John Richards

John Richards

John Richards

The Morning Show
Last show: Wednesday, Oct 23 2024, 7AM
john@kexp.org
Wednesday, Jul 27 2016, 6AM
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A particularly Daniel Ash way to start out your morning. Which is as good as any-- that man had some beautiful hair. Love and Rockets took their name from the cult comic book series (also called Love and Rockets).
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A track that wasn't actually featured on Closer, but instead was a non-album single. Evidently the lyrics referenced Ian Curtis's marriage to Deborah Curtis (who I am unable to separate from Samantha Morton, who played her in the Joy Division biopic).
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Early morning headrush courtesy of Kevin Shields's guitar buzz. This album cover isn't ever quite the same when you realize it's of a guitar. I always thought it was just a rush of color, but nah.
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6:12 AM
66th spin
Playing WaMu Theater on October 25th. If you ever want to feel self-conscious about your record label roster, just check out Mute's website. Eclectic to the max, loaded with stars: mute.com.
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This track would be perfect for a Mazda commercial, because, y'know, quick, smooth, speedy driving. From the 1990 Kitchens of Distinction LP Strange Free World.
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6:22 AM
128th spin
Someone once told me Lush reminded them of whippets, to which I said "eww." Off the Gala LP from Lush, which collected various EPs that the band had put out in 89/90.
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6:26 AM
336th spin
A song famously written about John D. Hertz, the founder of the Yellow Cab Company in Chicago. That's not real, but wouldn't it be pretty crazy if it was? Iggy does love Yellow Cabs though.
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Another Mute Records band, begging the question is KEXP more built on Mute or 4AD? Or Sub Pop? Some important questions to ponder over that morning coffee. From the Music for the Masses LP.
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Morrissey just announced an ostensibly vegan world tour. Four dates in Texas, no dates in Seattle. Moz's opener on tour will be a leg of lamb adorned with a frowney face and an acoustic guitar.
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6:38 AM
91st spin
Seeing TV on the Radio play this at Block Party last year was beyond great. Tunde Adebimpe is such a rock star at this point, his presence is unmistakable. Kyp Malone just chills on stage while Tunde's freaking out.
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6:41 AM
9th spin
New track from the Swedish psychedelic collective. New album, Requiem, will be out in October. A band with a beyond fascinating internet presence. A bit more streamlined now that they're on Sub Pop, but just the photos of them are beyond mysterious.
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Cool new album from the German funk collective, centered on bandleader Björn Wagner's obsession with steelpan drum. That dude just can't get enough of that steelpan drum. New LP's titled 55.
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The airplane the band's leaving on the cover for Special Beat Service is a Vickers VC10, a British designed four-engine jet. Now that's some Special Beat Service, you guys.
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Reminds me of Soup Dragons' "I'm Free." I've been thinking of that for a while, but could never put my finger on it. Pretty similar melodic pattern. Also reminds me of some vintage Stone Roses.
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6:57 AM
15th spin
Dinosaur Jr. releasing yet another good album. It's their first LP since 2012, which begs the question: Where You Been, Dinosaur Jr? J Mascis has probably heard that one before.
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I lied it was actually 23 years ago. I undersold how old you are. I can't wait for when Billy Corgan wakes from his fugue state and realizes he's been really unpleasant for the past 20 years.
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Released in the year George H.W. Bush was elected president, being out Michael Dukakis. That photo of Dukakis in a tank... it's as bad as you remember. If I could post photos on the Real Time Playlist, I would.
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The Psychedelic Furs & The Church are playing Benaroya Hall tonight (7/27). Should be fun. Little do they know, I still don't understand their bandname, and I'm still trying to.
The Psychedelic Furs, The Jesus and Mary Chain, and Frankie Rose
Tuesday, Oct 29, 2024  
Event Info
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7:18 AM
22nd spin
Kathleen Hanna could possibly the only musician that matters. What an icon. New Julie Ruin shows Ms. Hanna in as good form as ever. Playing The Showbox on October 8th.
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Playing the Paramount on September 19th. Also, Butch Vig (guitarist of Garbage) has produced countless classic albums, including Nirvana's Nevermind, Sonic Youth's Dirty, Smashing Pumpkins's Gish & Siamese Dream.
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7:24 AM
8th spin
Hot new music from Ms. Jenny Lewis, formerly of Rilo Kiley. Ms. Lewis teams up with Au Revoir Simone’s Erika Forster and the Like’s Tennessee Thomas on this LP. Sort of her post-punk record?
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New music from the quite talented Sin Fang-- full-length Spaceland is out on September 16th. This track, of course, features the interminable Jonsi of Sigur Ros.
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Bez won Celebrity Big Brother in 2005, if you were wondering what he'd been up to. Evidently he drew some concern over an interview he gave recently: www.mirror.co.uk.
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7:37 AM
233rd spin
Will be broken down in full as part of KEXP Goes 3 Feet High & Rising (!) on August 26th. Let's hope this means that this record goes back in Heavy Rotation. The whistling's from 'Sitting on the Dock of the Bay" by Otis Redding.
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New Peter Bjorn & John returning to the whistling days of 2006-era Peter Bjorn & John. Sort of a crazy infectious tune on this one. That's some top notch music criticism, I've topped myself.
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Who's your favorite Davies sibling? Mine is a six-way tie for Ray & Dave's six older sisters. They never get enough credit. This is my favorite Kinks album, even though people seem to prefer Arthur? This one is pretty perfect.
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7:47 AM
6th spin
New jams from Scottish band PAWS, off a new record called No Grace. The spiritual sequel to Jeff Buckley's Grace LP. No Grace came out back in mid-June on FatCat records (!).
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7:49 AM
246th spin
Read the 33 1/3 book on Doolittle a few years back, which made it hard to listen to the album for a bit? Just took away some of the mystery. This track, of course, references Buñuel's Un Chien Andalou.
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My goal for this summer was to thoroughly distance REM from last year's awful suitemate who was really into them. Like dude, you don't need to play Up at full blast while I'm trying to take a shower.
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Such a jam. A perfectly structured pop song-- the way the verse builds, then the chorus kicks in... that sounds banal when it's written out. I need to find a better way to communicate my love of this song.
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8:00 AM
9th spin
In what way is Sadie Dupuis not the best thing going right now? Sadie & Angel Olsen are keeping my spirit & energy alive amidst this torrent of awful. Off her new EP Foiled Again.
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This song's a bummer-- bad sororal relationships, man. Nothing like some sister talk to really bring everyone down, Juliana. I bet at dinner parties she brings up her sister and everyone's like uh-oh.
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New music at long last from the new project of Rachel Goswell of Slowdive, Stuart of Mogwai, and Justin from Editors. Sounds like an interesting mixture of those bands' music, while also hitting some new notes for sure.
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Correctly pronounced "pie-kull" if we're to believe Wikipedia. The title is a reference to the nickname of a friend close to the band who passed away before the album's release. It is dedicated in his memory.
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8:15 AM
43rd spin
Great new music from SUNY-Purchase alums LVL UP, who will release their third record (first on Sub Pop) on September 23rd. It's titled Return to Love, and should be pretty awesome.
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Going out in memory of Sandy Pearlman, who passed away yesterday at the age of 72. Best known as the founder of Blue Oyster Cult, Pearlman also produced many records, including this Clash LP.
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Sandy Pearlman also produced the first three Dictators records-- Go Girl Crazy, Manifest Destiny, and Bloodbrothers. Go Girl Crazy was described in a Village Voice article as the "blueprint for bad taste, humor, and defiance" in punk rock.
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Last track going out in tribute to Sandy Pearlman, who was a founding lyricist, producer, and manager of Blue Oyster Cult. From BOC's 1972 LP Secret Treaties.
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New music from British band Martha, arguably the best band to describe themselves as "straight-edge, vegan, [and] anarchist." Here's an NPR interview: www.npr.org.
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RTFM was called Poster Children's most consistent, melodic album by AllMusic, which is are two pretty positive descriptors. The only thing they call my albums are atonal and inconsistent. It gets a little repetitive.
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8:44 AM
11th spin
Sioux Falls coming in sounding like the lovechild of Modest Mouse, Built to Spill, with a little Rocket from the Crypt vibe thrown in. Still manages to sound pretty great-- no disrespect intended.
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8:52 AM
75th spin
I know Rollins is making fun of modern culture, but a TV Party actually sounds pretty nice about now. That dude was a trendsetter in so many ways. Well, mostly lifting weights & TV parties.
Black Flag
Tuesday, Jan 7, 2025  
Event Info
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8:57 AM
110th spin
Purple Rain (the movie) came out on this day in 1984. Arguably a great movie. Also pretty great how the movie is predicated on Prince being unwilling to use any compositions by Wendy & Lisa. Love how that's a plot point.
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9:01 AM
11th spin
8 Diagrams was Wu-Tang's first album since the death of Ol' Dirty Bastard, who passed in 2004. Ghostface Killa and Raekwon have both said in interviews they weren't comfortable with the album's production, saying it didn't have the Wu-Tang sound.
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9:05 AM
103rd spin
Young Fathers gave what was likely among the best KEXP in-studios of last year, playing tracks off the White Men Are Black Men Too LP: blog.kexp.org.
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9:08 AM
12th spin
A track I will forever associate with a fratty coworker with a predilection for slightly fratty indie rock/pop. Not saying Jungle's inherently fratty, it depends on the context in which one place it.
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9:11 AM
52nd spin
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Every lover of Ty Segall must deal with the internal struggle of what's the best Ty Segall record. Manipulator's great, Twins is up there, Slaughterhouse, Goodbye Bread, Emotional Mugger, the list just goes on...
Ty Segall with King Tuff
Thursday, Feb 27, 2025  
Event Info
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9:18 AM
23rd spin
If I was soundtracking a James Bond-esque caper movie, I would have several restaurant/club scenes in which The Budos Band is the house band. It would just feel right.
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Despite hitting No. 2 on the UK Charts, "Children of the Revolution" broke the string of four straight singles hitting No. 1 on the UK Charts for Marc Bolan. The track was never featured on a T. Rex album proper.
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Merchandise's new one is blowing minds. Five out of every six children conceived since this single dropped were conceived to this track. The 1 out of 6 children was conceived to Nelly Furtado's "I'm Like a Bird."
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9:27 AM
4th spin
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9:32 AM
30th spin
Am I the only one to think Allison Mosshart was inspired by Jennifer Herrema? It's sort of uncanny when you think about it. From the latest Kills LP, Ash & Ice, which came out back in early June.
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Name taken, of course, from a Roxy Music track. Too bad nobody's started a band called "In Every Dream Home a Heartache" or "Prairie Rose." Off the band's 2005 effort Witching Hour.
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High key a really good song about the effects of drug abuse. You used to take one, now you take four, that's just how it works, Phantogram. If only they had been prior educated. Just sayin'.
Phantogram
Friday, Feb 21, 2025  
Event Info
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9:44 AM
24th spin
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Recorded on 4 and 8 track recording tape, costing a grand total of 600 pounds. Initially considered a commercial failure in the UK, it was later included in the 1001 Albums to Hear Before You Die book.
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Diarrhea Planet-esque, one might say. The bandname isn't quite that intense though. Happy Diving! Sounds like a swimming pool for the over 60-set.
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Yeah, yeah, man. Reminds me of a truck moving quickly over hard terrain.
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Watch Desert Mountain Tribe's live in-studio performance! www.youtube.com
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