Songs Of The Week, 2025: 3/29-4/4

 

City Of Fun- The Only Ones
Promised Land- Johnnie Allan
Girl Don't Come- Sandie Shaw
Betcha Won't Dance- Detective
What Cha' Gonna Do For Me- Chaka Khan
Maria- Eric Reed
Rivers Of Babylon- Robert Walter

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BW's Saturday #52

 

Holy Moses, I Have Been Deceived

 

This new Elton John/Brandi Carlile record is kind of a mess.

What's good- "Never Too Late," "A Little Light," "Someone To Belong To"--works as solid pop reminiscent of, well, I guess any era of Elton given the hot treatment by hot producer the hot Andrew Watt. But some songs, like the cringeworthy 1-2 punch of "The Rose Of Laura Nyro" and "Little Richard's Bible," the first and second songs on the album, absolutely fail. Singing "Eli's Coming" and dropping Nyro titles over an off-off-Broadway musical arrangement just doesn't work for me. But then they do it again on the very next song! This time shouting "Long Tall Sally" and "Tutti Frutti" on the Little Richard track. Is Brandi or Bernie to blame for this? These songs belong in "Waiting For Guffman."

The Carlile led tracks would be fine on a Brandi Carlile record. But here, they are glaringly out of place and don't sound like collaborations at all. The record ends on a powerful note. The closer, "When This Old World Is Done With Me" is an emotional finale by Sir Elton, who had been very public about his deteriorating health. 

I'm not giving up just yet on "Who Believes In Angels." I wanted to like this record despite my aversion to Carlile. But my first pass left me twitchy. It's loud and busy and as garish as the album cover. I am not against some bombastic pop occasionally. I am actually loving Gaga's latest "Mayhem." But this kitchen sink approach with mostly mediocre material did nothing for me on the first go around. Maybe now that I've gotten that off my chest, I'll appreciate the second spin with different ears, though I have low hopes.

Holy Hari Harrison, Batman!

 

While in the course of my daily Instagram doomscrolling, coupled with the new, tariff-related anxiety about a 90 seconds to midnight possibility of homelessness, I did happen upon this video, which quite frankly, floored me. That it has eluded me for these years is something I can't quite figure out. Let's just say I've been...uh...distracted.

Behold, Dhani Harrison and Friends and a motherflipping killer version of Pop's "Let it Down."

I mean, Jeebus, it's George, live and in person.

New Wet Leg

 

      

 

Yeh or meh?

I kinda dig it.

Jeff Matthews In Heavy Rotation

 

I've written about Jeff Matthews before. His previous E.P.s recorded with some of my favorite musicians, including the great Earl Slick on guitar, Paul Santo on bass and keys, and the monster Steve Holley driving the band on drums, pushed all my pop and rock buttons and they remain in rotation, with "Shut Up & Listen" from 2021 being one of my favorite tracks of that year.

Now, the usual suspects are back with a few new recruits that include Oskar Häggdahl on drums, Danny Lipsitz on horn, and someone not on my bingo card, Mr. Lubo Smilenov on the damn bagpipes! The new E.P. is "Heavy Rotation" and it is once again produced by the mad pop genius Mark Hudson who also adds some stellar harmony vocals while the great Mario McNulty is keeping it all together behind the boards. 

Like his previous releases, Matthews takes his influences and creates something fresh, so much so, each new E.P. has a different vibe than the previous.

"Two Steps Back" sounds like a brilliant hybrid of "Can't Buy A Thrill"-era Steely Dan with a "Gaucho"-era vibe. "Frown (R.B.F.)" has a retro sunshine pop melody, like something you would hear on a Critters or Turtles record, sprinkled with essence of Todd Rundgren. And "Blank And Blue" is quite simply, beautiful.

What I love most about Jeff Matthews and Mark Hudson working together is that one pass through any one of Matthews' E.P.s will be a solid reminder that the art of record making is not lost. These musicians are seasoned veterans with enough credits under their belts to make your head spin, from David Bowie and Aerosmith to Ringo Starr, Ian Hunter, Paul McCartney, Joey Molland and Cher. You can hear it all in every track.

Give these songs a spin. I guarantee you won't need to fish for hooks.

The full E.P. is available on all of your favorite streaming services.

Songs Of The Week, 2025: 3/22-3/28

 

The International Herb- Culture
Hard Times- Boz Scaggs
The Supernatural- John Mayall's Bluesbreakers w/Peter Green
Outside Looking In- Chris Price
World Shut Your Mouth- Julian Cope
Cry Cry Cry- Nicole Atkins
Trapped- Utopia

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I have a very early start on Sunday morning, so I'm getting this out to you while I had the time.

I dig all of these tracks. Actually, I dig every song of the day. It's why I choose them.

 

A FEW NOTES:

Culture's "Two Sevens Clash" is a reggae essential, but "International Herb" from 1979 is a favorite, as well.

I listened to Boz's "Down Two, Then Left" last week. It never had a chance following "Silk Degrees," but I think it is a damn good record that deserves revisiting. This was the first single, if memory serves.

Peter Green absolutely shines on "The Supernatural."

It's been a while since I played some Chris Price. I forgot how much I loved his solo records. All three are worth your time, if you're in the mood for some pop perfection.

And speaking of pop perfection, when was the last time you heard "World Shut Your Mouth?" It's been years for me. This one sounded really good loud.

And I finally found a Nicole Atkins song I like, and maybe you will too.

We close things out with a Todd Rundgren/Kasim Sulton duet, one of my faviorite Utopia songs of all time. This track kicks ass.

Enjoy the zip.