Every day I get hundreds of new singles, videos, EPs and albums from artists, publicists, managers and record labels around the world. And here’s the honest truth: Most of them are crap. You know it. I know it. Even the people pitching me know it, whether or not they’ll admit it. But within that avalanche of mediocrity, I sometimes find nuggets of awesomeness. And I compile them into this all-killer, no-filler rundown. You’re welcome. Let’s get to it:
’68 | Removed Their Hooks
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Revered Atlanta rock duo ’68 will make their long-awaited return Sept. 29 with their fourth album, Yes, and…, their hardest-rocking record to date. Today, ’68 has revealed details of the record and the record’s first single Removed Their Hooks. Singer-guitarist Josh Scogin explains how the savory new song came together: “One day while I was in the kitchen making a sandwich, I could hear the news in the distance. They were telling the same ol’ tales of negativity and fear that keep their ratings up and viewers engaged. In response to one of their comments I just said out loud, ‘Well, tell me something that I don’t know.’ This immediately set things in motion. The dominos were already stacked up nice and neat, I just needed to push the first one over. By the time I was done cutting the avocado I was humming a version of the riff. As soon as I was done sprinkling some Tajin seasoning on the avocado, I had the basic outline of the song. Once I was mixing the Sriracha in with the Ranch I had the basic lyrics for the first couple of verses. As I was adding the Gouda cheese, sliced tomato, and cilantro, I could imagine the bridge. The heavy part came to me while I was flipping the sandwich on the grill. Finally, once it was plated, I had the whole song sorted. Well, all except the last minute of the song. That’s a different story altogether. That journey, I could write a whole book about… and maybe I will. ”
Kid Kapichi | Let’s Get To Work
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Emerging “power punk” sensations Kid Kapichi are set to electrify us all once again with their highly infectious new single, Let’s Get To Work, an agitated blast of danceable and defiant punk, and an anthem for “al the dreamers, the ‘don’t stop believers’.” The title of the track says it all. “It’s a motivationa song about getting a job done yourself,” says enigmatic frontman Jack Wilson. “That’s really important, especially at a time like this when you can’t rely on the government. You’re more reliant on your friends, family and loved ones to come together because no one else is going to help us. The video takes viewers into the hallowed grounds of the band’s beloved Hastings United FC. The club, known for its rich history and passionate community, provided the perfect backdrop for the band’s playful narrative. “My two biggest loves (and often biggest sources of stress) in life will always be music and football. So to be able to combine them in this latest shoot was a lot of fun,” says Jack. “That was reinforced by the fact we were able to work so closely with Hastings United to make it a reality. We absolutely love the club and they hold many of the same values we think are important surrounding the community, which we cherish so much. Apologies to the groundsman who was re-seeding the pitch that day. I’m sure you absolutely loved having us there ruining all your hard work.”
Watch my 2022 interview with Kid Kapichi’s Jack Wilson HERE.
Moon Walker | Give The People What They Want
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Brooklyn-based alt-rocker Moon Walker shares dynamic track and eye-catching visualizer Give The People What They Want. The experimental, timely third LP Apocalypticism by the rising rocker is due Oct. 20. The guitar-heavy Give The People What They Want carries some of the rocker’s most potent lyricism yet. Moon Walker says, “I essentially wanted to return to form and write my best straightforward guitar-centric rock song. It’s funny how this song would have fit like a glove on my other two records but is, arguably, the most out of place song on this one.”
Nathan Graham | Somebody Else
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Chicago singer, songwriter, and guitarist Nathan Graham recently signed with Pravda Records (Andre Williams, The Flat Five, Steve Dawson) for his debut album Saint of Second Chances, due Oct. 20. Today, he is premiering a music video for the second single from the 10-song set, Somebody Else. Of the track, Graham offers, “Somebody Else is not a relationship song. Well, not in the traditional way. I wrote this to personify the relationship between a person and their art and the success they would like to have in it. It’s that pull to keep going and one day you will catch up with your dreams. ‘Sick of waiting on your call’ plays on the old saying of ‘when success calls will you answer it?’ Chasing a dream can sometimes feel like chasing a person that leads you on.”
Alex Lahey | Ego Is Not A Dirty Word
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “On the 11th release in the Mushroom 50 singles series, Alex Lahey covers Ego Is Not A Dirty Word by Skyhooks. Skyhooks were Mushroom’s first superstars. Ego Is Not A Dirty Word was the first single and title track from their second album, written by Greg Macainsh and produced by Ross Wilson. Tasked with taking one of the original Mushroom smash hits and transforming into something both reminiscent of the original but contemporary in its execution, Liberation Records artist Alex Lahey leaned into the eccentricities of Skyhooks as a guiding star.”
Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs | Big Rig (Live in New York)
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs are happy to announce the release of a new live album, Live In New York. The album showcases their fiery live show from their April 2023 performance at New York City’s Mercury Lounge, on their recent tour in support of the acclaimed LP Land Of Sleeper. Drummer Ewan Mackenzie says “our show at Mercury Lounge in Manhattan, N.Y.C., was the last date of our North American tour, and the final chapter of a wonderful musical adventure for us. We had already had the privilege of playing at St. Vitus in Brooklyn at the start of the tour, and so returning to N.Y.C. again felt like a kind of homecoming. The atmosphere was electric that night, there was magic in the air and a special connection among everyone in the room.”
The Handsome Family | The Oldest Water
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “The Handsome Family’s new record began with a scream in the night. “It was a bleak winter during the middle of the pandemic,” says Brett Sparks. “One night around 4 a.m. Rennie started screaming in her sleep. She screamed, ‘Come into the circle Joseph! There’s no moon tonight.’ Scary as it was, I thought, man, that’s a good chorus!” Their 11th studio album Hollow (out Sep. 8, 2023) delves into the natural world at the edges of the man-made. It is a record lush with leaves and shadows and echoing with occult mystery. The Oldest Water is the real story of a primordial sea found deep in a Canadian mine. Dave “Guts” Gutierrez’s trilling mandolin gives the song an old-timey parlor elegance and the rushing feel of flowing water.”
Robert Finley | You Got It (And I Need It)
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “You Got It (And I Need It) is a swaggering soul number that showcases Robert Finley’s sleek falsetto and growly vocals over laid-back grooves and killer solos. “It’s amazing to realize how much of an impact Louisiana has had on the world’s music,” says Dan Auerbach, “and Robert embodies all of that. He can play a blues song. He can play early rock ’n’ roll. He can play gospel. He can do anything, and a lot of that has to do with where he’s from.” If Finley’s previous albums established him as a formidable blues and soul artist — overcoming losing his sight in his 60s to become a music star — Black Bayou, Finley hopes, will help put North Louisiana on the musical map and launch the next generation of stars. Finley still plays small clubs around the region — even the occasional nursing home. Rather than move to where the music industry is, Finley is bringing the industry down to Bernice and working to boost regional acts and has plans for a new local recording studio in the works. “We got a lot of good talent down here in North Louisiana, but nobody’s really done much with it.” Finley stated, adding, “A lot of people just haven’t had the opportunity to record — or even just be heard. It worked for me, so I might as well try to help someone else get discovered, too.”
