M.Ward, Candlebox, & Black Lab
The week in new music & Dig Me Out podcast
1 Minute Reviews
New Releases
Thomas Andrew Doyle - Forgotten Sciences
🗳 Bandcamp | 🎧 Apple Music • Spotify
"Forgotten Sciences" is the latest album by Thomas Andrew Doyle, who is often hailed as the Grunge Grandfather due to his involvement with bands such as TAD and Brothers of the Sonic Cloth. This album marks Doyle's ninth solo full-length release and demonstrates his versatility as a musician. In "Forgotten Sciences," Doyle explores innovative vocal styles and showcases his talents in both vocals and playing multiple instruments. The album features intricate compositions with interwoven rhythms, melodies, and motifs, and its lyrical content probes into the darker aspects of human life. However, there is an optimistic undertone throughout the album, as it embodies a message of staying present and finding inner strength. According to Doyle, "This album is a note to self to stay in the moment and clear of the trappings of time. It is an affirmation that everything important happens in the present moment. Everything is an inside job, and there are no solutions to be found outside our indomitable spirit"1.
M. Ward - Supernatural Thing
📦 Vinyl & CD | 🎧 Apple Music • Spotify
M. Ward's album "Supernatural Thing" is his first new album in three years, following his 2020 albums "Think Of Spring" and "Migration Stories". The album consists of 10 tracks, including eight originals and two covers, namely David Bowie’s “I Can’t Give Everything Away” and a live rendition of Daniel Johnston’s “Story Of An Artist”. M. Ward describes his songs as being influenced by dream imagery and mentions that the title track was inspired by a dream he had about Elvis. M. Ward sees the album as an extension of his earlier work, particularly his ‘Transistor Radio’ record, but with a more concise structure, additional voices, and various moods. "Supernatural Thing" features guest appearances from First Aid Kit, Jim James, Kelly Pratt, Shovels & Rope, Scott McMicken, and Neko Case. The album's title reflects M. Ward's early thoughts as a child, associating radio with transmitting messages from supernatural entities and connecting this idea to the role of music in memory and dreams1.
Swans - The Beggar
📦 Vinyl & CD | 🗳 Bandcamp | 🎧 Apple Music • Spotify
Swans release their 16th studio album, "The Beggar," through Mute/Young God Records. Recorded at Candy Bomber Studio in Berlin and produced by Michael Gira, the album is available in double vinyl and double CD formats. The double vinyl includes a download card for an additional 44-minute music piece, "The Beggar Lover (Three)." The album features collaborations with current and former Swans members, members of Angels of Light, and guest artist Ben Frost. Michael Gira, who also provides vocals and plays acoustic guitar, has stated that the album emerged from the isolation during the pandemic, which inspired him to write new songs. "The Beggar" showcases various themes and musical collaborations, with backing vocals by Jennifer Gira, Lucy Kruger, and Laura Carbone.
Candlebox - Live at The Neptune
📦 Vinyl & CD | 🎧 Apple Music • Spotify
"Live at The Neptune" is an acoustic album by the multi-platinum rock band Candlebox, released on June 23, 2023. The album captures a special live performance at the Neptune Theatre in Seattle, Washington, on November 5, 2021, and features the band's original members Kevin Martin, Peter Klett, Bardi Martin, and Scott Mercado. The setlist includes a selection of tracks from Candlebox's discography, presented in an intimate acoustic arrangement. The album is available in both vinyl and CD formats, with the CD version including two bonus tracks1.
Albert Hammond Jr. - Melodies on Hiatus
📦 Vinyl & CD | 🎧 Apple Music
In "Melodies on Hiatus," Albert Hammond Jr. blends the soulfulness of his earlier works with new styles, drawing inspiration from fatherhood and the COVID-19 pandemic. The album features 19 tracks, including the reflective "Old Man," the ennui-fighting "Dead Air," and the nostalgic "False Alarm." Notable is "Thoughtful Distress," with contributions from Arctic Monkeys' Matt Helders and Steve Stevens, and the hip-hop-infused opener "100-99." The album concludes with the yacht rock and disco fusion "Alright Tomorrow." With lyrics co-written with poet Simon Wilcox, "Melodies on Hiatus" is a diverse and explorative musical odyssey.
Mike Bankhead - I Am Experienced EP
🗳 Bandcamp | 🎧 Apple Music • Spotify
Hailing from a small town near Dayton, Ohio, Mike Bankhead has been fascinated with music since childhood, with early inclinations towards rock and roll and grunge. His latest album, "I Am Experienced," is a poignant concept album. Bankhead stated, "The songs on this project are all very much about Black experiences." The album features Dayton R&B singer/songwriters Mariah J, who released her debut album "Unfolding" in 2022, and The Kadence.
New 90s Podcast
Black Lab - Your Body Above Me
The well-crafted 1997 debut album Your Body Above Me by Black Lab is a post-grunge album that warrants and rewards repeated listens
The back half of the 1990s was deluged with more post-grunge bands that we can count, and cutting through the noise wasn't always easy. For bands like Black Lab, who aimed for both radio and something more interesting, that meant not reaching the chart-topping highs of bands like Our Lady Peace, Semisonic, or Live. Their 1997 debut You Body Above Me for Geffen is a prime example of making the most of the back-half album tracks, as vocalist Paul Durham takes some inventive detours with his vocals, bouncing between the emotive lead single "Wash It Away" and the more expressive attack of "All the Money in the World" or Bring It On." A cursory pass may leave the listener wondering what the fuss is about, but slap on the headphones and you'll hear some impressive choices from each instrument, playing off of and pushing each other for something more with a clear and full sound that impresses even today. Special Guests: Mike Bankhead - DMO Union
Coming Soon
June Album Review Tournament - Final
The final round of album suggestions for Dig Me Out is here, and the audience's vote will determine which album gets featured. The contenders include "Flipped Out in Singapore" by Chainsaw Kittens, a 1992 alternative rock album with glam rock and punk influences; "10 Speed" by Mystery Machine, a 1996 Canadian alternative rock album with grunge and shoegaze elements; "Spot" by Spot, a mid-90s rock album known for its raw energy; "Hitch on the Leaves" by Gaslight Radio, a 1998 Australian dream pop album blending shoegaze and rock; "Dookie" by Green Day, an iconic 1994 pop-punk album that popularized punk rock in the US; "Halfway Down the Sky" by Splender, a 1999 rock album with catchy guitar riffs; and "To the Faithful Departed" by The Cranberries, a 1996 alternative rock album with a mix of rock songs and waltzes. Each album brings its unique sound and style, and the audience has one vote to decide which one will be featured.