Kevin Cole

When "Loaded" was originally released in 1970, the song's bridge was cut. The box set Peel Slowly and See and reissue Loaded: Fully Loaded Edition restored the missing section. There are two distinct versions of "Sweet Jane" with minor variations, spread over its first four releases. The first release of the song in November 1970 was a version recorded earlier that year and included on Loaded. In May 1972, a live version recorded in August 1970 appeared on the Velvet Underground's Live at Max's Kansas City; this had an additional bridge that was missing from the Loaded release. In a 2005 interview, former Velvet Underground member Doug Yule stated that the main signature "riff" of the song (as it appears on Loaded) was finalized in the studio just before the tracks were recorded, and it was achieved by Lou Reed's playing "cranked-up very loud" through a large Sunn amplifier. In addition to recording the bass track, the drums on the recording were performed by Doug Yule because Velvet drummer Maureen Tucker was pregnant at the time and not present during the Loaded sessions. Lou Reed performed "Sweet Jane" in two keys. The 1969 and 1970 versions were in D as was 1972's American Poet version. On 1973's Rock 'n' Roll Animal and 1978's Take No Prisoners, the song is in E, and on 1984's Live in Italy, the song is back in D. bit.ly

Frontman George Clarke on the how working on this album during the early days of COVID-19 informed its sound and energy: "It's funny looking back now because the pandemic is so much more understood at this point, but at the time, yeah, I was like wiping off grocery bags and not leaving my apartment at all. And I had so much wound up energy, not being able to go to the gym, not being able to go outside for a run, all of these things, at least in the first couple of months when the information was very thin. "Out of that developed a ton of insomnia. Just nowhere to place that energy, that anxiety, because we were working on the songs at the same time, I would just stay up and listen to demos and do writing and re-writing and try and write melodies and things like that. So a lot of my kind of homework happened between say two and six [AM]. And I think because of that, I was writing a lot in the blue hour, and I think that there's references to blue, and essentially every single song informed the artwork. The whole thing was kind of informed by this period of restlessness." bit.ly

In their own words, New Age Healers is the "brainchild of Seattle-based, Brooklyn-stewed, Minneapolis-bred multi-instrumentalist Owen Murphy" who also advertises that his group has a Seattle and a Minneapolis line up. (Owen is the beloved producer of KEXP's Morning Show with John Richards.) Watch New Age Healers perform "Satellites "live at KEXP in 2019: youtu.be

The duo, made up of elementary school teacher turned vocalist Alexis Krauss and heavy metal dabbling guitarist Derek Miller, is largely revered as the artist behind the most hip, renegade songs in countless teen movies from the 2010s — "Kids" and "Crown on the Ground" to name a few. "Aren’t you a little too old for rock and roll?" jokingly sings Krauss on "Sweet75," the dynamic opener complete with thumping drums and heavy bass. The sharp guitar riffs coupled with saccharine vocals make for a jarring soundscape, but it’s one that longtime fans of Sleigh Bells will find comforting and familiar. Texis is a smorgasbord of eclectic new sounds that transcend genres, rooting itself in the shocking yet undeniably catchy nature of Sleigh Bells’ early work. It doesn’t quite pack the same punch as Treats or Reign of Terror, but the album still has its own distinct charm in its curiosity and unpredictable song structure. bit.ly

A smashing cover of the Jesus and Mary Chain song, originally recorded for the group's 1989 album Automatic.

Parquet Courts pair their new song, "Black Widow Spider," with a claymation tale of artistic malaise and heartbreak. "Black Widow Spider" boasts a psychedelic garage sound, with co-frontman A Savage saying of the song in a statement, "I told [producer] Rodaidh McDonald that I wanted to find a sound that was equal parts Can, Canned Heat, and This Heat. He was really into that and probably took some glee in having such a bizarre challenge." The video was directed and animated by Shayne Ehman, who complements the song’s lyrics about a nagging, persistent yearning with a claymation story about a struggling artist hung up on a former flame. "We were inspired by the claymation master Art Clokey," Ehman said. "I wanted the video to feel like it was shot in the Fifties and so I used very old lenses. One was a brass projection lens from the 1860s and another was radioactive." bit.ly Catch that nifty new video here: bit.ly

The Alabama Shakes frontwoman named Jaime after her older sister, who taught her how to play the piano and write poetry. Jaime passed away from cancer as a teen. The original version of “Stay High” sat atop Billboard’s Adult Alternative Songs chart for three weeks and won this year’s Grammy for Best Rock Song. bit.ly Childish Gambino’s version appears on Howard’s project Jaime Reimagined, which includes 13 covers and remixes of songs from her celebrated 2019 debut solo album Jaime. Other reimagined songs on this album feature Bon Iver, EarthGang, Little Dragon, BadBadNotGood, Michael Kiwanuka, Fred again.., and Joy Anonymous, as well as Common, 9th Wonder, Syd, Emily King, Laura Mvula, Georgia Anne Muldrow, and Jungle. “Making Jaime was so much fun for me because I was able to explore so many different genres of music. There were no rules,” Howard said of the project. “This reimagination project has been no different. I have been honored to have so many incredible artists from all musical worlds interpret my songs in such interesting and different ways.” bit.ly

Released today in 1969! "Walk On By" is a song composed by Burt Bacharach, with lyrics by Hal David, for singer Dionne Warwick in 1963. Isaac Hayes recorded the song in 1969, and reached number 30 on the Hot 100 chart and number 13 in the R&B charts with his version. bit.ly Hayes' version was originally 12 minutes long, and reduced to 5 minutes for airplay. It has been sampled in 1992 by Compton's Most Wanted in "Hood Took Me Under," in 1994 by The Notorious B.I.G. in "Warning," in 1995 by 2Pac in "Me Against The World," in 1999 by MF DOOM in "Dead Bent," in 2000 by Wu-Tang Clan in "I Can't Go to Sleep," in 1996 by Hooverphonic in "2 Wicky," and in Beyoncé's 2016 song "6 Inch."

"Undone" is written and sung by drummer Kristin Leonard as an homage to the times in our life when we rebound from periods of darkness to states of exuberance that easily go too far into the realm of darkness all over again. "Sometimes we get carried away by enjoyment and overdo it," says Leonard. "Life's about finding balance. But in order to find that balance, some healthy reflection and acceptance about where we've been are necessary to push us forward with love and wisdom on our journey. So 'Undone' is me reflecting on those aspects of myself. And I think most of us can relate." bit.ly Check out The Shivas' blissfully retro accompanying video here: bit.ly

"Rusty Cage" was written by frontman Chris Cornell. Guitarist Kim Thayil on the song: "The tuning on that song was pretty nutty. It's recorded with a wah wah in the low position used as a filter. That was the first time we did anything like that. It was Chris's idea; he wanted to get that weird tone that you can't really dial in on an amp. But if you use the wah wah as a filter, it gets an incredibly weird sound. And if you listen to that riff, especially if you've heard the original demos of it, it almost sounds backward." The bottom E string is tuned all the way down to B, with Thayil stating that "the string was all wobbly but it had a good effect." The song features a striking tempo change towards the end of the song. The phrasing and meter also change: the first part of the song is in 4/4 but the second, slower, part is in six-bar phrases consisting of three bars of 3/4 followed by one bar of 5/4, followed by a bar of 3/4 and a bar of 2/4 (3+3+3+5+3+2). Thayil has said that Soundgarden usually did not consider the time signature of a song until after the band had written it, and said that the use of odd meters was "a total accident." bit.ly

Celest are a four-piece band that started out in Mexico City back in 2014. KEXP had the privilege to record a performance during at Panoram Studios in Mexico City on February 27, 2019; watch it here: bit.ly Be sure to also check out their gorgeous official video here: bit.ly

A mini guest set from our friend Alex Bautista, who owns Georgetown Records down in Mexico City. His shop is actually modeled off of Georgetown Records in Seattle, which is so cool. Alex says of the shop, "The original idea was to make a bridge, a Seattle connection." Incidentally, today is Georgetown Records CDMX’s five year anniversary! Congratulations, Alex!!! Released by Green Cookie Records, based in Thessaloniki, Greece. Lost Acapulco are a surf rock band formed in the port of Acapulco, Mexico in 1996. One of their main features is the use of Mexican wrestling masks (Lucha libre). Pioneers without a doubt of the surf scene in Mexico. Considered a cult band, which since their inception in 1996 have been characterized by its powerful and vertiginous live shows. Power that the public has been transforming into frenzied and colorful tribal dances, with wrestling masks, flowery shirts and beach accessories; paraphernalia that the fans have gradually incorporated into their shows. Their debut album "4" was produced by Danny Amis (Los Straightjackets). Their music has been included in films of the "new Mexican cinema", such as Sexo, Pudor y Lágrimas, Perfume de Violetas, Atlético San Pancho, Matando Cabos, Santos Peregrinos and in animations by Jorge Alderete for MTV and Nickelodeon. bit.ly

Sorrow Tomorrow is the second LP from Mexico's Has A Shadow, and the first to be released on Fuzz Club Records. Rumbling in on dark storm clouds from Guadalajara, Mexico their new release is an adrenaline-fuelled rush of eerie gothic organs, motorik bass-lines, marching percussion, squalls of chiming, fuzz-ridden guitars and the atonal, ritualistic chants of vocalist Daniel Garciano. Imagine an unholy, dirty mix of Bauhaus, Sisters of Mercy, Suicide and Darklands-era Jesus and Mary Chain - this is a hauntingly good exercise in dark and ritualistic post-punk with an immersive gothic slant. bit.ly

"Would you like us to assign someone to worry your mother?" 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 Watch the video! youtu.be

The follow-up album to 2020’s A Beautiful Revolution Pt. 1, Pt. 2 was “created with hope and inspiration in mind,” according to Common. "The spirit of the album was meant to emulate what a greater day would sound and feel like. We were in the midst of some tough political and socially challenging times," shares Common. "There was still hurt, anger, and pain lingering, so I was thinking, ‘What is the next step in this revolution?’ I thought about what being still in these times had brought me and that was a peace beyond understanding, a greater love for self, a closer connection with God, and more appreciation for my family, friends, and the simple things in life." This track features vocals by R&B singer PJ, and is the third single from A Beautiful Revolution Pt. 2. bit.ly

Seattle-based R&B singer/songwriter, Parisalexa’s latest single, "…Better Than Being In Love" is an ode to being your own true love. The track explores the nuances of loving yourself subtly and honestly. The single opens with a sleek melody and guitar licks that compliment Parisalexa’s (aka Paris Williams) smooth vocals. As the chorus reminds listeners how "it feels better than being in love" (being in love with oneself), Williams’ verses bring a savage and frank description of how exactly it feels better loving yourself. "Made a decision I’m leaving you for me / I get me wetter / I do me better / than you ever could." Parisalexa doesn’t shy away from vulnerability and the quirky digs at a lacking lover. The culmination of the polished production, witty lyrics, and Parisalexa’s stellar vocal range propels the track to anthemic status. bit.ly

Today marks the anniversary of Bob Marley's show at Pittsburgh's Stanley Theatre in 1980, the final concert performance by the reggae legend, who died eight months later in Miami at the age of 36. This song was written in 1979 on an aeroplane while The Wailers were experimenting on guitar. In the middle of the song, background singers quote a verse from Bob Marley's first single. "Judge Not": "The road of life is rocky; And you may stumble too. So while you point your fingers, someone else is judging you." Instruments used on the original record of this song are guitars, bass, drums, acoustic piano, the Hohner clavinet and an organ, as well as the Brazilian cuíca. bit.ly

Released this day in 1978! Although this was a big hit for Blondie in 1978, it was actually first recorded by The Nerves, who released it on their one and only EP, in 1976 - making them a no-hit wonder? The song was written by the band's guitarist Jack Lee. Fortunately it was picked up by Blondie, and backed by "Will Anything Happen?" and "Fade Away And Radiate" it reached #5 on the UK singles chart. Running to a mere 2 minutes 17 seconds, it was purely a commercial song and was Blondie's second release from the Parallel Lines album on the Chrysalis label. Jack Lee recalled in a 2007 interview with Mojo magazine that he was facing financial ruin before he received the phone call that changed his fortunes. "I remember the day vividly," he recalled. "It was a Friday. They were going to cut off our electricity at six o'clock, the phone too." When Debbie Harry rang asking Lee if she could record this song, Lee readily agreed and the rest was history. bit.ly

The Coathangers do their spin on Blondie’s “One Way Or Another,” employing their trademark sweet-and-salty combination of scrappy punk and twee pop to highlight the song’s spikey riffage and gritty soul while retaining its beguiling hooks. This track comes off a double set from Suicide Squeeze, also featuring L.A. Witch's take on The Gun Club’s smoky punk blues with an exhilarating rendition of “Ghost on the Highway.” bit.ly

After years of living in different shared houses between local and international tours, the band found themselves back under one roof in 2020, just before the start of the pandemic. When Melbourne enjoyed rare days out of strict lockdown, they spent their days working on Comfort to Me in a tinny storage locker as furniture removers came and went from the neighbouring units. Lockdown-induced delays granted the usually spontaneous outfit the rare luxury of time – although lacking the opportunity to road-test music designed for sticky-carpeted venues and increasingly large festival crowds proved an interesting creative challenge. bit.ly

alt-J have announced their new album, The Dream, out February 11th via Canvasback/Infection Music. As a preview, they've unveiled "U&ME," which marks the British outfit’s first new material in four years. They’ve also mapped out an extensive North American tour. The Dream was created in the year following the band’s 2017-2018 world tour in support of their last full-length, RELAXER. According to a press release, the lyrics are partially inspired by "true-crime-inspired stories and tales of Hollywood and the Chateau Marmont." The album’s lead single, "U&ME," was written during various soundchecks around the globe, and then recorded with longtime producer Charlie Andrew. The track’s sound and lyrics evoke the best parts of summer as Joe Newman sings, "Summer holiday having fun/ Happiness is between two buns/ Feeling funky on a rolling boil/ Smiles bend all over." bit.ly

Nation of Language will perform LIVE on KEXP (yes, in that Live Room!) on Thursday, October 14 at 9:30am. Singer and songwriter Ian Devaney elaborates on the track thusly: "'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

In early 1967, a rumour circulated in London that Paul McCartney had been killed in a traffic accident while driving along the M1 motorway on January 7. The rumour was acknowledged and rebutted in the February issue of The Beatles Book, a fanzine. McCartney then alluded to the rumour during a press conference held around the release of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band in May. By 1967, the Beatles were known for sometimes including backmasking in their music. Analysing their lyrics for hidden meaning had also become a popular trend in the US. In November 1968, their self-titled double LP (also known as the "White Album") was released containing the track "Glass Onion". John Lennon wrote the song in response to "gobbledygook" said about Sgt. Pepper. In a later interview, he said that he was purposely confusing listeners with lines such as "the Walrus was Paul" – a reference to his song "I Am the Walrus" from the 1967 EP and album Magical Mystery Tour. On September 17, 1969, Tim Harper, an editor of the Drake Times-Delphic, the student newspaper of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, published an article titled "Is Beatle Paul McCartney Dead?" The article addressed a rumour being circulated on campus that cited clues from recent Beatles albums, including a message interpreted as "Turn me on, dead man", heard when the White Album track "Revolution 9" is played backwards. Also referenced was the back cover of Sgt. Pepper, where every Beatle except McCartney is photographed facing the viewer, and the front cover of Magical Mystery Tour, which depicts one unidentified band member in a differently coloured suit from the other three. According to music journalist Merrell Noden, Harper's Drake Times-Delphic was the first to publish an article on the "Paul is dead" theory. Harper later said that it had become the subject of discussion among students at the start of the new academic year, and he added: "A lot of us, because of Vietnam and the so-called Establishment, were ready, willing and able to believe just about any sort of conspiracy." bit.ly

Celebrating Ani DiFranco's birthday today with this rare acoustic version from Rev 105 in Minneapolis. Also, Happy Bisexual Pride Day! This special day was first officially observed in 1999 at the International Lesbian and Gay Association Conference in Johannesburg, South Africa, Celebrate Bisexuality Day is the brainchild of three bisexual rights activists: Wendy Curry of Maine, Michael Page of Florida, and Gigi Raven Wilbur of Texas. Wilbur said: "Ever since the Stonewall rebellion, the gay and lesbian community has grown in strength and visibility. The bisexual community also has grown in strength but in many ways we are still invisible. I too have been conditioned by society to automatically label a couple walking hand in hand as either straight or gay, depending upon the perceived gender of each person." This celebration of bisexuality in particular, as opposed to general LGBT events, was conceived as a response to the prejudice and marginalization of bisexual people by some in both the straight and greater LGBT communities. Wendy Curry said: "We were sitting around at one of the annual bi conventions, venting and someone – I think it was Gigi – said we should have a party. We all loved the great bisexual, Freddie Mercury. His birthday was in September, so why not Sept? We wanted a weekend day to ensure the most people would do something. Gigi's birthday was Sept 23rd. It fell on a weekend day, so, poof! We had a day." bit.ly

One of the last tracks to be written and recorded for the LP, the ballad has been described as "probably Bowie's densest and most impenetrable song." Bowie named his publishing company in the late 1970s Bewlay Bros. Music and used the name as a pseudonym for himself, Iggy Pop and Colin Thurston as producers of Pop's 1977 album Lust for Life. Bowie himself is said to have told producer Ken Scott that it was a track for the American market, because "the Americans always like to read things into things", even though the lyrics "make absolutely no sense." Compiler Andy Greene, for Rolling Stone magazine's Readers' Poll: The 10 Best David Bowie Deep Cuts, said, "Virtually no entry in the David Bowie songbook has confused the hardcores quite like 'The Bewlay Brothers.' It was the final track recorded for Hunky Dory and Bowie said at the time the lyrics were nonsense, but in later years he hinted it was inspired by his schizophrenic half-brother Terry. "'I was never quite sure what real position Terry had in my life,' Bowie said in 2000, 'whether Terry was a real person or whether I was actually referencing another part of me, and I think 'Bewlay Brothers' was really about that.' Others have seen clear homosexual overtones in the surreal lyrics, but Bowie's never commented on that. He's also only played it five times, and those were all between 2002 and 2004." bit.ly

According to González, "Hold On" is an anti-dogma, pro-reason song. "It was inspired by Fela Kuti’s Zombie and the way I used to write lyrics for my hardcore band," he says. "And some of the terms I use, like 'rent seeker' or 'value extractor,' are from books on economics that I’ve been reading, like The Value of Everything by Mariana Mazzucato." "Hold On" is already an illustrative track, but the folk icon brings it to life all the more with a music video that accompanies it. The clip, which is directed by Mikel Cee Karlsson, focuses on glowing digital projections that crawl along the wall while González plays guitar on a couch indoors. It turns out those digital drawings were influenced by a cellular automaton called "Game of Life" by the mathematician John Horton Conway. "'Game of Life' has emergent properties, meaning that complex forms can arise, or evolve, through simple individual parts," explains Karlsson. "Without any designer, plan or intent. In the video, we used visuals from 'Game of Life' as an analogy for the flow of information; bits of information forming patterns. Adapting. Evolving. Mutating. Like memes, or mind viruses; positive, neutral or negative. Traveling from mind to mind in a never-ending war of ideas that we all participate in and are influenced by." bit.ly Watch that tantalizing video here: bit.ly

Recorded at Middle Farm Studios in the U.K. during the pandemic in fall 2020, Thirstier’s tracks are tailored for "post-plague celebration." "I wanted to channel my intensity into something that felt positive and constructive, as opposed to being intense in a destructive or eviscerating way," Mackenzie Scott said in a statement. "I love the idea that intensity can actually be something life-saving or something joyous." bit.ly KEXP Presents TORRES with Ariana & The Rose in a 21+ show at 8PM on Monday, September 27 at the Tractor Tavern in Seattle! Tickets: bit.ly

Bruce's demo/audition for CBS Records, May 2, 1972 The background: Sometimes it's hard to believe that Bruce Springsteen has been a recording artist for so many decades, but a scrawny kid from New Jersey walked into Columbia Records' office in New York City on May 2, 1972 with an acoustic guitar and sang a few songs in front of legendary talent scout John Hammond. Born into New York aristocracy in 1910, Hammond was turned on to jazz by his family's African American servants. As an adult, he worked his love of the music into a political philosophy: If more people heard it, he thought—perhaps too idealistically but certainly well-intentioned—racial prejudice in the U.S. would end. In fact, he began his career with Columbia when, during the Depression, he offered to fund the recordings of several of his favorite unsigned artists. Eventually Hammond broadened his view to encompass blues and folk, and over the course of his career, he either produced or discovered many of the greatest names in the history of 20th century American music, including Benny Goodman, Billie Holiday, Pete Seeger, Aretha Franklin and Bob Dylan. Springsteen's manager, Mike Appel, somehow convinced Hammond to give him a shot, and on May 2, 1972, Springsteen auditioned for Hammond in his office. He played at least four songs: "Growin' Up," "It's Hard to Be a Saint in the City," "Mary Queen of Arkansas" and "If I Was the Priest." According to Springsteen, Hammond's response was simple: "You’ve got to be on Columbia Records." bit.ly

In keeping with a storied tradition of rock songs, these lyrics equate love with the surrendering of a woman's virtue. The protagonist promises to prove his love all night, a vow that can be seen as either opportunistic or youthfully optimistic, depending on one's point of view. Thus, it can be experienced as either humorous or sincere. Lyrically the song is similar to other Springsteen numbers such as "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" and "Thunder Road." The entire song contains a sense of optimism that the two individuals' quest for love will someday be realized but, at the same time, it seems that the world is closing in on them in that the characters' chances of falling in love are growing more limited as time passes. The song begins with a piano intro played by Roy Bittan. The rhythm guitar work is quite faint, but fits the groove and feel of the song. Following the second stanza is a sax solo which precedes a somewhat intricate-sounding guitar solo by Springsteen. The solo, played quite fast, effectively voices the protagonist's mounting desire to elope. An earlier take of the song has different lyrics; several lines and verses from "Something in the Night" were used instead. bit.ly

In a statement, the band says, “‘Oh!’ is one of the first songs we collaborated on during the pandemic, masked and distanced on the front porch. It started with the main riff and progression Bela brought to the band. Eloise wrote the verses, and Lucia and Mila wrote the choruses. The song deals with trying to help out someone and having it blow up in your face.” “Oh!” is not a Sleater-Kinney cover, even if that would’ve fit just fine with this band’s whole style. Instead, “Oh!” is a revved-up anthem with a rigid midtempo beat and a whole lot of sugar-rush chanting. It’s a glammy version of punk in the same way that the Donnas were a glammy version of punk. The lyrics, however, are not glammy; they’re all about feeling like an idiot who can’t change anything. Earlier this year, teenage punk band the Linda Lindas went viral with a performance at the LA Public Library. Soon afterwards, the band signed with Epitaph and played their song “Racist, Sexist Boy” on Kimmel. bit.ly

Remembering Benjamin Curtis, who was born on this day in 1978. Curtis was a guitarist, drummer, and songwriter, and founding member of the bands Secret Machines, School of Seven Bells, and UFOFU. He was also drummer for the band Tripping Daisy from 1997 to 1999. (d. 2013 at 35), and a dear friend of KEXP. This track comes off the debut album from School of Seven Bells, originally formed by Curtis and twin sisters Claudia and Alejandra Deheza. Claudia left the group after touring for their second album, and Curtis passed away from lymphoma in 2013. Watch School of Seven Bells performing this one live at KEXP in 2009 here: youtu.be