Block Club Chicago - 'The ‘Great Lake Jumper’ Just Dove Into Lake Michigan … While It Was -7 Outside'

I had to throw a Christmas song on the Christmas Eve post. This song I think comes as close as you can get to perfectly capturing the complicated mix of emotions that can come with the holiday season -- mostly nostalgia, sense of time passing, sadness and longing for the past, etc. So good. The rest of the song conveys the joy, excitement, warmth and familiarity of Christmas too.

Christmas Time Is Here

Hate This Town

Block Club Chicago - 'Ever Wanted To Name A Chicago Snowplow? Now’s Your Chance, Mayor Says'

Love Is Only A Feeling

Block Club Chicago - 'Kanye West’s Honorary Doctorate Degree Rescinded By School Of Art Institute Of Chicago'

Trust Your Heart

Block Club Chicago - 'At Rogers Park Tent City, Housed And Unhoused Gather For New Tradition: Weekly Chili Night'

The Rubs were one of the best bands to emerge from the mid 2010s Chicago DIY punk scene and even played in my basement (aka Club Soda, the now defunct venue) at one point in 2015. Their last album 'Impossible Dream' is one of my all time faves, and they finally put out a follow up earlier this year in July, but somehow I slept on it. This is one of my favorites from the new one.

Here In My Dreams

Pagbabalik Ng Kuwago

Block Club Chicago - 'CTA Will Give New Hires $1,000 Signing Bonus In Hopes Of Filling ‘Severe Workforce Shortage’'

Elliott Smith's catalogue is such a perfect match for the Autumn aura - brisk air, golden, angled light from the southern skies, leaves falling, etc, etc. All the fall things. This is a deep-ish cut from Figure 8 that I missed previously. The guitar work, melodies and lyrics are just 🤌🏻 perfect.

Better Be Quiet Now

Chevy Van

Block Club Chicago - 'Jones College Prep Principal Removed After Halloween Parade With Student Goose-Stepping In Nazi-Like Uniform'

I'm a sucker for songs like this. Barely over a minute long, but still manages to take you on a complete sonic ride, and leaves you wanting more. No moment is wasted, and every piece has its purpose. Great way to start an album too!

Cover of Rolling Stone

If You Ever Did Believe

Block Club Chicago - 'Memo’s Hotdogs Reopens After Resolving ‘Unfair’ Dispute With City Over Cheech and Chong Mural'

Not exactly rocknroll. But this song from Wicked kind of struck me the other day. It stood out for whatever reason. Maybe it made me feel something... Anyway, I think I may be the only person in the world to connect Elfaba's storyline with that of Larry David in the show Curb Your Enthusiasm. They are both so righteous, trying their best to do good, only to have it misconstrued and turned around on them. Cue the Curb theme.

I'm Not that Girl

Tempo

Block Club Chicago - 'An Overwhelmed Immigration System Is Facing A Shortage Of Attorneys Amid A Growing Backlog Of Cases'

I had never heard this GBV track before even though it's on a record that contains some of my faves from their catalogue. I just love this line 'Everywhere that you go, I'm with you now', and the general emotional, epic force of the chorus.

Unspirited

My good friend Lee played this for me in the car on the way home from band practice. Classic way to find new tunes. So simple and powerful. This is the type of stuff that makes me want to make music. It's an original, but to me, sounds like a punk band covering a classic lost Motown single.

Why Does Love Do This To Me?

Line of Sight

Block Club Chicago - 'Chicagoans Can Apply For $500 A Month For 2 Years Under Cook County Guaranteed Income Program Starting Today'

I came across a reference to this song in a somewhat disagreeable blog post about power pop written by none other than Mo Troper. Needless to say, this song is much more agreeable than the post. Shameless, joyful send up to early psych-era Beatles.

Judy Over The Rainbow

Belinda Says

Block Club Chicago - 'You Can Get Your Pet Blessed In Pullman This Weekend'

Play Dumb

I got a chance to check out the Prince Immersive Exhibit this weekend in downtown Chicago which of course sent me down the Prince rabbithole. I took a chance to listen to some deeper cuts that I didn't really ever absorb before, and this one stood out to me as really powerful.

Mountains

This recording is so warm and inviting and familiar.

Loose Future

Swingin

Block Club Chicago - 'There Will Be A ‘Simulated Aircraft Fire’ At O’Hare On Saturday'

I got to see these guys last night. Absolutely racous, insane energy. Am I regretting the last 2, tree Miller High Lifes I had? Maybe. Am I regretting my time in the mosh pit? Nah.

Scum Show

Came across this fellow this year. His most recent album is so reminiscent of some of my favorite output by Guided By Voices. This song is an absolute gem that I could listen to about a million times and still not get sick of it. Perfection.

I Fall Into Her Arms

Miracles

Block Club Chicago - 'Here’s How You Can Help Migrants Arriving In Chicago From Texas'

I checked out the Shania Twain doc on a lark and ended up revisiting some of the lesser known cuts from 'Come On Over', an album that I was already pretty familiar with just due to being alive with working ears in the 90s, but had never revisited as an adult (and post musical awakening). Just a flawless recording on all the levels. It's inspiring when people put so much effort and attention to every granular detail into crafting a recording AND it turns out to be a hit that is nearly universally appreciated and understood.

I'm Holding Onto Love (To Save My Life)

Run Away From My Love

Block Club Chicago - 'Air And Water Show Thunders Through Chicago’s Skies In Full Force Despite Weekend Weather'

I came across some very affordable Marshall Crenshaw records while crate diving this weekend at Rattleback Records in Andersonville. The guy is a master melody craftsman, and this is one of his best tunes that always gets stuck in my head. Also, I have to brag because the cashier at the record store compliemented my find 🏆.

You're My Favorite Waste of Time

Expert in a Dying Field

Block Club Chicago - 'More Than 600 Women Will Double Dutch On The South Side This Weekend'

This new record by Options is fire. All of the guitar tones rule. It's a challenge to make guitar music that's interesting in this day and age, but Seth Engel has done it!

Toast

The other week was Rheaply's  'All hands' week, where the entire company convenes in Chicago and we work together in the office all week long (and go to after-hours events every night 😅). One of my co-workers who's also a music journalist on the side introduced me to this killer track and artist and the idea of IDM (intellectual dance music). Good stuff!

Serenity

America Has A Problem

Block Club Chicago - 'Humboldt Park’s Puerto Rican Flags Are Officially Chicago Landmarks'

Water Pressure

Block Club Chicago - 'Ald. Harry Osterman Won’t Seek Reelection After Three Terms As Edgewater, Uptown Alderman'

Lover You Should Have Come Over

Block Club Chicago - 'Lakefront Trail Users Horrified As Cars Drive Onto Pedestrian And Bike Path To Avoid Traffic Jam'

Thank god for bandcamp. I find the most interesting, awesome music on there that I would otherwise have no idea existed. Apparently I came across Graham Hunt on BC and subscribed to get updates about his releases at some point in my past (I have no memory of doing so). I got notified about this siq, power-pop, 90s throwback release the other week and it has been on heavy rotation ever since.

Speeding Towards A Wall

This song came on the radio in the car ride to a band practice recently. It's such a particular, slightly obscure nugget of a song that's usually dramatically overshadowed by the big hit Don't Dream It's Over from the same album, and it's weird that it would just casually come on the radio. Had to share.

Something So Strong

I Don't Wanna Be Famous

Block Club Chicago - 'Edgewater Yard And Sidewalk Sale Will Include Over 200 Households, 18 Businesses Saturday'

I saw Nnamdï play the other day at Do Division fest. It was his birthday and he passed out cupcakes at the beginning of the show.

Flowers For My Demons

Spitting Off the Edge of the World

Block Club Chicago - 'Birders Honor Late Piping Plover Monty, Pledge To Continue Conservation Effort He And Rose Started'

The Universe

Block Club Chicago - 'Mass Shooting On Near North Side Kills 2 People - Chicagoans walked around — and through — blood as they commuted Friday morning.'

Apparently this will be Kikagaku Moyo's last album. What a shame!

Dancing Blue

Tiny das Neves

Block Club Chicago - 'Beloved Piping Plover Monty Has Died At Montrose Beach: ‘He Was The King Of Montrose’'

I feel obligated to share this here because I have been humming and singing the line 'If you give a little more then you're asking for / your love will turn the key' repeatedly for the last week or so. I don't know what it means but it's catchy as hell.

I Just Want To Be Your Everything

Another one from Max Beckman's album that came out last month. This instrumental stands shoulder to shoulder with some of the best progressive rock stuff from the 1970s in my opinion, and directly recalls parts of Zappa's 'Hot Rats' specifically.

Ancient Tear

Jesus on a Wire

Block Club Chicago - 'Waldos Forever Fest Canceled After Fire Breaks Out Across The Street In Andersonville'

You Make Loving Fun

The Guardian - 'Twitter adopts poison pill plan to shield itself from Elon Musk takeover'

The Eldest Reborn

Block Club Chicago - 'Shared Scooters Are Coming Back To Chicago This Spring, With 4,000 Expected To Hit The Streets'

My bandmate shared this song with me during a carride back from a gig in Elmhurst this week. He said when he heard it, it 'just struck' him. Welp, it struck me too, and I hope it strikes you?

Moment

Baby Says

&mdash; Poopies on the Strip (@PoopiesCoffee) 

An incredible tweet that needs no introduction.

The Guardian - 'Harry Styles: ‘I’m not just sprinkling in sexual ambiguity to be interesting’'

Such a pretty, sad little song from Ricky Nelson. I love the guitar solo + rhythm throughout.

Fools Rush In

Before last night I thought the Moody Blues' only good song was 'Nights in White Satin' (1972). How wrong I was.

Your Wildest Dreams

Waiting for a Star to Fall

The Guardian - 'Republicans’ midterms pitch: never mind the policy, here’s the culture war'

I got some new desktop speakers this week. They're my first sort-of-nice speakers that I've ever owned, so I've been having fun going through some old favorite tracks and testing them out. The whole 'Siamese Dream' record sounds incredible and in particular the dense, bone dry distortion of the guitars feels like an inner ear massage through a hi-fi sound system 🤤 🎸

Mayonaise

Track Four

Block Club Chicago - 'Willie Wilson Giving Away $1 Million In Free Gas Next Week In Chicago'

Back on the Music

Block Club Chicago - 'Chicago River To Be Dyed Green Again, And Parades Are Back For St. Patrick’s Day Weekend'

Arts and Letters also played the show last night, their first performance in four years. Their sound is equal parts early Beach Boys and early Kinks. Always a delight.

Foreign Affairs

The hit single (in my opinion) off of Lee's new album.

Falling on a Field

Make Believe

Block Club Chicago - 'Drug Dealing, But No Meth Lab, Found At West Ridge Social Club Raided By Police, Alderman Says'

Julia Blair's excellent debut album came out last week. Gorgeous strings on this track.

Waste Away

Another random track that came on the VD sound system. It's a bad song, but I felt like I had to share here because of how strongly it impacted me. This song is so sickly sweet, guaranteed to make you cringe deeply.

Butterfly Kisses

Happy Women's History Month. Heard this one recently, and it's now probably my fave Madonna track.

Nick Harris

Weekly Jams (2022)

Posts from other years