In this month’s installment of our latest podcast for Jolt Radio, we look at several films vying for prizes as award seasons warms up. There are also some indie films in the mix. As for music: it’s all new. There are lots of great new tunes ahead of some album releases this month. I really like this mix I put together.
We begin with opinions on several movies recently released, some of which you will most likely be hearing about into next year and the Oscars. Find out if The Irishman, The Report, or A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood have anything to offer … in my opinion. Another picture I discuss that you might already know my feelings about, The Lighthouse (The Lighthouse: all atmosphere and little substance), probably won’t be a contender.
Then there’s lots of cool new music. For some reason this month’s playlist seems a bit on the melancholy side out of the gate. However, there’s a nice shift in gear to upbeat tunes in the middle. It features A Winged Victory for the Sullen, Tindersticks, Cigarettes After Sex, (Sandy) Alex G and Porches. Highlights I particularly want to note include TORRES, who is now on Merge Records after being dropped by 4AD. Mackenzie Scott is one of indie music’s great unsung songwriters, so it was a bit of an injustice that her last album wasn’t a success (Three choice indie singles released in July). She cracks perceptions open with her sometimes cryptic, slippery yet evocative lyrics, Her new album Silver Tongue, due out in January, is no exception. If you order direct from Merge you have the option of buying a half silver and half green limited edition vinyl, a mock-up of which is pictured below.
Then there’s L’Epee with “Springfield 61” from their album Diabolique, a complete new surprise that fits snugly in my psych-rock interest. Turns out they’re a kind of super group featuring Emmanuelle Seigner (Ultra Orange & Emmanuelle), Anton Newcombe (The Brian Jonestown Massacre) and Lionel and Marie Limiñana (The Limiñanas). Last but not least by any means, Dry Cleaning are a band from London that I just stumbled across by following my personal interest in sub-genre and deserves highlighting as well. “Viking Hair” is that dirty, sing-spoken post-punk featuring casual but sly guitar strokes that I’m easily drawn to. I also hope you will all find something to like about this little known U.K. band as well. Their vinyl is already sold out.
You can stream it all via this player:
Our next show is scheduled for Dec. 17 at 9 p.m. EST. The episode will be focused on indie music and what I feel are the best songs of indie rock I discovered in 2019.
