There is something kind of wonderful about “Good When I’m Done” the new single from Hull’s Hubbards. Featuring a semi-strangulated vocal full of anxiety and passion (not a million miles away from those of Suede’s Brett Anderson) and counterbalanced by a very neat and tidy bit of harmonizing, it spits desperation and flays itself open from the start, literally serving up it’s heart ( “on a plate for you”). God is a girl and this is shiny, bright and Britpop in all the right places.
Weekly New Wonders Playlist
What you are looking at is the back cover photo of the sleeve of Sting’s “Love is the Seventh Wave” single from 1985. Note the tactful placement of the right hand and coquettish yet assertive head tilt. All that’s missing is the speech bubble saying ” you know you want this”. Fact is everybody did want this at that time so it wasn’t like he was wrong. Anyway, have always wanted to celebrate the brazen beauty and complete ridiculousness of this photograph, a true vintage “New Wonder”. And now here are some desirable and foxy new songs to stare at with your ears. You can listen on Spotify or Soundcloud and hey, the lists are slightly different as there are a couple of songs only on Soundcloud as of this writing. Eee-yo-oh…
Soundcloud:
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/embed/user/esperanza19/playlist/7aNhnt0SvZy1pWEfotYvCQ
Black Belt Eagle Scout “Sam, A Dream”
Katherine Paul aka Black Belt Eagle Scout’s just released debut album is a beauty and “Sam…” is it’s most beauteous track of all. What’s surprising is how something so subtle could be such an insidious ear worm: it’s literally one sung verse followed by a lengthy, repetitive, hypnotic guitar line. Heartbreakingly special.
Weekly New Wonders Playlist
This past week I had an actual dream where Mariah Carey and I decided to drive around Long Island, where we both grew up, and revisit our old haunts. No, we didn’t pick up fellow “Strong Islanders” Billy Joel or Chuck D along the way, it was just us. Can’t remember what I ate that would’ve caused this fantastical vision, and it didn’t inspire me to throw on a Mariah record the next morning. In all honesty the last Mariah record I voluntarily listened to was…okay, it was the “Glitter” soundtrack about 10 trillion years ago…I recollect liking a song on it…okay, that was “Never Too Far”. Anyway, it was weird but we think about pop music 24/7 around here and that includes slumber time. And with that in mind here are even more swell new tunes to soundtrack your best dreams. You can listen on Soundcloud or Spotify below…
Soundcloud:
Spotify:
JEEN. “Jungle”
It’s not easy to sneer with sadness but “Jungle” somehow manages it in the most gorgeous, echoey, anthemic way possible. It’s a little Garbage, a little Breeders and just ass kickingly good. This one features on Jeen’s forthcoming album, due for release this very week and all signs indicate it will be loud and really damn good.
Weekly New Wonders Playlist !
It’s raining, raining, raining in NYC and there’s actually a cool breeze happening which, after what feels like weeks of solid unbearable heat, is an absolute blessing. During those aforementioned weeks I found myself endlessly listening to and watching “fake” rain. Or rather, watching the endless supply of “rain videos”, in all their manipulative hypnotic glory on YouTube. There it is, falling on leaves, rocks, forest paths, highways and streams. For hours and hours. Listening to “fake” rain instead of listening to actual music…but thankfully there’s a breeze and now less of a need or impulse to do that and there’s a whole lotta FINE NEW MUSIC to take it’s place (for you, me and everyone). Okay, so enjoy the latest Weekly New Wonders Playlist right here. You can listen on Spotify or Soundcloud below. Dig in…
Spotify here:
Soundcloud here:
Winnetka Bowling League ” On the 5″
Okay bear with me for a minute here, ready ? The title of Jennifer Lopez’s 1999 debut album was “On the 6” which at the time probably, or at least initially, only made sense to New York City residents with its reference to, you know, the 6 train. With that kind of title it’d be cool to say the album intrinsically captured the feeling, and unpredictable energy of NYC but, of course, it did not. It was typical dance pop circa 1999, the title merely an autobiographical wink from J-Lo to her hometown. The end. Whatever. Okay, come now and meet it’s polar opposite in every way, “On the 5”. Yeah, that’s the 5, as in the West Coast’s ubiquitous freeway/highway/endless road. This thing’s blood is literally made of California, and reeks of suntan lotion, gasoline, blue skies, flowers, and the breeze rushing through the windows of a ’92 Subaru . It longingly dreams about the legendary Summer of Love ( 1967) and references both Revolver, and Pet Sounds in the most romantic and wistful way possible. This isn’t hyperbole I swear, all this stuff is in the actual song which is as sweet and swell as can be.
Weekly New Wonders Playlist
Yeah, it’s manipulative to use this baby owl with his pleading expression to persuade you to listen to the latest Weekly New Wonders Playlist but there’s no level we won’t sink to around here. A lot of POP features within the list, it was just one of those weirdly concentrated weeks, but like Prince said ” Life it ain’t real funky unless it’s got that pop, dig it”. And on that note, just press play below ( you can listen on either Soundcloud or Spotify), stare into these dark and magical orbs, and meet (hopefully) your new favorite song.
Soundcloud:
Spotify (click on link):
https://open.spotify.com/embed/user/esperanza19/playlist/7aNhnt0SvZy1pWEfotYvCQ
Weekly New Wonders Playlist
A lot of good stuff this week. I know I always say this but really, there is a lot of good stuff. You can listen on Soundcloud or Spotify but please note, as usual, lists are ever so slightly different due to certain songs not being available on Soundcloud or vice versa. Check out both so you don’t miss anything okay.
Here’s Soundcloud:
Here’s Spotify:
Tales “So Blue”
“The sun has never loved me”…now that’s a line. Tales is the new moniker of Australian duo The Winter Gypsy, and this, their first single under the new name, is transcendently good. Gorgeous harmonizing, layers and layers of vocals, full of sundown and resignation, sounding like a dreampop Brian Wilson (at his most gorgeously morose), “So Blue” is absolutely stunning, filled to the gills with melody, and is a life affirming tearjerker of the highest order.
PICKING UP ROCKS 