John Richards

Massive thanks to They Might Be Giants for writing and recording this wonderful new morning show theme song.

Ocean Rain is the fourth studio album by the English post-punk band Echo & the Bunnymen. The band wrote the songs for the new album in 1983. In early 1984 they recorded most of the album in Paris using a 35-piece orchestra, with other sessions taking place in Bath and Liverpool. They played a number of concerts in 2008 where they performed Ocean Rain in full and with the backing of an orchestra.

As frontman Ian Devaney explains: “Wounds Of Love” is a song about getting caught in a mental feedback loop when a relationship ends. It’s an endless inner argument — wanting to move on defiantly, but feeling utterly lost about how to do it when the other person has informed so much about how you see yourself. For every bit of progress there’s just as much retreating, and eventually it seems like this back-and-forth becomes the new root of your identity — still tied to the same person, just without them actually being there.": bit.ly -- You can pre-order "A Way Forward," due out on November 3rd, 2021: nationoflanguage.bandcamp.com

On this day in 2005, Wolf Parade released their debut album. According to interviews with the band, the album is named after an incident in which the band was removed from the ocean liner Queen Mary for breaking down the door of a ballroom and staging a violent séance. bit.ly == Jacob in Portland: God I needed to hear “I’ll Believe in Anything” right now in this moment. It has been my “power” song for running as long as I’ve been a runner and after being up half the night with my son (he’s fine) it’s going to be my power song for life today. Thank you for the shot in the arm. I hope your taper is going well and have a great race. I’ll be out there as well! Have a great day

WAKE UP!! ==== You don't want to miss Arcade Fire's live performance of "Wake Up" at Coachella in 2011: www.youtube.com -- "Arcade Fire in concert is probably the closest to a religious experience as I have ever had.": 25yearslatersite.com

"Hi John - I'd like to request 'On Melancholy Hill' by Gorillaz for my partner Noah - he's going through a tough time recently, and listening to your show everyday is one thing that always cheers him up. Many thanks for reminding us that we are not alone. Cheers, Sarah" ==== In an interview with Damon Albarn during Gorillaz's 2010 tour of America, he was asked what attracts him to melancholy. He replied: "Well, this morning I woke up and I was on a massive highway, it was grey. The autumn colors were starting to emerge from the green, but there were thousands of people driving their way into Boston to start Monday. On one hand, it's part of the pessimism of our consumer condition; on the other hand, there's a kind of beauty in it, and that's where the melancholy wins for me."

=Watch rare footage of New Order performing "Ceremony" in 1981: www.npr.org

George Evelyn, better known by his stage name Nightmares on Wax or DJ E.A.S.E., is an English DJ and record producer from Leeds. He writes: "S.O.T.F! is a project three years in the making, finalized over lockdown. I've been gigging non-stop for 10 years, and that experience has been beautiful but it also drained me emotionally. Having the time and the space has meant that I could do a proper deep dive into this stuff. There's an underlying part of Shout Out! To Freedom... that is very, very personal to me. Turning 50 and getting to know who I am now, getting to know the person I am now and becoming best friends with the person I am right now. This album is all about this journey of going back to myself." www.nightmaresonwax.com -- SOTF will be out on October 29th.

New music from Bristol based band BEAK> You can revisit their 2018 Live on KEXP performance on our YouTube channel here: www.youtube.com

The nickname Moby was given by his father and was a reference to the book "Moby Dick". Moby claims that Herman Melville, the author of "Moby Dick" is his great-great-great-uncle.: www.imdb.com Here's the official video for "Porcelain": www.youtube.com

“The album was made largely from samples and sounds drawn from the years 1997-2001, a period that was topped and tailed by Labour’s election victory and the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers. Was the optimism of that era a lost golden age, or was it a period of naïvety, delusion and folly? The collective folk memory of any period differs from the lived reality. 'I’ve Been Trying to Tell You' is an album about memory, how it works, how it tricks you and creates a dream-like state. It also taps into the way we think of our youth, a sense of place, and where we come from.” www.saintetienne.com

Congo-born, Minneapolis-based artist Miloe brought on Chicago-ite Jamila Woods and Cameroon-born/New York-based indie rocker Vagabon for a reimagining of a track from Miloe's second EP. Kabeya said of the collaboration: “I’ve admired both Vagabon and Jamila’s work and artistry for a long time. It’s such a trip to have stems from musicians I look up to on my laptop in my room. I got to hear a bit about Jamila’s journey with learning guitar recently and connected with Laetitia over our appreciation for Congolese and African musicians like Fally Ipupa. This is a reimagined version of "Winona" from an alternate reality, which is a fusion with influences from Congolese Rumba, indie pop and afro-beat.” miloe.bandcamp.com

‘Untitled’ is an album to mark a moment in time where Black People, and people of Black Origin are fighting for their lives. Proceeds from the album will go to charitable funds in the fight against systemic racism. www.sault.global

After a four year hiatus, Alt-J are back with a new song, “U&ME,” from their upcoming album, "The Dream," set to arrive February 11th, 2022.: bit.ly They will be at WaMu Theater on March 29th, 2022.

"Dear JITM and Owen, We can hardly capture how influential you have been in our lives. We are fortunate to have had you in our lives since KCMU days! From playing songs for us on our wedding day, John, to turning us on to bands like Arcade Fire and Idles, and taking my students on a tour of the station, Owen, to the touching message you shared on the air from my school community on Friday after the loss of my dad ( I'm Teacher Thomas from Bertschi), you have shaped our lives in so many ways. Thank you for all that and more! We'd love you to consider a birthday request for our daughter Mia Stella. She's an amazing 15 years old and full of wonder, creativity and compassion. We would love the Sugarcubes' Birthday Song for her if possible around 8:00 as I'm taking her to school around then. It is with her in mind that we proudly and enthusiastically increased our Amplifier amount this year. Not sure if it matters for the drive details but we are up to $540 a year (under the name Anna Cunningham I believe). Thanks for ALL you do for us and Our Community. Sincerely, Thomas and Anna" HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MIA!

Matt Berninger from The National guest stars on this new track www.adiavictoria.com

New Damien Jurado single! damienjurado.com

Released on this day in 1993! James had wanted to work with producer Brian Eno since their debut studio album Stutter (1986). They sent Eno a letter and six hours worth of rehearsal tapes. Eno went on holiday and took the tapes with him; he listened to them after his wife expressed that she was a fan. Eno was interested in the band after hearing a rough version of "Sometimes (Lester Piggott)". By August 1992, Eno called the band, saying that he liked what he heard, and set out to work with them. In early 1993, Eno and engineer Benedict Fenner visited the band at their practice space in Beehive Mill in Manchester to witness their productivity over three-to-four days. Eno made recordings of the rehearsals to assess the quality of the songwriting. From February 1993, Laid was recorded initially for one week at drummer David Baynton-Power's studio The Windings in Wrexham, Wales, before the remaining five were spent at Real World Studios in Box, England. John would like you to see Tim Booth dancing: youtu.be

Brand new from the Scottish synth-pop trio from Glasgow chvrch.es

“‘This Enchanted’ encapsulates everything I wanted to do moving forward from my first album,” Pilbeam says. “It’s one of the more lighthearted, lyrically vague songs of my new recordings about falling in love; it’s not a perfect relationship, but you’re enthralled by one another and it’s an easy love.”: www.stereogum.com youtu.be

Released on this day in 1994! In an interview at the time, it was suggested that "Seether" could either be about female "animalistic instincts" or bouts of rage. Vocalist Nina Gordon agreed that her songs' meanings often changed during and after the writing process. "You write a song, think it's about one thing for five minutes....and discover that it's about many different things and working on many different levels."

The Linda Lindas comprises sisters Lucia and Mila de la Garza, their cousin Eloise Wong, and close friend Bela Salazar. -- Enjoy KEXP's feature on The Linda Lindas, who have "the most fun job in the world.: bit.ly -- See their colorful video for "Oh!": www.youtube.com

Wet Leg has teased a new song coming out tomorrow! bit.ly "Would you like us to send someone to butter your muffin?" UK duo Wet Leg hail from the Isle of Wight and are comprised of Rhian Teasdale (who previously made music as RHAIN) and Hester Chambers. According to their press release, the decided to start a band together while atop a ferris wheel and cite everything from The Ronettes and Jane Birkin to Bjork and Ty Segall as influences. bit.ly youtu.be wetleg.bandcamp.com

"Can You Get to That" features Isaac Hayes's backing vocal group Hot Buttered Soul. --- Can you believe that "Maggot Brain" is 50 years old this year?: www.musicmusingsandsuch.com

"I went to the Durand Jones/My Morning Jacket show in Berkeley on Saturday, my first concert since January 2020. It was amazing and perfect and everything I've needed. If this or any Durand Jones can get on today, I'd appreciate it. Durand Jones were really fantastic live and have apparently been doing a Fleetwood Mac cover in their sets. My Morning Jacket covered bits of Louis Armstrong and Sly and the Family Stone. I strongly recommend that folks up there think about catching their Seattle shows if they can. Thank you!- Spencer in Oakland"

On tour with Durand Jones & the Indications! === Single, “Love Love Love,” from their upcoming self-titled album. In a statement, James said of the song, “‘Love Love Love’ is trying to steer the ship away from everything I’m talking about in ‘Regularly Scheduled Programming,’ and speak toward positivity and pure love, finding truth within yourself and in the world around you.” - bit.ly

Released on this day in 1993, Mezcal Head is the second studio album by English alternative rock band Swervedriver.

EERA, the project of Berlin-based Norwegian singer-songwriter and guitarist Anna Lena Bruland, has announced her sophomore album. "Speak," the follow-up to 2017’s "Reflection of Youth," comes out December 3. It’s led by the single ‘Ladder’, which arrives with an accompanying video directed by Sigurlaug Gísladóttir.: www.youtube.com

‘Extreme Witchcraft’ – was co-produced with PJ Harvey producer and guitarist John Parish and will be released on January 22, 2022. It is the first time frontman Mark ‘E’ Oliver Everett and Parish have worked together since the band’s ‘Souljacker’ album in 2001.

Portugal. The Man have announced an upcoming 2022 tour. To celebrate, they have released remakes of two 90s Alt-Rock classics, Len’s “Steal My Sunshine” feat. Cherry Glazerr and Eel’s “Novocaine For The Soul” feat. Sir Chloe. Alt-J will be joining them for the tour.

A cover of the Len classic. altjandptm.com

Released on this day in 1993! === Originally viewed by the band as a throwaway song and a possible b-side, Brian Eno soon convinced them of the potential of this track. Whilst only reaching a disappointing 22 in the UK charts, it made serious inroads for the band in the US where it lead to performances on prime-time TV shows such as Letterman, Conan O'Brien and Jay Leno. en.wikipedia.org

L.A. punk four-piece The Regrettes have just released a new single, “Monday,” that the band’s Lydia Night tells the NME “was inspired by misery, dread and all the fun emotions of the past couple of years,” adding. “It was written at one of the peaks of my anxiety, which I was only diagnosed with recently. After years of feeling a certain way but not identifying with any sort of mental illness, this song was me finding the validation for what I was going through. It was super therapeutic.” Watch the video: youtu.be

Dublin band Fontaines D.C. are among the artists who have contributed to ‘I’ll Be Your Mirror – A Tribute To The Velvet Underground & Nico’, a new Velvet Underground covers album which features the likes of St. Vincent, Michael Stipe and Iggy Pop. Speaking to NME, Fontaines bassist Deegan said that ‘The Black Angel’s Death Song’ was “the perfect song” for the band to be given to record for the tribute LP. bit.ly

Hailing from Austin, Texas, the Black Angels initially started out as Stephanie Bailey (drums), Christian Bland (guitar), Alex Maas (vocals), Jennifer Raines (organ), and Nathan Ryan (bass), and took their name from the Velvet Underground classic, "The Black Angel's Death Song." The Black Angels played Live on KEXP from the Triple Door in Seattle back in 2013: youtu.be

"White Rabbit" was written and performed by Grace Slick while she was still with the Great Society. Slick quit them and joined Jefferson Airplane to replace their departing female singer, Signe Toly Anderson, who left the band with the birth of her child. The first album Slick recorded with Jefferson Airplane was Surrealistic Pillow, and Slick provided two songs from her previous group: her own "White Rabbit" and "Somebody to Love", written by her brother-in-law Darby Slick and recorded under the title "Someone to Love" by the Great Society. The Great Society's version of "White Rabbit" was much longer than the more aggressive version of Jefferson Airplane.

Led Zeppelin heavily adapted Muddy Waters' 1962 track of Willie Dixon's "You Need Love" into "Whole Lotta Love". The large similarities resulted in a lawsuit in 1985 which was settled out of court for an undisclosed sum.

This is an environmental song written by guitarist Kim Thayil (music) and lead singer Chris Cornell (lyrics). It's about the abuse of mother nature (blanketing the ocean with oil, the clear cutting of old growth forests). Then the lyrics go on to say, "Put your hands away, your gonna kill your mother," meaning the Earth. --- www.youtube.com