tour Concert Film Official Trailer
But if you look beyond the headlines, you’ll see plenty exciting New Releases, including those from Ren, Upchuck, Goat, Holly Humberstone, Metric, Troye Sivan, boygenius, and one Sir Richard Starkey, MBE. You may know him better as Ringo Starr.
Ren – Lost All Faith
My BandCamp Wishlist has ten titles awaiting release by the end of the week. Today I’ll spotlight a German band releasing their first full-length. ONYON is a Post-Punk quartet from Leipzig. Their album, Last Days On Earth is released on Friday.
A wonderful good morning, my friends and family! My wife is on vacation this week, so the family is planning some day trips to check out the sights. Our ten year-old daughter has never been to Niagara Falls, despite it just being over one hour’s drive from our abode. We will correct that this week, and follow it up with our annual pilgrimage to Guelph Island for the Hillside Music Festival. Can’t wait!
Hope they still have the Barrel Ride.
It looks to be a pretty respectable week in New Releases. Leading the charge for big sales numbers are Travis Scott, Carly Rae Jepsen, and Post Malone.
Carly Rae Jepsen – Shy Boy
There is a fair amount of Artists I’m looking forward to hearing this week, including Aphex Twin, Tech N9ne, Damon Locks and Rob Mazurek, Homeboy Sandman, and Jessy Lanza.
Tech N9ne – Get Your Attention (feat. Krizz Kalika & Gina McFadden)
My BandCamp Wishlist has seven titles awaiting release this week. Today, I’ll spotlight Silicone Prairie, which is a project from member of the Nashville band Snööper Ian Teeple. Vol. II sounds promising.
Good Friday to all! It’s a beautiful day around these parts. A perfect day to relax and slide into the weekend feet first.
It’s one of the quieter weeks in terms of New Music. In fact, with two singles, two EPs and one full-length album to recommend, it may be the quietest week I’ve written about since I came to WordPress early last year. It’s a total of twenty-five songs this week, adding up to an hour and fifteen minutes of joy, tears,and pogoing.
The first single comes from UK Rock outfit Yard Act. They are steadily increasing their status in Popular Music as one of the most interesting and authentic Bands around, and I talked about their single from last year, 100% Endurance, after their debut at the beginning of 2022. Their first New Music since then has just been released, in the form of an 8-minute single, The Trench Coat Museum. Starting off with ‘Sympathy For The Devil’-esque yelps and percussion, leading into a dirty filthy bass line, leading the drums into retro synths and scratching (?). Lyricist and Vocalist James Smith then educates about the history and many practical purposes for the noble Trench Coat. Plan your Weekend Getaway!
The next single comes from the Soundtrack to the upcoming BarbieMovie. I feel all sick and cOMmErCiAl about it. But Billie Eilish’s What Was I Made For? is a beautiful four-minute ballad that gives Eilish a chance to flex her understated, yet emotionally-charged vocal skills. The lyrics also give Billie a chance to inhabit the soul of a toy, who’s just learned that she is a toy. Heady stuff. Keep tissues handy.
Emily Hopkins is a prominent YouTuber that I follow. As a talented Harp player, she demonstrates various effects pedals on her channel, with dazzling and sometimes hilarious results. This week she has released a collaboration with vocalist and Sound Artist Courtney Swain. The five tracks on Tournesolsare explorations in live Sampling and effects, with just Voice and Harp. It’s contemplative and warm, and will bring you to a place of calm. Divine.
One new trend in New Music is that thing where an Artist will release a new album, and then will re-release it two months later as a “Deluxe Edition,” and then add a few songs to the end of the album. To tell the truth, I will usually ignore these releases, using the logic, if they were any good, the would be on the album in the first place. So far, it has served me well. But if Artists were more like JPEGMAFIA and Danny Brown, they would release tracks separately, so as to not cloud the impact of the initial release. These two have released a new four-track EP that expands from their collaboration on March’s Scaring The Hoes. Scaring The Hoes: DLC Pack is a solid addendum to the 2023 New Music Jason Prize-hopeful. No dip in quality here.
My Feature Pick for this week is the lone LP that is on my radar. Nashville band Snõõper has just released their full-length studio debut with Jack White’s Third Man Records. Super Snõõperis an energetic and lively fourteen tracks that will have you bouncing all over the place. Long live Rock!
It’s a light week in New Music recommendations as we enter a beautiful Spring weekend. Merely four titles to bring to your attention. Come now as I attempt to hip you to my jive.
I’m actually going to do something a little different this week. I usually wait for full albums to release before I decide to purchase and recommend. However there is a good old-fashioned Country & Western single that has been released this week that I can’t let pass lest the rest of the album isn’t to my taste. Brennan Leigh will be releasing her latest albumAin’t Through Honky Tonkin’ Yet on the 16th of June. The guitarist, mandolin player, and singer-songwriter’s first teaser single,Running Out Of Hope, Arkansas is a capital-C Classic. Leigh’s voice has the power of June Carter and she plays like a demon. Her lyrics are perfectly modern and relatable. First chorus: “I’m gonna tell my boss he’s fired, burn my unpaid bills. And if folks ask when I’m coming back, promise I never will. I’m dropping off my name tag, I’m gonna hug my ma and pa, as I’m running out of Hope, Arkansas.”
Fantastic Brazilian Experimental Label The Church Of Noisy Goat releases New Music daily on BandCamp. Electronic Noise Artist Maximiliano Chami releases a new project via TCONG every Monday, as Antoine Trauma. I’ve featured his work in the past, and I’m happy to add his most recent, Dope Freud to my living experience. It’s a four-track EP that plays with harsh noise and heavy beats.
Gamelan is a style of ensemble Music from Indonesia that has been performed as a form of worship for hundreds of years, dating back to the 900’s. A new recording, the fourth in a series, documents rehearsals and ceremonies of this seldom heard music which is only performed for the gods, never for money. It is mesmerizing. Selongding, Vol. IVis credited to Bali Gamelan Sound, and was recorded n September of 2021.
To close out the week, my Feature Pick comes from London MC and Producer Brother May. His second album, Patterns With Force is co-produced by multi-instrumentalist Mica Levi, and is nine tracks of grimy bars with downtempo flow. Hedmusik.
Well, what do you think? Are you picking up what I’m putting down? Let me know in the comments. Or just live your life. But please make sure you’re being good to yourself!
Since my embrace of BandCamp this past couple of years, my musical intake has erupted to such a great amount that I sometimes find it difficult to keep up. But then I remember that I will never be able to hear everything that’s available to everyone with a wifi connection. There is more Music released than there is time to listen to it. It is an embarrassment of riches.
Just like my man Slick Rick. Ask your grandparents. Photo Credit: Janette Beckman
It’s been a few weeks since I’ve had less than ten New Releases to recommended in a given week. The eight that I’ve discovered that suit my tastes span both the globe and the imagination, so let’s get right down to it.
A five-track ep by a band from Nashville was first out of the gate this week. Snooper was started around the beginning of the pandemic by Connor Cummins, and audio/visual artist Blair Tramel. They’ve released a series of eps, and their latest, Town Topic, is frenetic and charmingly quirky. The angular attack of Devo with Electronic weirdness is a fun addition to my life, and I yearn to see them live.
Score is the musical alias for Electronic Producer Chris Tate, from England. His latest album Now Here is a leisurely journey in sound, with no thought to genre. It is atmospheric, droning, and soothing. Currently in heavy rotation in the Chill-Out Room at My Imaginary Nightclub.
Another great release from Brazil’s Experimental Label The Church Of Noisy Goat has entered my life. It’s a collaboration between Austrian Electronic duo Afghanistan Mon Amour and DC poet and MC, Black Saturn, that has been remixed by Las Vegas DJ, Gzilla. Afghanistan Mon Amour Black Saturn Collab & Gzilla Remix is two tracks with dreamlike, entrancing Production, and Saturn’s clever rhymes.
Back at the end of November in 2021, I discovered an underground Punk Band from Hong Kong called The Offset: Spectacles. The only problem was that their lone album was released in 2011. Not exactly New Music, but I justified adding it to my New Music Playlist because it was new to me, and it was so fresh and exciting.
I mention this because I’ve discovered an eccentric artist from Japan that has really blown me away. Syoichi Miyazawa is a singer/songwriter who came to Tokyo in 1978 to go to University, and formed The Rabbits in 1982. They released a string of cassettes and played to puzzled audiences in Japan for two years, then disappeared. A new self-titled full-length compiles ten of their (presumably) best tracks. It sounds like a jarring combination of Syd Barrett and John Lydon fronting a Post-Punk Beatles Freakout. Hell yeah, it’s New Music. It was just locked in a time capsule for forty years.
Real World Records is a label that was created by Peter Gabriel back in The 1980’s, and was an influential reason that World Music became globally recognized. They continue to release groundbreaking music this week with US-born, Indian-raised percussionist and composer Sarathy Korwar’s KALAK. The eleven-track Full Length is steeped in South Asian Culture and Instrumentation, with gorgeous club-ready production from Photay. Tamar Osborn features on flute and saxophone.
A band from Tucson, Arizona that has been active for over ten years has finally caught my attention. Lenguas Largas has a unique take on Punk. On their new album “Is This Still Laughing Hyenas?” incorporates synths and guitar stabs with psychedelic mindfucks. Technically speaking.
It pleases me to no end to add New a music to my life from Brooklyn MC Homeboy Sandman. Sand has been busy, with an ep that was produced by Aesop Rock just over a year ago, and another ep produced by Illingsworth back in February. A Full-Length release of leftover tracks from sessions that were doomed for one reason or another, I Can’t Sell These, was also released back in June. He’s just put out a new LP, and he’s chosen a terrific producer, Deca, to turn the knobs. I recommended Deca’s album back in May and he’s providing the heat for Still Champion. Sandman’s style of flow borders with scat singing, with its rhythm-play and tonal contrast. If I had to name one MC in the game today…
This past Tuesday I highlighted a New Release pulled from my BandCampWishlist that I was unsure of. The Cool Greenhouse began as the solo project of London’s Tom Greenhouse, and has since evolved into a living, breathing band. Greenhouse started recording in 2018 and soon caught the attention of cool Baby Boomer Henry Rollins. The second full-length release, Sod’s Toastie, is the first to incorporate the full band and the first to land on my ears. Greenhouse’s vocal delivery is mostly plain-spoken, spinning sublime tales of ordinary madness. The band is creative and free, with a quirky Pop aesthetic. Did I mention that it is my Feature Pick for this week?
I hope you’re enjoying what you’re listening to. Remember to pace yourself, and drink lots of fluids. You need to take care of yourself. I care about you. Have a great weekend!
Back in the ‘90’s there used to be an Indie Music Magazine called CMJ New Music Monthly. It ran from 1993 until 2009. CMJ stood for College Media Journal, and with every issue, it came with a Compact Disc, featuring 15-20 tracks from the artists featured that month. I never subscribed to this magazine but my old roommate and Life Hero Phil did. That year I lived with Phil (most of 1997), we discovered great New Music via this method (though Phil was far more savvy than I).
CMJ New Music Monthly, March 1997 Vol. 43 Check out that track list!
Phil called my attention to Track Two of the disc by a band I hadn’t heard of, called Ben Folds Five. The Battle Of Who Could Care Less was my introduction to the talent, humour, and tunefulness of this trio. The band’s name alone gives clue as to where their heart lies. The smokin’ hot harmonies and casual obscenity were a one-two knockout to my heart.
Ben Folds Five – The Battle of Who Could Care Less
As usual, not only did Phil know who this band was, he was already in possession of their 1995 Self-Titled Debut Album. I immediately dove in.
Ben Folds Five – s/t
I soon learned that Ben Folds Five was the brain science of the band’s chief songwriter, pianist and leader, Mr. Folds. On bass was Robert Sledge, and rounding out the trio on drums was Darren Jessee, and they hailed from Chapel Hill, North Carolina. What made this band lineup unique in the mid 1990’s was the fact that it was piano-led, and avoided the use of guitars. Post Grunge, they really stood out for that reason alone. The fact that the musicianship is so tight and confident, they’re able to rock like any screaming Metal Band, and cap it off with an impromptu Sonata. The thoughtful and humorous outsider lyrics helped cement their reputation as “Punk Rock For Sissies.”
Ben Folds Five – Underground (Live)
The Five started gaining a reputation for their live show, and they toured ceaselessly through the mid-to-late ‘90’s. They travelled in a van bringing along a baby grand piano and Marshall amp stack with them. That, my friends, is dedication to your craft.
Ben Folds Five – For Those of Y’all Who Wear Fanny Packs This is the band, jamming during soundcheck, with hilarious effect.
The Battle Of Who Could Care Less was the first single from Ben Folds Five’s second album, Whatever And Ever Amen. It continued their humorous insight into modern culture, with more space being given to musings on failed love and starting over.
Ben Folds Five – Selfless, Cold and Composed (live)
What came next was the surprising success of the album’s fourth single, Brick. Brick is a standout song on the album, and if anyone knows Ben Folds Five, it’s probably because of this song. This ballad about a real-life teen abortion is so unlike any of the rest of the band’s repertoire, but it drove the album to sell over a million copies in the US. It became a millstone around the band’s neck. The early fans thought they had “sold out,” and the people who fell in love with Brick had no time for the other (more accurate) side to the band. The band quickly learned to hate it.
Ben Folds Five – Brick
The success of Brick gave Ben Folds Five the opportunity to tour the world, and soon began to establish a fan base in Japan and Australia, that still exists today for Folds. On the Japanese edition of Whatever And Ever Amen, they added a Japanese lyric version of Song For The Dumped.
Ben Folds Five – Song For The Dumped (Japanese Version)
After experiencing what the highs of success and fame had to offer, Ben made a decision to take this opportunity to create a project that I knew that he could lean on the record company for the studio time, and not worry too much about success. The result was an album under the name Fear Of Pop, which was released to no acclaim, and quickly disappeared. What’s notable for this project was the track that featured William Shatner. The ElectroPop of In Love, matched with the creepy come-on from Captain Kirk is more than enough to spark anyone’s curiosity. This wouldn’t be the last time that Ben worked with Shatner, producing an album for him in 2004.
Fear Of Pop – In Love
The pressure to follow up the success of Whatever and Ever Amen was wearing on Ben around this time, and he began composing a long-form song cycle, with little to no regard to audience reaction. After some coaxing, Ben Folds Five’s third album was finally cobbled together from what Ben had come up with. The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner arrived with a thud. It was clear that aside from the lead single, Army, this was going to be a difficult listen.
Ben Folds Five – Army
Orchestral arrangements accompany the band on Messner, giving the band a lush sheen to counterpoint the down and dirty lead bass and furious piano. The band’s fans were left confused by its depth and murky subject matter. People looking for Brick Part Two were instead warned that the protagonist suffers from Narcolepsy. He’s not tired. He just sleeps.
Ben Folds Five – Narcolepsy
It was during this album cycle that me and my wife, Jennifer, were able to see Ben Folds Five in concert. They opened up for Beck while he was touring behind his latest album, Midnite Vultures. It may not be his best, but it’s my favourite Beck album.
Beck – Sexx Laws
Ben Folds Five more than outdid themselves in terms of aggressively tight musicality and fantastic showmanship. The manic collective of the band was palpable, as though one too many shows had seeped whatever conscious energy that remained, and they were working with pure adrenaline. A show filmed for Japanese Television around this time is a document of a band at the end of their tether.
End of Song For The Dumped, encore at Tokyo Dome, September 1999
Friction between the band members, and fatigue with being around each other, led to the band breaking up the following year.
It wouldn’t be until years later the Reinhold Messner album got some of the credit that it deserves, as many of the Emo Bands of the ‘00’s would cite it as an influence. In fact, it was because of this that MySpace was able to coax a reunion out of the band in 2008, where they performed the album in its entirety.
Ben Folds Five – Narcolepsy & Don’t Change Your Plans
After the band broke up in 2000, Ben’s solo career began in earnest, and he began work on Rockin’ The Suburbs. Having gotten married (to this third wife, Frally), and becoming father to twins, Ben’s lyrics take a sentimental turn on his debut solo album. The biggest hit to have longevity from this record is his ballad to his wife, The Luckiest. It’s a new wedding favourite that has been used in many movies.
Ben Folds – The Luckiest
The album is a spotty, but mostly great introduction to the many previously unseen facets to Folds’ personality. Where it’s strengths lie are in the several character studies (Annie Waits, Zac and Sara, Fred Jones Part 2, Losing Lisa, Carrying Cathy), which have been a strength throughout his career. The humour is still there, with the cutting title track (a swipe at Limp Bizkit and their ilk), and Fired.
Ben Folds – Fired
Rockin’ The Suburbs came out on the unfortunate Street Date of Tuesday, September 11, 2001. Terrorist attacks are terrible, in terms of album sales, and didn’t help anybody in anyway, much less Ben Folds and Mariah Carey. No one remembers the real victims.
Mariah Carey – All My Life
That fall, Ben Folds did a show in Toronto in support of the album, with a new trio, and a more approachable stage persona. That show cemented my fandom in Folds. At one point in the show, before doing Army, he divided the audience in half to sing the saxophone and trumpet parts. Before performing Not The Same, he taught the audience the three-part harmony for the backup vocals. The Music Nerd in me lit up with all sorts of dopamine. He’s one of us!
Ben Folds – Not The Same (Solo/Live, June 2002, Northhampton, MA
Unfortunately, Rockin’ The Suburbs wasn’t the success that it should have been, but it continues to be a classic for those in the know. At this point, I had come to the opinion that it was completely unjustifiable that this man was so talented and original and still wasn’t as rich and famous as Bono.
I have no good reason to dislike him, I just do.
Folds, in fact, at that time, was so unsuccessful that he was forced to go on a financially-strapped US tour, where he performed solo and interacted with the audience. It was on this tour that a tradition began, where Ben would improvise a song on the spot at each show. Thus began Rock This Bitch.
Ben Folds – Rock This Bitch (Solo/Live, March 2002, Chicago, IL
The Ben Folds Five fan base in Australia and Japan was still strong enough for Ben to make a return visit. It was on a stop in Tokyo where he would show off his ability to quickly compose and produce Station Idents for “Tokyo’s Number One Music Station.”
Ben Folds – Radio Jingles For Tokyo’s InterFM
Folds’ second solo album, Songs For Silverman, took nearly three years to arrive. Though this album was dedicated to Ben’s wife, Frally, the lyrics contained within spoke of an unhappy home, distrust, and betrayal. The writing on the wall wasn’t hard to read, and Ben’s marriage broke up not long after Silverman was released. The lead-off single for the album was Landed, another surefire hit in another dimension.
Ben Folds – Landed
Songs For Silverman became another Cult classic, in that it sold worse than his first solo record, but is still much-loved. Ben’s insightful and sarcastic humour is in full force, with songs like Jesusland and Bastard. The chorus of the latter track is a bit of a mantra of mine; “Why you gotta act like you know when you don’t know? It’s OK if you don’t know everything.”
Ben Folds – Bastard
Ben’s third solo album Way To Normal was released in 2008, and a curious, very Early-21st Century thing occurred in its lead-up to release. In July of that year, someone posted an early link to a fansite with a pdf of an album cover, and a list of songs for Ben Folds’ new album. When this was brought to his attention, Ben and Band were on tour in Ireland. He immediately booked studio time and spent an evening creating and recording new songs with the titles that had been “leaked.” He then leaked those songs himself. In some cases, the fake versions have become more beloved than the actual album versions.
Ben Folds – Bitch Went Nutz(Fake Version)
Way To Normal is a much more mean-spirited album, in the way the lyrics play out towards the object of his emotional turmoil. While Ben was always hesitant to talk about the autobiographical nature of his songs, in deference to the mother of his children, it is pretty clear that Ben is not in a happy place. His duet with Regina Spektor, You Don’t Know Me, was a minor hit. Watch for Jason Sudeikis on trombone.
Ben Folds w/ Regina Spektor – You Don’t Know Me (live on Late Night With Conan O’Brien 10/02/08)
Ben’s next project would ensure that he wouldn’t be getting questions regarding the lyrical inspiration. For this one, he was approached by author and fan Nick Hornby. The author of Fever Pitch and High Fidelity wondered if Ben would be interested in putting music to some of his words. Turns out that appreciation was mutual, and Folds jumped at the idea. The resulting album, Lonely Avenue was critically acclaimed, and featured some of Ben’s most ambitious songcraft. It spawned another minor hit for Ben, From Above.
Ben Folds/Nick Hornby – From Above
I truly feel that not being bogged down by his own emotions, and giving voice to someone else’s words was a terrific exercise for Ben to flex musical muscles previously unseen.
Ben Folds/Nick Hornby – Saskia Hamilton
Following the project with Nick Hornby, Ben reunited with the pair from BF5 for a new album and tour. The Sound Of The Life Of The Mind was released 2012 to almost zero fanfare, despite having The Fraggles star in their video.
Ben Folds Five – Do It Anyway
The album sold to expectations, and the following World Tour was also a success, but it wasn’t enough to extend the life of the band, and after a Live album Ben Folds Five again went their separate ways.
Ben Folds Five – Draw A Crowd (Live)
Ben then got himself involved in a project that none of his fans saw coming. I’m not sure if you remember watching television in the early 2000’s, but reality shows were all the rage. In particular, Music competitions that promised fame and fortune to the winners were on every Network. There were too many shows like this to mention, but Ben Folds ended up being a mentor and judge on NBC’s The Sing Off. What made this show different was that it was not a contest pitting solo artists against each other, but instead it was acapella choral groups. I’m a sucker for unaccompanied voices. This was, without a doubt, the nerdiest Reality Competition on Television, and I was hooked.
Street Corner Symphony w/Ben Folds – Gone
Ben’s next project was a step towards Classical and Chamber Pop. His fifth solo album So There was a collaboration with New York City’s octet yMusic on eight songs, with the album ending with three concertos for Piano and Orchestra, performed with the Nashville Symphony. It is a bold and unique mix of Pop and Classical elements. Lyrically, Ben has gained perspective; “Seems what’s been good for the Music hasn’t always been so good for the life,” he sings on Phone In A Pool.
Ben Folds w/yMusic – Phone In A Pool
For the last few years Ben has been dividing his time between Nashville and Sydney, Australia, and has remarried again. While in Nashville, he helped save RCA Recording Studio A, which is a legendary studio founded by Chet Atkins, where artists such as Dolly Parton, The Monkees, and Paramore have recorded,and was due for the wrecking ball. Ben bought this Historic Landmark and it continues to operate today.
RCA Recording Studio A, Nashville, TN
Ben has become renowned for his efforts in support of Music Education, and is the first Artistic Advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra at The Kennedy Centre in Washington, DC. He continues to travel and perform around the world, and will often do shows with local orchestras.
Ben Folds & LSU Symphony Orchestra – Rock This Bitch
He still performs solo shows, and at times will do “Paper Airplane Tours”, where the audience requests songs, via paper airplane, and Ben would make up the setlist on the spot.
Ben Folds – Straight Up (Paula Abdul cover?)
Back in 2020, when the pandemic started, Ben found himself confined in Australia, with all his shows cancelled, and travel restricted. He decided to spend his time doing weekly livestreams, playing requests for viewers.
Ben Folds – Apartment Requests #3
That same year, at the halfway point of the year, Ben released a single that captured the moment beautifully, called 2020.
Ben Folds – 2020
There doesn’t appear to be a new album in sight from Ben Folds, and he recently released his autobiography, A Dream About Lightning Bugs: A Life of Music and Cheap Lessons. I truly hope this doesn’t mean he is hanging up his songwriting gloves (or whatever), because it would be a damn shame.
A Dream About Lightning Bugs – Audiobook Sample
Whether or not we will be another album by Ben Folds remains to be seen. I hope we’ll hear some new songs, because I’m invested in this man’s voice. The story isn’t over yet.
Ben Folds Five – Best Imitation of Myself (live, 1997)
Thanks for reading! Check back next Sunday (11/13) for Jason’s New Music Heroes, Chapter Ten – Danny Michel.
Welcome to November, friends! Today (Friday) is the day when the friends and loved ones of my departed Mother gather together to bid a fond farewell. It’s a day tinged with sadness, but also of shared kindness, which cannot go unnoticed to my family. The world could use more of that, in spite of the reasoning that precludes today’s assembly.
My Mom Dianne with my Daughter Abby, 2019
New Music continues to be the balm that soothes the troubled soul, and I’ve been able to find a bounty of thirteen titles to share with you.
At long last I’m able to start my weekly post of recommendations with a Single to whet our whistles. This one comes from Singer/Songwriter Sophie Allison, who is better known as Soccer Mommy. Darkness Forever (Sophie’s Version) is the demo recording of the track, which was recorded for her latest album, Sometimes, Forever. It’s stripped back, with woozy guitar and tasteful electronics.
Lest we forget that today is BandCamp Friday. All the titles featured today are available on BandCamp. A perfect artist to exercise your wallet is a fantastic DJ and Producer from Detroit that has captured my ears these last couple of years. Dakim consistently makes terrific beats that swim in wonky waters with sweet and intriguing samples. His latest release is if you can hear me. It’s eight tracks that make you think while you attempt to dance. Mostly you’ll just shake your head and say, “Damn!”.
A Hip-Hop MC and Producer from Montréal released a terrific album this week. Backxwash comes at it hard with her new release, HIS HAPPINESS SHALL COME FIRST EVEN THOUGH WE ARE SUFFERING. Industrial elements are utilized with unique affect, joined with clever rhythmic bars. Guest features include Ghais Guevera and Sadistik.
Another rapper and Producer from The Americas joins my personal party. Davon Bryant is from Washington, DC, and performs as dreamcastmoe.Sound Is Like Water is his third full-length, and it’s a stylish mix of Hip-Hop, R&B, Electronic Dance and Jazz to keep you moving.
To wrap up my Rap findings for the week, I have Nashville’s R.A.P. Ferreira. Ferreira has been at it now for about a decade, and his style is steeped in Jazz and Poetry, and conscious as hell. His latest album 5 to the Eye with Stars is earnest and pleasing.
For an about turn of face, let’s go now to England. Drummer Tom Skinner has come out with his new solo album, Voices of Bishara. The member of The Smile and Sons of Kemet has released a beautiful and meditative six tracks that spotlight Skinner’s skills for band arrangement and unique phrasing. Shabaka Hutchings and Nubya Garcia feature throughout the album.
A Modern Classical Musician and Composer from Hull, England named Daniel Elk has released a new Piece commissioned and performed by the BBC Concert Orchestra.Consolations In Travel is an eleven-plus minute meditation on Car Trips the composer would undertake as a child, and the music that accompanied these trips. Performed alongside the traditional instruments are joined with cassette loops that add an ominous and off-kilter mood.
A 5-Song ep came out this week from a solo Musician from Washington State known as hazel. Their recording alias is Twinkle Park, and touched, or been touched by is short, sharp, poppy tracks that make bold and exciting use of Auto-tuned vocals. The drum-work is stunning.
A band from Dublin, Ireland who refer to themselves as Avant-Garde Punks have put out an angry and thought-provoking album that speaks to the sins of the Catholic Church. Meryl Streek’s 796 is so-titled in reference to the number of bodies of children that were found in one burial site in Ireland, a crime all-too-familiar to those of us who live in Colonial countries. Menacing strings accompany the band, and the lyrics leave no doubt as to who “the real enemy” is.
Another change of gear, as we head now to Denmark for the first time since I began writing about New Music. Svaneborg Kardyb is a duo from Aarhus (in the middle of Aarstret), featuring keyboards and drums. On their latest album Over Tage, they are accompanied by guitar and trumpet. Together they have created a beautiful soundscape for the mind.
An artist that I’ve enjoyed previously is back again this week with another ep. Chouk Bwa & The Ångströmers hail from Haiti and their sound is an amalgam of traditional and modern. Ayiti Kongo Dub #2 is three tracks made for lower level of My Imaginary Nightclub, where I host Tribal Raves. Footwear optional.
Yet another artist I discovered not too long ago is London’s Archie Fairhurst. As Romare, he released one of my favourite albums of last year, Home. His newest release, Fantasy, is awash in varying styles and voices. It is smart and engaging.
Another big week in Music, and I still have one more title to put in front of your pretty eyes. This one also comes from London, by an artist I was unaware of until the run-up to the album which has become my Feature Pick for this week. Where I’m Meant To Be is the second album from Ezra Collective, a Jazz quintet led by drummer Femi Koleoso. It is a light and lively 14 songs determined to get your body moving. Guest vocals from Kojey Radical and Emili Sandé are highlights.
I hope you may have been able to find something that helps you brings joy to your life. And hey, call your mom and tell her you love her. I’ll talk to you again soon.
New Music Jason’s Picks 