Extreme, Joan Jett, & Dave Smalley
The week in new music and Dig Me Out podcast
1 Minute Reviews
New Releases
The Boo Radleys - Eight
📦 Vinyl & CD | 🎧 Apple Music • Spotify |
In 2023, The Boo Radleys, a British alternative rock band, marked their busiest year since their return to the music scene in 2021, after a hiatus that began in 1998. They released their seventh album, "Keep On With Falling," in March, followed by their eighth album, aptly titled "Eight." Unlike their previous album, which was an exploration of isolated ideas from each band member, "Eight" was created with the intention of the songs appearing together on an album, resulting in a greater depth of integration. The opening track and first single, "Seeker," is about relying on trusted individuals to share life's ups and downs. The song, which began as a three-chord synth pop tune, evolved into a brassy bop with the addition of trumpeter Nick Etwell. Further layers were added by Louis Smith on electric guitar and Simon "Sice" Rowbottom on backing vocals, bringing the song to a joyful conclusion.
Extreme - Six
📦 Vinyl & CD | 🎧 Apple Music • Spotify
Boston-based hard rock band Extreme has just released their new album, "Six,". This album is their first in nearly 15 years. The first single from the album, "Rise," was released as a preview. Guitarist Nuno Bettencourt shared that the passing of his longtime hero, Eddie Van Halen, inspired much of the music on the record, leading to a fiery guitar presence. Despite being three decades into their career, the band, according to singer Gary Cherone, remains passionate and driven. The album, discussed since 2008, was developed slowly but prolifically, with Bettencourt revealing that they had enough material for three to four albums. The band began teasing the album on social media in February, sharing song snippets and lyric excerpts. "Six" is now available for purchase on the band's website.
Godflesh - Purge
📦 Vinyl & CD | 🎧 Apple Music • Spotify
English industrial metal pioneers Godflesh have released "Purge," their first new material in six years, on June 9, 2023. This album, a follow-up to the critically acclaimed "Post Self" from 2017, revisits and updates the concepts of their 1992 album "Pure," introducing new dirges and laments. "Purge" uniquely blends 1990s hip-hop grooves with the distinctive Godflesh style, creating a futuristic sound. The album, both minimal and maximal, delivers alien grooves while retaining the band's signature psychedelic edge. The title "Purge" references how songwriter and creator Justin K. Broadrick uses Godflesh's music as a temporary relief from his diagnosed autism and PTSD, expressing a lifetime of feeling misunderstood and overwhelmed by hyper-sensitivity. The album, which includes tracks such as "Nero," "Land Lord," "Army Of Non," "Lazarus Leper," "Permission," "The Father," "Mythology Of Self," and "You Are The Judge, The Jury, And The Executioner," was preceded by a digital-only single of the opening song "Nero," along with three remixes, released on April 3, 2023.
The Dead Milkmen - Quaker City Quiet Pills
📦 Vinyl & CD | 🎧 Apple Music • Spotify
The Philadelphia-based pop-punk veterans, The Dead Milkmen, have released their long-awaited 11th studio album, "Quaker City Quiet Pills,", marking their first new material in nearly nine years. The album, written from 2019 to 2022, is steeped in the band's trademark mix of energized punk hooks, irreverent humor, and biting social commentary. The album's title, "Quaker City Quiet Pills," is a play on the viral mystery "Lake City Quiet Pills." The album is politically charged, lampooning the absurdities and hypocrisies of dealing with right-wing fascism in our age. The first single, "Grandpa's Not a Racist (He Just Voted for One)," mercilessly mocks the mental acrobatics of defending a Trump-loving grandparent. The album also features songs like "Philadelphia Femdom," "The New York Guide to Art," and "Astral Dad." This release marks the band's 40th anniversary, a symbol of longevity which few of their peers have reached.
Joan Jett & the Blackhearts - Mindsets EP
🎧 Apple Music • Spotify
Joan Jett and The Blackhearts have released a new EP titled "Mindsets." Jett explains that the songs reflect the various mindsets needed to navigate through challenging times, aiming to foster a sense of connection with the world. The band had an incredible experience writing, rehearsing, and recording these songs, with guitar player Dougie Needles contributing significantly to the songwriting process. The release of "Mindsets" precedes their summer tour alongside Bryan Adams. The EP includes tracks such as "If You're Blue," "Whiskey Goes Good," "Shooting Into Space," "Rearview Mirror," "Before The Dawn," and "(Make the Music Go) Boom." Jett, a Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee, has had a prolific career spanning music, film, television, Broadway, and humanitarianism, and continues to inspire generations of fans worldwide. She co-founded Blackheart Records with her longtime producer and music partner Kenny Laguna, which has grown into a thriving entertainment company producing music, film, and television.
New 90s Podcast
Dave Smalley Interview
Punk rock legend Dave Smalley (All, Dag Nasty) discusses new music from Don't Sleep, his extensive Down By Law output in the ‘90s, and more
Dave Smalley’s been a punk rock fixture since the early ‘80s when he fronted DYS. Stints as the lead singer in Dag Nasty and ALL followed before the touring life caused him to reconsider what it meant to be in a band. In 1991, Smalley formed Down By Law, signed with Epitaph Records, and released six full length albums before the decade was done and another four in the 2000’s with the most recent being 2021’s Lonely Town. In addition to Down By Law, Smalley currently lists Dave Smalley & The Bandoleros and Don’t Sleep on his punk rock resume, the latter of which is releasing their fourth album, See Change, on June 2.
June Album Review Tournament - Group 2 of 3
Try the DMO Union Free for 7 Days!
Find some new friends and tunes.