brent evans

new music friday / Friday 12-06-24

My Spotify Song of the Year “Golden Boy” by Bryce Fox / When he comes to Philly’s TLA next April with AWOLNATION, I’m going to flash him the screenshot.

(Bryce Fox “Golden Boy”)

(New Music Friday)

2024 on its last leg – How do you know? All these countdowns or best of’s – I feel like I need to do one. So, I will – not today. Next week – I’ll put out my 20 to 11 albums for 2024 and then the following week, my top 10 albums for 2024. Everybody likes a countdown

(Countdown clip)

New Music Friday:

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

• 1st – let’s say it together – Rosier. Now, switch the R to an H. Hozier. (“Take Me to Church”) Last year in August, Hozier released his album: Unreal Unearth, but then this past August, he released an extended version called: Unreal Unearth: Unaired (“Too Sweet”) “Too Sweet” was included on that recent one. Today, he released onto triple LP vinyl: Unreal Unearth Unending and it includes a previously unreleased track called “Hymn to Virgil” (clip)

• Back on November 1st, I talked about this album dropping because of the song that had gotten stuck in my head – “Crocodile Tears” (clip) Today, we have that entire album called Vicious Creature from Lauren Mayberry (Chuvrches “Here With Me” clip) She’s also the lead singer of the band: Chvrches. On the band’s Australian tour she hit some tough times with the band that made her think of doing this solo thing – what helped her through it (Taylor Swift’s Cruel Summer.”) Me too girl. What? Too much sharing? Anyway – I’ve listened to the album – definitely more of a pop sound. I enjoyed the delicately soft song of “Oh, Mother”, but another song which has a good upbeat sound to it is “Punch Drunk” (clip)

• Back in June within Spotify, I liked a 4-pack of this band’s songs (“What’s My Name”) Band’s name is Noshows. In an interview, lead singer – Max Satow (Say-toe) described the band’s sound as being Indie-Hop. (“Portrait”) Noshows isn’t just putting out good music , they’re also helping people navigate anxiety through music and pop-up events – the community is called: Magnify the Mind. I’ll provide a link (clip) That song is called “Decisions” and it willl be found on the new EP called Tightrope which drops next year – February 21st to be exact. Check out that band – Noshows //

• Several quick hits of new music: Dua Lipa just released: Dua Lipa Live From The Royal Albert Hall. The new live album features a reimagined version of her recently released album – Radical Optimism performed in its entirety front-to-back, along the 53-piece Heritage Orchestra, a 14-strong choir and her 7-piece band. // Sabrina Carpenter’s song “Taste” was just redone by a band that I’ve been enjoying a lot lately – Daisy Grenade. I was so hoping that it was “Taste It” from INXS (clip) I can’t be the only one? That’s a good song. // Advent calendars are being opened up daily all across the land and the Santa day is definitely getting closer, so here’s a new holiday song from Mat Kearney called “Christmas Chevrolet” (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:
“The only truth is music . . . . music blends with the heartbeat universe and we forget the brain beat.” – by Jack Kerouac (Care o ack) – novelist and poet

“Quote of the Day” / Thursday 12-05-24

Borrowing words from someone else in an attempt to spread happiness everywhere

(“The Statue Got Me High” – TMBG)

They Might Be Giants – one of my favorites from my High School and College Years.

(“Birdhouse in Your Soul” clip)

I could play clips of them all day.

(MM Theme)

And yes – they also did the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Theme Song

My kids loved it! Today is Walt Disney’s birthday – he’d be a fan of them, too.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” – Walt Disney

morning babble / Monday 12-02-24

(Missed Music Monday opener)

Jon Batiste has been everywhere. Served as the house band on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. (clip) Composed music & won Grammys for his work on the Pixar film – Soul (clip) and now he reinterprets the Beethoven classics on his new album ‘Beethoven Blues’ (clip)

Oh, and he’s going to sing the National Anthem for this upcoming Super Bowl. Busy man – go listen to any of his stuff.

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Tune in tomorrow for: Quote of the Day!

morning babble / Friday 11-29-24

(“Do They Know It’s Christmas?”)

“Thank God it’s them. Instead of you.” Is that really the holiday spirit?

(“Do They Know It’s Christmas?”)

(New Music Friday)

Happy Turkey Day Weekend! I think that’s what makes Thanksgiving an easy favorite for a lot of people – it has a built in long weekend that follows. For most people. I realize there’s doctors, nurses, cash register people. Thank you. (clip) And the transition continues towards Christmas – “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” was recorded on three separate occasions, over three separate generations. The OG is from 1984. Today, producer Trevor Horn blended all the voices of those 3 separate generations into one and called it “Band Aid – 2024 Ultimate Mix” (clip)

(Countdown)

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!

• 1st up – Kesha (“Timber” ) That’s old Kesha who has her own record label now creatively titled – Kesha Recods. The first release was experienced this past summer called “JOYRIDE” (clip) I’m going to show my age, because whenever I hear of a song called “Joyride”, my mind travels back to 1991 and I think about Roxette (clip) Sorry – back to Kesha. The 2nd release off of her own label is now out for us all to embrace – “Delusional” (clip)

• The Juice WRLD team just released the late rapper’s third posthumous album and apparently the final one called: The Party Never Ends. Here’s the Spotify pushed song – “Misfit” (clip) 18 songs in total with appearances from Nicki Minaj, Eminem, Fall Out Boy, and Offset (clip) That’s Offset sounding like something that he would have done for a Migos album. Also, Juice WRLD has made his way into Fortnite again. (clip)

• Back in June, Canadian man – Jesse Roper released the song “Georgia Train” (clip) Then to follow that up in September, he came out with “True Lovin’ Ain’t Easy.” (clip) FYI – he’s a fun follow on Instagram. The other day he wrote – “I’ve got a couple more tunes to toss into the pool before I put an album out there.” AKA – gotta wait until 2025. He continues: “Here’s another one! It’s about confronting problems in my path and being scared to solve them.” Give Jesse Roper a follow and listen to his latest called “Roll This Stone” (clip)

• Several quick hits of new music: Via Instagram, Lana Del Rey has announced a new album called The Right Person Will Stay. Full album drop on May 21st. At this very moment – nothing yet, but be on the lookout for the first single called “Henry” // The late Martin Phillipps turned early unrecorded Chills songs into a new album. The double album will arrive next year on February 28th. Today we get “If This World Was Made For Me” // Emmaline makes us all want to put on our santa hat and play the big jolly fella (clip) ‘Zat You, Santa Claus – originally performed by the great Louis Armstrong, but now, there’s Emmaline (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: also, 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:
“My heroes are the ones who survived doing it wrong, who made mistakes, but recovered from them.” – by Bono

morning babble / Thursday 11-28-24

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!

(Sandler Thanksgiving Song)

Happy Turkey Day! (gobble, gobble card)

Also, Happy Friday Eve! (card)

Enjoy your day of food gluttony / As I state earlier in the month – even Woodstock

(Woodstock cut)

That’s a bird, Woody. Think Snoopy calls him Woody?

Tell you who NOT to be like – Peppermint Patty

(clip)

So negative there. Be thankful for what you have.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“What if today, we were just grateful for everything?” – Charlie Brown

morning babble / Monday 11-25-24

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

Tune in tomorrow for: Quote of the Day!

morning babble / Friday 11-22-24

(“King Kunta” Song)

At this musical time of year – the end – when everything “new” appears to be live, greatest hits, reissue, or Christmas . . . thankfully, we have Kendrick Lamar.

(“King Kunta” Song)

(Morning Babble Intro)

Happy Weekend! Today is a day where you’re getting the new music before the new music (Friday clip) I had everything written and ready to go. Then, Kendrick Lamar dropped a 12 song project titled: GNX. So what did I do? Jumped in my car with no where to go and drove around listening to it. (clip) It’s really good. I’m still trying to get a feel for it but as with any Kendrick album or just a song – there are many layers to it (“Not Like Us” clip) Just days ago, there were rumors of Miss Taylor Swift being on this album (“Bad Blood”) but she’s not. One of her best buds though – Jack Antonoff of the Bleachers has a producer line credit for every track except for the “Peekaboo” song (clip) So, Taylor Swift rumors were wrong, but you do get SZA on a couple of the tracks like this one – “Gloria” (clip) After listening a couple rounds to the album, track 2 jumped out to me – called “Squabble Up” (clip) By the way, on track #1, Kendrick does address the feud with Drake as well as the disappointment that Lil Wayne expressed at not receiving Super Bowl Halftime honors (clip). That’s going to be an interesting time in New Orleans for that Super Bowl Halftime show from yes . . . Kendrick Lamar

(Countdown Video)

New Music Friday:

Again the new Kendrick Lamar album is called GNX – I think I only added the 4 that I talked about to this list.

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!

• This is the album that I was initially the most excited to hear. (“Mahashmashana” clip) Title track there. I wasn’t too excited about saying the album’s name though: Mahashmashana – that’s a mouthful (clip) I actually heard this album last month during a Father John Misty Spotify Listening Party. It was great! Josh Tillman aka Father John Misty DJ’d the entire new album (clip) That song there is the one being pushed on Spotify called “Josh Tillman and the Accidental Dose.” Now this album has over 50 minutes of new music, but only has 8 songs – they’re long. Don’t worry – they’ll edit some down for the radio airwaves. (clip) Just a clip there of an 8 minute song called “I Guess Time Makes Fools of Us All”. It was actually the 1st release for this album – which is rumored to be the final one as “Father John Misty”. Just reporting on what I hear whispers of. (clip) By far, that’s my favorite song so far has got to be “She Cleans Up” which he himself made fun of how there was a Black Keys vibe to it (clip)

• In November 20-19, Michael Kiwanuka (key – wa – new-ka) released his third album titled Kiwanuka (clip) The end of 2019 felt like the edge of the world. Decade coming to an end, Pandemic right around the corner. That album feels like ages ago. Today, we have his 4th album: Small Changes (“Small Changes” clip) Title track there. But the first song released off this album was back in July called “Floating Parade.” (clip) I was reading a review and thoroughly enjoyed this explanation of the album- “it replenishes your being like the aroma of a freshly boiled pot of coffee on a Sunday morning.” via Arun Starkey of Far Out Magazine. All in on listening to that Sunday morning and everyday with some fresh java. Here’s the newest song being pushed – “One and Only” (clip)

• Several quick hits of new music: A release date has been announced for Mac Miller’s unreleased album called Balloonerism – bring on 2025. Album drops on January 17th – the same date that his Circles album was released // I held up this album last week talking about switching lead singers – this is The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway by Genesis – it was the last album that featured Peter Gabriel on lead vocals. Well, it turned 50 and there’s a The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway 50th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition coming out next year on March 28th // Wicked – part 1 – is in theatres now. Wicked – part 2 – next year at this time. We do get a soundtrack of course. Lots of Arianna Grande // After being away from the music for over a decade, Clay Aiken has his first studio project called: Christmas Bells Are Ringing. Bunch of classics, the Paul McCartney song “Wonderful Christmastime”, a rendition of “Pure Imagination” from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. I’m going with my favorite Christmas song and see what he does with it (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 Lil Nas X, Black Pumas – new live album (clip) Wilco, 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:
“The message I’m sending to myself – I can’t change the world until I change myself first.” – by Kendrick Lamar

morning babble / Thursday 11-21-24

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!

(The Lumineers “Ho Hey” cut)

Hey – that’s that Lumineers song

(“Ho Hey”)

You know who also likes The Lumineers and played them on his show before everyone really was Hoing and heying – Chase Jarvis.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“Allow yourself the freedom to step away from perfection because it is only then that you can find success.” – by Chase Jarvis

morning babble / Monday 11-18-24

(Missed Music Monday opener)

This past Friday, indie rock band Mother Mother released a 20 track of demos – album is called DEMMOS – spelled with two Ms though

(“The Stand”)

Via Instagram, the band explained that they did a “nostalgic deep dive through 2 decades of material.”

(“The Stand”)

Handfuls are fun. Mother Mother goes on to explain that “the artist grows deeply attached to the charm and innocence of the demo recording.” Now – we can experience 20 of them. Definitely lend it an ear – DEMMOS with Mother Mother.

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Tune in tomorrow for: Quote of the Day!

morning babble / Friday 11-15-24

(“The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway”)

Bands can switch up lead singers for various reasons. That’s Peter Gabriel.

(“Hi There” )

(Morning Babble Intro)

Officially – mid-November. I can taste the turkey already. Hey – how are those 2024 goals coming? Are you rolling them over yet? Roll ’em. Just roll ’em. (“In the Air Tonight” clip)

Phil! I love Phil Collins. Probably too much. Check this out. (show journal) “Sorry I wasn’t Listening I was Thinking about Phil Collins” (“Sussudio”) What did Sussudio ever mean? Anyway – changing lead singers. Genesis did it successfully – from Peter Gabriel to their drummer, Phil Collins. And another band today is doing that – Linkin Park.

(Countdown Video)

New Music Friday:

Don’t worry – we’ll get to Linkin Park along with Jack White, Dwight Yoakam, and Jennifer Hudson.

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!

• This first one – I’ve talked about this dude before – Ben Rector (“Thank God for the Summertime”) Playing wiffle ball at Steve’s place. Always use the yellow bat. Not those big barrelled red or blue bats – that’s cheating. That’s actually off my favorite album from Mr. Rector – from 2013: The Walking in Between. (“When I’m With You”) That’s another song from that album – “When I’m With You.” If my wife knew how much I teared up to that song, she probably leave or something (Jim Carrey vomiting) I’m sorry. We’ll get away from the lovey dovey and talk about his new stuff, but it is more “feel good” music (“Forever (Doesn’t Quite Seem Long Enough)”) – “Forever (Doesn’t Quite Seem Long Enough)” is one of 3 new songs that have dropped from Ben Rector’s upcoming album: The Richest Man In The World. By the way, Rector is an independent artist, and releases music under his own label. Here’s the title track off that upcoming album (“The Richest Man in The World”)

• Jack White who’s band The White Stripes just dropped their copyright lawsuit against Trump for playing this song (“Seven Nation Army”) Is Jack going to come after me? Get me a little attention – that would be nice. By the way, who did allow Trump to play their music (Kid Rock) Forgot about that guy. Back to Jack White – he released his No Name album this past summer. Today, he announced his world tour and paired it with the release of another new song “You Got Me Searching” (clip)

• Back in September, Linkin Park released a new song called “The Emptiness Machine” (clip) That was an exciting time. Not just for the new music alone, but the addition of Emily Armstrong being upfront with Mike Shinoda (“Heavy is the Crown”) Today, the whole new album called From Zero can be experienced in its entirety. 10 songs and yes, I know there are 11 tracks, but that :22 first track doesn’t count. Song being pushed today by Spotify is “Two Faced” (clip)

• Several quick hits of new music: You never talk about country (clip) Dwight Yoakam dropped his first album in nearly a decade. It’s called Brighter Days – there, I talked about country and that was real country music // Pusha T with no new music, but instead is launching a new coffee brand called Grindin – described as “a strong black coffee reflecting the artist’s taste.” – that’s a direct quote // 7th place finalist from 2004’s American Idol, Jennifer Hudson released her first LP in 10 years (christmas sounder) And it’s a Christmas album – The Gift of Love. Somebody’s going to bust me on this – it actually dropped back in October. Today though, you can purchase Double LP Pressed on Ruby Red Vinyl! Go to Rainbow Records in Newark, DE or whatever your local vinyl shop might be. I like this original one called “Santa for Someone” (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 St. Vincent, The Black Keys, Shaboozey (see – there’s some more country), 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:
“Deadlines are things that we pass through on the way to finishing.” – by Peter Gabriel

2024 goals become 2025 new year’s resolutions – key thing: don’t give up (“Don’t Give Up” clip) That’s Kate Bush singing with Peter Gabriel on the song “Don’t Give Up” – creepy video to watch now. Nearly 6 1/2 minutes of them holding one another and singing like that.