December 29, 2018 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #412)

I played songs from my Top 40 LPs of 2019, with #20-1 next week!

9:00 AM #40 FACS • Silencing • Negative Houses • Trouble in Mind

9:04 AM Eurythmics • Beethoven (I Love to Listen To) • Savage • RCA

9:09 AM Wet • 11 Hours • Still Run • Columbia

December 22, 2018 CHIRP Radio playlist

9:01 AM Michael Carpenter • Love and Mercy • By Request Volume 2 • Big Radio

9:04 AM Mavis Staples • Christmas in Love • Holiday Heroes• Soul Purpose

9:08 AM Sarah Louise • Rime • Nighttime Birds and Morning Stars • Thrill Jockey

My Top 40 albums of 2018

Another swell year for music, and another year where I couldn't possibly keep up with all of the good stuff coming out. I listened to about 200 albums this year, and these are the ones that I played the most and stayed with me the longest. I find that with each batch of 10 records, the ratings are less fine tuned, and I could probably change the order of the bottom 20 and that would be just as satisfactory to me. But I have to lock it in some time, and now is that time.

1. Superchunk – What a Time to Be Alive (Merge): This is the third album since Superchunk reactivated, and as terrific as the prior two were, this album uses the fuel of the current presidential administration and comes up with an inspired collection. The songs are classic Superchunk, with a bashing rhythm section, biting lead guitars, and strong melodies and hooks. These are in songs that channel anger and frustration into something hopeful and inspiring. 21st century punk rock tailor made to fuel protest marches.

2. Mitski – Be the Cowboy (Dead Oceans): I saw Mitski at the Pitchfork Blue Stage, and the crowd spilled over to hear her bring the songs off of Puberty 2 to life. I was watching a star in the making. She could have made Puberty 3 (or Puberty 2 II?), but instead of continuing to update ‘90s alt-rock, she upped the ante with a musically diverse collection of songs filtered through a concept that was ideal for her keen observational lyrics. The concise tunes fly by and build resonance like a musical version of Raymond Carver book.

3. Sons of Kemet – Your Queen Is a Reptile (Impulse): This percussive jazz quartet led by British-Bahan wunderkind Shabaka Hutchings plays politically motivated songs that have the power of punk rock. I never could imagine how commanding a saxophone, a tuba, and two drummers could sound, but the songs have a bit of New Orleans second line jazz, funk, Afro pop, and the Carribean exploding through the speakers. As with Superchunk’s album, the political motivation behind the album (how the British monarchy doesn’t represent black immigrants, conveyed through songs about notable black women) gives it an energy and center that never cools off.

December 15, 2018 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #411)

9:00 AM Fine Young Cannibals • Ever Fallen in Love • The Raw & The Cooked • I.R.S.

9:03 AM The Pointer Sisters • Fairytale • That's a Plenty • Blue Thumb

9:07 AM Tim Rutili & Craig Ross • Like a Rifle • 10 Seconds to Collapse • Jealous Butcher

December 1, 2018 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #410)

9:00 AM The Korgis • Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime • Dumb Waiters • Asylum

9:04 AM Bat For Lashes • Pearl's Dream • Two Suns • Astralwerks

9:09 AM Masta Ace & Marco Polo • American Me • A Breukelen Story • Fat Beats

November 24, 2018 CHIRP Playlist (Show #409)

8:59 AM De La Soul • Breakadawn • Buhloone Mind State • Tommy Boy

9:03 AM Conway Twitty & Loretta Lynn • As Soon As I Hang Up the Phone • Country Partners • MCA

9:06 AM Miya Folick • Premonitions • Premonitions • Terrible

November 17, 2018 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show#408)

9:01 AM Mark Lanegan Band • I Am the Wolf • Phantom Radio • Flooded Soil/Vagrant

9:04 AM tUnE-yArDs • Wooly Wolly Gong • whokill • 4AD

9:10 AM Josephine Foster • Pearl in Oyster • Faithful Fairy Harmony • Fire

November 10, 2018 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #407)

9:00 AM Queen • I'm Going Slightly Mad • Innuendo • Hollywood

9:04 AM Kelela • Cut 4 Me • Cut 4 Me • Fade to Mind

9:08 AM Laura Gibson • Tenderness • Goners • Barsuk

November 3, 2018 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #406)

9:01 AM XTC • Season Cycle • Skylarking • Ape

9:04 AM Laura Lee • Woman's Love Rights • Woman's Love Rights • Hot Wax

9:07 AM Makaya McCraven • Inner Flight • Universal Beings • International Anthem

October 27, 2018 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #405)

9:00 AM Stereolab • Ping Pong • Mars Audiac Quintet • Elektra

9:03 AM Stevie Wonder • Pastime Paradise • Songs in the Key of Life • Tamla

9:07 AM Seasaw • Hangin' Out Too Much • Big Dogs • self-released

October 20, 2018 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #404)

9:00 AM Elbow • With Love • Build a Rocket Boys! • Fiction

9:05 AM The Staple Singers • Won't You Sit Down (Sit Down Servant) • The Ultimate Staple Singers: Family Affair • Kent Soul

9:07 AM Cat Power • You Get • Wanderer • Domino

October 13, 2018 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #403)

9:00 AM Bettye LaVette • I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got • I've Got My Own Hell to Raise • ANTI-

9:02 AM The Housemartins • Caravan of Love • Now that's what I call quite good • Go Discs

9:06 AM Mountain Man • Bright Morning Stars • Magic Ship • Nonesuch

October 6, 2018 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #402)

9:00 AM Erykah Badu • Window Seat • New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh • Universal Motown

9:04 AM Ben Folds • Not the Same • Rockin' the Suburbs • Epic

9:08 AM Advance Base • Same Dream • Animal Companionship • Run for Cover

September 29, 2018 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #401)

9:01 AM The Specials • A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You • Today's Specials • Virgin

9:05 AM Doleful Lions • Quicksand • sTarKiDsAnDsPaCeDuSt • Tastee

9:10 AM Ben Pirani • Light of My Life • How Do I Talk to My Brother? • Colemine

September 22, 2018 CHIRP Radio Show playlist (Show #400)

9:00 AM The Fun Boy Three with Bananarama • It Ain't What You Do It's the Way That You Do It • The Fun Boy Three • Chrysalis

9:03 AM Rumer • Love is the Answer • Love is the Answer • Night Owl Music

9:07 AM Blood Orange • Saint • Negro Swan • Domino

September 15, 2018 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #399)

9:01 AM Donny Hathaway • Jealous Guy • Live • Atco

9:05 AM Wondermints • Porpoise Song • Wondermints • Castle Music

9:08 AM Serengeti • Jam Time • Dennis 6E • self-released

September 8, 2018 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #398)

9:00 AM Sweet • Tell the Truth • Water's Edge • Polydor

9:03 AM Jamila Woods • Blk Girl Soldier • HEAVN • Closed Sessions

9:06 AM Ohmme • Left Handed • Parts • Joyful Noise

September 1, 2018 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #397)

9:00 AM Mavis Staples • Don't Knock • You Are Not Alone • ANTI-

9:03 AM Talking Heads • Drugs • Fear of Music • Sire

9:08 AM Hprizm • Clearbody • Catching a Body • Don Giovanni

9:13 AM Dolly Parton ft. Alison Kraus • The Last Word in Lonesome Is Me • King of the Road: A Tribute to Roger Miller • BMG

9:16 AM Quin Kirchner • Crossings • The Other Side of Time• Astral Spirits

9:19 AM Dexys Midnight Runners • Liars A to E • Too-Rye-Ay • Mercury

9:24 AM Angie Heaton • Downed • Let it Ride • Parasol

9:30 AM Laura Nyro • Stoned Soul Picnic • Eli and the Thirteenth Confession • Columbia

9:32 AM Ashby • West Coast Town • Power Ballads • Marina

9:35 AM Death Cab for Cutie • Summer Years • Thank You for Today • Atlantic

9:41 AM Mark Lanegan & Duke Garwood • Upon Doing Something Wrong • With Animals • [PIAS]

9:45 AM Tirzah • Do You Know • Devotion • Domino

9:48 AM DIIV • Dopamine • Is The Is Are • Captured Tracks

9:52 AM Marlowe • Lost Arts • Marlowe • Mello Music Group

9:57 AM Billy Bragg • Over You • Tooth & Nail • Cooking Vinyl

10:00 AM M.I.A. • Amazon • Arular • Interscope

10:04 AM Bee Gees • Boogie Child • Children of the World • RSO

10:08 AM El Ten Eleven • Reverie • Banker's Hill • Topshelf

10:13 AM White Denim • Performance • Performance • City Slang

10:16 AM The Beta Band • Dry The Rain • The Three EP's • Astralwerks

10:22 AM Boygenius • Bite the Hand • boygenius • Matador

10:25 AM Trees • Shock of the New • Sleep Convention • Rubellan Remasters

10:29 AM Serengeti • OK in My Book • Dennis 6E • self-released

10:32 AM The Beatles • Good Morning Good Morning • Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band • Capitol

10:34 AM Szun Waves • Constellation • New Hymn To Freedom • The Leaf Label

10:41 AM Ohmme • Left Handed • Parts • Joyful Noise

10:45 AM Blitzen Trapper • Saturday Nite • Furr • Sub Pop

10:49 AM Con Funk Shun • Ffun • Secrets • Mercury

10:51 AM The Grifters • My Apology • Ain't My Lookout • Sub Pop

10:56 AM Moses Sumney • Rank & File • Black in Deep Red 2014 • Secretly Canadian

11:00 AM The Waco Brothers • Plenty Tough - Union Made • ...To the Last Dead Cowboy • Bloodshot

11:03 AM Black Uhuru • Solidarity • Anthem • Island

11:07 AM Ethers • Running Through the Night • Ethers • Trouble in Mind

11:12 AM Anna Calvi • Alpha • Hunter • Domino

11:16 AM They Might Be Giants • Take Out The Trash • The Else • Zoe

11:19 AM Murder By Death • Bloom • The Other Shore • Bloodshot

11:22 AM Young Fathers • Sirens • White Men Are Black Men Too • Big Dada

11:27 AM Sis • Gene • Euphorbia • Native Cat

11:30 AM The Jimi Hendrix Experience • Up From the Skies • Axis: Bold As Love • Reprise

11:33 AM Ava Luna • A Year of Mirth • Ice Level • Infinite Best

11:40 AM Bloods • Bring My Walls Down • Feelings • Share It

11:42 AM Slaves • Cut and Run • Acts of Fear and Love • Virgin EMI

11:45 AM Foxing • Heartbeats • Nearer My God • Triple Crown

11:49 AM Hollows • Sunset Lullaby • Vulture • Trouble In Mind

11:53 AM Cherelle • I Didn't Mean to Turn You On • Fragile • Tabu

August 25, 2018 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #396)

9:00 AM Luscious Jackson • Naked Eye • Fever In Fever Out• Capitol

9:04 AM Heart • Love Alive • Little Queen • Portrait

9:08 AM Glenn Jones • The Sunken Amusement Park • The Giant Who Ate Himself and Other New Works for 6 & 12 String Guitar • Thrill Jockey

9:13 AM Neil & Liam Finn • Anger Plays a Part • Lightsleeper• Lester Records

9:16 AM Benni • Ancient Plains • The Return • Goner

9:20 AM The Searchers • Popcorn Double Feature • The Pye Anthology 1963-1967 • Sequel

9:23 AM Rhiannon Giddens • Don't Let it Trouble Your Mind • Tomorrow Is My Turn • Nonesuch

9:28 AM Spider Bags • Rollin' With the Flow • Someday Everything Will Be Fine • Merge

9:33 AM Café Tacvba • Desperte • Cuatro Caminos • MCA

9:36 AM Kate Bush • Wuthering Heights • The Kick Inside • EMI

9:43 AM Optiganally Yours • Whomever Watches You Sleep • O.Y. in Hi-Fi • Joyful Noise

9:46 AM Tony Molina • Give He Take You • Kill the Lights • Slumberland

9:48 AM Matthew Lux's Communication Arts Quartet • Mercury Lights • Contra/Fact • Contra/Fact

9:52 AM Jackie Lynn • Franklin, TN • Jackie Lynn • Thrill Jockey

9:56 AM Gary Numan • Complex • The Pleasure Principle • ATCO

10:00 AM They Might Be Giants • The Statue Got Me High • Apollo 18 • Elektra

10:03 AM Aaliyah • Extra Smooth • Aaliyah • Blackground

10:06 AM Emily Blue • Cellophane • *69 • self-released

10:12 AM Cullen Omori • Happiness Reigns • The Diet • Sub Pop

10:15 AM XTC • Grass • Skylarking • Virgin

10:17 AM Free Cake For Every Creature • Be Home Soon • The Bluest Star • Double Double Whammy

10:21 AM Syl Johnson • Teardrops • Complete Mythology • Numero Group

10:25 AM Fabulous Poodles • Work Shy • Fabulous Poodles • Cherry Red

10:28 AM The Stepkids • Suburban Dream • The Stepkids • Stones Throw

10:31 AM Allison Moorer • Like it Used to Be • Down to Believing • Entertainment One

10:34 AM Kurt Vile • Loading Zones • single • Matador

10:39 AM Odetta Hartman • Misery • Old Rockhounds Never Die • Northern Spy

10:42 AM The Love Language • Independence Day • Baby Grand • Merge

10:45 AM Gia Margaret • Exist • There's Always Glimmer • Orindal

10:48 AM Lloyd Cole and the Commotions • Lost Weekend • Easy Pieces • Geffen

10:53 AM Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes • Don't Leave Me This Way • Wake Up Everybody • Philadelphia International

10:59 AM Lynyrd Skynyrd • Saturday Night Special • Nuthin' Fancy • MCA

11:04 AM Jay Reatard • Another Person • Singles 06-07 • In the Red

11:07 AM Blizzard Babies • Miss Me Miss Me • Missing Time • Don Giovanni

11:11 AM The Imperial Sound • Yesterday (ft. Nora O'Connor)• The New AM • Pravda

11:15 AM Big Supermarket • Peter • 1800 • Hobbies Galore

11:17 AM Iggy Pop • The Endless Sea • New Values • Arista

11:22 AM Pit Er Pat • Water • The Flexible Entertainer • Thrill Jockey

11:27 AM Dorian Concept • No Time Not Mine • The Nature of Imitation • Brainfeeder

11:31 AM Barbara Acklin • Am I the Same Girl • Seven Days of Night • Brunswick

11:34 AM April Wine • All Over Town • The Nature of the Beast• Capitol

11:38 AM Cold Beat • Love is a Stranger • A Simple Reflection• Dark Entries

11:42 AM Laurel Halo • Supine • Raw Silk Uncut Wood • Latency

11:45 AM Grizzly Bear • Sleeping Ute • Shields • Warp

11:48 AM Mike Pace and the Child Actors • Troubleshooting • Smooth Sailing • self-released

11:54 AM Los Chicharrons • KoKo • Roots Of Life • Tummy Touch

August 18, 2018 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #395)

9:01 AM Hot Chocolate • Brother Louie • A's B's & Rarities • EMI

9:06 AM Kacey Musgraves • Dandelion • Same Trailer Different Park • Mercury

9:09 AM Earth Girl Helen Brown • Flower of Darkness • Four Satellites Vol. 1 • In the Red

9:15 AM Tirzah • Basic Need • Devotion • Domino

9:18 AM Rumer • Aretha • Seasons of My Soul • Atlantic

9:21 AM Nicole Mitchell's Black Earth Ensemble • Dripping Matter • Intergalactic Beings • FPE

9:25 AM Steve Hauschildt • Saccade (ft. Julianna Barwick) • Dissolvi • Ghostly International

9:31 AM Aretha Franklin • Let It Be • This Girl's in Love With You • Atlantic

9:34 AM Electric Light Orchestra • Stranger on a Quiet Street • Zoom • Epic

9:38 AM Izzy True • SadBad • Sad Bad • Don Giovanni

9:43 AM Michael Nesmith & The First National Band Redux• Propinquity (I've Just Begun to Care) • Live at The Troubadour • 7a

9:46 AM Tuomo & Markus • Life Leaving Your Body • Dead Circles • Schoolkids

9:49 AM Aaron Neville • Why Worry • Treacherous Too • Rhino

9:51 AM The Go-Betweens • Love Goes On • 16 Lovers Lane• Jetset

9:57 AM Matchess • Of Freedom • Sacracorpa • Trouble in Mind

10:01 AM Sparks • Over the Summer • Introducing Sparks • Columbia

10:05 AM Neko Case • Runnin' Out Of Fools • Blacklisted • Bloodshot

10:08 AM Andrew Bernstein • Broken Arc • An Exploded View of Time • Hausu Mountain

10:15 AM Buck Owens • He Ain't Been Out Bowling With the Boys • Country Singer's Prayer • Omnivore

10:18 AM Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians • Bass • Element of Light • Yep Roc

10:21 AM that dog. • He's Kissing Christian • Totally Crushed Out! • DGC

10:24 AM Chance the Rapper • Wala Cam • single • self-released

10:30 AM Aretha Franklin • How I Got Over • Amazing Grace • Atlantic

10:34 AM The Wildweeds • Happiness Is Just an Illusion • No Good to Cry • Confidential Recordings

10:36 AM Moon Rituals • Dressed in Black • Moon Rituals • Solar/Sonar

10:42 AM Louis Cole • Real Life (feat. Brad Mehldau) • Time • Brainfeeder

10:45 AM Kelley Stoltz • Our Modern World • Natural Causes • Banana & Louie

10:48 AM Lulu • The Man Who Sold the World • Heaven and Earth and the Stars • Chelsea

10:51 AM Franz Ferdinand • No You Girls • Tonight: Franz Ferdinand • Domino

10:57 AM Robbie Fulks & Linda Gail Lewis • Hardluck, Louisiana • Wild, Wild, Wild • Bloodshot

11:02 AM Funkadelic • Who Says a Funk Band Can't Play Rock? • One Nation Under a Groove • Warner Bros.

11:08 AM Sleater-Kinney • Little Babies • Dig Me Out • Kill Rock Stars

11:10 AM Table Sugar • Baba Yaga • Collected Acknowledgments • Stucco

11:14 AM Mitski • Why Didn't You Stop Me? • Be the Cowboy • Dead Oceans

11:17 AM Rival Sons • Good Luck • Great Western Valkyrie • Earache

11:20 AM Martin Van Ruin • On the Level • Current Day • self-released

11:24 AM Carole King • (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman • The Legendary Demos • Rockingale

11:29 AM Aretha Franklin • Rolling in the Deep (The Aretha Version) • Aretha Franklin Sings the Great Diva Classics • RCA

11:33 AM Gregor • A Song About Holding Hands • Silver Drop • Chapter Music

11:36 AM Saint Etienne • Mario's Cafe • So Tough • Warner Bros.

11:42 AM Beach Bunny • Prom Queen • Prom Queen • self-released

11:44 AM The Beths • Uptown Girl • Future Me Hates Me • Carpark

11:46 AM The Rolling Stones • Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing in the Shadow • Singles Collection The London Years • ABKCO

11:49 AM Clipping. • Work Work (featuring Cocc Pistol Cree) • CLPPNG • Sub Pop

11:56 AM Deaf Wish • The Rat Is Back • Lithium Zion • Sub Pop

August 4, 2018 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #394)

9:00 AM Erasure • Too Hot • Red Hot + Blue • Chrysalis

9:03 AM Arcade Fire • Crown of Love • Funeral • Merge

9:08 AM Jimi Tenor • Max Out • Order of Nothingness • Pilophon

July 28, 2018 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #393)

9:01 AM The Beach Boys • In My Room • Surfer Girl • Capitol

9:03 AM The Flat Five • Buglight • It's a World of Love and Hope • Bloodshot

9:06 AM Shemekia Copeland • I'm Not Like Everybody Else • America's Child • Alligator

July 21, 2018 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #392)

Trainee Sarah did the first two sets of the 10:00 a.m. as indicated below (and she did a great job).

9:01 AM SZA • Drew Barrymore • Ctrl • Top Dawg

9:04 AM Wye Oak • I Know the Law • Shriek • Merge

9:08 AM John Coltrane • Nature Boy • Both Directions at Once • Impulse!

July 14, 2018 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #391)

9:00 AM Marianne Faithfull • Past, Present and Future • Horses and High Heels • Naive

9:03 AM Frank Ocean • Bad Religion • Channel Orange • Def Jam

9:06 AM Andy Pratt • Lincoln Avenue • Further Disruption • self-released

July 7, 2018 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #390)

9:00 AM Sparks • Popularity • Sparks in Outer Space • Atlantic

9:04 AM Portishead • Strangers • Dummy • Go! Disc

9:08 AM Snail Mail • Full Control • Lush • Matador

Mid-year Top 40 albums of 2018

This is a pretty loose ranking of my favorite records of the year. The first eight or so are records I know will rank highly at the end of the year. From there, the rest of these are all good, but my estimation of each could rise or fall considerably over the next few months. Anyway, this has been a really good year for music so far, based on this and some of the many fine records that, as I'm typing this, I realize could have made the list.

1. Superchunk – What a Time to Be Alive
2. Young Fathers – Cocoa Sugar
3. Kamasi Washington – Heaven and Earth
4. Seun Kuti and Egypt 80 – Black Times
5. Neko Case – Hell-On

June 30, 2018 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #389)

9:00 AM Finn Brothers • Last Day of June • Finn • Discovery

9:03 AM Mahalia Jackson • He's Got The Whole World In His Hands • The Essential Mahalia Jackson • Columbia/Legacy

9:06 AM V.V. Lightbody • Jawbones • Bathing Peach • Midwest Action

June 23, 2018 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #388)

9:01 AM k.d. lang and the Siss Boom Bang • A Sleep with No Dreaming • Sing it Loud • Nonesuch

9:04 AM Bronski Beat • Smalltown Boy • The Age of Consent• London

9:09 AM Andy Pratt • Thrift Store Girl • Further Disruption • self-released

June 2, 2018 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #387)

9:01 AM The Magnetic Fields • I Have The Moon • The Charm of the Highway Strip • Merge

9:04 AM Millie Jackson • Summer (The First Time) • Caught Up • Spring

9:09 AM La Luz • Floating Features • Floating Features • Hardly Art

9:14 AM Father John Misty • Mr. Tillman • God's Favorite Customer • Sub Pop

9:17 AM Charlie Rich • There Won't Be Anymore • Ultimate Collection • Hip-O

9:19 AM Venetian Snares x Daniel Lanois • Night MXCMPV1 P74 • Venetian Snares x Daniel Lanois • Timesig/Planet Mu

9:24 AM Stereo Venus • Scarlett • Close to the Sun • Sudden Hunger

9:30 AM Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater • Nashville Blues • Cool Blues Walk • Bullseye Blues & Jazz

9:32 AM R.E.M. • We Walk • Murmur • I.R.S.

9:35 AM Nedelle Torrisi • Good Love • Only for You • Frenchkiss

9:40 AM John Parish • Sorry for Your Loss • Bird Dog Dante • Thrill Jockey

9:43 AM Beach House • Pay No Mind • 7 • Sub Pop

9:47 AM Ken Stringfellow • When U Find Someone • Soft Commands • Yep Roc

9:50 AM Artson • We Ain't Done • Brave Star • Death Valley Entertainment

9:55 AM Canasta • Reading The Map Upside Down • The Fakeout, The Tease And The Breather • RWIM Chicago

10:00 AM Paul McCartney • Looking at Her • NEW • Hear Music

10:03 AM Kid Sister • You Ain't Really Down • Ultraviolet • Downtown

10:06 AM Courtesy • Hey • HEY • Moon Glyph

10:13 AM Neko Case • Gumball Blue • Hell-On • Anti-

10:17 AM The Byrds • Time Between • Younger Than Yesterday • Columbia

10:19 AM Sonido Gallo Negro • Tolú • Mambo Cósmico • Glitterbeat

10:22 AM Amber Mark • All the Work • Conexão • PMR/Interscope

10:27 AM Depeche Mode • Precious • Playing the Angel • Mute

10:31 AM Eleanor Friedberger • The Letter • Rebound • Frenchkiss

10:35 AM The Vertebrats • Left in the Dark • A Thousand Day Dream • Parasol

10:40 AM Modern Studies • It's Winter • Welcome Stranger • Fire

10:44 AM Earth, Wind & Fire • On Your Face • Spirit • Columbia

10:48 AM Kuwaisiana • Gashxi • Chapter 1 • self-released

10:51 AM Smoking Popes • Pure Imagination • Destination Failure • Capitol

10:56 AM Wussy • Skip • What Heaven Is Like • Shake-It

11:00 AM Spoon • The Fitted Shirt • Girls Can Tell • Merge

11:04 AM Mano Negra • La Vida (La Vida me da Palo) • Casa Babylon • Virgin Latino

11:06 AM Parquet Courts • Wide Awake • Wide Awake! • Rough Trade

11:11 AM Poptone • Go! • Poptone • Cleopatra

11:16 AM Super Neutral • Your Little Still Life • Your Little Still Life/Geek Speedball • self-released

11:19 AM Spooky Tooth • Society's Child • It's All About • Island

11:23 AM Sheer Mag • Just Can't Get Enough • Need to Feel Your Love • Wilsuns Recording Company

11:27 AM SSION • 1980-99 (featuring Patty Schemel and Sky Ferreira) • O • Dero Arcade

11:31 AM Peach Kelli Pop • Black Magic • Gentle Leader • Mint

11:33 AM Lauryn Hill • Lost Ones • The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill • Ruffhouse

11:40 AM T-Bone Burnett • I Can Explain Everything • The Criminal Under My Own Hat • Columbia

11:43 AM LITHICS • Excuse Generator • Mating Surfaces • Kill Rock Stars

11:45 AM Queen • Sheer Heart Attack • News of the World • Elektra

11:49 AM Dirty Looks • Take a Life • Dirty Looks • Stiff

11:54 AM Cheer-Accident • I'm Just Afraid • Fades • Skin Graft

May 26, 2018 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #386)

9:00 AM Warren Zevon • The French Inhaler • Warren Zevon • Asylum

9:03 AM Lykke Li • Time in a Bottle • single • LL Recordings

9:06 AM Damien Jurado • Marvin Kaplan • The Horizon Just Laughed • Secretly Canadian

May 19, 2018 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #385)

9:01 AM Solange • Weary • A Seat at the Table • Saint

9:04 AM Bob Dylan • Life is Hard • Together Through Life • Columbia

9:07 AM Orquesta Akokán • La Cosa • Orquesta Akokán • Daptone

May 12, 2018 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #384)

9:00 AM Beth Orton • Central Reservation (Ben Watt mix) • Central Reservation • Arista

9:04 AM Fleet Foxes • Blue Spotted Tail • Helplessness Blues• Sub Pop

9:06 AM Joachim Cooder • Everyone Sleeps in the Light • Fuchsia Machu Picchu • Temple of Leaves

Sparks in a nutshell (updated)

In the comments section of a review of the Sparks album Exotic Creatures Of The Deep, I composed this in answer to a query of where to start with Sparks. For a pithy analysis, well, it's pithy and has enough value to put it on the blog.

1. Demos/Halfnelson/Sparks/Woofer In Tweeter's Clothing: Demented neo-psychedelic rock. Songs about incest, dating Germans and smashing into cars to meet people. Dresden Dolls fans will love some of this stuff.

2. Kimono My House/Propaganda/Indiscreet: Sparks inspires Queen, Morrissey and many others, and become glam stars in the UK. Most fans think this is their best period.

3. Big Beat/Introducing Sparks: -- poor production hampers two solid collections of tunes.

4. Number One In Heaven/Terminal Jive: Sparks invents electronica/techno/gay disco and synth-pop duos. Heaven is the most influential album no one has ever heard. Jive is a shadow of that.

5. Whomp That Sucker/Angst In My Pants/In Outer Space/Pulling Rabbits: Sparks goes New Wave, becomes KROQ stars. The first two albums are great silly fun. Outer Space goes more synth, and Rabbits is hit-or-miss.

6. Music That You Can Dance To/Interior Design: Ron and Russell build a studio. Music is somewhat experimental, yielded the brilliant "Change", but is spotty. Design has even fewer spots.

7. Gratuitous Sax/Plagiarism/Balls: Sax is a Eurodisco comeback and got them on the charts in the UK again. Very good. Plagiarism is an odd self-tribute album. Balls has its moments.

8. Lil' Beethoven/Hello Young Lovers/Exotic Creatures: Baroque minimalistic orch-pomp-pop? Beethoven was so bracing in 2002 and the Maels showed they still have it. Lovers explores the approach some more. Creatures moves the approach into a more pop direction and is awesomely catchy.

9. Seduction of Ingmar Bergman/Two Hands One Mouth:L A Swedish radio musical in the style of the albums in entry number 8 above and a live album as a duo. The former is intriguing, the latter simply entertaining.

10. FFS/Hippopotamus: The Maels, with the help of Franz Ferdinand, consolidate many of the styles they've explored over the years on their rockingest LP in years, and follow that with another album of straightforward pop that brims with confidence.

April 28, 2018 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #383)

9:01 AM Devo • Beautiful World • New Traditionalists • Warner Bros.

9:04 AM Amy Winehouse • You Sent Me Flying • Frank • Universal Republic

9:07 AM Chris Carter • Blissters • Chemistry Lessons Volume 1 • Mute

April 21, 2018 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show # 382)

8:58 AM The Mekons • Ghosts of American Astronauts • So Good It Hurts • Twin/Tone

9:02 AM The Four Tops • MacArthur Park (Part 2) • MacArthur Park • Motown

9:04 AM Josienne Clarke & Ben Walker • Sad Day • Seedlings All • Rough Trade

It's time for the Chicago Tribune to walk the walk

If there's one thing for which I can give credit to the Chicago Tribune editorial board, it's their consistency and persistence. And lately, the issue that the board likes to hammer, again and again and again, is how awful the state of Illinois is. The tax rate, the regulations, the number of governmental units, the lack of school choice, the crony politics, the pension system, and so on and so forth.

April 14, 2018 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #381)

9:00 AM Christian Scott • The Eraser • Yesterday You Said Tomorrow • Concord Jazz

9:05 AM Thao with the Get Down Stay Down • We Go • We Brave Bee Stings and All • Kill Rock Stars

9:08 AM Haley Heynderickx • No Face • I Need to Start a Garden • No Face

April 7, 2018 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #380)

9:00 AM Rumer • Sara Smile • Boys Don't Cry • Atlantic

9:04 AM Roger Miller • Lou's Got the Flu • Roger and Out • Phillips

9:06 AM Jeff Swanson • MF • Case-fitter • Bace

March 31, 2018 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #379)

8:59 AM Die Rattenfanger • Hart wie ein Stein • Pop in Germany 1 • Bear Family

9:02 AM Roberta Flack featuring Donny Hathaway • You Are My Heaven • Roberta Flack featuring Donny Hathaway • Atlantic

9:06 AM Courtney Marie Andrews • Two Cold Nights in Buffalo • May Your Kindness Remain • Fat Possum

March 24, 2018 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #378)

9:01 AM Gaz Coombes • I Just Wasn't Made for These Times• Pet Sounds Revisited • MOJO Magazine

9:03 AM Mary J. Blige • Therapy • The London Sessions • Capitol

9:07 AM Andrew Bryant • Pay Your Rent • Ain't it Like the Cosmos • Last Chance

March 17, 2018 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #377)

9:01 AM The Pogues • A Pair of Brown Eyes • Rum, Sodomy & The Lash • Stiff

9:06 AM The Impressions • Never Let Me Go • The Impressions • ABC-Paramount

9:08 AM Soccer Mommy • Your Dog • Clean • Fat Possum

March 10, 2018 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #376)

Today, trainee Sarah did her first two sets on CHIRP Radio and she did a great job -- you can see what she played starting at the 10 o'clock hour.

8:59 AM Joanna Newsom • Leaving the City • Divers • Drag City

9:03 AM Madness • Primrose Hill • The Rise and Fall • Stiff

9:06 AM Eric Unger • Bristlecone, Glimmerglass, Caliper Bow• Interzones • self-released

9:12 AM David Byrne • Doing The Right Thing • American Utopia • Nonesuch

9:15 AM Serengeti • to the max • To The Max • Self-released

9:18 AM Cecile McLorin Salvant • Wives and Lovers • For One To Love • Mack Avenue

9:20 AM Cotton Mather • My Before and After • Kontiki • The Star Apple Kingdom

9:26 AM Judee Sill • The Kiss • Heart Food • Elektra

9:31 AM Joan As Police Woman • Warning Bell • Damned Devotion • PIAS

9:34 AM Merle Haggard • In the Good Old Days (When Times Were Bad) • Mama Tried • Capitol

9:38 AM Lucy Dacus • Body to Flame • Historian • Matador

9:41 AM Cindy Lee • Operation • Act of Tenderness • W.25th/Superior Viaduct

9:43 AM S. Carey • Emery • Hundred Acres • Jagjaguwar

9:46 AM Beta Band • Dr. Baker • The Three E.P.'s • Astralwerks

9:53 AM Bill Fay • Cosmic Concerto (LIfe Is People) • Life is People • Dead Oceans

SARAH'S TWO SETS

10:01 AM Ravyn Lenae • The Night Song • Crush • Atlantic

10:05 AM Brenton Wood • The Oogum Boogum Song • Oogum Boogum • Double Shot

10:07 AM Tennis • Born To Be Needed • We Can Die Happy • Mutually Detrimental

10:12 AM MGMT • Me and Michael • Little Dark Age • Columbia

10:16 AM Sly & The Family Stone • If You Want Me To Stay • Fresh • Sony

10:19 AM Yo La Tengo • My Little Corner Of The World • I Can Hear the Heart Beating As One • Matador

END OF SARAH's TWO SETS

10:22 AM Young Fathers • Tremolo • Cocoa Sugar • Ninja Tune

10:25 AM Pretenders • Cuban Slide • Extended Play • Sire

10:30 AM Femi Kuti • One People One World • One People One World • Knitting Factory

10:33 AM Marianne Faithfull • The Price of Love • Give My Love to London • Naive

10:38 AM Charly Bliss • The Way You Wear Your Head • Standing at the Gates • Mardev

10:41 AM Wei Zhongle • Wave • The Operators • Self Sabotage

10:44 AM The Chamber Strings • The Race Is On • Gospel Morning • Bobsled

10:47 AM ADT • New Body • Insecurities • Hausu Mountain

10:56 AM Jim James • Of the Mother Again • Regions of Light and Sound of God • ATO

11:00 AM Robyn • Criminal Intent • Body Talk Pt. 2 • Konichiwa

11:03 AM The Effigies • Blue Funk • Fly on a Wire • Enigma

11:08 AM Superchunk • Reagan Youth • What a Time to Be Alive • Merge

11:14 AM Moaning • The Same • Moaning • Sub Pop

11:17 AM RXM Reality • Head Sculpture • RXM Reality • Hausu Mountain

11:20 AM Shoes • Maybe Now • Ignition • Black Vinyl

11:23 AM The Pretty Things • Bracelets of Fingers • S.F. Sorrow • Snapper

11:28 AM Superorganism • It's All Good • Superorganism • Domino

11:32 AM Crowded House • Walked Her Way Down • Time on Earth • ATO

11:36 AM Patrinell Staten • I Let A Good Man Go • Wheedle's Groove: Seattle's Finest In Funk & Soul 1965-75 • Light in the Attic

11:39 AM Judas Priest • Lightning Strike • Firepower • Epic

11:43 AM The Breeders • All Nerve • All Nerve • 4AD

11:45 AM Mikal Cronin • Turn Away • MCII • Merge

11:50 AM Ride • Keep it Surreal • Tomorrow's Shore • Wichita

11:55 AM Jimi Hendrix • Woodstock • Both Sides of Sky • Experience Hendrix

March 3, 2018 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #375)

8:59 AM FKA twigs • Closer • LP1 • Young Turks

9:03 AM Gary Numan • Love is Like the Clock Law • Warriors• Beggars Banquet

9:07 AM Laraaji • Great Bells in the Morning • Vision Songs Vol. 1 • Numero Group

February 24, 2018 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #374)

9:00 AM Elliott Smith • Sweet Adeline • XO • Dreamworks

9:03 AM Lorraine Ellison • Stay With Me • Stay With Me • Warner Bros.

9:06 AM Robert Earl Thomas • Winona Forever • Another Age • Captured Tracks

February 17, 2018 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #373)

9:01 AM Lucinda Williams • Right in Time • Car Wheels on a Gravel Road • Mercury

9:06 AM Sparks • Fletcher Honorama • Sparks • Bearsville

9:10 AM Anna Burch • Yeah You Know • Quit the Curse • Polyvinyl

February 3, 2018 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #372)

8:59 AM John Cale • Paris 1919 • Paris 1919 • Warner Bros.

9:03 AM Cat Power • American Flag • Moon Pix • Matador

9:07 AM Leyya • Never Never • Sauna • +1/Las Vegas

January 27, 2018 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #371)

9:00 AM Stevie Wonder • I Love Every Little Thing About You• Music of My Mind • Tamla

9:04 AM Dolly Varden • 1000 Men Like Cigarettes • Forgiven Now • Undertow

9:07 AM Solid Space • Tenth Planet • Space Museum • Dark Entries