Liner Notes (January 30th, 2021)

Jason Tate Jan 30, 2021

This week’s newsletter has thoughts on the new Foo Fighters and my usual commentary about music and entertainment I experienced last week. There’s also a playlist of ten songs I enjoyed this week, and this week’s supporter Q&A post can be found here.

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Mighty – ‘You Deal With the Trash’ EP Track-by-Track Breakdown

Zac Djamoos Jan 25, 2021

Mighty has finally properly followed up their 2018 self-titled debut. The following year they dropped the “David’s Park Bench” single, then last year saw the release of a b-sides EP, but now, at long last, they’ve put out their true studio EP followup, You Deal With the Trash. It’s a continuation of the grimy alt-rock sound explored on Mighty, and in many ways also both a refinement and an extension thereof. Angelo Fiaretti, frontman of Mighty, walked us through the EP track-by-track.

Jason Tate Jan 23, 2021

This week’s newsletter has early thoughts on the new Jetty Bones album, some commentary about a few new apps I discovered this week, and the usual thoughts on music and entertainment I consumed. And, as always, there’s a playlist of ten songs worth your time, and this week’s supporter Q&A post can be found here.

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Camp Trash – ‘Downtiming’ (Album Premiere)

Drew Beringer Jan 20, 2021

Much has been made about if Camp Trash is a real band or not. Sure, we’re heard rumors of such a band existing – hell we’ve even heard a few songs from the mysterious quartet. Today, however, will hopefully serve as evidence that “Camp Trash” is actually “a band” that plays a style of “emotional rock and roll” in the vein of scene staples like The Get Up Kids, Oso Oso, and the like because we are premiering their debut release Downtiming. The four-track extended play will hit streaming services this Friday, January 22nd, via Count Your Lucky Stars Records but you can exclusively stream it here this week (and then smash that pre-order). And just like Big Foot or the Loch Ness Monster, you’ll find your ears believing in the legend of Camp Trash.

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Liner Notes (January 16th, 2021)

Jason Tate Jan 16, 2021

This week’s newsletter has some thoughts on The Starting Line’s streaming performances and the usual commentary on music, movies, and TV shows I’ve been enjoying recently. There’s also a playlist of ten songs I liked this week, and this week’s supporter Q&A post can be found here.

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Jason Tate Jan 8, 2021

I’m just saying I woulda banned him way earlier. 🤷‍♂️

This week’s newsletter looks at the end of the year feature and shows some of the stats behind the top fifty, plus some thoughts on the Series 6 Apple Watch, and the usual commentary about music, movies, and TV shows. There’s also a playlist of ten songs I enjoyed this week and this week’s supporter Q&A post can be found here.

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Chorus.fm’s Top 30 Albums of 2020

Jason Tate Jan 4, 2021

Um. So, that was quite a year.

We’ve been publishing some version of our favorite albums of the year since at least 2005, and the past twelve months have been unlike anything I’ve ever been through. It’s a year that will leave an indelible mark on all who experienced it, and I worry it will be years before we will be able to best understand and cope with the collective mass trauma. It was a year of uncertainty, a year of isolation, and a year of reshaping even the little routines that make up our lives. Tasks as simple as a trip to the grocery store are now measured risks, and going outside includes masks and a social construct with those around us to keep a safe distance. And I don’t know about you, but I found it very comforting to have music to turn to this year. It’s been such a constant in my life, and I often found myself reaching for it like a comfort blanket. As a way to regain a shred of normalcy, or as a way to connect with others across the internet as we shared a moment or discussion about a new song.

Before we reflect on the music that was released last year, I wanted to take a quick moment to thank everyone who read this website this year. We all went through this together, and I’m as appreciative as ever for having an outlet to write about things I’m passionate about and share with likeminded readers. Thank you.

Now let’s rank things.

Jason Tate Jan 1, 2021

This week’s newsletter looks back at 2020 and the year from hell. I also share some articles I read this week that I found interesting, share thoughts on the music I’ve been checking out that I missed throughout the year, and talk a little about the bad movie I saw (Wonder Woman) and the good movie I saw (Soul). And as always, there’s a playlist of ten songs I enjoyed this week, and this week’s supporter Q&A post can be found here.

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Interview: Yours Truly

Zac Djamoos Dec 28, 2020

Yours Truly released their sophomore LP Self Care this September through UNFD. I caught up with the band to discuss a little bit about the process of recording a music video – for their excellent “Funeral Home” – during quarantine conditions.

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Liner Notes (December 26th, 2020)

Jason Tate Dec 26, 2020

In this week’s newsletter, I share some thoughts about the end of The Mandalorian and the first half of Wonder Woman 1984, and there’s some discussion of the holiday and prepping to finalize my end of the year list before the end of next week. As usual, there’s a playlist of ten songs I enjoyed, and this week’s supporter Q&A post can be found here.

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Interview: J.R. of Less Than Jake

Adam Grundy Dec 22, 2020

During the week of the release of the new Less Than Jake record, Silver Linings, I had the chance to sit down with J.R. to discuss everything that went into the recording process of the new album. The conversation also captured J.R.’s perspective on looking back on his band’s album anniversaries, what he misses most about touring and the venues he’s played at, as well what he draws inspiration from to continue his growth as an artist.

Jason Tate Dec 18, 2020

This week’s newsletter has random thoughts on random things and then the usual commentary on music and entertainment I enjoyed this week. There’s also a playlist of ten songs I liked this week, and this week’s supporter Q&A post can be found here.

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Interview: Stephanie Ashworth of Something For Kate

Mary Varvaris Dec 16, 2020

Something For Kate should be held with the highest regard for what makes the city of Melbourne so great, alongside our coffee, world-class research facilities, and richly diverse communities. The trio was formed in Melbourne in 1994, with singer and lead guitarist, Paul Dempsey; drummer Clint Hyndman, and Julian Carroll on bass guitar. After the release of the band’s 1997 debut album, Elsewhere for 8 Minutes, Carroll left the band after recently getting married and relocating to rural Australia. He was then replaced by Toby Ralph, who wasn’t the best fit for Something For Kate. In 1998, Stephanie Ashworth joined the band after the disbandment of the short-lived indie rock band, Sandpit. Upon early recording sessions with the lineup of Dempsey, Hyndman, and Ashworth, Dempsey remarked, “We’ve just been lucky because we’ve got this really natural chemistry between the three of us… We’ve finally got the right combination of people and we’re collaborating the way a band should.”

To date, Something For Kate has released seven albums. The first album recorded with Ashworth on bass, Beautiful Sharks (1999) reached the top 10 of the ARIA Albums Chart; as did Echolalia (2001) and Leave Your Soul to Science (2012). The Official Fiction (2003) and Desert Lights (2006) sat pretty atop the ARIA Albums Chart. Their first album in eight years, The Modern Medieval; released last month, debuted at #4 on the Albums Chart. I chatted with Stephanie Ashworth on a surprisingly chilly day in Melbourne last week, and it’s a conversation I won’t soon forget.

Jason Tate Dec 11, 2020

This week’s newsletter has thoughts on the new Taylor Swift album and other entertainment I enjoyed this week. I finally saw Tenet and I’ve been watching a whole lot of holiday content. There’s also a playlist of ten songs I enjoyed, and this week’s supporter Q&A post can be found here.

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Respire – ‘Black Line’ Track-by-Track Break Down

Drew Beringer Dec 9, 2020

I’ll always contend that the most exciting part of consuming music is discovering something new – an artist or band or record that just completely enraptures you – like you found the world’s greatest secret and can’t wait to share it with anyone and everyone. That’s Respire – the Toronto sextet that’s turning heavy music on its head. The band’s new record, Black Line, is 41 minutes of pummeling drums, jazzy time signatures, and swelling horns. It’s exhilarating blackened screamo with the ethos of Broken Social Scene – Respire burns down the boundaries of what extreme music can be. Below, the band walks us through their impactful new record track-by-track.

Liner Notes (January 30th, 2021)

Mighty – ‘You Deal With the Trash’ EP Track-by-Track Breakdown

Liner Notes (January 23rd, 2021)

Camp Trash – ‘Downtiming’ (Album Premiere)

Liner Notes (January 16th, 2021)

Liner Notes (January 8th, 2021)

Chorus.fm’s Top 30 Albums of 2020

Liner Notes (January 1st, 2021)

Interview: Yours Truly

Liner Notes (December 26th, 2020)

Interview: J.R. of Less Than Jake

Liner Notes (December 18th, 2020)

Interview: Stephanie Ashworth of Something For Kate

Liner Notes (December 11th, 2020)

Respire – ‘Black Line’ Track-by-Track Break Down