Ice ice icicles, pop pop popsicles, test test…testing one, two, three. Hope everyone is having a good summer so far. Things are moving along quick! Jessi and I were able to get back to Germany which was a definite highlight for me in the last few years. Feeling more like myself since coming home and have quite a few tunes to put out there for people to listen to! Let’s cut to the chase!
DEHD – BLUE SKIES
I love these poppy grooves during the warm days. I listen to this on the way to the gym in the morning a lot because it’s upbeat and puts a little pep in my step (it’s still very little pep first thing in the AM). “Bad Love” is the jam. Put on some sunflower shaped sunglasses and hit the beach!
PETE YORN – HAWAII
This has been my most steady play for the last while. On our trip last month, Jessi and I skipped over to Mallorca for a week. We were whipping up some tapas in our little Airbnb one night and I threw this album on. Jessi said, “Who is this? I like it.” Nothing like having your music choice validated by the company you keep. Put it on and don’t touch the dial.
BARTEES STRANGE – FARM TO TABLE
My favourite new discovery. “Heavy Heart” friggan slaps. It’s got a great blend of calm and chaos. Great voice, lots of interesting instruments, and just a nice little banger once it gets up to full steam. He was touring with Lucy Dacus last year which means he’s starting to pick up speed in the indie world.
SPACEY JANE – HERE COMES EVERYBODY
Some good old indie rock here as well. Not much to say. This is my cup of tea front to back.
JAMES VINCENT MCMORROW – THE LESS I KNEW
I have posted about JVM before. I found out about this album because Dan Mangan posted a story about the opening song “Hurricane”. Dan knows a good song when he hears it. Like usual, this is full of catchy tunes and JVM’s signature voice.
MARLON WILLIAMS – MY BOY
Another artist I have mentioned previously is Marlon Williams. I am finding it harder and harder to attach a genre to his name. Previously, I would have linked him more to country/americana/folk music but these songs seem much different. It still feels older, but maybe more 80’s pop now. Either way, the first few songs have caught my attention. They are different but in a good way.
DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE – ASPHALT MEADOWS
Ben Gibbard and Co. know the formula. You don’t make successful albums steadily since the late 90’s by accident. Transaltanticism is one of my favourite albums of all time and their sound is the epitome of my musical taste at its core. All that said, they have fallen off my radar the last little while. I wasn’t super into either of their last two albums, Thank You for Today and Kintsugi. I thought that they had lost me for good. How dare I back Ben Gibbard into a corner?! These songs take me right back to what I loved about Death Cab when I first heard them.
JACK JOHNSON – MEET THE MOONLIGHT
Sticking with nostalgia, we have some new Jack Johnson songs! I was really trying to leave this off the list but I just felt that I needed to mention it for the sake of continuity in my life. I remember my brother, Jori, coming home from University and playing “Banana Pancakes” on guitar. When I picked up my first car in 2008, I went to Walmart in Swift Current and bought the Sleep Through The Static CD and listened to it on repeat the whole way home. I sang “Better Together” at two close friend’s wedding just last year. Jack Johnson is attached to my memories at many stages of my life. So how could I leave these new songs off my list? And you know what? “One Step Ahead” is a jam. Full stop.
Rhett
SUMMER 2022
- DEHD – BLUE SKIES
- PETE YORN – HAWAII
- BARTEES STRANGE – FARM TO TABLE
- SPACEY JANE – HERE COMES EVERYBODY
- JAMES VINCENT MCMORROW – THE LESS I KNEW
- MARLON WILLIAMS – MY BOY
- DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE – ASPHALT MEADOWS
- JACK JOHNSON – MEET THE MOONLIGHT
Peanutbutter and Jams 