brent evans

morning babble / Friday 05-03-24

(Man in the Box intro)

We do have new music to review, but I tap the musical grunge waters here in the beginning.

(Man in the Box)

Babble Opener

Happy Weekend – glad you all made it. It’s an accomplishment, especially when a Tuesday feels like it should be a Thursday. That’s how my week went. End of Tuesday – I was like “Whew – thank goodness for Friday . . . being in 3 days.” That’s not good. And that is why music is so important to me – it’s constantly pulling and pushing me along with this thing called life. (clip) There’s a podcast called – Grunge Bible that sent me down a rabbithole when I checked out their website and saw – The Top 100 Grunge Songs. (clip) For the most part, there’s the big 4 – Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, and Alice in Chains. Sometimes – a 5th band is included with Stone Temple Pilots (clip) Of those 5 – I seem to jump around as to who is my favorite between Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden (clip). However, looking at the Grunge Bible Top 10 list – there are 3 songs by Alice in Chains. I played “Man in the Box” at the very beginning of the Babble today which they have at #4. At #9 is “Them Bones” (clip) They actually don’t have “Smells Like Teen Spirit” at the top (clip) Instead, at the very top, they have Alice In Chains with “Would” (clip) I think I gotta revisit my grunge listening with some more Alice in Chains. Get a vinyl – that’ll do it. (Rooster) Real quick – here’s the top 11 from Grunge Bible

New Music Friday:

I put together a Spotify playlist of the songs that I talked about and thought about today for New Music Friday. Click here for that!

• (“Golden Boy” clip) That’s Bryce Fox with one of his “older” songs from several years ago. Today, he dropped on us the 5 song EP – The Bomb. Bryce – I won’t lie. I’m going to push you – let’s do that LP – I’m a little greedy. I’ll still take what I can.. Now, we’ve already received some of the songs, but the one being pushed today by Spotify is “Paradise.” (clip)

• Via Pitchfork’s Matthew Strauss, I learned about the new film – I Saw the TV Glow which is in select theathers now, but apparently in the coming weeks will be a little more available. The film features acting from Snail Mail’s Lindsey Jordan, Limp Bizkit’s Fred Durst, and Boygenius’ Phoebe Bridgers. Holy Soundtrack – although I don’t think Durst is on there (clip) I’ll tell you who is on the soundtrack – Caroline Polachek who I’ve talked about before (“Dang”) Her contribution to the soundtrack is a brand spanking new song called “Starburned and Unkissed.” (clip)

• Kane Brown and Marshmello have collaborated on another song together. You see, or you hear, back in 2019, they did the song: “One Thing Right” (clip) So, why not go back and do it again. I’m honestly still talking about music. Although – the lyrics in this song – let’s just say that they’re fun. (clip) It’s definintely has a summer vibe to it and a a contagious hook. The song is streaming on all platforms and is called “Miles On It” (clip)

• This past Tuesday, Kendrick Lamar sent out a love song to Drake called “Euphoria” (clip) obviously, it wasn’t a love song at all, but a diss track. In that song,Kendrick teased that he was going basically double down and come right back at Drake with another one . . . and he did. The song is called “6:16 in LA” (clip)

• Several quick hits of new music: The Mountain Goats announce the reissuing of their 2000 album: The Coroner’s Gambit. This is what I think sounds fun – the LP will be released on “kandy korn” colored vinyl (Lewis Black drop) , The Mountain Goats will also release this album on CD, and—for the first time ever—cassette // I’ve talked about this one enough in past weeks. But – just a reminder Sia’s new album – Reasonable Woman – is all out today // Ra Ra Riot are back with their first song in five years. They got a little help from Rostam Batmanglij (bit – man – glig), a former Vampire Weekend bandmate, co-wrote and produced the song. I can hear it, too. The song is called “The Wish” (clip)

Thank you to Spotify, Rolling Stone, Apple Music, uDiscoverMusic, Pigeons & Planes, Pitchfork, Louder, Spill Magazine, Dan Deluca of the Philly Inquirer & I know there’s more.

Be sure to check out the playlist on Spotify. As I mentioned in the beginning, it’s a playlist of songs that I’ve talked about and thought about: so, you’ll see some new music there from Charly Bliss, Gracie Adams, and Dua Lipa – who’s new album is now all out as well.. Plus anything that I really messed up and missed – well, that’s why I’ll be doing Missed Music Monday on Monday. 

Please subscribe on YouTube and spread the Babble wherever you can – Thank you!

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“I wish I could just hug you all, but I’m not gonna.” – Layne Staley

morning babble / Wednesday 05-01-24

Borrowing words from someone else in an attempt to spread happiness everywhere or at the very least – a reasonable range. Hey – go click that video!

Last Friday, Horn Barbecue celebrated the relaunch of Horn Barbecue at 464 8th St, Oakland, CA 94607, in the heart of Old Oakland. You see last November there was fire that had to close it down. Within my Evernote app, it’s listed under the folder – Places to Visit.

Go get Matt Horn’s books!

Horn Barbecue: Recipes and Techniques from a Master of the Art of BBQ

Kowbird: Amazing Chicken Recipes from Chef Matt Horn’s Restaurant and Home Kitchen

Please subscribe on YouTube and spread the Babble wherever you can – Thank you!

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“There’s no competition when you’re manifesting your own lane.” – Matt Horn

morning babble / Monday 04-29-24

“Girls, Girls, Girls”

Wait – are they still alive?

(Missed Music Monday opener)

3/4 of the Motley Crue band remains in tack. Still have Vince Neil, Nikki Sixx, Tommy Lee, but no Mick Mars. They have teamed up with Bob Rock who helped produced that Dr. Feelgood album (clip)

Last May, Nikki Sixx announced that an album was done. That’s like a year ago.

Finally, today, we can enjoy “Dogs of War”

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Tune in tomorrow for: Quote of the Day!

morning babble / Friday 04-26-24

(Weezer – Records)

I know that I’ve played that as an opener before. But – I just think it’s so perfect of a song to warn you that I’m going to talk about some vinyl.

(Weezer – Records)

Babble Opener

The weekend is upon us and its glorious. Last weekend, there was a lot of talk about the new releases from Taylor Swift and Pearl Jam (clip) BUT – it was also record store day. I visited my favorite place to go – Rainbow Records in Newark, DE. I was going to do a longer video, but I have to be honest – I was NOT feeling all that great. So, some of the video was like “I’m here – waiting in line.” Wasn’t good. Muy mal. So, here’s the shortend up video. It rained (clip) Maybe we didn’t wish for it, but it did eventually go away. And then, we waited in line. (clip) Next, we got a little closer to the front entrance of Rainbow Records (clip) She is so cute. It doesn’t come from me. Thank goodness for her mother. Finally, we got inside and received all of the vinyl from our wish list (clip) Happy daughter. Taylor Swift’s new one, Pearl Jam’s, Dead by Sunrise, and Malfunkshun – haven’t even opened this one yet. Busy week. Nevertheless – it was an overall success for our family (clip of the hug) And yes, I received tons of daddy hugs that day which did make me feel better.

(Countdown video)

New Music Friday:

I put together a Spotify playlist of the songs that I talked about and thought about today for New Music Friday. Click here for that!

• First up is an album that I’ve been waiting on (Flea clip) St. Vincent with her self-produced seventh album: All Born Screaming. Back in 1992, with Pearl Jam, Nirvana, and Soundgarden blasting out their very best, she pretty much wanted to be Kurt Cobain (“wait”) and then she got the Nirvana drummer – Dave Grohl to help her out on this album (“Broken Man”) I’m really enjoying her sound – the overall music. She’s so talented. I’ve listened to the entire album a couple times already, but I have to admit that I am enjoying the song being pushed on Spotify. It’s called “Big Time Nothing” (clip)

• I’m going to try and switch gears slightly from the mainstream. Several of you have reached out and complained that I haven’t gone deeper with some of my commentary. Last week was filled up with Pearl Jam and Taylor Swift Of course, now I just discussed the populer St. Vincent. So – deep cut – or like in my radio days “Breaking and Entering (clip) That is 17 year old Grace Bowers and her band The Hodge Podge just released that song this past week. It’s called ‘Tell Me Why U Do That’ (clip – I like it alot) That’s the only song that can be found on Spotify with her as of today. The country music scene is claiming her. I’m hearing a little more blues sound. All I know is that I just want to hear some more (clip)

• The Talbott Brothers are another band that I’ve talked about before. Just last month, they released their single “The Road” (cut) We got another new one from them – sort of. Over the years, they’ve actually been performing this song. And – I can pull up a YouTube video of it from years and years ago (clip). However, this new release appears to be the polished up studio version. I’m digging the guitar swagger and the way the vocals confidently go along with those strummings. This is The Talbott Brothers with “Running Man” (clip)

• Several quick hits of new music: Killer Mike recently dropped a video for his song “Exit 9” but then he just shared a new version of the very same track. This time though, he teamed up with another gentleman from Atlanta – Offset // Twenty One Pilots set free their 3rd release off their upcoming album – Clancy – due out May 24th. The new release also has a video to go with it – the song is “Backslide” // Back in January, Paramore did a cover of the Talking Heads song “Burning Down The House.” David Byrne (uh, lead singer of Talking Heads) (clip) he returned the favor and covered Paramore’s “Hard Times” // Lastly, another band that I’ve touched upon before – Fuller – I think this is like the 9th release this year? An album is forming here. I don’t know enough, but I do know that I’m enjoying what I’m hearing. This new one is “No Call List” (clip)

Thank you to Spotify, Rolling Stone, Apple Music, uDiscoverMusic, Pigeons & Planes, Pitchfork, Louder, Spill Magazine, Dan Deluca of the Philly Inquirer & I know there’s more.

Be sure to check out the playlist on Spotify. As I mentioned in the beginning, it’s a playlist of songs that I’ve talked about and thought about. Anything that I really messed up and missed – well, that’s why I’ll be doing Missed Music Monday on Monday. 

Please subscribe on YouTube and spread the Babble wherever you can – Thank you!

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“All you can do is make something that you like and feel proud of and then just hope for the best and try to get out of its way.” – by Annie Clark (aka St. Vincent)

morning babble / Thursday 04-25-24

Borrowing words from someone else in an attempt to spread happiness everywhere or at the very least – a reasonable range. Hey – go click that video!

Happy Friday Eve! Pushing out smiles like The Joker!

Bring on New Music Friday!!!!

Please subscribe on YouTube and spread the Babble wherever you can – Thank you!

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“A bit of advice . . . don’t ever apologize to no one for the way you look.” – The Joker via The Joker

morning babble / Monday 04-22-24

Lots of attention given this past weekend to Miss Taylor Swift as well as the Pearl Jam boys

(Missed Music Monday opener)

There was other new music out there:

Staying mainstream – there was another new song from Kings of Leon (clip)

That’s “Nothing to Do” & 3rd release off their upcoming album: Can We Please Have Fun which drops entirely on May 10th

(clip) That song is from Knox and is called “Change Your Mind”. Looking forward to new music from him as well in the coming weeks.

Please subscribe on YouTube and spread the Babble wherever you can – Thank you!

Tune in tomorrow for: Quote of the Day!

morning babble / Friday 04-19-24

(Taylor Swift “Love Story” cut)

Channel 13 on Sirius XM is Taylor’s Version – a channel that is solely playing the music of Taylor Swift. The other day when I picked up my son from baseball, he got into the car and was like – “Why’s this on?” I explained, “I picked up your sister from dance and she wanted to hear it.” He didn’t quit, “Dad – that was like 5 days ago.” Me – “Your point being?”

(The Bear cut of Cousin Richie singing the same Taylor song)

(Babble opener)

New Music Friday:

Happy Weekend / I believe there’s some highly anticipated new music to enjoy. AND it’s a Record Store Day Weekend – that might just call for a separate video! Tell you what – if you don’t like music, you should probably just clock out right now.

(clip from The Bear) That’s a scene from The Bear. If you listened closely, you can hear Eddie Vedder singing in the background. That show has incredible taste in music. AND yes, the earlier scene that I played – also, from the show – The Bear. If you haven’t seen -that’s okay, but you should. They call it a kitchen comedy series – I just think it’s fabulous from beginning to end – the writing, the acting, the everything. I so would want to be a part of something like that some day. Goals.

(Countdown Video)

New Music Friday

I put together a Spotify playlist of the songs that I talked about and thought about today for New Music Friday. Click here for that!

• 16 songs and over an hour of new music can be found on Taylor Swift’s new album called: The Tortured Poets Department. It’s not a happy album (drums with Florence). In fact, my little girl who wants to listen to this and as she does with all of the other Swift songs – sing a long to them. My little girl is 8. Some of the songs are not so friendly for her little ears and it’s not like it’s a simple drive-by (cut – bitching and moaning from “Daddy I Love Him”) It’s there for all to hear, which I’m fine with. I’ll get off that topic. It’s a good album. I’ve heard it beginning to end a couple times. I’m an alt-rock, grunge lover and some songs . . . they toe the line of being just that. Others are clearly pop sounding songs. Some have a swagger of country to them. It’s a Taylor Swift album. (clip) That’s one of my favorites already – little “dancey” called “I Can Do It With A Broken Heart.” Another one that I liked was “My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys” (clip) However, the one that’s being pushed and has a video coming out for this weekend is the one with Post Malone singing along – it’s called “Fortnight” – they are not singing about the game (clip) One last comment about the Swift album – the vinyl release is divided into four sides but depending on what version you get, you’ll get one bonus song. There are four bonus songs out there “The Manuscript,” “The Bolter,” “The Albatross” or “The Black Dog”

• (Clip – Dark Matter) I talked about this one earlier in the week – Dark Matter – from Pearl Jam. Officially all out now. This past Tuesday night, I was fortunate enough to listen and watch on the big screen in a Regal movie theatre the entire album twice through. Once this album dropped, I immediately went to the ones that I liked then and I’m enjoying them even more now. (Setting Sun clip) That’s the last track and called “Setting Sun” – and I could totally see them ending their shows with that one. Also, I enjoyed how several of the songs appeared to slowly build with each band member joining in and nearly turned into a jam session by the end of the song. You could feel the enjoyment that the band was feeling themselves. (Waiting for Stevie clip) – Channel 22 of SirusXM is Pearl Jam radio. They are playing their new album non-stop and having various band members intro the songs. That clip of a song that I just played – “Waiting for Stevie” – I’ve heard 3 different guys – Stone, Jeff, & Eddie – intro it. Feels like it might be a band favorite AND apparently it’s like a tribute song to Soundgarden. I’m just passing along any nook & cranny that I find.

• (clip) This is like a cut and paste from last week – One of my favorites – Sia – keeps releasing new music from her upcoming 10th studio album called Reasonable Woman – fully arrives on May 3rd. We’ve already gotten four of the fifteen songs – alright, I’m not going to read everything, but we did get a 5th one called “Fame Won’t Love You” and this one includes Paris Hilton (clip)

• Several quick hits of new music: Friday Pilots Club have released their 4th song from their upcoming Nowhere album – due out May 10th. Apparently, they’ll be playing a hometown record release party at Chicago’s Bottom Lounge. Oh – that 4th song is called “Nothing or Forever” // Drake has a new song out. It’s a diss track called “Push Ups” (flash “Jimmy Crack Corn” card) Next! // Nas – I like Nas – released a new single called “Define My Name,” which was produced by DJ Premier. There are hints of another collaborative album coming out from the fabulous duo // and lastly, Bryce Fox who’s new EP – The Bomb – drops on May 3rd, just released a live performance of “Trust Nobody” on YouTube (clip)

Thank you to Spotify, Rolling Stone, Apple Music, uDiscoverMusic, Pigeons & Planes, Pitchfork, Louder, Spill Magazine, Dan Deluca of the Philly Inquirer & I know there’s more.

Be sure to check out the playlist on Spotify. As I mentioned in the beginning, it’s a playlist of songs that I’ve talked about and thought about: so, you’ll see some new music there from Laundry Day, Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats, and then anything that I really messed up and missed – well, that’s why I’ll be doing Missed Music Monday on Monday. 

Please subscribe on YouTube and spread the Babble wherever you can – Thank you!

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“Once we have spoken our saddest story, we can be free of it.” – by Taylor Swift – that’s actually how she describes her album

“The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived”

morning babble / Thursday 04-18-24

Borrowing words from someone else in an attempt to spread happiness everywhere or at the very least – a reasonable range. Hey – go click that video!

Friday Eve AND Taylor Swift Eve and Pearl Jam Eve

Please subscribe on YouTube and spread the Babble wherever you can – Thank you!

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“Sometimes you can’t let a complete dearth of natural talent or ability stop you from doing something.” via Geraldine DeRuiter / Heard her on the Chase Jarvis Show

morning babble / Wednesday 04-17-24

Borrowing words from someone else in an attempt to spread happiness everywhere or at the very least – a reasonable range. Hey – go click that video!

I heard the new Pearl Jam album – Dark Matter – twice!

Please subscribe on YouTube and spread the Babble wherever you can – Thank you!

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“My methodology is not knowing what I’m doing and making that work for me.” – Stone Gossard

morning babble / Monday 04-15-24

If this singer/songwriter’s video didn’t go viral 8 years ago . . . well, we wouldn’t have received the album that arrived this past Friday.

(Missed Music Monday opener)

Back in March of 2016, Maggie Rogers took part in a masterclass where Pharrell Williams was listening and critiquing the students’ work. She did real good – I’ll provide a link at brentevans.net to the viral video. (quick clip)

From student to still a student as she is earning her postgraduate degree, we can enjoy her new album: Don’t Forget Me. (clip)

That’s the album’s title track – but there are 9 others to enjoy as well. I found it wonderful music to help keep me patient with all my customer emails this morning.

Please subscribe on YouTube and spread the Babble wherever you can – Thank you!

Tune in tomorrow for: Quote of the Day!