Bill Callahan has built a reputation for intricate lyrics and sparse, richly textured soundscapes. His upcoming album continues that tradition, and lead track “The Man I’m Supposed To Be” is a testament to that.
“Improv/unpredictability/the unknown is the thing that keeps me motivated to keep making music,” the singer-songwriter confessed. On his first solo album in four years, Bill Callahan tapped the touring musicians behind his 2022 album “YTI⅃AƎЯ“—guitarist Matt Kinsey, saxophonist Dustin Laurenzi, and drummer Jim White—to improvise in the studio.
The resulting 12 songs on “My Days of 58″ are roving journeys, from the driving kosmische folk of “The Man I’m Supposed to Be” to the wayfaring curiosity of “Lonely City.” You can hear Callahan prepared the songs in separate, one-on-one sessions with each musician—part draft, part spontaneity. As Callahan puts it, “a lot of the best parts of a recording are the mistakes—making them into strengths, using them as springboards into something human.”
‘My Days of 58’ is the eighth Bill Callahan album, his first since 2022. The twelve tunes here open uncanny depths of expression as Bill continues to blaze one of the most original songwriting-and-performance trails out there. With ‘My Days of 58’, he applies the living, breathing energies of his live shows to the studio process, sharpening his slice-of-life portraiture to cut deeper than ever before.
“English bands are so hesitant to ever admit ambition, but I am ambitious with this record,” Wolf Alice’s drummer Joel Amey said as “The Clearing” was announced – and sure enough, this was a huge step up and out for a band who were already one of British indie’s biggest. There’s something symphonic about the heft of it and not just because of the string sections, thanks to superb production by Greg Kurstin: the bass and toms are heavy yet warm, the piano pounding yet not overbearing.
Ellie Rowsell sings about suitably big themes, too, from universe-bending love on “Leaning Against the Wall “(“it really, really made the room sing, the way you said my name”), invaluable friendship on “Just Two Girls”, and “The Sofa’s” uplifting manifesto for being wild and indolent instead of toeing the line.
When critics previewed the new Wolf Alice album “The Clearing” ‘soft rock’ (whatever that means), some fans were surprised. But it contains some of their best work so far, and it also shows just how much Ellie Rowsell has grown as a singer and songwriter. Absolutely lush, ‘The Sofa’ became one of my most played tracks of the year, meditatively on boredom, life and female desire “I wanna settle down/I want to fall in love/sometimes I just want to fuck” .
Her vocal performance is exquisite, and the harmonies spiral to the heavens; the instrumentation is richly drawn, framed in airy strings, and layered with dappling pianos. There is a self-awareness sailing through these words where our dreams meet reality, where our hopes meet our fears, its both wistful and life-affirming at once. American publications may be obsessed with the latest indie rock thing in the states, Wolf Alice had just proved there was reason to look to Seven Sisters rather than LA too…
“Bloom Baby Bloom” by English alt-rock band Wolf Alice, consisting of Ellie Rowsell on lead vocals, Joff Oddie on guitar, Theo Ellis on bass and Joel Amey on drums. The song is the lead single from their fourth studio album “The Clearing”, to be released August 29th.
April 1975 was an excellent time for fans of unhinged blues-jazz-rock freakouts as Frank Zappa and the Mothers joined forces with Captain Beefheart for a two-month tour of the US. The tour was commemorated by the album “Bongo Fury“, mostly taken from two shows at the magnificently named Armadillo WorldHeadquarters in Austin, Texas, on 20th and 21st May 1975 and released in October that year.
Though Zappa and Beefheart had shared the stage on occasion and worked together in the studio (Zappa produced the Captain’s weird triumph “Trout MaskReplica“, while Beefheart provided snarling and wild-eyed vocals to ‘Willie The Pimp’ on “Hot Rats“), the tour marked the first time the old high school chums had toured together. They were backed by a group of dyed-in-the-wool Mothers – Terry Bozzio (drums), Napoleon Murphy Brock (tenor sax, vocals), George Duke (keyboards, vocals), Bruce Fowler (trombone) and Tom Fowler (bass) – along with newcomer Denny Walley (slide guitar, vocals), a friend of Zappa’s younger brother Bobby.
Though the original “Bongo Fury” focused on new material, mostly sung by Beefheart, the tour featured plenty of material from the Mothers’ 1974 repertoire – including ‘Florentine Pogen’, ‘Stinkfoot’ and ‘I’m Not Satisfied’ – as well as a few golden oldies, such as ‘Sleeping In A Jar’ and ‘A Pound For A Brown (On The Bus)’, both of which hadn’t been played since 1971. There were also a couple of new songs played on the tour which, till this point, have remained unreleased – ‘The Velvet Sunrise’ and ‘Portuguese Lunar Landing’. Meanwhile, the regular encore was a blast through ‘Willie The Pimp’.
This new anniversary set marks the first time that 1975 recordings of all of these and more have been officially released. The only other song released from the Armadillo shows to date is an early take on “Zoot Allures’ ‘The Torture Never Stops’, released on 1991’s 2CD live compilation “You Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol 4”.
The new 50th anniversary super deluxe edition expands the original album with five CDs of material (roughly 80% unreleased) including studio outtakes and live tracks plus the two Armadillo concerts complete and remixed from the original 16-track masters. The blu-ray features new Dolby Atmos, 5.1 mixes, and high-resolution stereo audio with “bonus surround experiences” from Zappa’s vault. The set also includes a book including unseen photos and sleevenotes from Walley and the Zappa estate’s ‘Vaultmeister’, Joe Travers.
Vinyl collectors have the choice of a 2LP set – featuring an all-analogue mastering of the original album by Bernie Grundman plus a bonus disc featuring highlights from the super deluxe set – or a single LP featuring the new Grundman master, available on black or ‘orange & black galaxy vinyl’. All vinyl formats include a lithograph print and booklet.
The classic collaboration between Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart during May 1975 resulted in a flurry of new compositions, a tour, and eventually an album.
The album is a memorable addition to the Zappa Catalogue and the last to feature the band name “Mothers” before it was retired in 1976.
This new 50th Anniversary Edition presents 5 CDs of material (roughly 80% unreleased) including studio outtakes and live tracks plus the two Armadilloconcerts complete and remixed from the original 16-Track Masters.
This 50th anniversary reissue of “Bongo Fury” is released on 20th March 2026, via UMR.
“Talon of the Hawk” is a fan favourite that includes “Twin Size Mattress”, “Skeleton” and “Funny You Should Ask”.
At the core of the Front Bottoms new album “Talon of the Hawk”, is the crazy hybrid of slamming rock drumming and acoustic guitar The Front Bottoms are known for, but this time the band augments their sound with electric guitars, synths, even a little accordion.
Over top is Brian Sella’s confident heartfelt vocals that will have you laughing one minute, crying the next and then maybe pumping your fist and singing along when you least suspect it.
“Talon of the Hawk” rocks harder than their debut and it is more complex in both subject matter and arrangements. Once this sucker gets it’s claws in you’re going to soar. Rock and roll? The Front Bottoms wonder if you know what that means. Their mix of punk, folk and pop always has that rock n roll thang riding just above the surface looking for it’s prey
The Guest List is a Manchester-based five- piece band known for their melodic guitar riffs, thoughtful lyrics, and energetic live performances.
The Guest List consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Cai Alty, lead guitarist Tom Quigley, bassist Sid Wallace, drummer Angus Gilchrist, and rhythm guitarist Leio Hunter. They have quickly gained recognition in the Manchester music scene and beyond for their mature lyricism and authentic sound, blending melodic indie rock with elements of dream pop and sludgy desert rock influences reminiscent of Humbug-era Arctic Monkeys.
The band’s EP “When the Lights Are Out” features tracks like Mary, Weather Man, and the title track, which have been in development for several years. Their earlier songs, London and Loose Tongue, produced by James Skelly of The Coral, significantly boosted their profile, earning recognition on BBC Radio 6 Music. Their music often tackles lofty themes such as male suicide and climate change, reflecting a thoughtful and socially conscious approach.
The Guest List has built a strong live reputation, sharing stages with acts like Two Door Cinema Club, The Wombats, Inhaler, Blossoms, and Seb Lowe. They have sold out their first UK headline tour and are scheduled to appear at major festivals including NBHD Weekender, Kendal Calling, Truck Festival, Y-Not Festival, and Victorious Festival.
The band maintains an active online presence, with over 400,000 followers and nearly 8 million likes on TikTok, and a growing Spotify audience with tens of thousands of monthly listeners. This digital engagement has helped them connect with fans worldwide and expand their reach beyond the UK.
Glad to finally have this one out for you all to listen. Massive thanks to Matias Tellez and Marius Elfstedt for all the hard work in the studio and to Ewan Ogden for directing this amazing music video
We’re proud of this song and hope you all enjoy listening to it as much as we did making it
Uncut is now in shops, featuring a deep dive into Bob Dylan’s wild 1966, as well as new interviews with Genesis, Manic Street Preachers, Snail Mail, Billy Childish, Sex Pistols, The Black Crowes, Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy and Soft Machine – plus Arctic Monkeys, Alex Harvey, Zappa vs Beefheart, Charlotte Cornfield and much more!
Each issue comes with a free 15-track CD including tracks by Flea feat. Thom Yorke, Courtney Barnett, Tinariwen and The Long Ryders.
UFO bassist Pete Way once told this writer that when Paul Chapman took on the herculean task of replacing Michael Schenker in UFO in 1978, “he did a damned good job of making it a good rock’n’roll band. Paul was a great guitar player, more in the Gary Moore mould”. And just as Moore’s permanent return to Thin Lizzy that same year galvanised Lizzy to follow Live And Dangerous with the stellar Black Rose, Chapman’s arrival helped UFO land a knockout after “Strangers In The Night” with “No Place To Run” (1980).
Recording with producer George Martin at AIR Studios in Montserrat overran, forcing Way, Chapman, and vocalist Phil Mogg to fly from an already scheduled European tour to AIR London every few nights for mixing. Chapman later told me: “Our ears were knackered,” and he felt that subsequent remasters improved Martin’s original mix.
UFO perform “Young Blood” live on Top of the Pops on January 10, 1980—taken from their “No Place To Run” album, the first to feature guitarist Paul ‘Tonka’ Chapman. In a recent interview, Phil Mogg reflected on this era, calling Chapman “reliable… to a point,” and described working with legendary producer George Martin on the album as “a beautiful holiday—but not ideal for recording.”
“Young Blood” captures the band’s shift in sound post-Michael Schenker, with a raw edge that made the track a standout. This performance shows UFO at a pivotal point—between classic rock energy and polished production.
This newly remastered edition heightens the effect, outstripping its 2009 predecessor with a more focused balance of frequencies, adding clarity to Mogg’s passionate vocals and Chapman’s white-hot solos.
At their best, as this album presents them, UFO’s stage-drilled dynamism informed their songwriting, allowing them to segue effortlessly from the rampant hard rock of “Lettin’ Go” and a runaway take on Elvis’s “Mystery Train” to radio-friendly hit “Young Blood”and the title track’s seething menace. Disc 2 gives UFO’s mettlesome November 1980 Marquee performance its first full release, with freshly mixed highlights from “No Place”, sneak previews of its classic follow-up, and Schenker-era favourites.
Remastered Deluxe Edition of “No Place To Run” drops August 15th, 2025, featuring a full 1980 live set from the Marquee mixed from original tapes by Brian Kehew.
The Modfather Paul Weller is to release compilation of radio sessions recorded at the BBC between 2008-2024, “Weller At The BBC Vol. 2”will feature songs spanning the 67-year-old singer/songwriter’s career, between 2008-2024, from reworked takes on classic songs by The Jam and The Style Council through to his acclaimed solo career, and will includes Weller’s unique interpretations of songs by artists as diverse as Billie Eilish and The Kinks.
This second BBC outing gathers live session and live in concert performances, including intimate stripped back acoustic versions and re-workings of tracks across The Jam, The Style Council and Paul’s extensive solo career.
From timeless classics such as “Start!”, “Shout To The Top” and “Wild Wood”, to deep cuts and covers, like The Zombies’ “Time Of The Season” and Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?“
The album also features some beautifully orchestrated tracks with the London MetropolitanOrchestra, arranged and conducted by Hannah Peel, including “Aspects”, and “Have You Ever Had It Blue”.
It also includes “When Your Garden’s Overgrown” and “Boy About Town” as featured on the limited edition seven inch single he’ll release on Record Store Day, April 18.
As denoted by its title, the album is the follow up to Weller’s 2008 compilation Weller at the BBC,which brought together BBC performances recorded between 1990 – 2008.
Courtney Barnett is releasing a new album, “Creature of Habit”, on March 27th via Mom + Pop. Now she has shared two new songs from it, “Mantis” and “Sugar Plum.”
Barnett had this to say about “Mantis” in a press release: “‘Mantis’ is the microcosmic centerpiece of this album, it embodies the message and meaning of every track. It’s a song about searching, and it helped me find my way through “Creature of Habit”.
“I was feeling particularly lost while I was working on this song. One day, I was standing in the kitchen, making a coffee, when I noticed a little green praying mantis sitting on top of the doorframe. I had never seen one there in the desert house, so I took it as an important sign from the universe. I texted a photo to Stella and she said, ‘It’s good luck, look it up!’ I did a quick search and found it to also represent patience, perseverance and a guide for those who needed direction. I stood and spoke to the mantis for a while, it was a strange and enlightening moment that I’ll never forget. Eventually, I got back to writing, and finally I had the chorus to this song.”
Barnett shared the album’s opening track, “Stay In Your Lane,” last October. When “Creature of Habit” was announced in January she shared its second single, “Site Unseen,” which features Katie Crutchfield of Waxahatchee .
In 2023 Barnett released a new instrumental album, “End of the Day“. Barnett’s last album of regular songs, Things Take Time, Take Time, came out in 2021 via Mom + Pop Music/Marathon Artists.
“Creature of Habit” was written after Barnett relocated from her native Australia to Los Angeles and also closed down her label, Milk! Records.
“Creature of Habit” Due Out March 27th via Mom + Pop
The Fat Angel Sings 