synth pop

250. STRANGE DISCIPLE by Nation of Language

Everything I said about this American band's debut record back in 2020 still holds true for their recently released third outing. If you long for the days of 80's synth pop you need to be following this band. This trio has a knack for combining the synth beats of years

indie rock

249. SOMETIMES I SIT AND THINK, AND SOMETIMES I JUST SIT by Courtney Barnett

Courtney Barnett is an Australian singer and guitarist known for her witty, deadpan lyrics, playing left-handed and singing with her native accent. When I first heard of her and heard her, I was immediately captured by her quirky (yet tuneful) guitar playing and, again, her smart lyrics and how she

indie rock

248. THE WINDOW by Ratboys

Following in a long line (okay, probably not so long) of questionable band names (see also Mediocre), this 2023 record by the Chicago-based indie rockers is worth your time, and multiple listens. Mixing up the aforementioned indie rock with touches of folk, country, grunge and even good old classic rock

college rock

247. GREEN by R.E.M.

Having just dropped off my older son to college, I've been thinking a lot about the bands and records that meant a lot to me during my freshman year at university. And, of course, one of the first albums to come to mind was 1988's Green. I can still picture

folk rock

246. LET THERE BE MUSIC by Bonny Doon

I recently came across this Detroit, Michigan band when it was mentioned in one of the 'Buried Treasures' episodes of the great Sound Opinions podcast. Turns out I had actually heard them before and didn't realize it - they served as the backing band on Waxahatchee's most excellent record from

blues rock

245. LAYLA AND OTHER ASSORTED LOVE SONGS by Derek and the Dominos

This 1970 record by Eric Clapton, Duane Allman (of the Allman Brothers Band) and others, together comprising Derek and the Dominos, is another that had a profound effect on me during my formative years, especially two tracks - 'Bell Bottom Blues' and 'Layla' (more the former rather than the latter)

indie pop

244. PRESTIGE by Girl Ray

This just released 2023 record by UK trio Girl Ray is the feel good album to get you ready for the weekend. If you don't have plans to hit the disco tonight (I know, I'm aging myself), don't worry - just whip out the old mirrorball, hang it from a

soul

243. YOU GOT MY MIND MESSED UP by James Carr

So a couple of nights ago we were watching the final episode of the TV show Hijack. During the final scene and while the end credits were rolling I was introduced to one of the finest soul singers of our time. James? No. Aretha? No. Otis? No. It was James

blues

242. TEXAS FLOOD by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble

I previously covered Stevie Ray Vaughan when I discussed a record he made with his brother Jimmie here as well as the live album he recorded with Albert King here. However, up to this point I neglected to pay homage to SRV and his band Double Trouble. That ends today.

rock

241. RECKLESS by Bryan Adams

It's hard to believe that this landmark record by Canadian rocker Bryan Adams was released way back in 1984. Every time I hear 'Heaven' I get brought back to junior high and think about that crush I wanted to slow dance with ('Heaven' actually came out a year earlier as

disco

240. PART 3 by KC and the Sunshine Band

For any child of the 70's and early 80's that iconic logo with the buzz saw-looking sun meant only one thing - time to put on your boogie shoes so that you can shake your booty to 'I'm Your Boogie Man.' You see where I'm going with this, right?

dream pop

239. THE BLUE MOODS OF SPAIN by Spain

This 1995 record is by a band called Spain that hails from, well, not Spain but Los Angeles, California. Band leader Josh Haden's name may ring a bell, as he is the son of jazz great Charlie Haden and the brother of the three sisters who make up the band

disco

238. FLOWING RIVERS by Andy Gibb

Continuing my trip down nostalgia lane I present this 1977 debut record by one of the Brothers Gibb - Andy. You may recognize that last name as belonging to his three other siblings - The Bee Gees. Andy was never part of his older brothers' band but had a successful,

alternative

237. A RUSH OF BLOOD TO THE HEAD by Coldplay

I hadn't realized until recently that I haven't discussed a Coldplay record here. Thinking about why I came to the conclusion that I just don't listen to them much anymore - at least not much after their Viva La Vida album. I guess they went in one direction and I

rock

236. SPORTS by Huey Lewis and the News

This 1983 record reached second in sales at the end of 1984, only beat out by Michael Jackson's Thriller. So that should give you an idea of just how big this album was, spawning hit single after hit single. In fact that was Huey Lewis's plan all along - according

indie folk

235. BIG PICTURE by Fenne Lily

Sometimes you just need or want to mellow out and put on some music that's soothing for the soul. That's what this recently released 2023 record by Brit Fenne Lily is all about. Lily's vocals and arrangements have an airy feel to them with some nice guitar picking thrown in,

singer songwriter

234. SPECTRAL LINES by Josh Ritter

One of my favorite contemporary singer songwriters (previously covered here and here) is out with a new record for 2023, though I hesitate to call it a record - it's more of a meditation. The pandemic changed him (as, I'm sure, it did all of us) as did the death

pop punk

233. ENEMA OF THE STATE by blink-182

In honor of pop / skate-punk band blink-182 reuniting their classic lineup for the first time since 2014 at Coachella this past weekend (and this upcoming weekend, thanks Frank Ocean...) I thought I'd revisit this classic 1999 record. It's with this album that co-vocalists Tom DeLonge (guitar) and Mark Hoppus (bass)

goth rock

232. A COMFORTING NOTION - EP by Heartworms

So I'm going to recommend you stop what you're doing (including reading this post!) and queue up this just released 2023 EP by UK musician Jojo Orme, who plays under the moniker Heartworms. This is one of those 'stumble upon' posts - that is I just stumbled upon this record

punk

231. RAMONES (self-titled)

I've been meaning to feature this 1976 debut record by the punk rock pioneers but just hadn't gotten around to it. However, with the recent death of music executive Seymour Stein (who signed The Ramones among many other seminal acts to his Sire Records label) I figured now is as

indie

230. THE TOWN THAT CURSED YOUR NAME by The Reds, Pinks and Purples

The Reds, Pinks and Purples is basically a vessel through which San Francisco singer-songwriter Glenn Donaldson gets his music out these days. He's been part of several past and present bands, continuously evolving his music and his art. This 2023 record is a short spin, clocking in at around 33

indie rock

229. FROM NOTHING TO A LITTLE BIT MORE by The Lathums

This 2023 sophomore release from Manchester, UK band The Lathums epitomizes what one would consider indie rock with some jingle jangle guitars thrown in for good measure. I haven't yet had a chance to listen to their debut record, though after listening to this one on and off over the

indie rock

228. CUTS AND BRUISES by Inhaler

This foursome out of Dublin are just out with this 2023 record, their sophomore effort. Their trajectory has been exponential even with just two albums under their belts. Maybe this has to do with heartthrob lead singer / rhythm guitarist Elijah Hewson's lineage (his dad is Paul Hewson, aka Bono) or

rock

227. DON'T SAY NO by Billy Squier

Rocker Billy Squier had the good fortune of releasing his 2nd record in 1981, a few months prior to MTV debuting on the airwaves. His radio-friendly, guitar-oriented tracks along with accompanying videos getting heavy airplay on MTV turned out to be a combination made in heaven. This album generated no

pop rock

226. BEING FUNNY IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE by The 1975

Believe it or not, the only song I had heard by this British band prior to listening to this 2022 record was off their 2013 debut. Somehow the band never clicked with me and, so, I ended up skipping their subsequent output - up until now. After seeing this album