Links: music

Gil Assayas (aka GLASYS) has a whole slew of these MIDI artworks on Instagram and YouTube.

Over 60 songs form this benefit for fire relief in Los Angeles. / via New Commute

There's a reason I keep seeing this link pop up over and over. This jam packed, remixed and spliced up intro by Questlove and Oz Rodriguez of SNL performances is certain to elevate one's mood.

I'm sure I'll feature this song on a journal entry, but making note from catching it in the feeds (part of a process to lean less on the garbage that is Spotify). Great new track by Carriers, animated by Mark Neeley.

Starting my morning rounds with this performance featuring Laurie Anderson in a concert of new works inspired by poet C. P. Cavafy / via MetaFilter

Wanted to see this in a theater but this will do! Produced and directed by Gary Hustwit, the documentary culls from interviews with Brian Eno and archival footage. Brendan Dawes developed software (called Brain One, an anagram of Brian Eno) to generate unique versions of the film. / via Dan Burzo

I love end of year music lists as they shake up my streams with new perspectives. Kicking it off with Jon Hicks, but there are lots posts by Hearing Things, Brian Feeney, Trevor Morris, Dan Burzo, New Commute (Albums), New Commute (Artist & Designer Friends) adds a layer of visuals to the mix by each contributor, Simon Collison, Jason White, Naz Hamid, Rich Richmond, Scott Boms, James Reeves, Luke Dorny, matt sephton, Paul Novak and Tracy Durnell.

Tyler Finck posts about a lovely song that's been reimagined many times, all versions delightful. I particularly love this father and daughter version from years back. Ty goes on to share the value in covers and copying.

Every time this song crosses my feeds I listen again and again. Rolling Stone has a bit more backstory of Jesse with links to more of his work.

Matt Webb collects a list of songs that are lists of moments and folds reflections in-between. Lovely thoughts, a long list of words and pondering a vibe shift.

There's not much info on the website, but this demo video has lots of vibe! The Orchid is the brainchild of musician Kevin Parker, best known for Tame Impala, and co-founder Ignacio Germade.

Jon Hicks has a five part series about the Shoegaze music genre and it has been a solid companion to overcast days as the season transitions. This is a link to Part 1 but you'll find links to all the episodes (and many more) on his site.

We need more staggering of year end lists to give ample time to absorb and appreciate. Appreciate Joshua's quick insights to dive into tracks and albums. (Bonus fun of honorable mentions in the source)

A song by John K. Samson from July 2020 that feels like it was written yesterday.

136 tracks of music by bands you know and some you don't to support a region devastated by effects of Hurricane Helene. From the linear notes: Cardinals at the Window—named for an expression we’ve all heard in Appalachia, meaning that there’s a little luck on the way. / Buy on Bandcamp

Just now discovering Corook and Olivia Barton who have made a song that makes me smile song dang much. A song that's also been turned into a book about turning around bad days.

SOPHIE's posthumous release arrived this week. Metafilter has a collection of links if you weren't familiar the work of this hyperpop producer who's life was too short, but thankfully her influence lingers.

I didn't know the story of how this Kickstarted chip-tune record and ensuing legal troubles turned into a chance beer that changed the course of Andy Baio's life (and in turn, many others). And now the music is being released on vinyl. It was great to go back and listen to it again after reading all this.

As the pandemic ramped up, Michael Penn released rumination of American politics with a lens of optimism that, in his words, was difficult to justify. It hits different today. / via this Thread

Austin Kleon shares visual notes, thoughts and connections from a podcast with Kieran Hebden about the latest record 'Three' — with insight on production, listening and "swimming upstream." Lots to revisit, along with the new album!

Behind the scenes of how this new album came to be. Someone posted about this in my feeds and I can't recall who but the 11 minutes just breezes on by. Dreamy glimpse of a musician that weaves art and life into music.

Music discovery is tough, so concentrated lists like this are delightful finds. Extra lovely? I don't know half these albums! New Music Friday just got a big boost thanks to Jon Hicks.

13 and a half minutes of live music among the trees!

Started this YouTube video in hopes the Casio SK-1 would show up. (It does.) I had that little sampling keyboard as a kid and it brought endless joy.

There's a documentary about the Indigo Girls! Looks like it's toward the end a run of screenings, but I'm bookmarking to keep it in mind. I can recall singing along to their music at the top of my lungs with friends in school. / hat tip to Chuck Jordan

There is a moment in this rock doc that solidified the concept of synathesia — Andy Partridge finds a chord that he's never played in his life that suggests muddy water. And that's just one moment in this INCREDIBLE history of (a favorite) band XTC. (Thank you Alex G.)

This is the fastest I have ever downloaded, installed and fired up an application. Five stars. I will buy all the coffees to support this.

The Washington Post goes deep with a visual essay on how records are made. I've seen videos and glimpses at Third Man Records, but appeciate the prose mixed with photographs and video clips here. (Also nice to read that production capacity to press records is increasing.) / Thanks Shel!

St Louis Public Radio has the hookup with a Spotify Playlist. / via Jack Cheng

In 1976 Mort Garson released this electronic album billed as "warm earth music for plants…and the people that love them." Spacey Moog tunes for you and your ferns, snake plants, monsteras, philodendrons or what have you. / via Kay

Merlin Mann says of these playlists "...the idea is to see if I can get somebody interested in a band I love... by curating a playlist of seven and only seven songs."

Vanity Fair makes really lovely BTS and interviews and this one is right up there. The joy that exudes from Hans Zimmer coupled with his rigorous creative process is so wonderful to see. / via Kushaiah Felisilda

Wow. I had no idea Gotye's Somebody That I Used To Know is largely comprised of samples. This YouTube channel helps visualize the complexity in such a visual way. Subscribed!

Discovery app for new music releases, music videos, events, and news from your favorite artists and record labels by Marcos Tanaka. Because finding new releases on Apple Music and Spotify is abysmal. / thanks for the rec to Paul Carroll!

20 years ago this Valentine's Day a journaled about this mix of love songs. I made Spotify and Apple Music playlists today to rekindle the moment.

Johnny Costa attended every taping, providing live piano accompaniment just off camera with percussionist Bobby Rawsthorne and bassist Carl McVicker. Jazz pianist and composer Charles Cornell shares some history.

I look forward to Simon’s yearly posts and playlists to fuel music discovery into the new year.

He does this every year and I always find not just new music to explore, but wonderful art. (He also creates a list for worst album art of the year)

4 hours and 50 minutes of Sufjan Christmas music and a fireplace. / via Bernie Michalik

Most know the pair as Rebecca and Coach Beard from Ted Lasso. They teamed up with other folks to raise money and awareness for the Steps of Faith Foundation. Brought a big smile to my face.

Andrew Neyer threw it out there: Make a playlist of your 100 all-time favorite songs. Don’t overthink it. Hone at will. (I keep fiddling with mine.) It has been a blast listening to everyone else’s collections thus far. Submit your own!

New Commute asked their graphic artist friends for their favorite music of the year and the results are exceptionally good looking. Oodles of art and music to explore!

This is Peter Gabriel’s 11th song from the upcoming i/o album. Released today on the Hunter’s Moon, it’s about his mum. You can learn more about the track in this monthly video update. The album will be completed with next months full moon.

Choir! Choir! Choir!, with a last minute inclusion of Fiest, pay tribute to Sinéad O’Connor. Powerfully good.

Just kicking back on a Friday night after dinner watching this performance and enjoying it immensely. Gave some applause to the TV when the last song finished but figured I'd extend the appreciation with a link. Thanks for being wonderfully lovely Sam Smith.

Loved XTC since Skylarking (and then went back in their catalog and loved that too). They never really toured so I’m curious to learn more about ’em with this doc. / via MetaFilter

An experimental music listening party in San Francisco. If I was closer I’d totally go to this (and not just because it’s free!). Been enjoying the introductions to the four bands that will be vibing. / via Tyler Mincey

Open Culture sheds light on this trove of concert recordings on the Internet Archive. Yes, there are a lot of Grateful Dead shows, but there are gems. Spent my morning coffee with this quiet performance by Elliot Smith. There are tons of ways to browse. My only wish would be to sort by performance date.

Lately it’s been non-stop Taylor Swift and recipes, but sometimes the YouTube algorithm works.

Streaming now! 500 indie songs with original DJs from 97X. Been enjoying it all morning and will dip my toes in the looping broadcast throughout the week.

A little funky yearning medley to close out the week. Just stumbled on this tune and now need to dig back into her back catalog (which is not deep, she’s 27!) Oh, I know Photo ID.

Matched with the original songs. Fun to get more insight to this Beasties album, a favorite among many.

New Order shares the story of how the song came to be.

That also happens to be a commercial for the Nissan ARIYA. / via Tim Murtaugh

Thanks to this post on MetaFilter I learned of this new PSB music.

Fred again.. translates his electronic music in wonderful ways for this Tiny Desk Concert.

New music video by Feist has some Michel Gondry vibes. Dig. / via Public Annoucement

I loved the 2003 Director Series DVD of Gondry’s work. This YouTube playlist adds in oodles of more recent music videos. Also recommended: The series Kidding with Jim Carrey (with 8 episodes directed by Gondry).

I'm still sifting through year end lists to find new things to read, play and listen to. Colly’s collection is presented so darn good.

Thom Yorke in 2023 looks like a Thom Yorke sent from the future to warn present-day Thom Yorke about machines subjugating humanity in an oncoming dystopia. - @Steven_Hyden