Here in the northeast, we’re in that peak/past peak moment with foliage. We balance precariously at this point for quite a few days before one day the weatherman pronounces decisively, “we’re past peak,” and you know it’s true. It’s also a time when we balance precariously between two radically different views of the future — […]
Obscure Literary References – March 6, 2019
| Radio
This week on Bubble Wrap, lots of great new music, more Rufus, and even some rarities from before modern times. Josh Ritter – Old Black Magic. Josh is suddenly older and more rocking. But I might not have been paying attention while this was happening… Durand Jones and the Indications. So true to 70s soul, […]
Accidental Gothiness – February 20, 2019
| Radio
On Bubble Wrap this week: More new music! Rather than rattle on about the state of things, here are some capsule reviews of songs we played. The Knife – Heartbeats. 2002 release. Dancy, Swedish in a Bjorkian way. A bit tribal. The Faint – Alien Angel. Urgent, gothy, dancy, and brand new! Unloved – Devils […]
Step Outside – February 13, 2019
| Radio
Due to the shortage of time, I’ll cut right to the chase: weren’t The 360s great? Audrey Clark was the epitome of cool and Eric Russell’s thrilling guitar was right up there with the best of the early ’90s Boston rockers. Their “thing” was psychedelia, dressed down in bad boy/girl black leather. I’d like to […]
Difficulties – February 6, 2019
| Radio
Still seeking the locus of originality as we rummage through the tunes every week on Bubble Wrap Radio. Our most recent theory is that originality is expressed when the thing you create is wholly your own, without regard for the thinkings or doings of anyone else.
Happy Days of Yore – January 30, 2018
| Radio
Bubble Wrap this week featured happy music from 2019 as well as 2014–ephemeral pop from here and there. Augmenting that, we continued the Troy Meadows and La Souterraine threads another week with music from each. Oh, and Pilotcan was a nice discovery — always fun to find a new Scottish band… Enjoy yourself and the days of yore…
Folk Music – January 23, 2019
| Radio
Each week, we look for the most original sounds we can as they bob by in a sea of enjoyably familiar musicality. In keeping with the theme of ‘off the beaten path,’ we checked out La Souterraine’s latest compilation, La Musique de ponts et chausses (music about bridges and highways). Also liked some tracks from a recent Z Tapes comp, and the new CD from Troy Meadows.
Taking A Chance on 2019 – January 16, 2019
| Radio
Here we are in the newest of all years, 2019, so early in the year, there’s hardly any “new” music yet. But late 2018 yielded a few picks for this week’s Bubble Wrap show which is close enough. We liked the low key r&b of Citizen Cope’s “Justice,” which delivers a timely message of love […]
Summer Madness – August 22, 2018
| Radio
22 is an auspicious number, and August is hot, especially this one. Anyway, we’re all mad here. Welcome to the Bubble Wrap radio show write-up, back after a long chaotic hiatus. (The chaos isn’t over — we’re just taking a break from it.) Life spills over into everything so this show was a bit chaotic […]
International Falls – June 13, 2018
| Radio
This week, it became apparent that one of our top sources for new music – Insomnia Radio – had gone dark. According to their page, they are on permanent hiatus from song posting, which is a shame because it’s like, there goes Europe! So we explored Africa instead. We also touched down in Korea briefly […]
Heather Maloney – Just Enough Sun
| Records
Heather Maloney’s new ep Just Enough Sun roused me out of my torpor on first listen. It wasn’t just that it’s good, which it is, but also that it reaches out and grabs you — with a lyrical twist or a strange saga or some unexpected instrumentation that makes you pay attention. The stand-out track is “Albert 1-5,” a song as unsettling as it is hummable, and destined to see some college / NPR radio play, I feel sure…
Late Spring, Ho Hum
| Music
We’re still listening to music and doing radio shows. One of these days, I’ll get around to posting a show list. I’d like those names to get on the Internet, because otherwise, be you not a big buzzy artist that media likes, no one outside your immediate circle will ever hear of you. It blows […]
Can This Be Spring? – April 18, 2018
| Radio
Go Lightly – April 11, 2018
| Radio
Bubble Wrap continues with the letter H and introduces more new music from around the country including a few songs we really like. Cutting to the chase, the hands down favorite of the evening was “Gold Purple Orange” by Jean Grae and Quelle Chris, which has one of the more compelling lyrics we’ve heard lately […]
Anti Anti – April 4, 2018
| Radio
Sometimes you realize that it’s just you against the world, struggling for air, for breathing room, for peace of mind, and for a fighting chance to have a “nice” day. But then you remember that it’s always been like that and move on. This week on Bubble Wrap we played music to soothe and distract, with here and there a nod to the sad fact the struggle is universal.