John Richards

“It’s a mystery to me We have a greed With which we have agreed” – Eddie Vedder

Karen O told The Sun March 13, 2009 that this song and the lead single "Zero" were important to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' new synthesizer driven sound. She explained to The Sun March 13, 2009: "Those were both songs we wrote early on for this record. Nick (Zinner, keyboards) started them off with a synth pulse which is amazing because Skeletons, for instance, is such an emotional kind of song. But the atmosphere he created with the synths and other instruments is different to anything we've written before. For me it's like an out-of-body experience."

Rolling Stone wrote of this album, "the music burrows, digging up gems of structure, melody and lyrical vividness that belie his naïve delivery [...] the sound is hummable pop, slowed and drugged, with tricky but unshowy guitar work driving the melodies forward"

Kurt Cobain listed She Hangs Brightly in his top fifty albums of all time. Here is the entire handwritten list: bit.ly

“I want to make music that loves its listener,” said Middle Kids' singer-songwriter Hannah Joy in a statement. “Music that makes people feel seen, seen in the tiny little places that hide away in their hearts. I want people to hear our music, and feel a sense of love. And when I say love, it can be challenging, intense, and tough. But it’s in the guts.” Middle Kids have a couple KEXP in-studio sessions you can catch up on, 2018 with DJ Cheryl Waters: www.youtube.com and 2017 with DJ Troy Nelson: www.youtube.com

Good morning John and team - my friend Pam’s elderly mother is having extensive, risky spinal surgery today. As you can imagine, it’s a difficult time as she won’t be able to see her mom today or through all her rehab. I know she listens to your show (here in Ottawa, Canada), could you please play a fun, uplifting, POSITIVE VIBES song for her? She is very nervous, just trying to brighten her day. Thanks so much!! Catherine ====================== Good morning John, how about some Catherine Wheel.. be well, your not alone.. morning faithful strong 💪.. cheers Rob ==================

Hi John, Today is my first date anniversary With a woman I would eventually marry. I am wondering if you could play book of love and honor of our little anniversary? And fun fact , this is a song that I first heard on your show a couple of years ago. I fell in love with it immediately. Much love-Anna ===================

Could you please play Went To LA by Frances Quinlan? It suits the current mood. I missed out on seeing her live because the viewing room closed from Covid and I would appreciate it. Sherida in Seattle ================= Thanks Sherida. We're missing live shows too. Hopefully we'll all be able to go again soon and the shows will be that much more powerful having missed out.

Last November’s finale of the Showtime drama The Affair included a cover of the Waterboys’ “The Whole of the Moon” by none other than Fiona Apple with Phoebe Bridgers on backing vocals. Now, a video of an emotive Apple cutting the tune in the studio has surfaced. The caption for the video, which was apparently shot and posted by filmmaker Zelda Hallman, explains that Apple asked Tony Berg to produce her version of the 1985 single. He recruited all-star players including drummer Matt Chamberlain, Patrick Warren, Ethan Gruska, guitarist Wendy Melvoin from Prince’s band the Revolution, and of course, Bridgers. “This was the first time she had met Wendy and Phoebe and fell in love with both of them,” Hallman’s statement accompanying the video says. See it here: www.youtube.com and read more at Spin: bit.ly

Arlo Parks said of "Hope": “The song surrounds isolation, being present in your pain and knowing that you’re not the only one on the planet feeling low. I think especially in times like these it’s important to focus on the inevitability that things will get better.” You can find "Collapsed in Sunbeams" here: arloparks.bandcamp.com

Lorely Rodriguez is the artist behind the moniker Empress Of. The daughter of Honduran immigrants, Lorely weaves lyrics in English and Spanish effortlessly between her songs in service to one of her biggest influences: her mom. Lorely has also fronted a campaign for LA streetwear label Kids of Immigrants, with proceeds supporting positive change and services at the U.S-Mexico border. Lorely Rodriguez, aka Empress Of, joined us live on KEXP at Home last July.: youtu.be empressof.bandcamp.com

Liz Phair has released her first new song in nearly two years, from her next album "Soberish". “Hey Lou” is an homage to Lou Reed and Laurie Anderson and its accompanying music video stars puppet versions of the iconic artists. Here is the video: youtu.be

David Bowie produced this track and sang backup vocals. You know you're cool when David Bowie is your backup singer.

From the Australian duo 2020 album We Will Always Love You, this track features Texas singer Leon Bridges, as well as a sample of Alan Parsons Project’s “Eye in the Sky” and is inspired — like the album itself — by the story of astronomer Carl Sagan and his wife Ann Druyan capturing their romance on tape and sending it into space as part of the Voyager’s Golden Record. That's love.

In June 2013 Foals played "My Number" in the KEXP studio. Listen to the full set and interview by DJ Cheryl Waters here: www.youtube.com

The Reds, Pinks, and Purples are a DIY kitchen pop project of Glenn Donaldson (Skygreen Leopards, Art Museums etc). His latest, "Uncommon Weather," which he describes as an "elusive portrait of San Francisco –– during one of its fluctuations as an untenable place for musicians and artists" comes out April 9th via Slumberland Records. Preorder the new album: theredspinksandpurples.bandcamp.com

Birdbrain has been out of print for years but for the 30th anniversary in 2020 is was re-issued on mint green vinyl. You can find it here: www.buffalotom.com

To promote the album, Sky Cries Mary broadcast a complete concert live on the internet, the first band to ever do so. skycriesmary.bandcamp.com

Goat Girl performed live at Studio 9294 in Hackney Wick, London, during KEXP's International Clash Day broadcast. Recorded February 7, 2019. www.youtube.com Find their latest: goatgirl.bandcamp.com

This is the opening track off of Siouxsie and the Banshee's 1991 album 'Superstition', their tenth studio release. This song is a tribute to the '50s and '60s blonde bombshell actress Jayne Mansfield (mother of Law And Order star Mariska Hartigay). She, along with two other adults, was killed in a grisly car accident on the way to New Olreans for a gig. "Kiss Them For Me" is the title of a 1957 movie that Mansfield starred in with Cary Grant.

Farhot’s family left Afghanistan in the early ’80s, during the Soviet invasion, when he was only a few weeks old. Leaving at night so no one would see them, they made their way to Pakistan, before traveling through Iran, Turkey, Eastern Europe, and finally to Hamburg, where Farhot still lives. “Afghan culture for me is going to weddings, seeing my relatives. It was always something I experienced at home, with my inner circle. That’s how I knew Afghanistan.” - daily.bandcamp.com

Menahan Street Band, an all-star Brooklyn collective featuring members of Budos Band, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, and Charles Bradley’s backing band, have announced "The Exciting Sounds of Menahan," their first album in nearly a decade. menahanstreetband.bandcamp.com

The Baltimore native, who's best known for playing drums and singing in the band Durand Jones & the Indications, says he was in the middle of making dinner one day when he got a call from Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys, asking if they could make a record together. -n.pr aaronfrazermusic.bandcamp.com

It’s been nine years since Dark Time Sunshine, the team of Seattle producer Onry Ozzborn and Chicago producer Zavala, released their album Anx. Find the new album, Lore here: fakefour.bandcamp.com

Happy birthday to H.R. (Human Rights) (born Paul D. Hudson), lead singer of Bad Brains. He's 65 today!

"Pom Poko’s music has an explosive sweetness to it, like putting a Peep in the microwave." - Bandcamp daily.bandcamp.com

Thunderstorms here in Baton Rouge. Perhaps you can fit Only Happy When It Rains in at some point today? ===================

Good morning John! Today is my baby boy Eamonn's 10th birthday. I used to hold him in my arms and sing him Golden Slumbers melody. He's moved on to Strawberry Fields, Idles, Bowie. Eamonn is very much his own little man and we love watching him just be Eamonn. Please play INXS Don't Change for my 10 year old E! Brian in Chicago ============================ Happy birthday Eamonn from the Morning Show crew!

New Radicals broke up in 1999—just months after the release of their 1998 single “You Get What You Give," but reunited to deliver a one-time performance 22 years after at the Biden/Harris inauguration! - bit.ly

This track was released in 1990 as the first single from The Farm's debut album Spartacus (1991), having been produced by Graham "Suggs" McPherson of Madness and Terry Farley. It contains a distinctive guitar intro by Keith Mullin which was possibly his most significant contribution to any one song. "Groovy Train" featured on the influential 1990 Madchester compilation album Happy Daze. bit.ly

The Buffalo Tom track stirred up lots of memories of early 90's tracks. You might have moved on from that vibe, but next time you're there, how about a track from Paw's "Dragline" or perhaps a track from Failure? So much to choose from. Oh, and here's a random suggestion. Have you ever listened to the acoustic version of Supergrass's "Caught By The Fuzz"? It's pretty cool and has a killer jam at the end. Keep it up! Cheers, Dan ===================

Love you. Your show is okay too. My girl turns 15 today. How can it be that my youngest is 15? She continues to mature while the rest of the world seems to be on hold. She broke my heart the other day when she told me why she no longer listens to music: she got tired of the ads on Spotify, and she does not want online music adding to her iphone screen time. For the record, she limits her own screen time, her idea, not from the parentals. So, what to get such a child? I reached out to my 'I love Powerpop' FB group for suggestions. She is getting a CD boombox (USB & aux-in capability) a set of over-the-ear headphones and a box of five 8G USB flash drives to make mixes. My girl has the soul of an artist...I have waited too long to unleash her on my amazing CD and mp3 collection. I will also make her a birthday mix of songs I liked when I was 15, which was way way back in 1981. My girl loves Brandi Carlisle. Would you please choose a BC song and play it for her? She goes by 'Phia' (a shortened version of 'Sophia'). Keep doing your amazing work John, it means so much to so many people. We will get through this and it will forge the best of us into stronger, more loving and and more grateful people. Allan in Green Lake ===================== Happy birthday!

Good morning John and crew! With all the snow prediction build-ups, then delay, I will be disappointed now if it doesn't snow, So maybe a snow dance is needed? Or, playing White Winter Hymnal by The Fleet Foxes. Actually, yes maybe that would be preferable :) A good song to warm any winter day. Cheers, Jay in Bellevue ======================= The Seattle Times asked Pecknold how he and his bandmates created this song. He replied: "We never played it together. The performances that you hear recorded on that song were the first time those were done. So that one totally came together in recording."

Seven Seas by Echo & the Bunnymen for this station. i love it really much. -Paul ============================= Echo and the Bunnymen are Ian McCulloch, vocals and Will Sergeant on guitar. They formed in Liverpool in 1978 with bassist Les Pattinson. Shortly afterwards they recruited Pete De Freitas and the rest they say is history. www.bunnymen.com

Shearware member Jonathan Meiburg has said of 'Jet Plane and Oxbow' that he wanted to "...try and make a protest record that wasn't dumb or preachy."

Check out KEXP's May 2020 edition of 'Sound & Vision', where DJ Kevin Cole discusses Joy Division's legacy with Jon Savage, author of 'This Searing Light, the Sun, and Everything Else: Joy Division: The Oral History': kexp.org.