John Richards

Happy 59th birthday to the amazing Nick Rhodes! -- According to a Duran Duran fan site, Simon Le Bon wrote this song (the lyrics at least) in 1978 during a three month summer stay at a Kibbutz in Israel; where he became a tree surgeon; and where he also wrote "Sound of Thunder", "Night Boat" and "Careless Memories" bit.ly "The Chauffeur" was directed by Ian Emes and is one of two non-single tracks on 'Rio' to have its own music video. None of the band appear in the video at all. youtu.be

Desire is a Montreal band, consisting of vocalist Megan Louise, producer Johnny Jewel (also a member of Chromatics and Glass Candy), and Nat Walker (also a member of Chromatics) on synthesizer and drums. bit.ly

The Jesus and Mary Chain cover!

After losing their 'Blue Lines' singer, Massive Attack looked for a replacement - they contacted soul singer Aaron Neville, punk singer Siouxsie Sioux and Irish singer-songwriter Sinead O’Connor, and in the end, worked with Tracey Thorn from the alternative pop/rock outfit Everything But The Girl. Massive Attack sent her the backing track for "Protection" where Thorn added to her vocals, together with a melody she had written. Learn everything about the song at the Massive Attack fansite: massiveattack.ie Video here: youtu.be www.massiveattack.co.uk

Tennessee singer-songwriter Amythyst Kiah will be releasing 'Wary+ Strange' on June 18th. Written about Kiah’s mother’s suicide, “Wild Turkey” is a heartbreaking meditation on grief that is beautifully poetic as well as being viscerally raw. bit.ly Watch Amythyst Kiah’s live performance of “Wild Turkey”: youtu.be amythystkiah1.bandcamp.com www.amythystkiah.com

Chapman said: "It's not really about a car at all... basically it's about a relationship that doesn't work out because it's starting from the wrong place." bit.ly

June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month!! Orville Peck’s ‘Country Road’ version of Lady Gaga’s "Born This Way," from the 10th anniversary edition of Gaga's second album ‘Born This Way’. The album, which features six new takes on the album’s tracks by artists who are representative of the LGBTQIA+ community, will be released on June 18. Peck said: “I am so honoured and excited to be a part of the iconic legacy of this song and album. Thank you @ladygaga for askin me and Happy Pride y’all !!” bit.ly

This song came out back in 1981, written and first recorded by Ned Sublette. Then, 25 years later, Willie Nelson decided to be progressive with his music. Also, he probably wanted to spark a little bit of controversy in the country scene. bit.ly

Dolly Parton would introduce this song in concert as "a true story about a little patchwork coat my Momma made me from a box of rags." Parton was born in Locust Ridge, Tennessee and grew up in poverty, the fourth of 12 children, and her mother really did make her such a coat. Her classmates teased her, but Parton was proud of the coat and tried to make them understand that even though her family didn't have much money, they were rich in other, more important ways. bit.ly

New Modest Mouse out June 25th! www.modestmouse.com Modest Mouse will be playing LIVE at Marymoor Park on Saturday & Sunday, September 11 & 12, with Future Islands opening. bit.ly

Dominican/Mexican artist Ambar Lucid's 'Get Lost in the Music' EP is out June 18. "A lot of people have their own insecurities and their own battles that they’re dealing with, and sometimes they project them onto other people, maybe not even on purpose," she told Vice last year. "It’s so important to define yourself, and to be true and honest with yourself. That is the only way I think we end up on the path that is most authentic to ourselves, and brings us the most happiness.” This track was a KEXP Song of the Day recently. Subscribe and download here: kexp.org

Short-lived Liverpool duo that took their name from Martin Scorsese's film, "Mean Streets." bit.ly

London group formed in 1997 by Simon Dine and vocalist Daisy Martey. Dine had previously been a member of Adventures in Stereo. Martey was for a time the singer in Morcheeba. The band name came from a book about The Who. 'Self-Assembly' is their debut full-length album, released in 2000. bit.ly

Shocking Blue was a fairly influential Dutch psych rock band formed in The Hague in 1967. They had numerous international hit singles and sold over 13.5 million records by 1973 before disbanding. But most famously, the first Nirvana song every played on KEXP was a Shocking Blue cover, called “Love Buzz.”

This was Nirvana's first single, a cover of a song by Shocking Blue. The song was a staple at many of Nirvana's early shows. Today, the single is extremely rare. Watch Nirvana play their track, "Love Buzz" live at The Paramount here in Seattle: youtu.be

In this song it appears Kurt Cobain is likening himself to Frances Farmer. While Frances was almost infamous for her difficulty to work with and her battle with her movie studio, which forced her into bad roles. She demanded much and later all she got for it was a series of mental collapses and a failed battle with alcoholism. Kurt related Farmer's battles against her contracts with corporate Hollywood with his difficulty with his record label, which he felt was holding him back and stifling his art, making him release poppy stuff he was never satisfied with. bit.ly Nirvana live in Oakland: youtu.be

Happy Birthday, Lucia!! The DJ, producer, designer, copywriter, street artist, photographer and videographer released the album Dunk Reactions – which is influenced by everything from Daft Punk’s French house to Tame Impala’s psychedelic rock. Check out this song of the day profile KEXP did about the track! kexp.org www.instagram.com

Request for Shannon! Land of the Loops was the alias of Brooklyn-based sonic collagist Alan Sutherland, a veteran of several short-lived bands who turned to quirky electronica after his parents bought him a sampler for college graduation. bit.ly

Teenage Sequence is Dewan-Dean Soomary, a London musician who makes twitchy, self-conscious dance-rock that evokes the early ’00s. His new single, “All This Art, " is out now via independent queer/trans label Get Better Records. Soomary talks about the meaning of the song: “‘All This Art’ is as much about the systemic racism of the UK music industry as it is my own neurosis, as serious about these subjects as it (an attempt at being) humorous—in a sort of ‘if you don’t laugh, you’d stare blankly into the void wondering what’s the point‘-way. I never intended for the first Teenage Sequence single to be 6.23 seconds of the same beat (pop career suicide), but here we are!” bit.ly teenagesequence.bandcamp.com

'Carnavas' is Silversun Pickups' debut studio album. The title is an homage to lead guitarist and vocalist Brian Aubert's Greek heritage. bit.ly Fun in the KEXP studio in past sessions with Silversun Pickups: www.youtube.com

After 11 long years, the wait is over for a new Liz Phair album. 'Soberish' is out now! “[‘Spanish Doors’ is] about the fracturing of a beautiful life, when everything you counted on is suddenly thrown up for grabs,” Phair said in a statement. “I drew inspiration from a friend who was going through a divorce, but the actions in the lyrics are my own. I relate to hiding out in the bathroom when everyone around you is having a good time but your life just fell apart. You look at yourself in the mirror and wonder who you are now, shadows of doubt creeping into your eyes. Just a few moments ago you were a whole, confident person and now you wonder how you’ll ever get the magic back.” bit.ly

You got it right. It's Tuesday. The 7th best day of the week. The Pogues Live at the Roseland Ballroom NYC in 2009. (note: fanshot, might make you dizzy): youtu.be

Partly recorded before the coronavirus pandemic, the sixteenth album from the Manchester legends sees them teaming up with producer Jacknife Lee – who worked remotely on the record from his own home. Frontman Tim Booth said of the record: “With all the shit that went down in 2020 this was a miraculous conception and another big jump forward for us on the back of the last three albums. I hope it reflects the colours of these crazy times. Sweet 16 is a proper album, no fillers and is up there with our best. With love. Tim.” bit.ly wearejames.com

Daniel in Greenwood writes: Yay! JR love this song ! When my son Liam was a baby I would dance around the living room slowly and he would fall asleep in my arms while playing this song. He is now 24 , just graduated college and is the best dude I know. His nic name is Lemon because of that song. Best, thanks for all you do John == The lyrics are based on a home video of Bono's mother where she is wearing lemon (yellow). She died when Bono was 14. "I have very few memories of my mother because my father never talked about her after she died," Bono writes in the band bio U2 by U2. "So it was a very strange experience to receive, in the post, from a very distant relative, Super 8 footage of my mother, aged 24, younger than me, playing a game of rounders in slow motion. This beautiful, young Irish girl, with a narrow waist, curvaceous figure, dark gypsy hair. The film was early color and it looked extraordinary. It was a wedding, where she was the maid of honor in this beautiful lemon dress." bit.ly

"Our third LP feels like our most energetic and free. Soul plays a huge part in all music really, especially if those songs have come from the heart." Tom McFarland of Jungle talks the new album, lockdown, and shooting 14 videos in 5 days this year: bit.ly 'Loving in Stereo', Jungle's new full length, drops in August. They will perform to a SOLD OUT crowd at the Moore Theatre on Friday, October 22nd. Watch Jungle's 2019 live session in the KEXP studio: youtu.be www.junglejunglejungle.com

Baltimore-born, DC-raised Maimouna Youssef aka "Mumu Fresh" is a Grammy nominated seasoned singer, emcee, songwriter and producer. maimounayoussef.bandcamp.com -- "Work" is the first single from the forthcoming album, 'Vintage Babies II: Queen of Culture'. maimounayoussef.com

Shad is a Juno Award winning rapper and 3-time Polaris Music Prize shortlist nominee from London, Ontario. His 4 full-length albums have been recognized for their sharp lyrics and soulful arrangements. shadk.bandcamp.com "‘Work’ was another song written pre-pandemic that is (sadly) even more timely now,” Shad says. “I knew I wanted to write a song specifically about two aspects of work: One, the way so many of our jobs are disconnected from a sense of meaning and purpose, and from the people and places they impact. And two, just the increasing precarity and scarcity of work. Also as with ‘Out of Touch,’ I wanted the song to hold both the irony/humour and heaviness of our situation.” bit.ly "Work" (feat. Skratch Bastid): youtu.be

Manchester band PINS write: "The track is about how sometimes we feel like we only exist to make money for other people, it’s a swizz. We are promised things by saviours, these people who have come to rescue us, but it’s not true. “Serve The Rich” was my opportunity to assert myself. I’m saying that we as PINS, musicians, women, Labour voters, and feminists, are here to save the kids, we’re here to save each other, we’re here to save ourselves." bit.ly

JD Samson of Le Tigre was a guest DJ on KEXPs Midnight in a Perfect World in 2018. Check out her set here: www.kexp.org

Julia Jacklin teamed up with fellow Australian band RVG for this haunting, shoegazey cover of Björk’s “Army Of Me.” youtu.be Jacklin shared a brief statement statement about the collaboration: "I just love Björk and I love RVG. I was running on a treadmill which I don’t do very often and I was listening to “Army of Me” over and over again to make me feel stronger than I am. Then I thought why not try and cover this song with another artist that makes me feel stronger than I am and I did! Was a good musical punch in the face to wake me up from a year of living a very small quiet life. RVG are one of my favourite bands in the whole world and it was just a real blessing to spend some time with them making music." bit.ly

The band's first album, Life's Too Good, was an unexpected hit in 1988. It cemented the Sugarcubes as the Iceland's biggest international breakout musical act The Sugarcubes were often touted as pioneers or saviors of British independent music, but they considered themselves a distinctly Icelandic band separate from the British scene. "We don't see ourselves as part of the British independent scene," Örn said. "Same as we don't see us as part of the mainstream. We see us as very much removed from that." bit.ly

Siouxsie and the Banshees released 'Hyæna' on this day in 1984. This is the only studio album that guitarist Robert Smith of the Cure composed and recorded with Siouxsie and the Banshees. "Dazzle" featured strings played by musicians of the (LSO) London Symphonic Orchestra, a 27-piece orchestra called the "Chandos Players". bit.ly

Here's an NPR feature on this beautiful piece of music: www.npr.org

Opening track from Public Enemy's fourth album 'Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black.' Includes a sample from A Tribe Called Quest's "Can I Kick It?" bit.ly

Peri writes "Hi guys. Could you please play anything by The Ramones? Today is the third anniversary of Anthony Bourdain's suicide. I'm still devastated by the loss and I know he'd love to hear them. Thank you. :broken_heart:"

Happyish Tuesday. When your show gets a little louder later, could you play The Passenger by Iggy Pop in Anthony Bourdain's honor on this sad anniversary? ~ Jayme in NH

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO STEVE!! Cracker's "Happy Birthday to Me" live froM Athens, GA 2012: youtu.be