John Richards

ODESZA has announced their first live show back in 3 years. "The Return" show will take place at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle on Friday, July 29th with special guests Sylvan Esso and ford. The first music in four years from Bellingham's own ODESZA includes the original vocal from Betty LaVette's 1965 track "Let Me Down Easy" thereturn.odesza.com www.bettyelavette.com

Gui Boratto, born in São Paulo, Brazil, is a producer, multi-instrumentalist, and founder of label D.O.C. This second full-length studio release from Boratto arrived in 2009. guiboratto.bandcamp.com www.guiboratto.com.br

The best-selling 12" single of all time in Britain came in a die-cut sleeve that resembled a floppy disc; A sleeve so fancy Factory Records lost money on each copy. The later 1988 and 1995 versions were packaged in conventional sleeves to help balance the books. -- The lyrics were written by the group's guitarist/lead singer Bernard Sumner, who copped to being (along with the rest of the band) under the influence of LSD while making the song.

Rolling Stone says: The Smile have unearthed the unreleased Radiohead gem “Skrting on the Surface” for the latest single from the Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood side project. The track dates back to Radiohead’s In Rainbows sessions and was performed live a handful of times by both that band and Yorke’s Atoms for Peace side project before disappearing for a decade. With the Smile, “Skrting on the Surface” gets a technicolor makeover thanks to Greenwood’s arpeggios, Tom Skinner’s drum work and a bath of synths and subtle brass that accompany Yorke in the closing minutes. They've shared a video for the song, watch it here: youtu.be

Beach House are playing The Paramount Theatre in Seattle on Sunday, Apr 3 "New Romance" is from the second chapter of the four that make up Beach House's latest release -- with vibes of M83 and Cocteau Twins layered through the synths The lyric animation is v nice: youtu.be

Norwegian electronic music duo Röyksopp is joined by half of Swedish electronica duo The Knife - Karin Dreijer is featured on vocals for "What Else Is There?". The music video was directed by Martin de Thurah. It features Norwegian model Marianne Schröder who is shown lip-syncing Dreijer's voice. Schröder is depicted as a floating woman traveling across stormy landscapes and within empty houses. Dreijer makes a cameo appearance as a woman wearing an Elizabethan ruff while dining alone at a festive table. bit.ly youtu.be

The collection of songs on Trentemøller’s sixth studio album, 'Memoria,' traverses some ground fans will find familiar, but also digs deeper into themes of transience, and various forms of continuance. His latest single, “No More Kissing In The Rain” gives the impression that it’s easier to find comfort in the darkness when it feels like particles of light are only moments away from assembling, perhaps divulging a bright secret. youtu.be trentemoller.bandcamp.com

One of two songs written by the band about Joan of Arc, with both appearing on their 1981 album, 'Architecture & Morality.'

For this record, the band experimented with their “relationship to the music of the 70s, through the lenses of krautrock and early electronic music,” as songwriter/vocalist Ian Devaney explains it. "'Across That Fine Line' is a reflection on that moment when a non-romantic relationship flips into something different. When the air in the room suddenly feels like it changes in an undefinable way. It’s a kind of celebration of that certain joyous panic, and the uncertainty that surfaces right after it. A Way Forward was voted #4 by KEXP Listeners in KEXP's Top 90.3 Albums of 2021! They're playing at the Crocodile this week (and we're giving away tickets this morning!), and in Boise for Treefort next weekend. bit.ly

New Future Islands single, though no new album announcement yet. Their last full-length was 'As Long as You Are,' released in October 2020. bit.ly Future Islands will be playing at The Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver, BC on May 12-13. bit.ly -- Future Islands stopped by KEXP in 2020 and shared songs recorded live exclusively for KEXP and chatted with DJ Morgan. youtu.be -- futureislands.bandcamp.com future-islands.com

Arcade Fire's first new album in five years, "WE," will be out on May 6th. The 40-minute, seven-song album is split into one side called “I” (an opening side about isolation) and another called “WE” (about reconnection); the first three tracks are on “I,” and the next four are on “WE.” -- See the official video for "The Lightning I, II": www.youtube.com

Surfer Rosa, released on this day in 1988! Frank Black co-wrote "Gigantic" with Pixies bass player Kim Deal, who was using the stage name Mrs. John Murphy at the time. The song made a big impression on Kurt Cobain. He said in 1992, "I wish Kim was allowed to write more songs for the Pixies, because 'Gigantic' is the best Pixies song and Kim wrote it." Kim Deal reacted modestly, "Well, it's better than somebody saying, 'Oh God, you suck.'"

Early Blur BY REQUEST!! To promote this single, the band recruited Hammer & Tongs to direct and produce a suitable video. The result featured a sentient milk carton known as "Milky" searching for Coxon, who appeared as a missing person’s face on its side youtu.be

The structure of "Know your Rights" revolves around the rights held by the poor and disenfranchised, in which the speaker of the song, presumably a villainous civil servant (whose identity is assumed in the song by vocalist Joe Strummer), names the three actual rights. At the end, the notion that more rights should be granted is rebuffed by the speaker. The three are: 1. "The right not to be killed. Murder is a crime, unless it is done by a policeman, or an aristocrat" 2. "The right to food money, providing of course, you don't mind a little investigation, humiliation, and, if you cross your fingers, rehabilitation" 3. "The right to free speech (as long as you're not dumb enough to actually try it)"

The Temptations were the first to record this; it was included on their 1970 album Psychedelic Shack. Motown had no intention of releasing it as a single, but many in the protest movement, especially college students, made it clear that the song would be a big hit if it was. Motown head Berry Gordy had other plans for The Temptations and didn't want them associated with such a controversial song, so he had Starr record it and his version was released as a single. Starr didn't have as big a fan base to offend. www.songfacts.com

This song contains "Let Me Try", written by Frank Tirado, performed by Kaleidoscope; samples of "Collection Speech/Unidentified Lining Hymn", recorded by Alan Lomax in 1959, performed by Reverend R.C. Crenshaw; and samples of "Stewball", recorded by Alan Lomax and John Lomax, Sr. in 1947, performed by Prisoner "22" at Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman. www.beyonce.com

"Hey, John, Today is my first day at a new job, after 11 years at my previous employer. Can you help me start off on the right foot with Check the Rhime by Tribe? Thanks- Michael from Queen Anne" ------ The Hip Hop legends sample from Average White Band, Minnie Riperton, Grover Washington Jr, and Dalton & Dubarri on this album. Check out the music video here: youtu.be

Brand new music. If you like it, you have to try to say this band name 5 times fast. www.kokorokomusic.co.uk

Paranoid David Byrne is relatable: "I have tried marijuana I get nervous every time There will come a knockin' at the door Why is everybody makin' eyes at me ? I don't want to know Excuse and pardon me"

Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever will be at Neumos on Thursday, August 18. bit.ly Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever have shared new song ‘Tidal River’, lifted from their forthcoming album ‘Endless Rooms’. The song takes sharp aim at the ignorance and self-entitlement present within Australian culture, the hoarding of wealth by the country’s elite and the slow pace of progress. It’s “a little snapshot of living in a place at a time when it feels like there is no-one at the wheel”, according to the band’s Tom Russo. bit.ly youtu.be rollingblackoutscoastalfever.bandcamp.com www.rollingblackoutsband.com

The legendary Kristin Hersh, longtime pal of also-legendary Kevin Cole, visited Kevin in his basement late 2021, reminisced, spun some favourite tunes, and also played a few of her own. Enjoy a wonderful piece by Kevin, as well as the entire session, right here: bit.ly "Is Kristin Hersh a metalhead?" asks NPR. "Staring into the Sun" is a gauzy, slow-motion headbanger from the forthcoming album Black Pearl, 50 Foot Wave's first material in six years. Formed in early 2000s, the group — comprised of Hersh on guitar along with fellow Throwing Muses member Bernard Georges on bass and drummer Rob Ahler — is a power trio that gives the poetic and stylistically voracious Hersch space to bare her teeth. Centered around a melancholy guitar figure akin to Warning's despairing doom metal and a seething sweetness similar to Deftones, "Staring into the Sun" swims in gloomy blunt-force beauty. n.pr

"Hey John, First day of Spring & my birthday yesterday, day after yours. Had a great time w/ my husband & kids - so much love & smiles. And thankful for friends who are like family. You've played the Pixies 💙 - would love to hear Honeychain by Throwing Muses. Peace, Amy in Baltimore"

John's favorite album was released on this day in 1988. Three different storylines are at play in "Bone Machine". In an interview with Pixies frontman Frank Black, he explained the inspirations: "Girlfriend. Unfaithfulness. Creepy pastor whose intentions I later questioned. In that order." bit.ly

In this new single Black Francis reflects on an old relationship: “Went by your place/ There was nobody there/ At the cocktail lounge/ Someone else was in your chair.” It’s comes with a music video that’s directed by Pixies bassist Paz Lenchantin, which was filmed at the San Pedro abandoned bunkers and Santa Monica’s Gold Diggers Bar in LA. “The storyline is loosely based on an ‘inside joke’ between Charles and I about going on tour,” Lenchantin explained in a statement. “How we go through a door from our reality state into the altered state of becoming and being a Pixie.” See the video here: youtu.be

A cover of Pixies "Gouge Away" by Brooklyn Band, Nation of Language -- Nation of Language vocalist Ian Devaney said: “When Aidan suggested ‘Gouge Away’ I was immediately struck by how badly I wanted to rework it in our style, and the whole song mapped itself out in my head right away. I didn’t let myself listen to the original from then until it was fully recorded so I might forget certain details about it, leaving only my impression of itsfoundational elements – the way the quiet, unsettling verses give way to the savage choruses, the way the big transitional guitar line overwhelms you every time it happens.”

The song was written by Folk Implosion leader Lou Barlow and Orbit bassist Wally Gagel, who also produced the song. It was released as a single in 1995, and was featured on the soundtrack to the Larry Clark film "Kids," but does not appear in the film itself.

James Goodson’s Dazy and Ian Shelton’s Militarie Gun have released a collaborative track, “Pressure Cooker.” “Ever since I met Ian, we’ve had a tendency to veer off into long conversations about songwriting, but when he suggested we should try to do something together I thought he was just being friendly,” says Goodson in a statement. “He kept bringing it up so finally I showed him a song I’d been working on, and in no time at all he was sending back vocals and new ideas. I’m always blown away by the amount of energy and personality that Militarie Gun can pack into a song, and it was really cool to work together and see that happening in real time.” bit.ly dazysound.bandcamp.com

"Good morning, John. I hope you had a nice recharge this weekend. Would you play Kae Tempest - Salt Coast? I adore that song. Jean" ==== Kae Tempest said: “My love song to this complex, devastating, deeply beautiful island-- 'Salt Coast' is out now. This song means the world to me. Hope you feel it.” -bit.ly -- Watch the official visualizer for "Salt Coast": www.youtube.com -- In 2020, the poet announced that they had changed their name to Kae Tempest and was coming out as non-binary. bit.ly

Robyn covering Neneh Cherry! With Mapei and producer Dev Hines (Blood Orange).

Florence + the Machine have been teasing songs from their new album with tarot card images -- featured on their Web site, sent to members of their fan club in the mail, and displayed on billboards in London! florenceandthemachine.net The new album, Dance Fever, is out May 13th

Co-written by Valerie and noted songwriter and producer Jennifer Decilveo (Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato, Andra Day), “Use Me” is an irresistible slice of Memphis soul that once again affirms Valerie’s powerful ability to connect. “We’ve made a sphere from a circle unbroken,” sings Valerie. “We’ve got true love, not just three words spoken.” valeriejune.com

"Good morning John, My mom Debbie passed away yesterday after a year-long battle against metastatic breast cancer. Could you please play the same song she played, with the volume turned to 11 the day Trump lost the election, with Rhiannon Giddons & Co singing? Many thanks, Dan" ==== “This machine kills fascists” was emblazoned on folk singer Woody Guthrie’s guitar, and he used his weapon of choice to compose timely songs of protest, which still remain relevant. One of those tunes is “All You Fascists Bound To Lose” which Guthrie wrote in 1942. -- Rhiannon Giddens from the Carolina Chocolate Drops sings and plays fiddle with the Resistance Revival Chorus, an activist and musical group that formed out of the 2017 Women’s March-- video here: youtu.be www.resistancerevivalchorus.com

¾ of the Far Side (formerly Pharcyde) have reunited to record another album blacknewworldmedia.com

The now-legendary duo of DJ Premier and Guru dropped this at the height of hip-hop’s sampling of jazz. It features samples of jazz greats such as Thelonious Monk. Rather than just drop in an instrumental for the B-side, DJ Premier instead shows his versatility by switching up the base track (Kool & The Gang’s 1971 ‘Dujii’) and layering in other samples. lightintheattic.net

Playing this week at the Crocodile!! www.ticketweb.com have a great week!!

Playing The Paramount Monday, May 2nd. Enjoy Live Video from Big Thief's 2019 KEXP In-Studio: bit.ly. In a recent Rolling Stone feature, singer Adrianne Lenker said the track was inspired by personal experiences, including an intense four-day hospitalization in Brooklyn in 2020. Prior to its release, the band has been performing it on tour since last September, and it’s become a fan favorite. “I’ve been getting notes that the music has been helping people love and accept themselves in dark times, and to me, that right there is what I want to do,” Lenker told RS. “I don’t want to get to a certain level in my career or be seen as this or that. I just want people to come back to themselves and be able to accept, love or forgive themselves more fully. I want my music to be a guide to people to get back closer to themselves — not to me.”. bit.ly bigthief.bandcamp.com