THE REPORT: 6/26/26
GETTING $QUIBBY WITH IT
Quick Note: In an attempt to test the limits of twee, my “digital action rock duo” Gem Fumigation Spa made a power electronics remix of a Jonathan Richman song. Listen to it here. Willy and I are working on a record right now, it’s sounding pretty good. Alright, here comes an XL edition of The Report…
$quib “Ephus roundshot & floater”
I don’t not enjoy a cheeky bit of Zoomer indietronica, but some of these youngsters can be lacking in the live arena. Not $quib, though: The set I caught earlier in the week at the Angels in America record release show featured, among other astounding details, a 10-minute track that interpolated “The Hammer Song” by Pete Seeger through heavy vocal processing. The kid Brock can sing like Arthur Russell and unplug a mic like Brian Blomerth. Anthemic and damaged!
Iconic Savvy (Feat. MIA THA DIVA) “HOT OUT, Pt.5”
The John’s Music Blog Juke Rap Watch has been quiet over the past few seasons, but that all changes now, because summer is here and the time is right for juking in the street. First up: a big choon from Chicago’s Iconic Savvy, who has been making this stuff for years now. It’s the fifth edition of the “Hot Out” saga, and much like the fifth edition of the Fast and Furious series—Fast Five (2011): “Dominic Toretto and his crew of street racers plan a massive heist to buy their freedom while in the sights of a powerful Brazilian drug lord and a dangerous federal agent.” (IMDB)—it does not disappoint.
Graham Hunt “Waiting For You to Come Home”
Graham Hunt is the ideal contemporary Midwestern power pop artist. If Robert Pollard were a millennial, he probably wouldn’t mind Auto-Tune, either. In August, Graham will release his sixth record in seven years, which I had the pleasure of helping out with a bit, and it’s another hit-packed dose of anything-goes indie. Some of it was recorded at the studio where Nirvana made In Utero; some of it was recorded in a bedroom. It’s called American Pyramid.
While many of his UK rap contemporaries push into more anorak sonic spaces, Young Eman continues to drip out singles that add focus to blasted sonics. I just had the thought that he might be the slayr of UK rap: the artist who has been able to interject a subtle but maybe deal-breaking bit of melodic refinement into his underground reality. Is Young Eman burger music? This question and more will be answered in the coming edition of Jonn’s Music Blog Platinum, presented by DraftKings and Taco Bell.
Kim Petras “Jeep”
The Porches guy and Nick Weiss teamed up and made a country-pop smash for Kim Petras that might have enough gas to ride through the summer. The spoken word outro is some inspired work, however it may have been written, or not written.
In a crowded cloud rock landscape, Mackeeper makes music with stickier hooks than most. It felt good to write that. “In a crowded cloud rock landscape…” Great stuff. Anyway: Their EP from earlier in the year is quite listenable, a synthesis of well-worn internet music inputs that is more satisfying than it needs to be. “Flat Soda” actually reminds me of that most recent Porches album, speaking of the man, which did a good job combining contemporary digital production tricks with grunge moves.
JOHN’S MUSIC BLOG PRESENTS… THE BONUS THREE
Wormwood Star “Mystery of Love”
John Says: “New California pop concepts from a new duo. Music for driving to and from the Glendale Galleria.”
Trunk Boiz & seiji oda “GO DUMB”
John Says: “The Martorialist wants ‘GO DUMB’ to be the hyphy ‘Steal My Sunshine,’ and who am I to argue?”
The Tubs “Who’s Gonna Love You Now”
John Says: “For those who wish The Proclaimers wrote street punk songs, The Tubs got you covered. I know they are Welsh and not Scottish, but the point stands.”
SONG OF THE REPORT
Relentless!
JOHN’S ELECTRONICA CORNER
Not so many junglists have come out of Birmingham, Alabama, so we need to celebrate the ones who do, like this now ATL-based producer, who here gives us a tape-mangled Geto Boys flip.
A recent Cube live set I witnessed on Instagram stories saw the man himself crammed into a tiny bag, Yoko style, that was overflowing with smoke machine fumes. Or at least that’s how I remember it.
Tom Pretty & Olive Solid “Almost Famous”
Wacky bedroom electro that comes with a Wainstop Enterprises animation. Rainbow rocker approved!
MISCELLANEOUS LISTENING
Warmachine HELLPHONE 3D
Mike Sherm “MTV Cribs”
Moss Icon “I’m Back Sleeping Or Fucking Or Something”
Chief Keef’s verse on the Katy Perry “Legendary Lovers” remix
CFCF L.U.V.
A YouTube video of Judy And The Jerks playing at Hello Yoga in Orange County
cleo walks through glass “Written Red”
Moin Clocked Off
Munch Lauren “Ching Ching Kareem”
Yesterdayneverhappened Search Bar
Jammin “Go DJ”
Watching Pleasure Systems play while eating tiramisu at Joe’s Pub
Chevron “Swimmin’ Lessons (Deep End)”
ear Rumspringa
RIP TAY KEITH
at the glendale galleria ripping wormwood as we speak
Needed that Jaeychino track. Fire.