Every Day Feels Like A Week :: A Playlist For Everyday Revolutionaries

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A 7-volume playlist of mostly protest music based loosely on the idea of a day feeling like a week.

There is a lot to be angry about. But life continues and we must strive to make the most of it.

This playlist is based on the the idea that each day feels like a week. There is a constant barrage of insanity that has become our “news cycle.” Just as we get angry about the latest scandal, there’s three more. It’s the world’s worst game of whack-a-mole and we’re not meant to live this way. We’re not meant to be inundated by a 24-hour information cycle and our country certainly has not proven to be capable of realizing that the phone call is coming from inside the (white) house. Every day feels like an eternity and a flash at the same time.

The playlists, especially at the beginning and the end, aren’t all protest music. That’s because, despite the avalanche of turmoil, we still have to try and go about our daily lives. We still have to wake up and greet the day; we still have our routines, our obligations, our ups, our downs, and our loved ones. We still have to try and build meaningful and purposeful lives, even while the country burns. It’s not good to be angry all the time, even when it’s justified. Also, in the morning section, I thought I’d have some fun with the idea of waking up in the morning being equated with becoming woke.

We have plenty to be angry about. But I refuse to be like them. This is also why all the “protest music” is not angry. We need to remember the power of love and walk that path.

I hope you enjoy. Or get angry. Or both.

A Holiday At The Sea Playlist 01
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Volume 01 :: 

  1. Dawn by Work Money Death

  2. Love Is Everywhere by Pharaoh Sanders

  3. Peace and Happiness by African Head Charge

  4. Morning Has Broken by Cat Stevens

  5. Prelude to 110 0r 120 / Women of the World by Jim O’Rourke

  6. Mornin’ by Al Jarred

  7. Daybreak by Michael Haggins

  8. Eyes of the World by Grateful Dead

  9. Wake Up Everybody by Harold Melvin and the the Blue Notes

  10. What the World Needs Now Is Love by Jackie DeShannon

  11. Love Thy Neighbor by Roaring Lion 

A Holiday At The Sea Playlist 02
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Volume 02 :: 

  1. Lovely Day by Bill Withers

  2. Breakfast with the Sirens of Infinity by Naan Violence

  3. Fight With Love by Money Mark

  4. Hope by Dirty Three

  5. I’m Not Trying To Wake Up by 75 Dollar Bill

  6. Live and Love by Sir Coxsone Sound

  7. One World Family (Live) by Kahlil El’Zabar & David Murray

  8. Love and Harmony by Fred Locks

  9. Move On (Bloom Like the Sunlight In My Song) (Live) by Mike Doughty

  10. Love Dub by Roots Radics

  11. What’s Going On by Marvin Gaye

  12. We the People by A Tribe Called Quest

A Holiday At The Sea Playlist 03
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Volume 03 :: 

  1. Rise by Public Image Ltd

  2. War/Trouble No More (Live) by Bob Marley & the Wailers

  3. Zombie by Fela Kuti

  4. Fight the Power by Public Enemy

  5. Killing In The Name by Rage Against the Machine

  6. With God On Our Side by Bob Dylan

  7. Thoughts and Prayers (Live) by Drive-By Truckers

  8. Get Up Off Our Knees by the Housemartins

  9. Nazi Punks Fuck Off by Dead Kennedys

  10. Ju$t by Run the Jewels

  11. Prayer for Amerikkka pt. 1&2

  12. More and More by Dub Syndicate

  13. War Pigs by Black Sabbath

A Holiday At The Sea Playlist 04
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Volume 04 :: 

  1. Cold Hard Times by Lee Hazlewood

  2. ‘Merican by Descendants

  3. For What It’s Worth by Buffalo Springfield

  4. American Jesus by Bad Religion

  5. Another Mother’s Son by Phil Cook

  6. Sometimes It’s Hard (Live) by Rainer

  7. Changes by 2Pac

  8. Freedom by the Toasters

  9. I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-to-Die Rag (Live) by Country Joe and the Fish

  10. Impeach the President by the Honeydrippers

  11. Give Peace A Chance by Plastic Ono Band

  12. Love Knows (No Borders) by Howe Gelb

  13. Equal Rights/Downpressor Man (Live) by Peter Tosh

  14. Kill For Peace by the Fugs

  15. Lyndon Johnson Told the Nation by Tom Paxton

  16. Racists by Anti-Flag

  17. The Freedom Rider by Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers

  18. Know Your Rights by the Clash

  19. Sound of da Police by KRS-One

  20. Talkin’ Bout A Revolution by Tracy Chapman 

  21. A Change Is Gonna Come by Sam Cooke 

A Holiday At The Sea Playlist 05
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Volume 05 :: 

  1. Your Flag Decal Won’t Get You Into Heaven Anymore by John Prine

  2. Youth Against Fascism by Sonic Youth

  3. Beat Down Babylon by Junior Myles

  4. I Can’t Breathe by H.E.R.

  5. Shakey Jake by Joe McPhee

  6. Question Authority by Circle Jerks

  7. Fight Back by Big Boys

  8. Throw Down Your Arms by Sinéad O’Connor

  9. Gratitude by Beastie Boys

  10. Fire For The People by Blue Scholars

  11. Rise Above by Black Flag

  12. Politicians In My Eyes by Death 

  13. Police State by Dead Prez

  14. Police On My Back by the Equals

  15. This is America by Childish Gambino

  16. No Blood For Oil by Cocoa Tea

  17. Throughout the Madness, Stay Strong by Sons of Kemet

A Holiday At The Sea Playlist 06
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Volume 06 :: 

  1. When the President Talks to God by Bright Eyes

  2. Ride the Fence by the Coup

  3. Fight the Power (Part 1 & 2) by Isley Brothers

  4. 41 Shots (American Skin) by Bruce Springsteen

  5. I Don’t Want to Be a General by Dennis Brown

  6. I Ain’t Marching Anymore by Phil Ochs

  7. Ship Ahoy by the O’Jays

  8. Like A King by Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals

  9. Self-Destruction by the Stop the Violence Movement

  10. Rasta P’on Top by Twinkle Brothers

  11. Road to Peace by Tom Waits

  12. Love Is All Around by Eric Burdon & War

  13. Rockin’ In the Free World by Neil Young

  14. You Haven’t Done Nothin by Stevie Wonder

  15. I Walk Alone by Mecca Normal

  16. Kermit Horra (My Word is Free) (Live) by Emil Mathlouthi

A Holiday At The Sea Playlist 07
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Volume 07 :: 

  1. Crepuscule With Nellie by Thelonious Monk

  2. Last Pale Light In the West by Ben Nichols

  3. Eve of Destruction by Barry McGuire

  4. Everybody’s Going To Die by Church of the Cosmic Skull

  5. Love is the Message by Yussef Dales x Alfa Mist

  6. Police & Thieves by Junior Murvin

  7. Strange Fruit by Billie Holiday

  8. Nuclear War by Sun Ra

  9. “Instant Night” by Beauty Pill

  10. Peace Time Now by Fatman Riddim Section

  11. Indefinite Leave to Remain (Live) by Sarathy Korwar

  12. Night Cruising by Fishmans

  13. Oh Lord Don't Let Them Drop that Atomic Bomb on Me by Charles Mingues

  14. We Shall Overcome (Live) by Pete Seeger

  15. Good Good End by Waterdeep

  16. Love, Love, Love (Everyone) by Akron/Family

Mohammad Mostafa Heydarian: Noor-e Vojood

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From the Press Release:

“Centripetal Force (North America), Cardinal Fuzz (UK), and Radio Khiyaban (Europe) are excited to announce Mohammad Mostafa Heydarian's second album Noor-e Vojood. The album is being presented digtial;y, as well as a 500 copy vinyl pressing. The album will be made available for preorder on January 24. Its release date is March 7.”

Some of you might remember the weekly global music podcast I did for a year, The Global Elite Music Radio Podcast Supershow. Most of you have probably never heard of it. The main idea behind it was that one of the ways we can overcome Xenophobia is by listening to a culture’s music. Over the course of 52 30-minute episodes, we explored music from all over the world. My horizons expanded and my tastes deepened.

I particularly came to love many forms of non-Western classical music such as Indian and Persian. Being a psychedelic fan, I have also been drawn to what many might call psychedelic-adjacent music. This often falls under the category of ritualistic or spiritual music in. many cultures, where repetition plays a key role (think whirling dervishes, etc.). It’s not intentionally projected as “psychedelic music,” but psychedelic music fans will find much to love; particularly instrumental music that is able to communicate deep truths and emotion.

Though I was not familiar with Mohammad Mostafa Heydarian at the time, he certainly would have been featured. Playing the tanbur (or tambur) is a form of long-necked lute used in many folk traditions. While Heydarian’s first album was built largely around improvisation, his second album incorporates tighter structure while still highlighting the playing of a musician at the top of their game.

Noor-e Vojood translates as “the light of existence” and you can feel this theme throughout these six tracks. Powerful, propulsive, and meditative, and joyful. Noor-e Vojood cements Mohammad Mostafa Heydarian’s place as an artist to watch.

  • Support Mohammad Mostafa Heydarian at Bandcamp

  • Visit the Centripetal Force website

  • Visit the Cardinal Fuzz website

  • Visit the Radio Khiyaban website

Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer, Zakir Hussain: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert (2010)

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As we continue to mourn Zakir Hussain, we also celebrate his life and legacy through the wonderful music he left us. Wildly innovative and a master of his craft Hussain often collaborated with unlikely partners, blending musical styles.

One of his better known cross-genre projects was with Bela Fleck and Edgar Meyer. The trio stopped by the NPR studios for a Tiny Desk performance in 2010.

Setlist:

  1. "Bubbles"

  2. "Bahar"

  • Visit Zakir Hussain’s official website

  • Follow Zakir Hussain on Facebook

  • Purchase Zakir Hussain’s music at Amazon

  • Listen to “Raga Kedar: Gat In Ektaal” by Pandit Shivkumar Sharma & Ustad Zakir Hussain on Episode 17 of the Global Elite Music Radio Podcast Superhsow.

Favorite Music :: 2024

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Some singles, some EPs and some full-length albums.

These have been 50 of my favorite releases of 2024. Selections are in alphabetical order because you can’t rank music.

Can’t wait to hear your thoughts.

  • Wood Blues by أحمد [Ahmed] // BC //

  • Ghosted II by Oren Ambarchi / Johan Berthling / Andreas Werliin // AMZN // BC //

  • Bullets In The Chamber by Arrested Development // BC //

  • Tension by Mulatu Astatke & Hoodna Orchestra // AMZN // BC //

  • This is Basic by Basic // AMZN // BC //

  • Across the River of Stars by Beachwood Sparks // AMZN // BC //

  • Live in Paris 1973 by Can // AMZN // BC //

  • Close Encounters of the Third World by Creation Rebel // AMZN // BC //

  • Songs of A Lost World by the Cure // AMZN //

  • Love Changes Everything by Dirty Three // AMZN // BC //

  • 100% Sahara Guitar by Etran De L'Aïr // AMZN // BC //

  • When I’m Called by Jake Xerxes Fussell // AMZN // BC //

  • Lives Outgrown by Beth Gibbons // AMZN //

  • Mahal by Glass Beams // AMZN // BC //

  • Goat by Goat // AMZN // BC //

  • No Title as of 13 February 2024 28,340 Dead by Godspeed You! Black Emperor // AMZN // BC //

  • the Collective by Kim Gordon // AMZN // BC //

  • Blu Wav by Grandaddy // AMZN // BC //

  • Dead of Night by Maalem Houssam Guinia // BC //

  • the Handover by the Handover // AMZN // BC //

  • In Waves by Jamie xx // AMZN // BC //

  • Chain of Light by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan & Party // AMZN // BC //

  • Diamond Jubilee by Cindy Lee // AMZN // BC //

  • Manning Fireworks by MJ Lenderman // AMZN // BC //

  • Bright Future by Adrianne Lenker // AMZN // BC //

  • Drop 7 by Little Simz

  • Two Improvisations by Joshua Massad & Dylan Aycock // AMZN // BC //

  • Locust Land by Bill MacKay // AMZN // BC //

  • Funeral For Justice by Mdou Moctar // AMZN // BC //

  • the Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis by The Messthetics // AMZN // BC //

  • Night Palace by Mount Eerie // AMZN // BC //

  • Walking After Dark by Mountain Movers // AMZN // BC //

  • David Nance & Mowed Sound by David Nance // AMZN // BC //

  • Bleed by the Necks // AMZN // BC //

  • The Way Out of Easy by Jeff Parker ETA IVtet // AMZN // BC //

  • Le Rêve de Polyphème by Polyphème // BC //

  • Deep Time by Prairiewolf // AMZN // BC //

  • Bite Down by Rosali // AMZN // BC //

  • Water Still Flows by Rich Ruth // AMZN // BC //

  • Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace by Shabaka // AMZN //

  • Exotic Birds of Prey by Shabazz Palaces // AMZN // BC //

  • Passage Du Desir by Johnny Blue Skies (Sturgill Simpson) // AMZN //

  • Time Is Glass by Six Organs of Admittance  // AMZN // BC //

  • Small Medium Large by SML // AMZN // BC //

  • Africa Yontii by Tidiane Thiam // AMZN // BC //

  • 5 by Trummors // AMZN // BC //

  • Tiger’s Blood by Waxahatchee // AMZN // BC //

  • In the Running 3 by Wet Tuna / DUNZA by Wet Tuna / DUNZA // BC //

  • Woodland by Gillian Welch & David Rawlings // AMZN // BC //

  • Acadia by Yasmin Williams // AMZN // BC //

Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer, Shahzad Ismaily :: Tiny Desk Concert

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Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer, Shahzad Ismaily live at NPR’s Tiny Desk (May 12, 2023).

Setlist:

  • Eyes Of The Endless

The Deets:

Musicians:

  • Vijay Iyer: Fender Rhodes, piano

  • Arooj Aftab: vocals

  • Shahzad Ismaily: bass, Moog

Tiny Desk Team:

  • Producer: Bob Boilen

  • Director/Editor: Maia Stern

  • Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin

  • Series Producer: Bobby Carter

  • Videographers: Maia Stern, Kara Frame, Sofia Seidel

  • Audio Assistant: Hannah Gluvna

  • Production Assistant: Ashley Pointer

  • Tiny Desk Team: Suraya Mohamed, Joshua Bryant, Marissa Lorusso, Hazel Cills, Ashley Pointer, Pilar Galván, Jill Britton

  • VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins

  • Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann

Heard Too Late 2023 :: Dosh, Ismaily, Young

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Yesterday we began a short series of posts highlighting 2023 albums I didn’t get a chance to spend enough time with prior to compiling my year-end list with Lee Gallagher and the Hallelujah’s “The Falcon Ate The Flower.”

Next up is the self-titled release from Dosh, Ismaily, Young. Featuring “drummer Marty Dosh (Dosh, Andrew Bird, Fog), bassist Shahzad Ismaily (Marc Ribot’s Ceramic Dog, Secret Chiefs 3, Arooj Aftub), and guitarist Tim Young (Wayne Horvitz’s Zony Mash, David Sylvian, Michael White).”

With Shazad already appearing on the 2023 round up with Love In Exile by Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer, Shahzad Ismaily, this marks Ismaily’s second appearance on my favorite albums of 2023.

This is not so much a review as a profile, so I take no shame in quoting the Bandcamp page to help you get a picture of this wild ride: “On their debut self-titled release, these master musicians effortlessly deliver six solid tracks including an 11-minute krautrock mindblower, a meditation on the end of the world, and explorations into Stax-soul, space-rock, and free-jazz.”

If you’ve taken the time and effort to read this far, it’s probably because we share the same music vibes. I highly recommend this release, especially since physical copies are in short supply.

Watch the official video for the opening track, “Blast:”

  • Support Dosh, Ismaily, Young at Bandcamp

  • Purchase Dosh, Ismaily, Young’s music at Amazon

Dogwood Tales :: 13 Summers 13 Falls

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The days get shorter and the nights get longer. And colder. As the darkness settles in we wrap ourselves in Harmonies, heartbreak, and hope. The ashes of loss still contain the embers of hope.

Wilco, Son Volt, and Whiskeytown will be obvious touch-points for many, but Dogwood Tales have crafted their own voice (with killer harmonies).

Album opener circles the refrain:

“It’s hard to be in the right place
for the right thing all the time.
It’s hard to be anywhere when I got you on my mind.”

There’s a sense of being caught in a winter storm here sometimes. Our protagonists sometimes don’t quite sure where’ they’re going or even who they are. But there is a pervasive sense of hope throughout the EP. Pedal steel laces through the often forlorn lyrics ushering us in to moments of hope. Even though the nights are long, morning’s on its way. These songs explore love, loss, and heartbreak with clear-eyed honesty. Sometimes it’s hard and we’re not sure where we’re going or if we’ll make it, but the days will again wash in and the light will eventually return. Sometimes the best we can do is hold out for the hope of a better day to see us through the long winter nights.

“Hold You Again” doesn’t back down from the truth of lost chances and lonely new realities. “I know I may never feel it again,” they sing, but we get the sense that it was still worth it. The bright melody and washes of feedback are a sonic blanket against the cold reality. The push and pull; the give and take of life and love try to find their balance in these 5 songs. “It feels like a matter of time before the dark gets hold of me.”

“25” opens with the lines “I just want to wake up and feel like I’m alive because I’ve got some cousins that didn’t see 25.” There is a stark wrestling with reality. These lyrics don’t shy away from death and loss but they don’t swirl the pity party drain either. There’s a search throughout these songs; here’s the reality; we love, we lose, we die, and we try to make sense of it all. What’s it all about? What’s it’s all for? Is the power of love enough to see us through these long dark nights? Dogwood Tales think so and invite you into their sunbaked cosmic Americana world to see what you think. Whatever your conclusion, this is music for those long dark winter nights when we need to be reminded that the light will eventually return. “we’ve still got miles of road to go” they sing on the title track and there is a sense of surety that we’ll get there eventually.

Highly recommended

The Deets:

WH065
Dogwood Tales - 13 Summers 13 Falls

01. Hard To Be Anywhere
02. Hold You Again
03. 25
04. Since Yesterday
05. 13 Summers

credits

releases November 18, 2023 on WarHen Records

Kyle Grim - Acoustic Guitar, Vocals
Ben Ryan - Electric Guitar, Vocals
Stephen Kuester - Pedal Steel
Danny Gibney - Bass, Organ, Wurlitzer & Piano
Jake Golibart - Drums & Percussion

Produced by Erik Kase Romero
Recorded by Erik Kase Romero and Danny Gibney
All tracks Mixed by Danny Gibney except Hold You Again by Adrian Olsen
Mastered by Garrett Haines
Photograph by Kyle Grim

Check out a recent live session from earlier this year:

  • Visit Dogwood Tales’ website

  • Follow Dogwood Tales at Facebook

  • Support Dogwood Tales at Bandcamp

  • Support Dogwood Tales and WarHen Records at Bandcamp

  • Purchase Dogwood Tales’ music at Amazon

Derek Piotr's Top 5 Hits From Fieldwork Archive :: So Far

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Derek Piotr made one of my favorite albums of 2021. If you missed it, I profiled it here. For that album, Piotr mined some pieces from historical folklore while also including original pieces and instrumentation. This sparked a passion in Piotr to focus on archiving vocal recordings. He began archiving vocal recordings in 2020. Like many archivists, Piotr captures poetry, songs, interviews and the like. But what sets this collection apart, Piotr notes, is the “focus of this collection is on the "non-singer"; in other words, someone with no background in musical performance but who can still relate a song or folkloric memory.”

I recently touched base with Piotr about the project and he was kind enough to highlight five recordings which have really stood out to him so far.

01) :: #208 - Helen Barnes-Rielly performing "Le Carillon de Vendôme"

I had gone to Todd, NC, for the 2-year anniversary of the burning of the Todd General Store, and there was a little local T.V. spot going on with the owner, who is feistily trying to rebuild the site right now. Pretty much the only other thing in Todd is this little bakery, run by Helen. I asked her what I ask everyone, if her grandparents or parents sang anything, and she remembered this little bit of a song, which she called "Chapels of France". It stayed in my head for months, so I called her up one day and asked for it again, on tape this time. Turns out it's a children's song from the 1400's that her mother learned in Cincinnati, OH, from some nuns, who have probably been singing it unbroken these 500+ years.

Le Carillon de Vendôme
Helen Barnes-Rielly
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  • Performed by Helen Barnes-Rielly.

  • Recorded July 27, 2022 in Todd, North Carolina.

  • Telephone recording. Fragment. Learned from her mother, Carolyn Mader, of Cincinnati, Ohio.

2: #103 - Jim Prentice performing "The German Clock Winder"

A rare example of Connecticut folk singing! I had gone out to West Cornwall to visit Jane Prentice, an Old-Time fiddle player, and she recalled one little tiny song for me that her grandmother sang, but mostly played her fiddle for me. Jim came in towards the end of our visit, and, though slightly hoarse from work, sang me a couple of songs right there and then, with no notice, including this one. It seems to have come to America from the British settlers; I have found several traditional versions from the UK.

  • Performed by Jim Prentice.

  • Recorded March 8, 2022 in West Cornwall, Connecticut.

German Clock-Winder
Jim Prentice
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3: #79 - Ian Patterson performing "The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy"

As I walked home one evening from where I was staying in York last summer, I noticed an elderly gentleman supervising construction on his roof. I intuited he might have folklore knowledge and this hunch paid off in spades—Ian's mother was a colleague of Edric Connor's who had traveled to the West Indies when Ian was small to do some field collecting. They collected this song, among many others, and published these songs in a small book. "The Virgin Mary..." in particular found its way into the Cambridge Hymnal, and the rest is history. It was very much a surreal experience to meet the son of the woman who had bridged this carol into broad accessiblity, purely by chance.

The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy
Ian Patterson

  • Performed by Ian Patterson.

  • Recorded September 9, 2021 in York, North Yorkshire, UK.

  • Fragment. Mr. Patterson's mother was a colleague of Edric Connor.

4: #207 - Sandra Noble performing "I've Worked Eight Hours This Day"

I had left a small advertisement in The Dalesman before I left Yorkshire last autumn, and roughly six months later, I got an email from Sandra, who insisted on singing this song (twice!) down WhatsApp for me. "He was a sea-captain, born 1876", she said of her grandfather. "He probably knew more risqué songs than that, but that's the one I remember. I came to live with my granny and grandad when I was 3 or 4." Bonus points for their hometown's name: Robin Hood's Bay! Spry listeners may also note some of Sandra's variation: Johnny Hooligan becomes Patsy Dooligan, and Donegal whiskers become "galigan".







I've Worked Eight Hours This Day
Sandra Noble
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  • Performed by Sandra Noble.

  • Recorded July 13, 2022 in Robin Hood's Bay, North Yorkshire, UK.

  • Telephone recording. One verse. Learned from her grandfather, Robert Watson (b. 1876).

5: #210 - Judy Arrowood performing "Don't Sell Daddy Anymore Whiskey"

Judy is related to the Bares and Turbyfills several times over; she was the last informant I visited In North Carolina this year and lived literally at the intersection of Elk Park Highway and Turbyfill Road. I spent several hours with Judy, who initially could recall Lena Turbyfill vividly, but nothing specifically musical; it was only when we got on the subject of Lena's sister-in-law Ethel Bare Turbyfill that Judy remembered Ethel's children, Shirley and Evelyn singing this song.

  • Performed by Judy Arrowwood.

  • Recorded August 4, 2022 in Smoky Straight, Newland, North Carolina.

  • Fragment. Learned from Shirley and Evelyn Bare.

Don't Sell Daddy Anymore Whiskey
Judy Arrowwood
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  • Visit Derek Piotr’s official website

  • Visit the Fieldwork Archive page

  • Watch the EPK for the new album

  • Follow Derek Piotr on Twitter

  • Follow Derek Piotr at Facebook

  • Purchase Derek Piotr’s music at Amazon

  • Purchase Derek Piotr’s music at Bandcamp

Fire For The People :: A Blue Scholars Playlist

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I think I’ve shared this before, but we drive a 12-passenger van. Because, of course we do. What else are we going to drive? The kids broke the AUX input several years ago, but the CD player works. So sometimes we make mixes especially for the van. Sometimes they are various playlists, and sometimes they are artist-specific. One of our favorite artists as a family is Seattle’s Blue Scholars.

I’m not sure if they ever broke up or if they’re just on some weird hiatus, but I don’t think they have released music together since 2011’s Cinémetropolis. Anyways, if you don’t know, them, Blue Scholars are (were?) a politically conscious Seattle hip hop duo. Formed in 2002 while members, DJ Sabzi (Saba Mohajerjasbi) and MC Geologic (George Quibuyen) were both students at the University of Washington. The duo put out 3 full-length albums, 4 EPs and a lot of singles. All of which is worth hunting down while the group is on hiatus(?).

Here’s the releases I drew from:

Fire For The People :: A Holiday at the Sea Playlist
the Blue Scholars
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Tracklist:

  1. Solstice: Reintroduction from Blue Scholars

  2. Fire For the People from Bayani

  3. Lalo Schifrin from Cinematropolis

  4. Bruise Brothers from Blue Scholars

  5. Joe Metro from Bayani

  6. New People from Ooof!

  7. Sagaba from Blue Scholars

  8. Fou Lee from Cinematropolis

  9. Blue School from Blue Scholars

  10. Still Got Love from Bayani

  11. Selfportrait from Blue Scholars

  12. Southside Revival from The Long March EP

  13. Seijun Suzuki from Cinematropolis

  14. The Inkwell from Blue Scholars

  15. Hi-808 from Oof!

  16. Marion Sunshine from Cinematropolis

  17. Motion Movement from Blue Scholars

  18. Yuri Kochiyama from Cinematropolis

  19. Evening Chai from Blue Scholars

  • Visit Blue Scholars’ official website

  • Follow Blue Scholars at Facebook

  • Follow Blue Scholars at Twitter

  • Support Blue Scholars at Bandcamp

  • Purchase Blue Scholars music at Amazon

  • Browse all Holiday at the Sea Blue Scholars posts

Pentangle Live On Belgian TV (1972)

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From the Youtube Page:

“This Belgian TV special from 1972 captures the band in all its glory as they work their way through six songs from the albums Solomon's Seal, and Reflection.”

2021 Year In Review :: Favorite Albums

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Here’s the dealio, my coolios.

Each year, I keep a running diary of sorts of all of the things I liked each year. If you’re interested (which I doubt you are), you can follow along with my real-time unedited yearly bookkeeping here.

At the end of each year I try to cull down the music section to what really defined my year musically. No ranking. Just great music. Here are 50 of my favorite 2021 albums in alphabetical order.

Albums In Visual Alphabetical Order:

Albums In Alphabetical Alphabetical Order:

  1. Social Music at Troost Vol.1 by 75 Dollar Bill

  2. Jeffrey Alexander and the Heavy Lidders by Jeffrey Alexander and the Heavy Lidders // Elixor of Life by Jeffrey Alexander and the Heavy Lidders

  3. Khaira Arby in New York (Live in 2010) by Khaira Arby

  4. House Music by Bell Orchestre

  5. Valdez by Birds of Maya

  6. Carnage by Nick Cave & Warren Ellis

  7. All These Years by Phil Cook

  8. Home Video by Lucy Dacus

  9. Kanawa by Nahawa Doumbia

  10. The Golden Lag by Elkhorn

  11. Admonitions by Endless Boogie

  12. Drew Gardner by Drew Gardner

  13. Ghost of Vroom 1 by Ghost of Vroom

  14. Leap by Girls in Airports

  15. Couleur by Dobet Gnahoré

  16. G_d's Pee At States End! by Godspeed You! Black Emperor

  17. Other You by Steve Gunn

  18. Quietly Blowing It by Hiss Golden Messenger

  19. The Dharma Wheel by Howlin’ Rain

  20. Brian Jackson JID008 by Brian Jackson, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Adrian Younge

  21. Black Ants Always Fly Together, One Bangle Makes No Sound by Kasai Allstars

  22. Heavy Sun by Daniel Lanois

  23. Now by Damon Locks & Black Monument Ensemble

  24. Hey What by Low

  25. Sound Ancestors by Madlib

  26. Hope by Marc Ribot’s Ceramic Dog

  27. Ghost Songs by Bachar Mar-Khalifé

  28. Tezeta by Hailu Mergia

  29. Afrique Victime by Mdou Moctar

  30. Dark In Here by the Mountain Goats

  31. World What World by Mountain Movers

  32. Tropicale Moon by Mouth Painter

  33. Teenage Dreams by Native Soul

  34. descension (Out of Our Constrictions) by Natural Information Society/Evan Parker

  35. Another Side by Leo Nocentelli (1971)

  36. Making and Then Unmaking by Derek Piotr

  37. Earth Trip by Rose City Band

  38. East Pakistan Sky by Ustad Saami

  39. Nine by Sault

  40. The Veiled Sea by Six Organs of Admittance

  41. Black to the Future by Sons of Kemet

  42. Renewal by Billy Strings

  43. Superwolves by Matt Sweeney and Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy

  44. Deep Fried Grandeur by Ryley Walker And Kikagaku Moyo

  45. Course In Fable by Ryley Walker

  46. Yaral Sa Doom by Wau Wau Collectif

  47. Eau’d To A Fake Boogie Volume 4 by Wet Tuna

  48. Broken Mirror: A Selfie Reflection by Matthew E. White and Lonnie Holley

  49. Urban Driftwood by Yasmin Williams

  50. Way Down in the Rust Bucket by Neil Young and Crazy Horse

  • Browse my favorite albums of the year

  • Browse my “2021 Yearly Wrap-it-Up” which is really a ramble about seeing Phish

  • Browse my favorite books of 2021

  • Browse my favorite movies of 2021

  • Browse my favorite television of 2021

  • Listen to a nearly 5-hour very low quality mix of one song from each of my favorite albums of 2021 called “Soundtrack to the Collective Meltdown”

A Sliver Of The Whole :: A Holiday At The Sea Playlist

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This was originally a mix that was supposed to just feature some live Grateful Dead and live Velvet Underground cuts. That mix is still in the works, by the way, but this one morphed out of that project and features several other bands from the 1968-1971 sliver of time. Don’t ask me how it ended up being that, the mix made itself, man.

What we ended up with is a mix that features MC5, the Beatles, the Velvet Underground, Creedence Clearwater Revival, the Rolling Stones, the Grateful Dead, and the Stooges (and then kept going until I whittled it back down to these tracks). This is a mix I regularly play around the house, so, I hope you enjoy it; because this mix has been getting lots of Sonos time around here, whether the kids like it or not.

A Sliver Of The Whole
Various Artists
Download

Setlist:

  1. Kick Out The Jams by MC5

  2. Get Back by the Beatles

  3. Sweet Jane by the Velvet Underground

  4. Commotion by Creedence Clearwater Revival

  5. Parachute Woman by the Rolling Stones

  6. St. Stephen by the Grateful Dead

  7. The Eleven by the Grateful Dead

  8. Rock & Roll by the Velvet Underground

  9. Shakin’ Street by MC5

  10. Down On the Street by the Stooges

  11. Dig A Pony by the Beatles

  12. Bootleg by Creedence Clearwater Revival

  13. The American Ruse by MC5

  14. Street Fighting Man by the Rolling Stones

  15. I’ve Got A Feeling by the Beatles

  16. Real Cool Time by the Stooges

  17. Graveyard Train by Creedence Clearwater Revival

  • Visit the Beatles’ official site

  • Purchase the Beatles’ music at Amazon

  • Follow Creedence Clearwater Revival at Facebook

  • Purchase Creedence Clearwater Revival’s music at Amazon

  • Visit the Grateful Dead’s official website

  • Follow the Grateful Dead on Facebook

  • Follow Grateful Dead on Twitter

  • Purchase Grateful Dead music on Amazon

  • Purchase MC5’s music at Amazon

  • Visit the official page for the Stooges

  • Purchase the Stooges’ music at Amazon

  • Visit the Velvet Underground’s official site

  • Purchase the Velvet Underground’s music at Amazon

Beauty Pill Plays the Tiny Desk

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NPR introduces this terrific set by saying:

“Beauty Pill's music is an invitation. In it, life whirs with plunderphonic glee and riffs are funky from the inside out, with rhythms that are equal parts hip-hop and go-go. Conceived, recorded and meticulously tinkered with over the course of eight years, Beauty Pill Describes Things As They Are was partly made in front of an audience after member Chad Clark recovered from a viral infection in his heart that nearly killed him. It's one of the year's most stunning records, as well as an argument for letting art rest, live and breathe before it's ready to be known by a listener. “

Setlist:

  1. "Afrikaner Barista"

  2. "Drapetomania!"

  3. "Exit Without Saving"

R.E.M. Live at the Raleigh Underground (1982)

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From the video’s Youtube page (posted in 2013):

“Yesterday was the 30th anniversary of the release of "Murmur" and somehow I stumbled upon the existence of this video which I'd never seen before. I love early R.E.M. especially "Chronic Town" and "Murmur"-era, so to get to see the band profusely sweating out these songs at such an early stage, and pro-shot, is just fascinating bliss. This was filmed less than two months after "Chronic Town" was released on I.R.S. and it's an outstanding document. It is also the earliest known professionally show footage of an R.E.M. show.

Setlist:

  1. Wolves, Lower

  2. Laughing

  3. 1,000,000 **

  4. Moral Kiosk

  5. Catapult

  6. West of the Fields

  7. Radio Free Europe

  8. Ages of You

  9. We Walk

  10. Carnival of Sorts (Box Cars) ***

  11. Skank (Jam)

** Mitch Easter, who produced "Chronic Town" as well as "Murmur" and "Reckoning" (with Don Dixon), joins the band on guitar)

*** As identified by peechpanda in the comments section, Peter Holsapple appears to join the band on guitar for this song)

Rachel's Live at the Black Cat (11.19.97)

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“Rachel's live at the Black Cat in Washington, DC on November 19, 1997”

Setlist:

  1. Rhine & Courtesan

  2. Family Portrait

  3. Kentucky Nocturne

ZZ Top Live Westfalenhalle 1 Dortmund, Germany (1982)

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ZZ Top MAY 28 1982
Westfalenhalle 1 Dortmund, Germany
Tour: El Loco-Motion Tour




Setlist:

  1. Groovy Little Hippie Pad

  2. I Thank You

  3. Waitin' for the Bus

  4. Jesus Just Left Chicago

  5. I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide

  6. Ten Foot Pole

  7. I Love the Woman

  8. I Believe I'll Dust My Broom

  9. La Grange (with Sloppy Drunk Jam)

  10. Tush

Birds of Maya Live In Philadelphia (06.24.21)

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No really, I can’t get enough of Birds of Maya lately. Check out this recent juicy live nugget.

Sorry, no setlist or any other information, but do you really need it?

Ya dig?

  • Follow Birds of Maya at Facebook

  • Purchase Birds of Maya’s music at Bandcamp

  • Purchase Birds of Maya’s music at Amazon

Matty Bovan and Derek Piotr Collaborate :: Audio Knit Playlist

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To celebrate Derek Piotr’s haunting new album Making and Then Unmaking (which I profiled here), Derek has collaborated with designer Matty Bovan to create a signature look and a custom playlist providing some of context for Piotr’s new album and the listening that went behind it.

Of the look, Bovan says:

“'When Derek first approached me to create a custom look, I was super excited as I always love special commissions - it allows me to explore real characters wearing my pieces. Derek is very interested in British folk life and music, so we connected instantly. I myself am always inspired by the traditions of the UK in my work. The look itself has a folk element, and we used hand-pleated deadstock Liberty prints, alongside a leather gingham apron, screen-printed with mountains and hand drawn on the reverse. The overall look had to be practical and reusable for many situations for Derek, and like myself and my work, the look had to strike the balance of wearability, but still interesting silhouette-wise.’

The two also collaborated on a playlist; not only to celebrate Piotr’s new album, but the musical heritages of traditionalism and exploration upon which it stands. The playlist features a unique juxtaposition of new and old, traditional and experimental.

Enjoy.

Playlist:

  1. AGF Top Off (Beyoncé remix) [unreleased]

  2. Almeda Riddle I Love my Rooster [Wolf Folk collection]

  3. Derek Piotr The Stake (Territorial Gobbing’s Honking at the Moon Remix) [DPSR]

  4. Madonna Bedtime Story (Orbital remix) [Maverick]

  5. Derek Piotr Odyssey (Matty Bovan score) [unreleased]

  6. Frank Edwards O Lampkins (1 verse) [IU ATM archives]

  7. Björk Bachelorette (Alec Empire The Ice Princess Remix) [One Little Independent]

  8. Björk vs Jean Ritchie Headphones vs Gypsy Laddie (Derek Piotr mash) [unreleased]

  9. Anne Briggs vs Lotic Reynardine x Slay (Derek Piotr mash) [unreleased]

  10. Derek Piotr Bolakins [DPSR]

  11. AGF Antye of Tegea CA 300 BC [AGF Producktion]

  12. Derek Piotr West Redding Woods Field Recording 2021 [unreleased]

  13. Mrs Lena Bare Turbyfill & Mrs Lloyd Bare Hagie Cumberland Gap [unreleased]

  14. Machinedrum The Relic [Ninja Tune]

  15. Derek Piotr Light-Years [DPSR]

  • Visit Derek Piotr’s official website

  • Watch the EPK for the new album

  • Follow Derek Piotr on Twitter

  • Follow Derek Piotr at Facebook

  • Purchase Derek Piotr’s music at Amazon

  • Purchase Derek Piotr’s music at Bandcamp

  • Read my profile of Piotr’s latest album Making and Then Unmaking

  • Visit Matty Bovan’s website

  • Follow Matty Bovan on Instagram

Dire Straits Rockpalast 1979

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Dire Straits Rockpalast WDR Studio L, Cologne 16 feb 1979.



Setlist:

  1. Down to the Waterline

  2. Six Blade Knife

  3. Once Upon a Time in the West

  4. Lady Writer

  5. Single-Handed Sailor

  6. Water of Love

  7. In the Gallery

  8. Follow Me Home

  9. News

  10. What's the Matter Baby?

  11. Lions

  12. Sultans of Swing

  • Visit the Dire Straits website

  • Follow Dire Straits at Facebook

  • Purchase Dire Straits’ music at Amazon

Star and Micey on Audiotree Live (2013)

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I don’t know if you know Memphis’ Star and Micey, but you should. I posted their song ‘So Much Pain’ as part of the Musical Worldview Project and also included the track on Volume 03 of the Musical Worldview Project Playlist.

The Youtube page only provides the following information: “(ARCHIVE RELEASE) Star & Micey perform on Audiotree Live, June 5, 2013.” That’s not a lot to go on, except for your trust in me as your musical guide. Let me guide you to Star & Micey.

Setlist:

  1. Love Me?

  2. #1

  3. So Much Pain

  4. I Can't Wait

  5. Everything

  6. Jesus & The Devil

  7. Tiger

  • Visit Star & Micey at Facebook

  • Support Star & Micey at Bandcamp

  • Purchase Star & Micey’s music at Amazon