new music weekend / Friday 05-30-25
(New Music Weekend Intro)
Hello. Welcome to the weekend. June’s arriving.
Who’s coming up! Matt Berninger, Miley Cyrus, Ben Kweller, and more
(Countdown Video)
New Music Weekend:
- Back in 2020, Matt Berninger released his debut solo record called: Serpentine Prison (“My Eyes are T-Shirts”) Afterwards, he suffered a depressive slump – some writer’s block. You know what helped him get through this creative block – Frankenstein (“Once Upon a Poolside”) That’s right – the opening passages of Mary Shelley’s classic novel, Berninger claims helped him work through these tough times. Look at the album title from The National’s record release in 2023 – First Two Pages of Frankenstein (“Eucalyptus”) Yes – Matt Berninger is the lead singer of The National. Unfortunately, the sad-dad band does not have a new album out today, but Berninger does (“Times of Difficulty”) The 2nd solo album from Matt Berninger is called – Get Sunk . Some standouts that I’ve enjoyed so far include “Times of Difficulty” – I just just played that one. Then, there’s “Frozen Oranges” – the varied flow of his singing throughout that song – good feelings felt with that ebb and flow. And, of course, I truly enjoyed the album’s first single release “Bonnett of Pins.” (clip) There are 10 songs in all on Get Sunk from Matt Berninger – you should go and listen to each and every one of them. Spotify is pushing track #2 “No Love” (clip)
- Whew – do you think I like The National and Matt Berninger? Just a little bit. Let’s change things up (“Easy Lover”) Not new music there – Phil Collins, Philip Bailey with “Easy Lover.” I thought of that song because I heard Miley Cyrus released a new video for “Easy Lover” (clip) Wow – that is so not the same AND I’m really sorry Phil & Philip, but I think I’d rather see more of the Miley video (clip). Miley’s “Easy Lover” is off her new album, Something Beautiful – 13 tracks in all. Another favorite of mine off that album is the one of her rolling around. I’m sorry that describes the video more than the music, huh (“End of the World”). Song is “End of the World” and I’m fine with that. Here’s something that I read before from Pitchfork’s Jazz Monroe: Miley compared her record to that of Pink Floyd’s The Wall, “but with a better wardrobe and more glamorous and filled with pop culture.” Definitely – a fun album.
- (“On My Way”) Ben Kweller from 2004 – title track song of the album: On My Way. Fast forward to today when we can now enjoy his 7th studio album called Cover the Mirrors. Track #1 “Going Insane” begins with the first audible noise heard being a long, drawn-out sigh from Kweller. Listen closely (clip) Hear it? This is a sad record, but still very much a musical joy to hear. Why so sad? You see back in 2023, Ben lost his 16-year-old son, Dorian, in a car accident (“Oh Dorian”) That one hits me hard – I have a son who turns 16 in a couple weeks. I can’t even imagine and don’t ever want to imagine that. (clip) Ben Kweller’s 12-song project came out on what would’ve been his son’s 19th birthday. Please give it a listen. Probably my most favorite track was the album’s first release, but I’m still listening. Here’s “Dollar Store” (clip)
- Several quick hits of new music: They Might Be Giants (clip) they cracked open their musical vault and put together a batch of B-sides, live tracks, and other fun sounds with The Spine Surfs Alone: Rarities 1998–2005 // Starting back in November, Ben Rector treated us to half of his album along the way its full release. That was 6 songs. Which means with the release of The Richest Man In The World, we can hear these same 6 songs along with 6 other new ones. And that makes me happy. // This one was actually released several weeks ago – Missed Music Monday, anyone – but it’s a fun one to say and play. The band is People R Ugly and the song is DOULOVEME (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.
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! Anything that I really messed up and missed – well, that’s why I’ll be doing Missed Music Monday on Monday.
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