December 23, 2024 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #693)

6:00 AM Graham Parker & The Goldtops • The Music of The Devil • Last Chance to Learn The Twist • Big Stir

6:04 AM Liv.e • Gardetto • Girl in the Half Pearl • In Real Life

6:07 AM Barbara Manning • A Heart Needs a Home • Charm of Yesterday…Convenience of Tomorrow • Ba Da Bing

6:14 AM Photon Band • Set it Free (The Energy) • Pure Photonic Matter, Vol. 2 • Darla

My favorite albums of 2023

Another year, another 200+ (more like 250+) albums that I listened to at least once, and many of those I listened to multiple times. There was just so much good and great music out there. This list represents the records I enjoyed the most, the ones that I felt compelled to keep playing. As per usual, after you start getting down to the late 20s or early 30s on the list, the differences between the albums aren’t all that great, and the difference between, I dunno, 79 and 47 isn't all that great. All of them are swell. Moreover, if your album isn’t on the list, I’m sure I liked it. And if you're wondering why I didn't have this or that acclaimed album on the list, it was likely one of the many albums I didn't get around to listening to. As one critic said, best of lists aren't meant to be definitive, but are more like recommendations. In that spirit, I hope you find some things you like on here.

December 16, 2023 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #692)

9:00 AM Japanese Breakfast • Posing In Bondage • Jubilee • Dead Oceans

9:04 AM Steve Goodman • Talk Backwards • Artistic Hair • Red Pajamas

9:06 AM BJ The Chicago Kid • Crazy Love • Gravy • RCA

9:13 AM Luna • Satellite of Love • single • Double Feature

December 9, 2023 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #691)

9:01 AM Wings • Deliver the Children • London Town • Capitol

9:05 AM Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings • Get up and Get Out • Give the People What They Want • Daptone

9:08 AM See Jazz • Sidney Poitier Smile • Is This Anything? • Flower Sounds

9:14 AM Valerie June • Ordinary World • single • Fantasy

My email to the White Sox

A ticket rep from the White Sox emailed me about a 2024 package. Here's the text of the email I sent in response:

I appreciate you reaching out, but I'm not interested in any sort of White Sox ticket package. I went to my first White Sox game in 1971, and I've probably been to 200 to 300 more over the years, at least. I'll always be a White Sox fan, but the past few years have left me disillusioned and, to some extent, alienated by the direction ownership has taken with the team. After the team was unable to create a

December 2, 2023 CHIRP Radio show (Show #690)

8:59 AM Genesis • Please Don't Ask • Duke • Atlantic

9:03 AM H.E.R. • Changes • H.E.R. • RCA

9:07 AM Beirut • January 18th • Hadsel • Pompeoo

9:13 AM Harp • Daughters of Albion • Albion • Bella Union

November 25, 2023 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #689)

9:00 AM Labi Siffre • Crying, Laughing, Loving, Lying • Crying, Laughing, Loving, Lying • Pye

9:03 AM David Byrne & Fatboy Slim • Solano Avenue (feat. Nicole Atkins) • Here Lies Love • Nonesuch

9:07 AM Resavoir • Sunset • Resavoir • International Anthem

9:13 AM Yaya Bey • The Evidence • The Evidence • Big Dada

November 18, 2023 CHIRP Radio Show playlist (Show #688)

9:00 AM LaBelle • Ain't It Sad It's All Over • Moon Shadow • Warner Bros.

9:04 AM Robert Forster • If It Rains • The Evangelist • Yep Roc

9:07 AM Maria BC • Watcher • Spike Field • Sacred Bones

9:13 AM PinkPantheress • Ophelia • Heaven Knows • Warner Music UK

November 11, 2023 CHIRP Radio show playlist (Show #687)

8:59 AM Inspiral Carpets • Biggest Mountain • Life • Mute/Elektra

9:04 AM Rosalía • Catalina • Los Ángeles • Universal Spain

9:07 AM Armand Hammer • Supermooned • We Buy Diabetic Test Strips • Fat Possum

9:14 AM Micky Dolenz • Man on the Moon • Dolenz Sings R.E.M. • 7a

November 4, 2023 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #686)

8:59 AM Massive Attack • Better Things • Protection • Virgin

9:04 AM Kim Carnes • Draw of the Cards • Mistaken Identity • EMI

9:08 AM Jamila Woods • Good News • Water Made Us • Jagjaguwar

9:14 AM The Streets • Shake Hands With Shadows • the darker the shadow the brighter the light • 679/Warner Music UK

October 21, 2023 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #685)

9:01 AM Silvana Estrada • Tom's Diner • single • Glassnote

9:05 AM Kelly Hogan & John Wesley Harding • It's Only Make Believe • Making Singles Drinking Doubles • Bloodshot

9:08 AM Lunar Ash • Nested • Rosa & The Red Thread • House of Ash

9:14 AM Leyla McCalla & Hurray For The Riff Raff • Zanj • single • Anti-

October 14, 2023 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #684)

9:00 AM Elisapie • Qimatsilunga (I Want to Break Free) • Inuktitut • Bonsound

9:03 AM King Hannah • Like a Prayer • single • City Slang

9:07 AM Coventry • The Life and Opinions • Our Lady Of Perpetual Health • Septic Jukebox

9:14 AM Don Letts • The Universe Knows What You've Done (Ft. John Cusack) • Outta Sync • Cooking Vinyl

October 7, 2023 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #683)

9:00 AM The Reds, Pinks and Purples • Me and Magdalena • You Know You're Burning Someone • Slumberland

9:04 AM Leyla McCalla • Crown • single • Anti-

9:07 AM Carlos Niño & Friends • Etheric Windsurfing, flips and twirls (featuring Adam Rudolph, Jesse Peterson) • (I'm just) Chillin', on Fire • International Anthem

9:14 AM Jorja Smith • Greatest Gift (feat. Lila Iké) • Falling or Flying • FAMM

September 23, 2023 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #682)

9:00 AM Shannon Lay • From the Morning • Covers Vol. 1 • Sub Pop

9:05 AM Peggy Lee • Superstar • Norma Deloris Egstrom from Jamestown North Dakota • Capitol

9:09 AM p.a. pritchett • Anna Sleeps • single • self-released

9:16 AM Yeule • bloodbunny • softscars • Ninja Tune

September 16, 2023 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #681)

9:01 AM Judee Sill • The Lamb Ran Away With the Crown • Judee Sill • Elektra

9:04 AM Michael Kiwanuka • Always Waiting • Home Again • Interscope

9:08 AM dadá Joãozinho • Pai e Ma~e • tds bem Global • Innovative Leisure

9:14 AM Dengue Fever • Mango Purple Sunset • Ting Mong • Tuk Tuk

September 9, 2023 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #680)

9:00 AM Neneh Cherry • Trouble Man • Man • Virgin

9:04 AM Whitney • Crying, Laughing, Loving, Lying • Candid • Secretly Canadian

9:06 AM Gerald Dowd • Minister Of Loneliness • Father's Day • self-released

9:13 AM Anjimile • Genesis • The King • 4AD

September 2, 2023 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #679)

9:00 AM Madonna • I Deserve It • Music • Maverick/Warner Bros

9:04 AM Tony Tribe • Red Red Wine • Trojan UK Hits • Trojan

9:07 AM Emil Amos • Jealous Gods • Zone Black • Drag City

9:13 AM Bebel Gilberto • Valisa • João • [PIAS]

August 19, 2023 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #678)

9:00 AM The Impressions • Man Oh Man • Complete A and B Sides 1961-1968 • Lost Tunes/UMC

9:03 AM Weyes Blood • Requiem for Forgiveness • The Innocents • Mexican Summer

9:07 AM Daniel Villareal • Rug Motif • Lados B • International Anthem

9:13 AM Bonnie 'Prince' Billy • Queens of Sorrow • Keeping Secrets Will Destroy You • Drag City

August 12, 2023 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #677)

9:00 AM Rodriguez • Crucify Your Mind • Cold Fact • Sussex

9:02 AM Everything But The Girl • Rollercoaster • Amplified Heart • Blanco Y Negro/Atlantic

9:05 AM Lunar Ash • Tomato Cheeks • single • House of Ash

9:12 AM The Cleaners From Venus • Postcard to Heaven • K7 • Mr. Mute

August 5, 2023 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #676)

9:00 AM Carly Simon • Waterfall • Playing Possum • Elektra

9:03 AM TV On the Radio • Forgotten • Nine Types of Light • Interscope

9:06 AM Jim O'Rourke • He's Only Got One Oar in the Water • The Hands That Bind (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) • Drag City

9:12 AM Snoh Aalegra • Sweet Tea • single • Artium/Roc Nation

July 29, 2023 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #675)

9:00 AM Sinéad O'Connor • Dagger Through the Heart • Just Because I'm a Woman • Sugar Hill

9:05 AM Kris Kristofferson • Sister Sinead • Closer to the Bone • New West

9:07 AM Cornelius • Night Heron • Dream in Dream • Warner Japan

9:14 AM Ethel Cain • Famous Last Words (An Ode to Eaters) • single • Alamo

My two days at Pitchfork 2023

For all the years I've gone to the Pitchfork Festival, only in the past two years have I done (near) full days on the opening day. And I've come to really like them. First off, because it's a work day, the early hours are not nearly as crowded as comparable hours on the weekend. Second, while I love going to the festival with Jenn, there's something nice about being able to wander around on your own. Especially on a day like Friday, where there were some things I really wanted to see, but so much more to just check out.

July 22, 2023 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #674)

9:00 AM The Smashing Pumpkins • Once Upon a Time • Adore • Virgin

9:04 AM Joy Crookes • Unlearn You • Skin • Speakerbox

9:06 AM Ester • Laundry • single • Audiosport Records

9:12 AM Blur • The Ballad • The Ballad of Darren • Parlophone

July 15, 2023 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #673)

9:00 AM Cocteau Twins • Pearly-Dewdrops' Drops • The Spangle Maker • 4AD

9:04 AM Paul Stanley's Soul Station • The Tracks of My Tears • Now and Then • UMe

9:07 AM Angelo De Augustine • Home Town • Toil and Trouble • Asthmatic Kitty

9:13 AM Bebel Gilberto • Adeus América • João • [PIAS]

July 8, 2023 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #672)

9:01 AM Pops Staples • Friendship • Don't Lose This • dBpm/ANTI-

9:04 AM Taylor Swift • No Body, No Crime (feat. Haim) • Evermore • Republic

9:08 AM Croatian Amor • All Angels Meet Again (featuring NikkiH2OP) • A Part of You in Everything • Posh Isolation

9:13 AM Julie Byrne • Portrait of a Clear Day • The Greater Wings • Ghostly International

Mid-point 2023 Favorite albums list

1. Kara Jackson - Why Does the Earth Give Us People to Love?

2. Margo Price - Strays

3. Sparks - The Girl is Crying in Her Latte

4. Deerhoof - Miracle-Level

5. Kali Uchis - Red Moon in Venus 

July 1, 2023 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #671)

9:01 AM Pulp • A Little Soul • This Is Hardcore • Island

9:04 AM The Cookies • On Broadway • Chains/The Dimension Links 1962-1964 • RPM

9:06 AM Christine and The Queens • Angels crying in my bed (featuring Madonna) • PARANOÏA, ANGELS, TRUE LOVE • Because

9:13 AM Self Esteem • You Are So Beautiful • single • Polydor

June 24, 2023 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #670)

9:00 AM Billie Holiday • I'll Be Seeing You • The Commodore Master Takes • GRP

9:03 AM George Michael • Something to Save • Listen Without Prejudice • Columbia

9:07 AM M Sage • Bendin' In • Paradise Crick • RVNG Intl.

9:13 AM M. Ward • Dedication Hour (feat. Neko Case and Gabriel Kahan) • Supernatural Thing • Anti-

June 17, 2023 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #669)

9:00 AM Camera Obscura • dory previn • Let's Get Out of This Country • Merge

9:04 AM Leon Bridges • Why Don't You Touch Me • Gold-Diggers Sound • Columbia

9:07 AM Cut Worms • Ballad of the Texas King • Cut Worms • Jagjaguwar

9:12 AM Yusuf/Cat Stevens • Things • King of a Land • Cat-O-Log/BMG

June 10, 2023 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #668)

9:00 AM Dolly Parton • The Bridge • Just Because I'm a Woman • RCA

9:03 AM Gil Scott-Heron / Makaya McCraven • I'll Take Care of You • We're New Again: A Reimagining by Makaya McCraven • XL

9:06 AM Sparks • Gee, That Was Fun • The Girl is Crying in her Latte • Island

9:13 AM Jenny Lewis • Chain of Tears • Joy'all • Blue Note

Concert review: Sparks, Royal Albert Hall, May 29, 2023

A few songs into Sparks first-ever headlining show at the venerable Royal Albert Hall, Russell Mael told of how upon first moving to England (in 1973), he and Ron would walk by the Hall and dream of playing there. But, he noted, they knew that only big (successful) bands played there. So what did it mean that Sparks has sold out two shows there? 

May 27, 2023 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #667)

9:00 AM Tina Turner • Total Control • We Are the World • Columbia

9:06 AM The Ides of March • Lead Me Home, Gently • friendly strangers: the warner bros. recordings • Warner Bros./Rhino

9:09 AM Harrison • Blue Sky (featuring Nanna.B) • Birds, Bees, The Clouds & The Trees • Last Gang

9:15 AM Angie Stone • Good Man • Love Language • Conjunction Entertainment/SoNo

May 20, 2023 CHIRP Radio show playlist (Show #666)

9:01 AM 10CC • Old Wild Men • Sheet Music • UK

9:04 AM Bat For Lashes • In Your Bed • The Bride • Parlophone

9:07 AM Baby Rose • Love Bomb • Through and Through • Secretly Canadian

9:13 AM Paul Simon • Wait • Seven Psalms • Owl

May 13, 2023 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #665)

9:00 AM Al Green • Take Your Time (featuring Corinne Bailey Rae) • Lay It Down • Blue Note

9:05 AM Papas Fritas • Say Goodbye • Helioself • Minty Fresh

9:09 AM Hannah Sandoz • hole • Leaving the party early • self-released

9:14 AM Moby • Run On (Feat. Danielle Ponder, Elijah Ponder) • Resound NYC • Deutsche Grammophon

May 6, 2023 CHIRP Radio show (Show #664)

9:00 AM Gordon Lightfoot • Canadian Railroad Trilogy • The Way I Feel • United Artists

9:07 AM Noname • Sunny Duet (with theMIND) • Telefone • self-released

9:09 AM Kelly Reed • Stupid Idiot • Stupid Idiot • self-released

9:14 AM Rodney Crowell • No Place to Fall • The Chicago Sessions • New West

April 29, 2023 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #663)

9:01 AM Harry Belafonte • Skin to Skin • Paradise in Gazankulu • EMI Manhattan

9:05 AM Soccer Mommy • night swimming • color theory • Loma Vista/Concord

9:09 AM Angel Bat Dawid • LACRIMOSA- Weeping our Lady of Sorrow • Requiem for Jazz • International Anthem

9:15 AM The National • The Alcott (with Taylor Swift) • First Two Pages of Frankenstein • 4AD

April 21, 2023 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #662)

10:01 PM The Beach Boys • Johnny Carson • The Beach Boys Love You • Brother/Reprise

10:04 PM Solange • I Told You So • Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams • Geffen/Music World

10:08 PM Kate Davis • Reckoning • Fish Bowl • ANTI-

10:14 PM Sparks • Veronica Lake • The Girl Is Crying in Her Latte • Island

April 15, 2023 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #661)

9:01 AM Dionne Warwick • People Get Ready • Soulful • Scepter

9:04 AM Ted Leo • Don't Want to Live Inside Myself • For Coit and Killie • self-released

9:08 AM Shana Cleveland • Babe • Manzanita • Hardly Art

9:14 AM Natalie Merchant • Big Girls (feat. Abena Koomson-Davis) • Keep Your Courage • Nonesuch

April 1, 2023 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #660)

9:00 AM Waxahatchee • Streets of Philadelphia • St. Cloud • Merge

9:04 AM Dobbie Dobson • Carry That Weight • Trojan Beatles Tribute Box Set • Trojan

9:07 AM Frankie Rose • Had it Wrong • Love as Projection • Slumberland

9:13 AM The New Pornographers • Cat and Mouse With the Light • Continue as a Guest • Merge

March 25, 2023 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #659)

9:00 AM Roberta Flack • Groove Me • First Take • Atlantic/Run Out Groove

9:04 AM Josh Rouse • The Model • single • Yep Roc

9:07 AM Woodrow Hart & the Haymaker • This Time of Night • Down in the Belly • self-released

9:14 AM Cécile McLorin Salvant • Le temps est assassin • Mélusine • Nonesuch

March 18, 2023 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #658)

9:00 AM Rosalía • I See a Darkness • Los Ángeles • Universal Spain

9:04 AM Barbara Jones • Midnight Blue • Barbara Jones Sings the Hit Songs in Reggae Style • Revue

9:08 AM Lia Kohl • sit on the floor and wait for storms • The Ceiling Reposes • American Dreams

9:15 AM Doug Paisley • I Wanted It Too Much • Say What You Like • Outside Music

March 11, 2023 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #657)

9:01 AM Morphine • I Had My Chance • yes • Rykodisc

9:04 AM Valerie June • Stay • The Moon And Stars: Prescriptions For Dreamers • Fantasy/Concord

9:07 AM Laurie Styvers • Imagine the Lights Have Gone Out • Gemini Girl: The Complete Hush Recordings • High Moon

9:13 AM Frankie Rose • Sleeping Night and Day • Love as Protection • Slumberland

March 4, 2023 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #656)

9:00 AM The Handsome Family • The Snow White Diner • Twilight • Carrot Top

9:04 AM Diana Ross • I'm Still Waiting • Everything is Everything • Motown

9:07 AM Jonah Yano • in sun, out of sun (featuring slauson malone) • portrait of a dog • Innovative Leisure

9:13 AM Willie Nelson • Excuse Me (I Think I've Got a Heartache) • I Don't Know a Thing About Love • Legacy

February 25, 2023 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #655)

9:01 AM Laura Nyro • Walk on By • Angel in the Dark • Rounder

9:03 AM Miguel • Wolf (feat. Quin) • War & Leisure • Bystorm/RCA/Sony

9:07 AM Black Belt Eagle Scout • Scicudz (a narrow place) • The Land, The Water, The Sky • Saddle Creek

9:13 AM Gorillaz • Oil (feat. Stevie Nicks) • Cracker Island • Warner/Parlophone

February 18, 2023 CHIRP Radio show (Show #654)

9:00 AM Peggy Lee • A Song for You • Norma Deloris Egstrom from Jamestown North Dakota • Capitol

9:05 AM Toro Y Moi • Girl Like You • Boo Boo • Carpark

9:08 AM Bobbie Lovesong • EAT THE APPLE BEFORE IT FALLS • On the Wind • Woodsist

9:13 AM Ron Sexsmith • Ever Wonder • Ever Wonder • Cooking Vinyl

February 11, 2023 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #653)

9:00 AM Rumer • This Girl's in Love With You (feat. Burt Bacharach) • This Girl's in Love • East West

9:05 AM Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach • Toledo • Painted from Memory • Mercury

9:09 AM 9TooDeep • Vagabonds that Sneer • The Shameless Possessive EP • Voodoo Boys

9:14 AM Liv.e • Lake Psilocybin • Girl in the Half Pearl • In Real Life

February 4, 2023 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #652)

9:01 AM Tom Verlaine • The Earth Is in the Sky • songs and other things • Thrill Jockey

9:04 AM Neneh Cherry (feat. Sudan Archives) • Heart • The Versions • EMI

9:08 AM Fran • Palm Trees • Leaving • Fire Talk

9:15 AM RAYE • Worth It • My 21st Century Blues • Human Re Sources

January 28, 2023 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #651)

9:00 AM Tasha • Perfect Wife • Tell Me What You Miss The Most • Father/Daughter

9:04 AM Sparks • Lucky Me Lucky You (feat. Jane Wiedlin) • In Outer Space • Atlantic

9:07 AM Casey Foubert • Can't Stay Here • EP 1 • Zat-Samuelson

9:13 AM Kali Uchis • I Wish You Roses • Red Moon in Venus • Geffen

January 14, 2023 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #650)

9:00 AM Mickey Guyton • Black Like Me • Remember Her Name • Capitol Nashville

9:03 AM ABC • S.O.S. • Beauty Stab • Mercury

9:08 AM Ester • Red Rover • single • self-released

9:14 AM Belle and Sebastian • When the Cynics Stare Back From the Wall • Late Developers • Matador

January 7, 2023 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #649)

9:00 AM The Comet Is Coming • PYRAMIDS • Hyper-Dimensional Expansion Beam • Verve

9:05 AM Mitski • Working for the Knife • Laurel Hell • Dead Oceans

9:07 AM Almond Joy • San Francisco • Oh Henry! • Perennial/K

9:13 AM Natalia Lafourcade • De Todas Las Flores • De Todas Las Flores • Sony Music