Queen of Blossoms

How is it that May is almost behind us and Memorial Day is staring us in the face? Before the month completely gets away from me, I thought it might be nice to have a new playlist to soundtrack the long weekend? The best news is that Blur has released a new song and I am thrilled to report that “The Narcissist” is pretty fantastic. Next on the list is the Sparks classic “Wonder Girl.” Speaking of classixx, I follow that up with YACHT’s

“Psychic City - Classixx Remix” and Tears for Fears “Pale Shelter”. Chloe x Halle fit nicely here and I have loved them since I saw them open for Beyoncé several years ago. How great is it that Halle is the new Little Mermaid? That rules. Speaking of Beyoncé and concerts which killed and continue to kill my bank account.. I now need to try and find money to see Grace Jones, Chic and Duran Duran too? I added Grace’s “Pull Up To The Bumper” as inspiration. You can’t go wrong with a little English soul from Jamie Lidell. Sadly, Brazilian singer Rita Lee passed away this month. I was really only familiar with her work in the brilliant Os Mutantes. My co-worker (who is also from Brazil) inspired me to check out her solo work which I can’t believe I had missed. Do yourself a favor and listen beyond “Agora Só Falta Você”. London pop band The Clientele have a new album coming and the first single “Blue Over Blue” is aces. I thought it paired nicely with the Pernice Brothers “Dumb It Down” and my favorite track from Eleanor Friedberger “Make Me A Song.” Let me know what you think and enjoy the holiday weekend! xx

Blur - The Narcissist

Sparks - Wonder Girl

YACHT - Psychic City - Classixx Remix

Tears For Fears - Pale Shelter

Chloe x Halle - Ungodly Hour

Grace Jones - Pull Up To The Bumper

Jamie Lidell - Multiply

Rita Lee - Agora Só Falta Você

The Clientele - Blue Over Blue

Pernice Brothers - Dumb It Down

Eleanor Friedberger - Make Me A Song

Motor Away

I am writing this from the car as we make our way from Brooklyn to the Florida Keys. I used to love road trips but in the past five years, my fondness has started to wane. I mean, REALLY wane. Partly because my body basically goes on strike having to sit for that long and partly because of the state of our country and not knowing what unprovoked hostility you might encounter for doing something as benign as choosing to wear a mask.

Anyway, to psych myself for this trip, I decided to focus on one of the things I do enjoy about a road trip… the music.

Musically, this playlist has a little bit of everything but the common thread is travel and, in most cases, driving. A couple of new wave bangers from Depeche Mode and Missing Persons kick off the playlist. Rihanna’s pop anthem “Shut Up And Drive” is a no-brainer. I couldn’t help including another Boygenius song off their just released killer debut album. It is definitely my pick for best release (so far) of 2023. Taking things to the more emotive side of the playlist are tracks from indie favorites: Cass McCombs, Built To Spill and Death Cab for Cutie. Sir Roderick David Stewart’s “Young Turks” pairs nicely with the gorgeous country-inflected harmonies of First Aid Kit. Also, representing team modern country is a brand new song from Jess Williamson fresh off the release and tour of the wonderful Plains album. Classics are well represented here with a post-punk one from The Modern Lovers, a soul one from Martha Reeves & The Vandellas and a rock one from Wings. Shout out to my pal Dawn who reminded me of Jon Spencer Blues Explosion’s homage to the New Jersey Turnpike complete with shoutouts its legendary rest stops. Where do you stand on Eddie Rabbitt? This was a controversial one. The driver of our car is not a fan, where it reminds me of my childhood. I decided that Eddie stays. My chauffeur then suggested that Duran Duran close out the playlist. This time, I agree with him. Happy driving!

Depeche Mode - Never Let Me Down Again

Missing Persons - Destination Unknown

Rihanna - Shut Up And Drive

Boygenius - $20

Cass McCombs - County Line

Built to Spill - Car

Rod Stewart - Young Turks

First Aid Kit - My Silver Lining

The Modern Lovers - Roadrunner

Martha Reeves & The Vandellas - Motoring

Wings - Helen Wheels

The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - Big Road

Eddie Rabbitt - Drivin’ My Life Away

Death Cab for Cutie - Title and Registration

Jess Williamson - Hunter

Duran Duran - The Chauffeur

The February Express

February is my least favorite month for many reasons. Even more so this year as COVID finally got me and stuck around for thirteen days. February’s only redeeming quality is duration. In honor of this fact, I decided to keep this playlist short and sweet.

We have lost so many of my (and likely your) favorite artists already this year. I had to pay tribute to a couple on this playlist, Trugoy the Dove (De La Soul) and Burt Bacharach (Dionne Warwick). It is bittersweet that just as De La Soul’s music became available digitally, we lost Trugoy. De La Soul’s “Rock Co. Kane Flow” (featuring MF Doom) leads things off. DJ Shadow’s “Building Steam With A Grain of Salt” off his amazing Endtroducing might be the perfect segue. Solange’s “Losing You” is a longtime favorite and was written and produced in collaboration with Blood Orange (a.k.a. Dev Hynes). Next is the ‘90s dance pop cover of Neil Young’s “Only Love Can Break Your Heart” by the English band, Saint Etienne. The day Burt Bacharach passed away, I watched the Dionne Warwick documentary Don’t Make Me Over which I highly recommend. It showcases the incredible partnership she had with Bacharach and Hal David. I have always loved “Walk On By.” I had to include at least one new track on the playlist and lucky for us, Feist gave us three new songs from her upcoming album, Multitudes, last week. “Hiding Out In The Open” is my fave. Nostalgia was in overdrive on these last four tracks: The Notwist’s “One With The Freaks’ off their brilliant album Neon Golden, The Breeders’ “Divine Hammer,” Nick Lowe’s “Cruel to Be Kind” and inspired by their recent California festival date announcement, Love and Rockets’ “Yin and Yang (The Flowerpot Man).

I hope you like The February Express. I assure you that at the very least it is better than the month itself.

De La Soul - Rock Co. Kane Flow (feat. MF Doom)

DJ Shadow - Building Steam With a Grain of Salt

Solange - Losing You

Saint Etienne - Only Love Can Break Your Heart

Dionne Warwick - Walk On By

Feist - Hiding Out In The Open

The Notwist - One With the Freaks

The Breeders - Divine Hammer

Nick Lowe - Cruel to Be Kind

Love and Rockets - Yin and Yang (The Flowerpot Man)