0:00

Support. For Npr comes from Fx

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with Shogun and original series based

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on the novel by James Clavell

0:07

Fx A Show is an epic

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saga of war, passion and power

0:11

set in feudal Japan starring Hiroyuki

0:14

Sonata and and as to why

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now streaming on Hulu. Just.

0:19

A quick note: This podcast contains

0:21

some explicit. Language. So.

0:26

Shall Then there's this song.

0:28

I can of need your opinion about

0:30

it. Let's let's hear just a little

0:32

tiny bit. Maybe we should start with

0:35

the chorus. I'm

0:50

playing you beautiful Things by Benson.

0:52

Been not only because it is

0:54

a massive global. Hit that has

0:56

been on the charts for several weeks

0:58

and was a viral tic tac sensation

1:00

before then. But because I cannot

1:02

get this freaking sign out of my head

1:05

and I also cannot tell if it is

1:07

awesome are often, Can you help me out

1:09

here? Sheldon? Yeah, I I

1:11

certainly don't think it's awesome. You.

1:15

Know, despite spending considerable time on

1:17

tic toc, I am not well

1:19

versed in the. Know. A

1:21

con extended universe. And we must

1:23

say, Benson Boone is definitely an

1:25

extension of American phenomenon. His Outdoorsy.

1:28

He's young, he's cute, he cares

1:30

about emotions are those things exactly.

1:32

And I likely would not have

1:34

heard this song if you hadn't

1:36

brought it up to me. Sorry

1:38

the yeah. Not sure if I

1:40

should be thanking you are not

1:42

like wagging my fist, but you

1:44

know I feel like this is

1:47

sort of kind of the wide.

1:49

Empty. Song that you can project nearly

1:51

any of your feelings into, on which is

1:53

why it seems to appeal to such a

1:55

wide swath of people. And I get it.

1:58

I like a lot of those, so. To

2:00

this one kind of loses me, especially

2:02

with that chorus that we just heard.

2:04

You feel like it's like you know

2:07

what? James Taylor suddenly becoming

2:09

Chris Cornell like a.

2:11

Horse you know stats kind of what I say.

2:13

like if I were at that might be exactly

2:15

why it's not worth it. But

2:18

I am curious to hear what it's doing

2:20

for you. As it

2:22

is a combination of a couple things soon. Discover.

2:25

Yet on. Tic Toc. Both some Benson

2:27

Boots own tic tacs and. You

2:29

know, He's. Cute young guy with

2:32

us fashionable mustache never hurts as.

2:35

But then also watching people

2:37

kind of like mine. Catharsis?

2:39

Yeah, it's always fun. There's

2:41

a lot of enthusiasm there

2:43

and that's really enjoyable. And

2:46

then I also have to say

2:48

I think it was partly there

2:50

Return of The Brian's Hell. Yeah,

2:52

I'm in. I'm a woman of a certain. Age

2:54

as I like to say it's and that age

2:56

would be the nineties. So maybe a system

2:59

salsa? I mean I do get

3:01

that I'd It feels like. It's.

3:03

Not the same sort of like Raul

3:06

expression of feeling as some of that

3:08

older stuff abuse me. Kind of like

3:10

the thing that was geared like specifically

3:13

for top forty radio airplay and the

3:15

early twenty dance. Yes. And so it's

3:17

kind of funny to me that he

3:19

signed to the Imagine Dragons guy. How?

3:22

yeah. But I will say that it's

3:24

like it's refreshing. So much of tic

3:26

tac music feels like specifically geared for

3:28

tic toc and miss. Feels like it's

3:31

for the wider world beyond. and not

3:33

just. For that platform which I think is

3:35

interesting. Maybe. It'll be a new

3:37

say is for Tic Tac hit so

3:39

of this task seats and send down

3:42

carrying us into a new apart without

3:44

rather like Ted Nearly and Jesus Christ.

3:46

Superstar One. And

3:50

thing he reminds me of that

3:52

will have to see any way.

3:54

I manpower's Kraken correspondent for Npr

3:56

Music and I'm some pierce editor

3:58

at Impure Music. And we

4:00

are gathered here today not to

4:03

spend an hour discussing the

4:05

value of cute young moustachioed

4:07

guys on TikTok, but

4:09

to sample some of

4:11

the most interesting new music that's out

4:13

today, March 1st, because it is

4:15

New Music Friday. You

4:18

know, Sheldon, what I'm thinking about this week, what

4:21

came to mind while I was listening to the

4:23

records we're going to talk about, is this idea

4:25

of tone. Tone

4:27

is this kind of ineffable quality of

4:30

a person's voice or instrument. It's

4:33

like vibe, but not exactly. I

4:35

wonder what do you think about that term,

4:37

Tone? I always think of it

4:39

as the quality

4:41

that is distinct about

4:43

whatever instrument the person

4:45

is using, the personality

4:47

of it, the

4:49

texture of it, the way that it sort

4:52

of washes over you and makes you feel.

4:54

It always has a sort of distinct

4:56

quality that separates an artist from other

4:59

artists, I think. Does tone

5:01

go deep or does it just stay on the surface?

5:03

I wonder what you think about that. You know, I

5:05

probably would say it does sort of

5:07

stay on the surface. Do

5:10

you feel differently? Well, I think

5:12

that's something we can explore while we talk

5:14

about the records that are out this week.

5:17

And in fact, I think a great release

5:20

to ground our conversation is the first one we

5:22

have up to talk about today. It's

5:25

a new album by Fay Webster and it's

5:27

called Underdressed at the Symphony. She

6:34

has also had several big

6:36

TikTok songs, most recently the Lush

6:38

song I Know. And

6:40

this album doesn't really deviate from her

6:42

past releases that much, I think. But

6:44

it does hold together really nicely as

6:47

a work. I mean, it's

6:49

a very solid, complete feeling, listening

6:51

experience. So if you're into

6:53

Fay Webster as a TikTok artist,

6:56

I recommend spending a little time

6:58

like chilling out with her whole vibe. I

7:00

think you're a fan, aren't you Sheldon? I

7:02

am, I'm a big fan. I think she's

7:05

sort of really locked into the

7:07

sort of energy that she's been

7:10

moving towards on the past three

7:12

records specifically. I do

7:14

think this record is maybe her

7:16

least lyrical full length of her

7:19

career. And sometimes she's saying,

7:21

I got too much time, what else is there

7:23

to do now? Like, I don't know, I don't

7:25

know, I never analyze things I don't really care

7:27

about. And

7:32

her songs functioned in that same way. They

7:34

were sort of deeply analytical. The

7:36

writing was always very pithy but it was also like effusive and

7:38

almost poetic. I

7:43

think often of he's awake the whole time that I'm

7:45

asleep. Maybe that's why I don't

7:47

see him in my dreams. Like

7:49

the same using introspection, like

7:51

on Wanna Quit All The

7:53

Time she sings overthinking in my head again

7:55

I'm good at making shit negative. But

8:15

I think here the introspection

8:17

is more pointed, like less

8:20

flowery and less narratively focused.

8:22

That's interesting. You were saying you think it's

8:25

the least lyrical of her releases.

8:27

But you're saying that in a positive way,

8:29

it sounds like. Yeah, there's a lyric on

8:31

that same song. She's like, I used to

8:34

be self-conscious. Well, really, I still

8:36

am. I'm just better at figuring out why. And

8:39

I think that reflects an understanding

8:41

and a perception. There's maybe less

8:43

focus on what she's saying, but

8:45

more focus on the way that

8:48

her songs are structured and what

8:50

they are doing around her voice.

8:53

To me, the simplicity here only contributes

8:55

to this growing splendor and focus in

8:57

her songs. That sounds like you're talking

8:59

about tone, I have to say. I

9:01

mean, one thing I love, I know

9:03

I'm hammering home a point. I realize

9:05

that. But one thing

9:07

that's always attracted me about Faye

9:09

Webster is her singing style itself

9:11

and the seeming effortlessness. But

9:14

then I think it's

9:16

very conscientious. Is that the right

9:18

word? There's a distance in what

9:20

she does. Now there's

9:22

also this warmth that's very paradoxical.

9:24

It's like she's very careful to

9:27

give us a listening experience that we

9:29

can relax into or something like that.

9:32

Yeah. Operating at a distance does

9:34

feel like her traditional

9:36

mode. But like you said, there

9:38

is this subtle beauty

9:41

to it that gives it

9:43

this warmth that's hard to

9:46

explain. She's never

9:48

too close to you, but she's

9:50

also never too far away, which

9:53

creates this very pleasant balance given

9:55

the way that her song operates

9:57

at this intersection of like...

10:00

the Barracotta and R&B music. And

10:02

Yacht Rock, somebody puts a Yacht

10:04

Rock label on this one. It

10:06

kind of leans into that sound,

10:08

which compliments her sort of quietly

10:11

decadent worldview. Yeah,

10:14

yeah. I think. But she's

10:16

from Atlanta, she's based in Atlanta. And

10:19

I have to say, maybe this is obvious to fans

10:22

of Faye Webster, but I

10:24

feel like she's really been nurtured

10:26

by the whole vibe and scene

10:29

and tone of the Atlanta scene because

10:31

there's a way what she's doing is

10:34

very much in the indie rock tradition,

10:36

but then it also connects to the

10:38

hip hop sounds of Atlanta too,

10:41

right? Yeah, I

10:43

mean, she's been sort of adjacent

10:45

to the rap community her entire career. She

10:48

and little Yachty actually went to middle

10:50

school together. That's how cute. Photos

10:53

for local rappers like Offset

10:56

and Killer Mike. And she

10:58

was closely associated with awful

11:00

records for a time. I've

11:02

always thought she had this like

11:05

innate understanding of the ways that

11:07

Southern music forms are distinctively interlinked

11:10

and exactly how her sound was

11:12

like a product of those connections.

11:14

To me, it's funny that Yachty

11:16

is featured on this because I

11:18

think he's finally starting to synthesize

11:20

his music in the

11:22

same way. And they are operating

11:24

in different modes, but they both

11:27

seem to be moving towards similar

11:29

ideas. Yeah, they do it really

11:31

well together. I mean, like they

11:33

compliment each other perfectly, intuitively. Yeah,

11:35

when he shows up on the

11:37

back half of that song, Lego

11:39

Ring, initially it's like, oh, but

11:41

then it's like, oh, that's actually

11:43

really, really pleasant. I

12:00

do think they are running parallel in

12:02

a sort of interesting way. Right. And

12:05

it's nice to see them sort of

12:07

come full circle as like former

12:09

classmates now stars. I

12:12

also think she connects to what's

12:14

happening with a lot of women in

12:16

indie music right now who are

12:19

sort of critiquing the pop

12:21

machine in these sideways

12:23

ways. You know, Caroline

12:25

Polacek for example, or the duo

12:27

Smeres. Even St. Vincent

12:30

in a kind of distant way. I mean,

12:32

Faye Burster sounds nothing like St. Vincent, but

12:35

you know, there's a way in which that

12:37

distance, that slight ice in what

12:39

she does, even despite all the warmth, kind

12:42

of reminds me of Annie Clark and

12:44

reminds me of Annie's always overthinking

12:46

or conceptualizing even as she's offering

12:48

us like rock and roll catharsis.

12:50

I mean, there's songs on this record with

12:52

names like eBay Purchase History

12:54

that then, you know, have

12:56

very lush romantic sound. And

12:58

to me, that's that expressing

13:00

that double consciousness of what it means to be

13:03

a woman kind of living through

13:05

consumer culture, you know. It's

13:07

interesting you talk about the

13:09

sort of lushness. I think this

13:12

album is even lusher than her

13:14

previous ones. I'm not sure she

13:16

could have made a song like

13:19

He Loves Me Yeah before doing

13:21

the car therapy sessions that she

13:23

did in 2022, which added ornamental

13:26

flourishes to previously released songs, including

13:28

like turning the Sleepy Johnny into

13:30

an orchestral suite. Right. eBay Purchase

13:33

History brings like her quiet song

13:35

craft to heighten focused with this

13:37

like stunning crispness almost. And

13:40

the title track feels like

13:42

accumulation of everything she's done.

13:44

I think even that title

13:46

hints at this idea that

13:48

you're talking about this remove,

13:51

this like being supremely competent,

13:53

but also like standing at

13:55

a distance from the whole

13:58

machine of it. Right. Critiquing. the

14:00

very emotions she's expressing because she

14:02

realizes that they're partly created

14:05

by influences like pop music itself. And that's

14:07

the thing about He Loves Me Up. You

14:11

know, it seems like just this fun love song, but

14:13

then in the end, what's the line

14:15

of something like, I love the way he holds

14:17

me down. So

14:33

that's the

14:36

Webster, underdressed as

14:40

a symphony,

14:58

a record that both you and

15:01

I strongly recommend. But Sheldon,

15:03

you got something for us now. What did you bring in?

15:07

Yeah, so for the first time

15:09

in five years, there's a new

15:11

schoolboy Q album. The

15:14

TDE rapper's latest is called Blue

15:16

Lips. And it builds

15:18

on past albums

15:20

but embraces sort of new

15:23

lifestyle choices. I

15:41

don't think Q gets enough credit for

15:44

his role in like, the

15:46

sound of West Coast rap. It's easy

15:49

to forget he was out of the

15:51

starting blocks faster than Kendrick.

15:53

They came from the same crew, right?

15:55

Yeah, they're both TDE rappers. They both

15:57

were initially in a group called Black

15:59

Hit. Pippi with Absol and Jay

16:02

Rock. And as a

16:04

unit, they played a huge role in sort

16:07

of the revitalization of

16:09

West Coast gangster rap

16:11

in the early-mid 2010s.

16:16

Schoolboy, I mean he was on a

16:19

great run until his last album Crash

16:21

Talk, which was sort of underwhelming. But

16:24

this album is a bit of a return to

16:26

form for him. I love

16:28

the way it sort of balances soul

16:31

sampling and like

16:33

slapping low rider music

16:35

across its whole sort

16:38

of soundscape. He is playing

16:40

into those with like very

16:42

dynamic vocal performances. And

16:44

I'm curious what you make of this record. I

16:49

mean I really like it. I do love the

16:51

way that the production complements

16:54

what he's bringing as a rapper. I

16:57

feel like it's a little, I don't know,

17:00

somber is the wrong word. That's not a

17:02

word that applies very well to Schoolboy Q.

17:05

But maybe it's just more humid than

17:08

that's also a bad word for anyone from Los Angeles.

17:10

There's no humidity there. I don't know what it is.

17:12

Like there's a little bit of heaviness here or

17:14

something. I know the title. I do think

17:16

there is something about it that's somber. I

17:18

think he is like a wacky enough character

17:21

that it never gets bogged down in that.

17:23

And he is like in constant motion so

17:25

you never really have time to like mire

17:27

in the feelings. But there is a darkness

17:29

I think that hangs over most of his

17:31

music. My neckpiece looking like pears, a Maybach

17:33

me and her man. I look down nigga

17:36

that's scared. The rat tells me to get

17:38

buried. You're hanging on to a now barely.

17:41

The title Blue Lips refers

17:43

to silence or a period

17:45

of sort of contemplation or pulling

17:48

back which might just be a nice

17:50

PR spin on my not last record

17:52

didn't do that well. It's

17:55

funny. Crash

17:57

Talk was his most hollow album.

18:00

when he even admitted left him

18:02

feeling empty. I

18:04

don't believe narrative songwriting and rap is any

18:06

better than pop songwriting, but

18:08

I do think that his catalog is

18:11

sort of most interesting in that mode.

18:13

Thinking about Groovy Tony, Eddie Kane, and

18:15

most of the stuff on Blank Face.

18:17

Thinking about Break the Bank and Nightmare

18:19

on Fink Street. I still

18:21

don't think this record is as narratively

18:23

focused as his best stuff, but

18:26

he does seem to be more

18:28

introspective on this record. Thinking

18:31

particularly about his relationship

18:33

to celebrity culture. Thinking

18:35

about his upward mobility

18:38

and so on. I'm

18:40

glad you mentioned his relationship to his own persona, because

18:44

I was doing a little research on

18:46

Schoolbook Q and noticed that he has

18:48

a beef with nerds. He has

18:50

talked about how he doesn't like nerds. But

18:54

I think he is a nerd, like

18:56

his tone, his vocal style. It's

18:58

got something about it that just

19:01

maybe it's the kind of way he's

19:03

grounded in the Nas Jay Z style. It

19:05

feels very like classical in a sense,

19:08

but also he has that goofy elasticity

19:10

to his voice that you were talking

19:12

about. Yeah,

19:15

it's interesting as a nerd. I'm

19:18

not sure I would think of Schoolbook Q

19:20

as a nerd, but there is

19:22

something about his voice. I remember years

19:25

ago, Tom Bryan once wrote that Q

19:27

was an unpredictable presence that seemed to

19:30

be rapping for his own amusement. And

19:33

that seems to be true of

19:35

this record as any other ones.

19:37

I mean, some of the performances

19:39

are just baffling. The woozy, stumbling

19:41

flows of NuNu. Yeah. And

19:44

like croaked bars of back in

19:46

love. It's

19:49

hard to know what

19:51

he'll do next with

19:54

his voice, which I think is maybe. one

20:00

of the more thrilling things about the way that

20:02

his songs function. What do

20:04

you think about the features on this record? He's

20:06

got some old friends Absol's on here,

20:08

he's got Freddie Gibbs on here on

20:10

a song that I really like, Ohio. So

20:13

interesting to hear the contrast

20:16

in their rapping styles. The

20:31

juxtaposition of Hammond and Freddie

20:34

Gibbs is particularly interesting. Freddie

20:37

Gibbs always raps in such a

20:39

straight line. Yeah. He is so

20:41

hyper technical, so focused, so

20:43

it's not a rigidity but there's like

20:45

an elasticity to the way that he

20:47

moves directly forward. Yeah he reminds me

20:50

kind of like a guy at the

20:52

gym who does a million reps, you

20:54

know, very gracefully but at the same

20:56

time like he's going to get through

20:58

those 150 reps. 100%. And

21:20

Schoolboy Q is like could

21:23

not be sort of further from that.

21:25

He's the odd ball like bouncing around

21:27

in all directions. Right, jumping on the

21:29

treadmill, getting on the elliptical, gonna go

21:31

jump in the pool. And

21:45

so like hearing them sort of try to

21:47

play off one another is a

21:49

really interesting contrast. They are

21:51

both sort of like gangster

21:54

rappers of the same persuasion which is

21:56

funny. It's funny to hear them operate

21:58

in such different We're

22:07

going to take a quick break,

22:09

but first, in case you haven't heard,

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epic saga of war, passion and

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power set in feudal Japan starring

24:11

Hiroyuki Sonata and and as to

24:13

why now streaming on Hulu. And

24:19

were back. I'm Ann Powers and I'm hanging

24:22

out here with seldom peers from Mp or

24:24

Music or were talking about. Some great record

24:26

that have come out today march first and

24:28

the next one that we're going to talk

24:30

about. His by the guitarist Julian Lies. His

24:43

face speak to me. It's

24:46

his sister's album as a leader,

24:48

his first working with someone who.

24:51

I. Love very much Sir. Singer songwriter

24:53

and all around. Brilliant Minds Joe

24:55

Henry What can you say about

24:57

you realize the guy, He was

24:59

a child prodigy. He's recorded with

25:01

some of the greatest jazz musicians

25:03

who have ever lived like Go

25:05

Burton, Son Soren were to some

25:08

a lot. he just as a

25:10

player that has so much personality

25:12

as an instrumentalist. I really love

25:14

his style because there's a kind

25:16

of like brashness and humor always

25:18

in his style. And here he's

25:20

working with a pretty big band.

25:22

Pets Southern I really hear him

25:24

constantly. Siding and breaking through on this

25:27

record. Maybe that's why I feel like that's a

25:29

dumb thing to say. Obviously Corsi signing on this

25:31

record as is his record. This is a subset

25:33

of what I. Mean. Is he says i

25:35

don't know his like the guy in the parties

25:38

as the. Saw was makes you laugh. It's.

25:45

Funny because jazz guitarist traditionally have

25:47

not been my bag. I've always

25:49

been partial the horns or but

25:52

not a West Montgomery sans does

25:54

not not Not an overzealous as

25:56

a bill for Zola assessed that

25:58

me there. This album

26:01

is so expressive you talk about

26:03

personality of his plane. To me,

26:05

he has like almost this sassine

26:08

assigned cuts through the virtuosity. It's

26:10

always interesting to sort of be

26:12

exposed to a grown up prodigy,

26:15

married or in life. In a

26:17

case like this, I feel like

26:19

you can almost hear the years

26:21

have accumulated wisdom and it's like

26:24

she's super talented, but it doesn't

26:26

feel like he takes his music

26:28

super seriously. Riot. I I really,

26:31

really appreciated. Honestly, he sounds like he's

26:33

enjoying himself playing with his band on

26:35

his record. I feel like we can

26:38

really hear that on the track Northern

26:40

Chabot which is really like as

26:42

sold as Ah Stopper. So

27:17

that's sort of us a band a little bit because

27:19

you know his is that. Some people on this

27:21

bad is played with a lot like

27:23

Dave King that armor from the bad

27:25

five cents on the basis or hey

27:27

Roeder but then also sell Henry some

27:29

leave on his on here plan. How

27:31

arms and there's to keep our affairs

27:33

And to my years they can be

27:35

more different. On the one hand, you

27:38

have Chris Davis. Is a sense half

27:40

the composer, super innovative, connected to

27:42

classical music often called cerebral but

27:44

you know also a very emotional

27:47

player in her own way. but

27:49

like a really intricate player you

27:51

know. And then you also have

27:53

Patrick War and who is known

27:56

for his. Session Works I his played

27:58

with every once and amy. Man to

28:00

Fiona Apple, Two Guys Like Deal In

28:02

and Springsteen, and he's also composer. He

28:05

even won an Emmy for his work

28:07

with the bumper net on True Detective

28:09

Season Ones, Soundtrack. But then you also

28:11

have this woman whose you know known for

28:14

her her own compositions and ends like her

28:16

own lane in jazz. So I don't know

28:18

what do you think about how the band

28:20

interacts with what lies is suing on this

28:23

record. Yeah, I think

28:25

there's an assertive, beautiful, Connection

28:27

between him and his band.

28:30

That really allows for him

28:32

to extend his net. Pretty

28:34

why on Ugly? Yeah, there's

28:36

a great range. His record

28:38

you talk about Northern Shuffle

28:40

means the distance traveled from

28:42

Northern Shuffled to South Mountain

28:44

is so vast. I mean

28:46

you've got one that is

28:48

super soulful, the other nearly

28:50

focus. And

28:52

talking about own I feel

28:54

like is playing just like

28:57

springs. Out of a lot

28:59

of the songs there's there's like

29:01

very very interesting sort of intricate

29:03

sound beds that make way for

29:06

his little the he moves through

29:08

been nooks and crannies of these

29:10

songs so so effortlessly and travel

29:13

so much terrain in doing so.

29:41

Has that's well said. I like this metaphor

29:43

of nuts and crannies and you know it's

29:45

funny. The first time I listen to this

29:48

record, for some reason I only heard him.

29:50

I just like the guitar jumped out at

29:52

me so much even on the quiet songs.

29:54

and there are quite a few quiet songs

29:56

on this record. There's even a song called

29:58

him know you know and. There is

30:00

a as you said a little

30:02

bit a connection to to that

30:04

kind of like cosmic folk. Americana

30:06

is jazz. They're Bill for Cel

30:09

who has worked with before is

30:11

like the God of Rhayader. Even

30:14

in those quiet songs, there's something about

30:16

his claim that does feel assert his.

30:19

Them when I came back to the record

30:21

Saturn I sorry to hear the different person.

30:25

Here. The interaction with the rhythm

30:28

section here those keyboard take

30:30

noom in different directions here

30:32

leave on Sachs. Entering

30:34

in like a sneaky i. Was

30:37

see it out or satay about

30:39

Adam tone. And voices like being biggest

30:41

at a party and. Do dominate or do

30:43

you like hang on the back around

30:45

and spray. I think that leave on

30:48

saxophone. It's kind of like that guy

30:50

is a party who doesn't talk all

30:52

that much but when he does are

30:54

like oh oh yeah that was a

30:56

great point. Right?

30:59

Exactly. So it's really I don't

31:02

know is it's a testament to

31:04

wash himself or just to the

31:06

the way this band has just

31:09

gives each other so much respect,

31:11

but it never feels. Force. It

31:13

doesn't feel like overwhelming even though it's

31:15

a big band, you know? Yeah, Well,

31:18

I mean you talk about the fact

31:20

that this is album fifteen for him.

31:22

Dry of eaters I seek When you

31:24

have someone. Who. Is so competent

31:26

and so confident in what

31:28

they are capable of. It's.

31:31

Very easy to settle in.

31:33

To perform to be yourself. To get

31:36

in where you fit in because there's

31:38

like never a moment where he feels

31:40

a need to dominate. This record is

31:43

playing is just that sort of pokemon.

31:45

It'll always catcher year to your point.

31:47

about the first time you've years it's

31:49

It's impossible not to hear him at

31:52

the center of be songs. It's just

31:54

like because of what he's capable of,

31:56

everyone else is able to do with

31:59

they do. To better their ability Time

32:01

I said what? He I have one last question to you

32:03

about this record. John.

32:06

Henry said something about making

32:08

this. Record with Julian Lies.

32:10

Or he said they were trying. To kind

32:13

of like strike a balance between

32:15

the virtuoso size as lies as

32:17

guitar playing and the songs on

32:20

this of the sauce do you

32:22

think they got. Their like as or an

32:24

example to you that like feels. Very songs

32:26

will do You know?

32:29

I do think seventy

32:31

six. Words:

32:34

The back half spill some full.

32:36

There are there are moments in

32:38

there were it feels like a

32:40

ban that is like for for

32:42

me as the cantina in an

32:44

old western but then it'll like

32:46

random we emerge into these beautiful

32:48

jazz flourishes their pull you out

32:50

of that in it's like oh

32:52

it's not ensued something completely different.

33:22

I think he really has

33:25

such an understanding of his

33:27

instrument that he is able

33:30

to just do whatever he

33:32

wants on this record and

33:35

make. It sound like

33:37

effortlessly. Sets

33:41

Julian lies at once called by

33:43

our friend needs finance one of

33:45

the breezy. Experts you are says and

33:47

jazz with his new record speak to

33:49

me. Now we

33:52

got something completely. Different businesses

33:54

insists that it has had to

33:56

say the least. The

34:03

really banned here mag. Some

34:05

people may be familiar with

34:08

them. pretty notably they've been

34:10

independent to this point. Their

34:13

new album playing favorites Cow

34:15

is the First on Third

34:18

Man and their first As

34:20

and Twenty Nine Thesis. And

34:27

it's fortifies the sound that they've

34:29

been cultivating since a trio of

34:31

he Peace they released in the

34:33

mid twenty tens of the album

34:35

was initially of for song disco

34:37

tp which there are traces of

34:40

it on a song like all

34:42

lined up but I think everything

34:44

they add is in service of

34:46

this epic hard rock revival isn't.

34:48

And you said you think of

34:50

the Bed Stoners thrift store hot

34:52

outside, the great did you unpack

34:55

but a little bit. Well,

34:57

two things I love thrift stores and Hot

34:59

Topic for us. I guess what I meant

35:01

by that phrase is. Is that the

35:04

sirigu stuff? I returned back to

35:06

the past. says definitely connecting to

35:08

Garage Rock, connecting to earlier series

35:10

and price like hey, there's a

35:12

song. Of. This record called see this and

35:14

Beat It Saps. Gotta be

35:17

a reference symbolizes eat

35:19

to see if if

35:21

only a sideways press.

35:40

They're not one of these fans as

35:43

like trying to recreate have hinted sound

35:45

wholesale. You can see the edges in

35:47

or see the refer. Side

35:49

So what they're doing. it's how as

35:51

playful it's always really fine and as

35:53

the. Source or part right? it's unpredictable at

35:56

a hot topic. You always know what you're

35:58

getting in our you're gonna just that. There's

36:00

a T. Shirt or whatever a you get

36:02

that t shirt and a thrift store.

36:04

It might have been cut up and made into

36:06

I know, like a bikini cover up or something.

36:09

and that's what I can think about your bag

36:11

like they're gonna take me somewhere unexpected within the

36:13

confines. Of with this subject

36:15

compared to see Movies

36:18

or Will Harden, I

36:20

didn't. Know

36:22

I I was unsure of us

36:24

are you know as I think

36:26

they have continued to move beyond

36:28

any such expectations. I mean it's

36:31

heavy music with these power riffs

36:33

with it's got a pop center

36:35

at I really think a lot

36:37

of Be songs are just so

36:39

so catchy he at home and

36:41

I think even to your point.

36:44

In Albany Soldier from rock music of

36:46

the past. They are so clear about

36:48

what they want to do in their

36:51

songs that it's hard not to see

36:53

their particular vision in any one of

36:55

the I love the fact that the

36:58

title track playing Favorites is actually about

37:00

be on the road and playing their

37:02

favorite songs. You know it exists captures

37:05

the joys of this band. But what

37:07

did you think about. The

37:09

Weather kind of stretching their sound on this

37:12

particular record, and particularly. The presence

37:14

on one track mechanical garden. As

37:16

the suarez guitarist The

37:19

Machine Max. Yeah,

37:29

I'm mechanical gardens. This is

37:31

funny is starts off like

37:33

just another sheer mag sound

37:35

and then it morphs into

37:37

something that is so much

37:39

for easier. It's may be

37:41

the groovy a song in

37:43

their catalog. The thronging moonstruck

37:45

from like Seconds earlier. riot.

37:52

I think it's the kind of

37:55

strides made by a band that

37:57

is completely understanding what they want

37:59

to do. With their

38:01

songs I'm I'm I'm curious.

38:03

What do you think of

38:06

separates. Seen. as voice

38:08

sound like other raised

38:11

on voice. Seen.

38:20

A holiday were talking about. The singer for

38:22

Share mag us. I don't know if

38:25

I would say what separates her so

38:27

much as it's like what makes her

38:29

perfect punk singer. And I tell you

38:32

what distinguishes her as a Denver. Back

38:34

to that question of from right like

38:36

She says, right in there and the

38:39

lineage to with Peter, My, Kathleen Hanna,

38:41

for example, Riot and Fisher. Got

38:51

that that kind? Of. Braddy qualities are

38:53

not always said that like sit

38:55

on the playgrounds as ruling the

38:58

playground cause the she's the queen

39:00

as a neighborhood lesser. Say that

39:02

sees a rabbit girls. But

39:05

I also think and maybe this is how

39:07

she's grown as a singer over the years.

39:09

with there's A there's a Wisdom built into

39:12

it Now Let's also reflected in the lyrics.

39:14

I'm a sucker. I think you know this

39:16

is as adults fans, as as an adult

39:18

records. it's not necessary for punks of a

39:20

certain age press. I think there's a maturity,

39:23

the songwriting, him, and in her voice. now

39:25

that I really value. Yeah, yeah, I think

39:27

that's a good way to think about it.

39:29

There's definitely of missive use this to her

39:31

for. An aggressor bias which I

39:34

think serves both like the bite.

39:36

And. The propulsion of sheer Mag songs

39:39

has us Qatar as man, those guitars

39:41

are there. I mean I can totally

39:43

see why they signed to Third Man

39:45

because I could to see Jack White.

39:48

Standing in the back of the room to. Totally

39:50

loving what's happening on that stage, The

39:53

Russian Brides. It's funny because you mention

39:55

the guitars, but as I I think

39:57

specifically about that interplay between Deterrent Boys

39:59

on their records. And I've always been

40:02

struck by how present their music oh

40:04

yes, age is, it feels in touch

40:06

with like a tactile World has seems

40:09

to like exist less and less these

40:11

days, both in music and in reality

40:13

sauce. It's sort of funny in her

40:16

lyrics, there's like pool playing and like

40:18

brawls at the bar. They're taking cabs

40:20

to the city sharing a biscuit and

40:22

a lot of it's like hanging around

40:25

the jukebox like with other people in

40:27

a public space. It's full of what

40:29

feels. Like face to face interaction.

40:32

There's this great lyrics ah

40:34

I think from don't Come

40:36

Look In. And it's I've

40:38

been fighting shy now, but I'm

40:40

on the man in I'm with

40:43

my friends. I'm feeling strong closer

40:45

to the peace I've been searching

40:47

on. And to me that sums

40:49

up so much of what is

40:52

happened next. To

41:06

me, that. Sums up front of other ways

41:08

to. I mean if there's a sized town

41:10

in amateurs, artists. Lots of ways. pumpkin

41:12

manifest bet it is exactly what you're talking

41:14

about is a voice and I said that

41:16

girl on the playground that actually you're making

41:18

me want to say it's a voice. In

41:21

a crowded bar in our interface

41:23

where there's like some other noise.

41:25

maybe they're said a subway sarah,

41:27

elevated train wreck in our overhead

41:29

or something in others rumble. There's

41:31

no. you gotta speak up. But

41:33

you know you're speaking to your

41:35

friends. So you're screaming and the

41:37

ears of your fans. That's the

41:39

beauty of what Sir Moses as

41:41

your bag and their new record

41:43

is called. Playing Favorites We got

41:45

a bunch more albums. Sharon are

41:47

lightning round and that's coming up

41:49

right after this. Short. Break. Welcome.

41:53

But support for Npr and the

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a bank. Back, You know

42:29

there's so much good music

42:31

out today. And seemingly

42:33

every Friday. But we're gonna run

42:35

through a quick list of some

42:37

of our other favorites. And.

42:41

Well, I can start with his

42:44

album by San Francisco Keeper of

42:46

the Separate. Had

42:49

a francis is a Chicago. Based

42:51

composer guitarist, Dancer

42:54

Dunning, vocalist. And

42:57

songwriter. I

43:13

have to say that. Music writer

43:15

John Terry for. Turned me

43:17

onto this artists and his newsletter.

43:19

No expectations the minute I. Put.

43:21

On her song, the title track

43:24

from This Records I Was. Done.

43:26

Absolutely stunned. You could call her

43:28

music freak folk, but it's really

43:30

more monumental than most freak folks.

43:32

There's says of Sandy Danny for

43:34

sure, but also of Night is

43:36

Queens like. Sarah Mclaughlin or she's

43:38

either. But compared to Kd Lang,

43:40

it's very mythic and I just

43:42

like dove into it. For

43:45

my first pic, I'm going

43:47

with yard acts. Where's my

43:50

utopia? We found

43:52

see the sounds of assessing do

43:54

mine do a lot for him

43:56

in his weight room and succeeded.

44:00

The A Man On the

44:02

heels of the Mercury Prize

44:04

nominated Twenty Twenty Two album,

44:06

The Overload. the British band

44:08

freeze itself from expectations, making

44:10

a self described party album

44:12

inspired by everything from discotheque

44:14

Afrobeat that his rookie year.

44:16

Then it's post punk predecessor.

44:22

My next trick is to

44:24

albums actually being released all

44:27

sickly together. Thereby Aziz pioneer

44:29

of home to set recording.

44:31

Linda. Smith say recorded in the eighties

44:33

and nineties. And they're called so I

44:36

like spring. And nothing

44:38

else matters. Shoutout to our

44:40

colleagues Lars Cartridge on this. I know

44:42

he is a huge lead the same.

44:59

Issue Lies serve eighty is

45:02

Iraq's It's brainy and really

45:04

charming. That is very low

45:07

fi and yet has the heart. And

45:09

soul of you know as. Really smart

45:11

person who loves melody and loves

45:13

loves pop. In a way you'll

45:16

love this. Records inspirations include the

45:18

minimalist spanned young marble giants to

45:20

English poet Charlotte New, and Smith's

45:22

own work for the Ringling Brothers

45:24

Circus. For

45:30

my second pick, the composer

45:32

News from returns to his

45:34

roots on day his first

45:37

album Since Twenty Twenty Twos

45:39

Music for Animals, his music

45:41

has grown more and more

45:43

actually complex over the years,

45:45

but these piano compositions home

45:48

back on his chosen. And

45:55

finally, we want to highlight the do album

45:57

from Mannequin. Pussy, it's their fists and as

45:59

com. That hadn't. Hit.

46:09

A. Record breaking big with this album.

46:12

I think this is the one that

46:14

might bring them to the national stage.

46:16

Discussed Swinney guitar part, sweeping vocals, and

46:18

I think the. Potential. To reach the

46:20

same big audience that love Olivia Rodrigo.

46:32

Rato there more about Mannequin Pussy. I

46:34

encourage you to go to the New

46:36

York Times and read as a wonderful

46:38

Seats are by our former colleagues, Louis.

46:40

As a result. Well

46:50

saw the we've come to the end of our

46:52

time together. It's always so much fun to talk

46:54

to you. I love the way you think about music.

46:57

Thanks. For sharing space with me

46:59

today. It's been such a blessing.

47:01

So if you out there. Listening

47:03

in listener land would. Like to

47:05

give us some see fact you can

47:07

write us at all songs at npr.org.

47:10

And if you like the show, please

47:12

tell your friends and leavers you were

47:14

ever you listen. To podcasts. You

47:16

can also subscribe to our newsletter

47:19

at Npr. Org. Backslash Music Newsletter and

47:21

I know you're going to want to do

47:23

it because. I wrote a whole damn

47:25

newsletter about that Bensenville songs. Sheldon

47:29

is running away, but before he runs

47:31

away as a few more things he

47:33

wants to tell you, please remember that

47:36

if you wanna listen to the show,

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sponsor free. You can support our work

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Podcast was produced by Watches

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