The New Dad Rock

Please join us for our second annual attempt to recall the new music we liked in 2021.
Not a "best of list" - who are we to decide what is best - rather these are our favorite albums we heard this year. Not a comprehensive list by any means. For one it takes time to simmer, to establish a reputation. That early euphoria can fade, and uncovered gems could reveal themselves years later.
The artists that produced many of the albums we discuss in the episode are listed below.
Liars
Mdou Moctar
FACS
Kanye West
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
Drake
Arab Strap
Dave
Mountain Goats
Squid
Black Country, New Road
Kacey Musgraves
Iron Maiden
IDLES
Porches
The Armed
Amyl and the Sniffers
Demiser
Japanese Breakfast
Sault
CAN
SLIFT
The Hold Steady
Sturgill Simpson
Doja Cat
JuiceWRLD
Metallica covers
Modest Mouse

Let us know what’s up.

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Greg Dulli has compiled a successful career on over a dozen albums spanning the past three decades. From his anachronistic band of the grunge era, The Afghan Whigs, to his Twilight Singers project and back again, he has dazzled us with his debonair stylings.
On August 1, he played two (mostly) solo concerts that were livestreamed. Steve, who is on record as 'a better Afghan Whigs fan than most people,' and Keith, who just learned about the glorious Twilight Singers, use the streams as a backdrop for their detailed discussion about an artist who really should be selling out Madison Square Garden.
The Afghan Whigs were active during the 90s, reformed in 2014 for two more albums, and another is expected...eventually. Meanwhile, The Twilight Singers released four proper albums, a covers album, and other assorted ephemera between 2000 and 2011. Greg Dulli also formed The Gutter Twins with Mark Lanegan for one album and one EP. He has also guested on a number of other projects.
If you want to check out a sampling of the music, and you should, Greg Dulli himself was nice enough to curate a playlist of his career highlights entitled, "Now You Know" on just about every streaming service. Or you can take Steve's word for it and delve into the albums Gentlemen, 1965, or Blackberry Belle.

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No, this isn't about the Dinosaur, Jr. album with the same name. It's weirder than that. In the decades since Pink Floyd, the Beatles, and dozens of psychedelic bands topped the charts, experimental music has been pushed to the side; ghettoized. But it has always been there and continues to evolve like a kaleidoscope.
Steve takes Keith on a journey down the rabbit hole, deep underground to discuss the first psychedelic band, an Australian punk band, a pair of eccentric sisters, and a Brazilian group that has been dubbed psychedelic witches. Tune in as they delve into the lairs of the 13th Floor Elevators, Tropical Fuck Storm, CocoRosie, and RAKTA.
As Keith mentioned in the episode, each of these bands benefit from a deeper listen than a random song or two, nonetheless here are a few possible entry points to the bands we discussed this week:
13th Floor Elevators have three albums, but it's the first two (The Psychedelic Sounds of... and Easter Everywhere) that feature the classic line-up. Some of our favorites are "Step Inside This House," "Roller Coaster," "She Lives in a Time of Her Own," and "Levitation." Their most famous song and title of the Roky Erickson biopic is "You're Gonna Miss Me."
Tropical Fuck Storm have only been around a few years and have released two proper albums and a series of singles with b-sides. "You Let My Tyres Down," "Two Afternoons," "Suburbiopia," and "Maria 63" may be a good way in.
Trying to navigate CocoRosie is a bit more difficult. They have been around over 15 years and have released seven albums. Their songs vary in style from freak folk to hip hop to something that might be played by a baroque music box. They surely have a handful of songs that you will like, it just comes down to finding the ones that suit your taste. "Lucky Clover," "Terrible Angels," "Werewolf," "Restless" and the whole Grey Oceans album are all good entry points. Or you could start with their most recent album, Put the Shine On, released in March of 2020.
It will probably only take you a few minutes to know whether you want to hear more RAKTA. You could start with "Falha Comum," "Fin do Mundo," "Raiz Forte," or "Atrativos Da Mentira."

Let us know what’s up.

Support the show

Did you know that The New Dad Rock has swag? Coffee mugs, pillow and t-shirts in a multitude of colors and arm lengths.