Benson Boone – Fireworks & Rollerblades: This is a solid rock album, nothing more and nothing less. Boone is in good company, from Journey and REO Speedwagon to Maroon 5 and Imagine Dragons, all of whom got trashed by elitists and eaten up by fans.
Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes – This Time It’s for Real: A conversation with Bob about Benson Boone and what is “real” led to Springsteen, which led to this. I’ve never listened to Southside Johnny and I didn’t expect to enjoy this record, but it’s good! The harmonies are incredible, the arrangements with the horns are rock solid, and the energy is exciting.
Laufey – A Night at the Symphony: Hollywood Bowl: The symphonic arrangements elevate her music, and her voice sounds amazing. This recording possesses an energy and vibe that eludes her studio records, and even though the crowd is mostly absent, I love the little moments—like the “blah blah blah” in “From the Start”—where they become very present.
Richard and Linda Thompson – I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight: People tend to think The Great Gatsby is about parties and glamour and living the good life, but it’s not. The same thing applies to the title song from Bright Lights. On the surface, it’s a song about a girl going out on the weekend and having a great time. Underneath, though, it’s about trying to fill the enormous gaps caused by loneliness and longing and an overall sense of meaninglessness. This is still a new album for me, but so far, it’s rewarding the effort I’m putting into it.
Public Enemy – Black Sky Over the Projects: Apartment 2025: In so many ways, this is the same old PE doing the same old thing. What sucks is that we still need PE doing the same old thing. My biggest surprise is how general the lyrics are, targeting themes like technology, climate change, and aging far more than the current administration and the sycophants who enable it.
Rain Tree Crow – Rain Tree Crow: An excellent record that, more than 30 years into its life, is still almost entirely overlooked.
Gracie Abrams – Good Riddance | The Secret of Us | The Secret of Us Live from Radio City Music Hall: Her voice on each of these recordings reveals a different side of her. For example, the studio version of “Where Do We Go Now” has the whispers and emotional breaks that enchant me, while her vulnerable tremble rises to a powerful wail on the live version.
Grateful Dead – 10/29/73 (St. Louis MO): The choice to open this set with “Cold Rain and Snow” was bold. It’s not explosive or dramatic, but rather a simple statement that, “We’re here, it’s going to be a long, strange trip.” And this show is definitely that, in a very good way.
Old friends who made it into rotation this week: Pole: 1; David Sylvian: Gone to Earth and Words with the Shaman; Van Morrison: Moondance
Record store finds this week: I picked up a beat-up copy of New Riders of the Purple Sage with a ticket stub from the Shady Grove Music Fair show on August 25, 1975 taped to the cover. One of my coolest record store finds ever.