THE REPORT: 1/3/25
NEW YEAR, SAME DAMN MUSIC BLOG
Quick Note: Gem Fumigation Spa, my new “band” with Willy Dintenfass, has two new songs out today. “Damaged rock with electronics.” (Listen: Nina, Bandcamp, Spotify.) Alright, here comes the first Report of 2025…
“I went to jail with tight clothes / Now it's big clothes.” Rio Da Yung OG is back in the world and fully energized and rapping his ass off. I know this news is a few weeks old, but I haven’t blogged in a minute, and I’m listening to “Rio Free” right now. Welcome back to John’s Music Blog. I’m thinking about making some merch this year.
The Classicals “Hold You Whole”
Elliot Hartmann Russell is a Western Mass legend whom some might know as Sweet Enzo or Jumpy or the mind behind Requested Records or the longtime part-time auxiliary percussionist for LUCY. His new one as The Classicals is full of high-level alt-pop moves, including “Hold You Whole,” a cut that would’ve nicely fit between Blessid Union of Souls and Duncan Sheik on the playlist of a “Hot Adult Contemporary” station in the late ‘90s. And that’s high praise.
As long as we are talking pop rock… You know what I’m bringing into 2025? “Ohio All The Time,” a pleasant piece of VH1core from last fall. I’m with the Zoomers: Ohio is random as hell. With that said, I’ve been fiending for some Skyline Chili lately. Anyone have a line on an NYC establishment that can chef up a five-way the right way? (Editor’s Note: A few hours after typing this, TikTok served me a video recommending a restaurant that occasionally serves Skyline Chili in New York.)
As long as we are talking chili… Certified Trapper wants you to know that he has switched from McDonald's to Coney dogs, which means that the guy has likely been spending some serious time in Michigan, which the music video for “Coney” likely corroborates: He is drifting a Jeep in the snow.
It’s Friday, so why not treat yourself? Why not spend a minute with a suburban Chicago powerviolence band called STEVEN X SEAGAL? In that span, the two-piece gets through four songs, all performed in front of a green screen featuring the actor the band is named after. Tip!
Zeddy Will x Staysolidrocky “Twerkin Wit Ya Friends”
One thing that Zeddy Will and Zedd have in common: They both know how to make a track that will tear up a club. If you think I’m joking, you obviously weren’t outside when “Clarity” was at its peak. The pounding, brooding “Twerkin Wit Ya Friends” is the kind of tune that might just keep New York City rocking through the brutal winter.
MIX OF THE WEEK: Radio Soulwax (2 Many DJ’s) “Essential Mix BBC Radio 1 1/2/2005”
Let’s start off 2025 with some music from 2005. Almost exactly 20 years ago, the BBC aired two hours of mashed-up funky punky madness from Belgian OGs Soulwax, and England has never been the same again. Or at least I would like to think so. I have no goddamn idea. I was in my childhood bedroom, writing rap songs. Here is what I will say about these two hours: The unfortunate inclusion of multiple Diddy vocals notwithstanding—he was making house at the time—this music is still sounding good to me. It’s an almost too on-the-nose example of the 20-year retro rule in effect.
Great start to the year!! ❤️