brent evans

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!

morning babble / Friday 04-12-24

(Bill Haley cut)

The algorithm for my Spotify – all messed up

(Bill Haley cut)

Morning Babble Intro

Happy Weekend! Smiles are beginning to become just a little more prominent.

During the work week, I try to keep smiling with happy music . . . with my paperwork for my business, I listen to a lot of the 50s music. Sam Cooke, Elvis, and, yes, Bill Haley (“Rock this Joint”) Did you catch all that? “Tear down the mailbox, rip up the floor. Smash out the windows and knock down the door.” Very aggressive. I’ve been reading – The Last Days of John Lennon by James Patterson; and, back when Lennon was a young lad, the BBC wouldn’t play American Rock & Roll on TV and radio because during the showing of the American film Rock Around The Clock – teenagers ripped up out their cinema seats in order to dance to the title track (clip) 50s music – never would have thought that. I simply enjoy it as background music. However, on Spotify, I’m getting all kinds of odd suggestions now. I’m not going to pick on what’s being suggested to me, but I assure you it’s “off”

(You need to calm down cut)

Swifties being patient? – less than a week until the album release of The Tortured Poets Department – how’s everybody doing?

(Countdown Video)

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!

• Earlier this year, Linkin Park let out unto the world a never-before-released track called “Friendly Fire” (clip) This song is featured on their Papercuts album which is out now. You also get 18 of their greatest hits like “One Step Closer”, “Numb”, and “In The End” (clip). BUT – there is one more to give the album a full twenty tunes. It’s a b-side written song that was done in the mid 2000s when Linkin Park was busy working with Rick Rubin on the album: Minutes to Midnight. Here’s the long sought-after rarity ‘QWERTY’ (clip)

• 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 three of the fifteen song which includes a wide range of guests like Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Chaka Khan to Paris Hilton to Kylie Minogue (“Dance Alone”) We now have a 4th new song to enjoy prior to the May 3rd release date. The song is called “I Forgive You” (clip)

• Back in December, I talked about this band, which I believe is simply called bby. Back then they came out with a 2-pack of songs under the album title of: I just Want Next Year to Be Better and the two songs were “spinnin 88″ and “shhh” (clip) So, I’ve been following them ever since and they are a fun follow on Instagram. Plus, it’s the easiest way to get new info on them. Try googling bby and you keep getting baby images. ANYWAY – we got another new song from them which I’ve been enjoying called “Breathe” (clip)

• Several quick hits of new music: Billie Eilish has officially announced that her new album: Hit Me Hard and Soft, is out May 17th. She also stated that she does not plan on releasing any singles ahead of the album drop. So – we wait. // Just three weeks after the release of We Don’t Trust You, Future and Metro Boomin are back with another album: We Still Don’t Trust You. 25 tracks, nearly an hour and a half of new music. Do they live at the studio? // The artist that uses all lowercase for the name – girl In red – has a new album out called I’m Doing It Again Baby – upper case is used for the album though // And lastly, this is a new band that I’ve been digging in to and still feeling out. It’s a band out of the UK from Leeds. They call themselves: English Teacher. New album dropped called This Could Be Texas. Song being pushed on Spotify is “The Best Tears of Your Life” (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 Maggie Rogers, Fuller, Andrew Bird, and 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:
“When they say you can’t do it, do it twice and take pics.”
– Not sure who said it, but Snoop Dogg posted it.

morning babble / Thursday 04-11-24

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!

Good news. My little girl still wants to hold daddy’s hand. She’s 8, but I know that day is still coming when she won’t reach up to hold my hand. She and I went to my son’s baseball game and there were several moments of holding my hand. Enjoy the now!

Go check out where today’s quote was taken from: Steven Pressfield – The Daily Pressfield

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

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“Imagine a tree in the middle of a sunny meadow. The tree inevitably casts a shadow. That tree is your dream. Resistance is the shadow. Never forget – the dream always comes first.” – Steven Pressfield

morning babble / Tuesday 04-09-24

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!

Nothing blocking the sun today!

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

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“To achieve great things, two things are needed; a plan, and not quite enough time.” – Leonard Bernstein (American conductor and composer)