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KAXE is people-powered community radio: playlists curated by humans and new music suggestions also very much picked out by humans. Seeing how much you value that means the world to us.
For Fresh Picks albums this week, we're doubling down on the latest Jazz Is Dead and hearing a debut from Duluth.
For singles, we've got the always catchy Allison Russell, an Alt-J member goes solo, synth-pop cover of Bruce Springsteen, Eilen Jewell covering Woody Guthrie and Chinese American Bear.
And our in-house punk DJ Dang takes a look at a proto-punk classic from The Modern Lover in the next edition of Picks of '76.
Check out this week's suggestions from Music Director Kari Hedlund, Asst. Music Director Malachy Koons and Volunteer Coordinator Dan Gannon.
Albums
Album of the Week: Antônio Carlos e Jocáfi, Adrian Younge, Ali Shaheed Muhammad - Antônio Carlos e Jocáfi JID026
The first Fresh Pick to make an appearance twice, the latest Jazz Is Dead release continues its deep dive into jazz legacies from around the world by spotlighting the legendary Brazilian duo, Antônio Carlos e Jocáfi.
The duo has been a cultural and vital presence in Brazil’s music scene since the release of their debut album in 1971. After first coming together in the 1960s, they became big players in the commercial music scene of the ‘70s, composing for television and cinema, along with some of the biggest musicians of their time like Maria Creuza and Sérgio Mendes.
They sound as fresh and relevant as ever in this release with their distinctive sound that blends Afro-Brazilian traditions with funk and samba. Listening to this album has made me so grateful to Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad for embarking on the Jazz Is Dead collection in 2017. The bigger picture of the impact they have made in bringing legendary voices to new listeners and generations is powerful. This is the dream pairing for Antônio Carlos e Jocáfi, an innovative duo who are also steeped in traditions. -KH
Junkyard Mule - Junkyard Mule
A new trio of Clancy Ward, Nate Hynum and Jen Krussow, Duluth’s Junkyard Mule draws from traditional and old-time sounds on their debut album of original music with images of hard-working journeymen and countless miles on the highway set to fiddle, mandolin, bass and guitar. Start with the haunted “Hell on the Highway,” down on your luck old-time of “Smokin the Edges” and sweet nostalgia of “Tides.” -MK
Singles
Allison Russell - "No Springtime (ft. Joy Oladokun & Julie Williams)"
According to Russell in a recent statement, her latest single “No Springtime" is "about embracing the dark side of the moon — the blues, sadness, melancholy. … Blues are activated sadness, never passive, and this is something Black Women deeply understand.” Oladokun's and Williams’ voices rise and fall with Russell as summer-y and pastoral images contrast the title. You can wait for the seasons to change, but you can’t wait to change your outlook on life. -MK
JJerome87 - "Track and Field"
From his upcoming solo project, JJerome87, British songwriter and musician Joe Newman brings the familiarity of his voice and driving rhythm to the listener through another lens. Alt-J's lead vocalist and guitar player, Newman appears to be grounding his music in his debut LP, The Canyon, out June 26. Accompanied by a trio of backing vocalists, it’s got a song-of-the-summer vibe, leaning into a sunnier side of Newman, who is also playing around with more organic layering than we’ve heard from him before. -KH
Nation of Language - "Tougher Than The Rest"
At first glance, Springsteen might not be at the top of your list for expected covers from synth-pop and post-punk trio Nation of Language, but their choice of “Tougher Than The Rest” makes a lot of sense. Lead singer Ian Richard Devaney is also from New Jersey, and the Tunnel of Love single’s late ‘80s drama and drum machine beat have much more in common with Nation of Language’s preferred territory than you might expect. The group had access to the same model of Yamaha CS-80 that colored Tunnel of Love, and they trade the original version's country guitar solo for a deeper exploration of the vintage synthesizer. -MK
Chinese American Bear - "All the People"
Powered by an upbeat and incessant piano riff, Chinese American Bear piles on catchy pop vocals, briefly weird instrumental breakdowns and more "la la las" than you can shake a stick at. Made up of a married couple, one born in China and the other raised on a llama farm, these high school sweethearts now reside in Seattle. Their songs mix in Mandarin and English while combining psychedelic sounds with their pop leanings. -DG
Eilen Jewell - "Deportee"
Jewell is back with her version of the famous Woody Guthrie tune. The performer — who has collaborated on concerts with KAXE — does a beautiful job of honoring Guthrie's original while adding some skip-along swing with a shuffling snare beat and haunting guitars. Having first heard the song when she was a teenager, the sentiment of people traveling to new lands and enduring hardships to strive for a better life struck a nerve in her. If she is touring near you, it might be your last chance to see her as Jewell announced she will stop touring after 2026. Come back to KAXE land please, please, pretty please!! -DG
1976 Album
The Modern Lovers - The Modern Lovers
This highly influential 1976 album is the gift that keeps on giving.
Featuring the pouty and angsty vocals of Jonathon Richman, this band typifies the fascinating rock 'n' roll phenomena of garage bands, where you and your neighborhood friends get together, learn how to play "Louie Louie" and let her rip!
The Modern Lovers features future Hall of Famers Jerry Harrison on keys (he later joined The Talking Heads), and David Robinson on drums, who had a teeny bit of success with The Cars. The songs on this self-titled release are overwhelmingly wrung with teenage angst, songs about girls and suburban boredom, but sung with an off-the-cuff delivery that grabs your ears immediately.
Their most well-known song, "Roadrunner," would have been Jack Kerouac's favorite song to travel the highways and byways with the radio on! Six of the nine songs were produced by The Velvet Underground's John Cale, including "Roadrunner," "Pablo Picasso (was never called an ***hole)", and "She Cracked." Cale kept the sound stripped down, a little on the loose side, but bristling with restless energy.
This landmark album was the only official release by The Modern Lovers after Jonathon Richman decided to protect his hearing by shifting towards a more acoustic and whimsical style of songwriting. -DG
