Funkadelic: Hardcore Jollies (1976)

In 1990 I became friends with Dave. Dave had a pair of friends who were brothers – Will (older) and Russ (younger). They were okay, although I don’t think liked me; they tolerated me because I was Dave’s friends. But they’ve remained stuck in my brain cells for two reasons: to fix the intonation problems on my first guitar (a black Epiphone Strat copy) Russ bolted my bride to the body with two massive bolts that did not in fact fix my intonation, and just made the guitar worse. And one day I walked up Dave’s driveway to find the three of in a rough circle, dancing and laughing to the funkiest, sick music I ever heard. The song was “Soul Mate” off Hardcore Jollies, the mighty ninth album from the even mightier Funkadelic. I was never the same.

ChrisJune 11, 2025Leave a comment

Vinyl

Metallica: Load (1996)

Here’s my dirty secret: until a few days ago not only did I not own a physical copy of Load, the sixth album from arguably my favorite heavy metal band of all time Metallica, but…I had never even listened to the album in its entirety. I knew the singles, wasn’t overly impressed, but that’s only part of the reason. By 1996 I had shifted into other genres and tastes, and both Load and Reload were albums I assumed I would get to in time, but never did (I still haven’t listened to all of Reload). On the event of the band getting their remastered deluxe set ready for next week, I decided now was the time and grabbed the vinyl, just as I did every other remaster the band have released to date. It was the perfect way to grab these on vinyl for the first time, and so far the remasters have all been superb. Since my copy of Load arrived a week early, I finally sat down and listened to the entire album.

Guess what? I’ve got thoughts (long post ahead).

ChrisJune 9, 2025Leave a comment

Playlists

(Un)Focused Definition Ep. 53: Out The Other Side

I feel like this week has been nothing but playlists. Two last Saturday, one on my birthday, and I just wrapped the 391st playlist for Nine Circles. So I’m going easy this week, the better to focus on the heaping pile of new music that came in and do a little organizing so I can better find all the music in said heaping pile. New week will be the return of regularly scheduled programming – I’m considering alternating between some of the albums on the 52 Reasons Why playlist that haven’t already been covered and some of the said heaping new music pile.

ChrisJune 7, 2025June 7, 2025Leave a comment

Vinyl

Hedvig Mollestad Trio: Bees In The Bonnet (2025)

As recently as two weeks ago I had never heard of guitarist Hedvig Mollestad Thomassen, or the Hedvig Mollestad Trio. Now here I am with Bees in the Bonnet, and it’s one of my favorite records of the year. With albums stretching and blurring the lines between all manner of heavy rock, jazz, classical and experimental noise (I dove deep after falling for this), her latest might be the most “accessible” entryway to her work while simultaneously offering up exactly what makes her such a force in the guitar world. Trio telepathy reins supreme in this mix of six tunes, so let’s do the thing, shall we?

ChrisJune 6, 20251 Comment

Vinyl

Lambrini Girls: Who Let The Dogs Out (2025)

Don’t be put off by the label on the cover. Yes, Who Let The Dogs Out, the debut from UK punk outfit Lambrini Girls is, in fact, “Party Music For Gay, Angry Sluts”. At its bass throbbing heart though this is pissed off punk and post-punk executed with dance floor precision that resonates for anyone who’s had enough of where we are culturally, politically, and/or religiously. Or if you simply want to slam your head around and dance like it’s the end of the world. Lambrini Girls are angry, but they make sure they’re angry to a propulsive beat you can shake to, that’s for sure.

ChrisJune 5, 20252 Comments

Miscellany, Playlists

52 Reasons Why

Wanted to do something different today. It’s my birthday, and I already built a playlist last week celebrating a bunch of great music that came out during the year of my birth. But the music of 1973 isn’t what made me into who I am now – that’s an ever-growing, ever-evolving store of musical moments and memories. And so I wanted to make another playlist, of the songs that inspired me, moved, me, marked significant moments of my life.

ChrisJune 4, 2025June 4, 20252 Comments

Consuming the Tangible

We are what we consume

Month: June 2025

Funkadelic: Hardcore Jollies (1976)

Metallica: Load (1996)

(Un)Focused Definition Ep. 53: Out The Other Side

Hedvig Mollestad Trio: Bees In The Bonnet (2025)

Lambrini Girls: Who Let The Dogs Out (2025)

52 Reasons Why