Near-life experience

Helllllllooooo Wednesday warriors, and welcome to this week's installment of WWA. Hope you're all enjoying this Wednesday, and a special Constitution Day shout-out to all my listeners in Kazakhstan. This past week has been great for punk rock, and good music in general, and we'll be showcasing brand spankin' new tunes from Propagandhi, Gogol Bordello, Wavves and Queens of the Stone Age. Will also have plenty of oldies but goodies from some of the greats, including Black Flag, 98 Mute, Strung Out, and more.

You may notice I am using a new music streaming service, Soundsgood. I am still building out all my playlists on Spotify, but Soundsgood will allow you to stream from whatever service you prefer (Apple Music, Soundcloud, Youtube, Napster (what!?), Deezer, etc). Let me know your thoughts or feedback on this, as I am excited to give you punks more listening options.

Without further ado, let's get crackin'




Annnnd here's the web player link for all you webheads.


Alright alright alright....kicking off the middle of the week with Propagandhi's new single, Failed Imagineer, part of the upcoming Victory Lap album which is scheduled to drop at the end of September (the 29th to be exact). Although Propagandhi has matured and honed their art, sonically and thematically, throughout the years, you'd be kidding yourselves if you thought they had completely rid themselves of the snotty-nosed punk attitude of their early How to Clean Everything/Less Talk, More Rock years. This should be evident right as the track hits with bassist Todd "The Rod" Kowalski doing his best Paul Stanley impersonation, half-laughing, half-screeching "we're gonna have a rock n roll party tonight" Will there be a lot of technical, metal-inspired guitar riffs?  Sure. Double bass and complex, layered rhythms? Yeah you betchya. But Propagandhi will still be bringing a lot of that skate punk energy, and working around melodically-centered hooks to keep all us old fans in the fold. Victory Lap will be their first full-length record in over 5 years, and the first with new guitarist Sulynn Hago.

Daisy is a sea-sickness-inducing song from Wavves' latest album, You're Welcome, which dropped earlier this year. See, I told you this playlist was gonna be chock full of good new shit! True to form, Daisy incorporates that unmistakable Wavves' surf guitar sound and those over-the-top reverb vocals, supplied by singer-songwriter Nathan Williams. You're Welcome is now the 6th (critically acclaimed) studio album from these west coast beach rats, quite a feat considering they were only formally inducted into the rock scene back in 2008.

Up next is the (non-legally-binding) last will and testament of San Francisco dudes Dead To Me. I Wanna Die in Los Angeles is a rockin' track from the ex-One Man Army lead man Jack Dalrymple, and his merry band of men, and is part of a 3-song EP of the same name released in 2016.

These days you can't seem to escape the term 'Alternative Country'. Which is fine and all, though I gotta say pretty much everything in my life to this point could be described as alternative fucking country. Although this musical movement has been around for a long time now, it is good to see a more mainstream rejection of the atrocity that is pop country; and on the other side of the coin, it's always healthy to try out new genres and learn to appreciate different types of (good) songwriting. Timebomb, courtesy of Dallas ensemble Old 97s, is a pounding and catchy Americana ballad, full of twang and soul. Old 97s, alongside contemporaries like Uncle Tulepo  and Drive-By Truckers, are widely considered to be one of the pioneering forces behind the 90s alt-country movement.

Alright let's shift into a slightly higher gear here with a Strung Out tune from their third album, Twisted by Design, which was originally released in 1998 through Fat Wreck Chords. This record marked a new era for the California quintet, keeping the speed, energy and pop glaze of their previous releases while doubling down on showing off their technical prowess. Alongside contemporaries like Belvedere and Lagwagon (and playlist neighbor Propagandhi), Strung Out is one of the main forces in the punk scene eschewing the 'keep it simple stupid' punk rock mentality, preferring instead to write more complex and multi-layered compositions.

Queens of the Stone Age has fucking done it again, with the release last week of their seventh studio album Villains. Although the album is still painfully poetic and full of dark imagery, it does seem a bit lighter and more upbeat than their previous LP ...Like Clockwork.  The Evil Has Landed was the second teaser single for Villains, whetting our appetites with trademark Josh Homme vocal harmonies and crunchy guitars, not to mention a sped-up, Era Vulgaris-esqu ending section, a couple weeks prior to last Friday's full release. If you haven't listened to this record in its entirety several times by now, you got to get on it. Like now.

Well let's keep it in the family. Up next is Die On A Rope, one of my favorite tunes off The Distillers' curtain-closing (read: last) album, Coral Fang. Led by the indomitable and abominable Brody Dalle, The Distillers had a few really good albums in their relatively short-lived career. Coral Fang was released in 2003, less than a year after the very public and bitter divorce between Dalle and Rancid's Tim Armstrong, supposedly after Armstrong spotted Dalle making out with (current husband and baby daddy) Josh Homme...wait wait wait, is this a fucking music blog or a grocery store check out tabloid. Moving on...

Last week we blasted a tune from one of my all-time favorite bands during high school, punk powerhouse Uncommonmenfrommars. After the band broke up in 2013, brothers Trint and (self-styled) Shit Ed started working on separate projects. Evil Seed is a song off the latter's new act, Not Scientists, which also includes UMFM bassist Big Jim. Off their sophomore effort, Leave Stickers on Our Graves, the track features pretty guitar riffs, edgy melody lines and a heavily syncopated rhythm section.

Black Flag! TV Party!

Last Friday was a huge win for good music. New QoTSA, new Gogol. We're gonna close the week with Did It All, which is the opening track for Gogol Bordello's brand new release, Seekers and Finders. The song is an appropriate introduction to the album, taking no prisoners throughout its sonic rampage. It starts off as a hard-hitting, fast as hell anthem before eventually devolving into a wanton groove, completely embodying the hedonistic feel of the wanderlust crew that makes up Gogol Bordello.


OK, that's a wrap peep hole.  Let's shut this rock n roll party down!

Je ne sais fucking pas...Saboteur Blues will blow you away

It ain't no secret that here at Wednesdays With Andrew, we love Gogol Bordello. So much so, I have decided to break the Wednesday Is the Only Day of The Week rule, and cobble together this quick write up in honor of their newest release.

Earlier this month the 9-piece transcontinental band of gypsies put out a single, Saboteur Blues, as part of a broader campaign to get people psyched (with the aid of psychedelics, if need be) for their upcoming full-length Seekers and Finders. 

You can listen to the sonic decadence that is Saboteur Blues here. True to their form, Gogol Bordello blends traditionally non-rock instrumentation with their fleshed-out rhythm section, infusing a sense of wonder and wander into this indefatigable and unrelenting rock anthem.  Thematically speaking, Saboteur Blues also acts as a nice little 'fuck you' to renowned French philosopher Descartes. Band leader Eugene Hütz eschews the universally accepted axiom "I think therefore I am," offering instead this motto: "I feel, perceive and experience, therefore I motherfucking rock.”

The long-awaited Seekers and Finders, which marks the 7th album in Gogol's storied career, will drop August 25. Slowly curated over the past year, across 3 continents, Seekers and Finders is a collection of eclectic and thought-provoking compositions. Not in the business of keeping music stale, rest assured that Gogol Bordello incorporates plenty of spice into their brand of wreck n' roll...not least of which will come in the form of an earth-shattering duet featuring Regina Spektor. What's doubly exciting about this particular record is that it marks the first time that Eugene is in the producer chair, giving him a terrifying (-ly aweosme) amount of control over a collection of songs that amounts to one helluva crazy ride.

Unsurprisingly, these rockin' nomads refuse to simply release the music and sit back; they will be embarking on an impressive 4-month world tour in support of the album. You can check tour dates and locations here. Words cannot express the grief that hit me when I saw that they decided to pass on DC during the North American leg of their journey. Guess we're gonna have to make a road trip up to Philly!

Alright Wednesday nuts, enjoy the tune. I have listened to Saboteur Blues about 400 fucking times this week, so I'm gonna go sit in a dark silent room for a while. PEACE

Psycho for your love

Yo yo yo yo yo yo yo, and happy Wednesday to you all; can you believe that 116 years ago to this day, Max Planck discovered the law of black-body radiation?? (no clue what that is, but sounds racist). Let’s get this playlist party started. This week we have some phenomenal tunes, ranging from Black Flag to Gogol Bordello to Youth Brigade and more! #wwa #mcnuggets  #youregonnadieclown

And the web player link – https://play.spotify.com/user/agood1no/playlist/3EzUSFabAMssDWVwNuS0NA

Black Flag – Nervous Breakdown

This week we start with Nervous Breakdown, which is the Side A of seminal hardcore band Black Flag’s self-financed debut EP. Formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, CA by guitarist/songwriter Greg Ginn, Black Flag was an early pioneer of hardcore punk and post-hardcore sounds, as well as DIY production/distribution. Blending the simplistic 4-chord song structure made popular by the Ramones, with discordant guitars, heavy metal influences and blaring vocals, Black Flag left a lasting mark on the scene through the decades. The band’s thematic focus around social isolation and anti-authoritarianism was cemented even further with the addition of multi-talented weirdo Henry Rollins in 1981. P.S. – I hear Rollins’ latest movie, He Never Died, is real fucking good. Need to check that out.

Pulley - Barf

Up next is SoCal skater punks Pulley and their appetizingly hooky tune Barf, off their debut album.  Pulley was formed after vocalist Scott Radinsky’s time with his old band, Ten Foot Pole, came to an end. Creating a signature sound heavily rooted in melodic skate punk and relying on heavy-hitting, fast rhythms, Pulley quickly became one of the most prominent punk rock acts of the 90s. Fun fact – not only is Scott Radinsky a fulltime and decorated punk vocalist and skate park owner, he also had an 11-year career in major league baseball as a relief pitcher. Talk about making the rest of us look bad.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Y Control

Karen O and her Yeah Yeah Yeahs have been touring, recording and generally kicking ass since 2000. With a home base in New York City, the band has been widely praised across multiple critical outlets. Y Control is off their debut album Fever to Tell, released in 2003 through Interscope. The album received numerous awards, including a Grammy nomination, and was named “5^th best album of the decade” by NME.  Y Control is a call to action to fight back against male emotional control, and features Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ trademark indie/rock n roll sound. I’m not generally a big fan of music videos – but the one for this song is pretty cool. Creepy children, dog corpse, it gets real weird. Check it out.

Youth Brigade – Spies for Life

Formed in 1980 in Los Angeles by 3 brothers (Mark, Adam and Shawn Stern), Youth Brigade IS the original Hanson. The band distinguished itself early on through Shawn’s distinctive vocal growl, their satirical take on current affairs and unapologetic commitment to writing aggressive and pop-driven youth anthems. Spies for life is off the 1996 To Sell the Truth, which, like all their other albums, was released through their own label BYO Records.

The Meteors – Psycho for Your Love

Hmm this might be the first time I have included a psychobilly song on WWA; a gross negligence given the amazing sounds we get from this scene. Hailing from London, The Meteors are widely credited for defining the music style of the psychobilly subgenre, which fuses roots rhythm n blues, rock and roll and punk rock, and often incorporating b-rate horror thematic elements.  The Meteors have been frantically releasing music since 1980, with 25 albums and countless singles under their belt. Psycho for Your Love originally appeared on their debut vinyl, In Heaven, released in 1981 on Lost Soul Records.

98 Mute – Slow Motion Riot

Slow Motion Riot is probably hardcore band 98 Mute’s most recognizable song. With chorus chants led by scratchy lead vocals (provided by Pat Ivie), a cohesive guitar and bass backbone, and a long coda ending with dueling guitar licks, this song offers an appropriate cross-section of 98 Mute’s musical style. Produced and mixed by friend of the band Fletcher Dragge (of Pennywise/guitar god fame), Slow Motion Riot was released in 2000 through Epitaph, on a full-length album of the same name. 98 Mute broke up in 2002, but they came to their senses and reunited, at least for a couple shows, earlier this year. Let’s hope they keep playing…

Gogol Bordello – American Wedding

American Wedding acts as a sad reflection of our culture’s weaksauce (people still say that?) excuse for what is supposed to be a ridiculously celebratory event, as told by the precocious and rowdy gypsies of Gogol Bordello. Led by the un-unflappable Ukrainian-born Eugene Hütz, Gogol Bordello has become infamous for their over-the-top stage antics and constant touring, paying proper tribute to the traveling troubadours that came before them. Musically, Gogol Bordello has been credited for successfully incorporating gypsy musical styles and inclusion of non-conventional rock instruments (like accordion and violin) into mainstream rock. Time for fun lyrics puzzle/current affairs game! Can you catch the reference to Donald Trump?! Hint: this should be easy…he says “Donald Trump”

Gogol Bordello – Wonderlust King

I love Gogol Bordello, so you’ll be hearing a lot of songs from these guys on this blog…like again, right now. Wonderlust King comes from the same album as American Wedding, their 2007 release Super Taranta! off the SideOneDummy label. Насолоджуватися!

Captain Ortega – Hong Kong Dollar

Drawing as much from stoner and hard rock influences à la Motörhead and Queens of the Stone Age, as from punk forbearers like Descendents and Naked Raygun, Dutch outfit Captain Ortega is paving new paths in the punk rock scene. Their sound is firmly centered around blistering guitar-driven hooks, anger-laced melodies and feel-good communal call and responses. Hong Kong Dollar is off their latest EP, 1634, released in August of this year. The whole EP is a real enjoyable listen. I give it a 3 thumbs up with a dope-ass rating of 97%. You can check it out in its entirety here: http://captainortega.bandcamp.com/album/1634

Blue Meanies – Acceleration 5000

Better strap in for this track from skacore group Blue Meanies. Acceleration 5000 hits you with blazing speed and jarring rhythms and arrangements, backed by a cacophony of string and horn sounds. This song is off their third album Kiss Your Ass Goodbye!, originally released in 1995 and then re-released in ’99 through Asian Man Records.

Destruction Unit – Salvation

We end the week’s playlist on a redemptive note, closing out with this track from Arizona’s Destruction Unit. Combining elements of 80s hardcore and doom metal, with acid-fueled psychedelic overtones, Salvation creates an inescapable wall of sound that capitulates to a furiously dredge-y breakdown. You’ll find Salvation and some other equally intense tunes on Destruction Unit’s long-awaited latest release, 2015’s Negative Feedback Resistor. Let’s Make America Doom Again.

Alright donuts, that’s it for this week. Please continue to tune in and share with friends who may (or probably may not) like the playlists. Quick note – I will be traveling next week in the beautiful and spooky American Northeast, but rest assured that I will still post a playlist (sans write-ups) – it will likely be posted later in the evening on Wednesday.