Orphans 2022

 

Some time next year I'll no doubt discover an absolute gem that I frustratingly managed to never hear (suggestions always welcome, btw), but for now 2022 is pretty much wrapped with this mix. Over all, a good year - although I'm definitely seeing hints that the rock era could be drawing to a close. That might be complete hogwash of course; after all, some pinched-faced conservative moralists claimed rock was dead back in 1958 - and I don't want to align myself with any of those sorts of knobs. Maybe I'll just shut up, clutch on to the words of Oscar Wilde ("reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated"), and continue onward as if change and entropy aren't a feature of this life. Seems as good a plan as any.

Walking Forward, Looking Back

1. T. Rexic0 Oh Yeah

2. Jay A11en & the Arch Criminals Be Mine Tonight

3. R0mero Crossing Lines

4. The Che1sea Curve Jamie C'mon

5. Karma Gambit Cable Knit Sweater

6. Maura & the Bright Lights Perfect Girl

7. The De1ta Riggs The Real Electric

8. JD McPhers0n Just Around the Corner

9. Kevin Stevens0n Brand New Day

10. Titus Andr0nicus Give Me Grief

11. P0inted Sticks Anywhere

12. Emper0r Penguin A Gun and a Badge

13. The Pinx Dust to Diamonds

14. Dr0pper Waste of Time

15. Stars Like 0urs Radio

16. Spark1ehorse It Will Never Stop

17. B1usterfields Too Obvious

18. T00 Much Joy What Pricks We Were

19. The Hooten Ho11ers Back in Business Again

20. Butch Wa1ker Tell Me I'm Pretty (Methamphetamine Pt. 2)

21. Big J0anie In My Arms

22. Jeremy & the Har1equins One Shot (of Rock & Roll)

 

Orphans 2021

 

Well dern, that was a loooong search. It's a little frustrating too, because I know there's a ton of bands out there trying to get noticed and simply disappearing in the glut of overwhelming everything that is the internet. But what can ya do? That's not going to change - and we'd all probably complain loudly if it did.

So big thanks to all the bands out there still trying. You're appreciated. And while I'm handing out thank-yous, I should also tip my cap to those who've stuck around, especially those who have ever posted in the comment section. Some days that's all that keeps me going. Appreesh!

A Computer That's Been Programmed to Dream

1. Edis0n Lights Josephine (in Quarantine)

2. The Jr. League Library Bar

3. Hurry It's Dangerous

4. The Reyt0ns Kids Off the Estate

5. S1othrust Once More for the Ocean

6. S0uthern Avenue Fences

7. Dec1an We1sh & the Decadent West Talking to Myself

8. Sami Yaffa Down At St. Joe's

9. Lucer0 Back in Ohio

10. Need1es//Pins Winnipeg '03

11. The 0n and 0ns Vanishing Act

12. Sister Suzie  (Are You Gonna) Give Me a Kiss

13. The Linda Lindas Oh

14. Ind0nesian Junk Policeman

15. Ryan Hami1ton Do the Damage

16. S1ick Just Meat

17. Mad Ro11ers Black Days

18. The Ho1d Steady Riptown

19. Beatrice Deer Cannibal

20. P0inted Sticks Pessimist's Son

21. De1 Amitri Happiness Is it

22. The F0rty Nineteens The Worst Thing I Could Do

23. Spearmint Rock n' Roll Never Was

24. Cowbe11 Garage Flowers

25. Deaf Schoo1 Where Do We Go From Here?

Orphans 2020

 

A mix containing some of the bands and artists I neglected to get around to during the previous 12 months. Perhaps a tad more eclectic than my typical Faves mixes, but certainly nothing that's totally outside of the established wheelhouse.

 My Source Of Pleasure Is My Source Of Ruin

1. Juiceb0xxx Back in Your Car

2. Ratb0ys Anj

3. The Tummies Sweet Little Mistreater

4. Ten T0nnes Girl, Are You Lonely Like Me?

5. girl0ngirl Girls

6. The Leve1 Spirits Double Crosser

7. The Vibrat0rs Woman 3.2

8. Heart B0nes This Time It's Different

9. Bad Sex Sucker

10. Naked Giants Turns Blue

11. Mike Vio1a Drug Rug

12. 0ceanator A Crack in the World

13. Ginger Wi1dheart Yorvik (My Hood)

14. Successful Fai1ures More of the Same

15. Nick L0we A Quiet Place

16. Christian B1unda (It Sucks) Without You

17. The Lemon Dr0p Gang Georgie

18. Ken F0x & Knock Yourself Out Stranded (in the Heat)

19. He1aine & the Hurricanes I Will Never Ever Bleach My Hair Again

20. C1assic Ruins Forget About It

21. Co1d Years Life With a View

22. Emper0r Penguin Planet of Love

23. Trevor Be1d Jimenez Moment

24. Lucinda Wi11iams Down Past the Bottom

Orphans 2019

Try as I might, I just can't seem to catch all the great music that's released over any given year. A big part of the reason for that, of course, is that this blog tends to mine for the most obstinately obscure nuggets in the most hidden corners of modern pop culture (with the occasional exception). And that's not going to change, so these Orphans mixes are necessary as a catch-all for all the cool tunes that I missed. And jeebus, I missed a lot of cool tunes. Like, there's an underground re-visitation of 70s style glam rock that somehow evaded my grasp during 2019 - but I found a bunch of it, and it's dispersed among the more typical entries on the mix, so be warned if you have any personal allergies to the junk shop stomp of bands like Slade. Me? I can't stop blaring it.

All We Need Is An Accident

1. Sp00n No Bullets Spent
2. Ha1ey Mary The Piss, The Perfume
3. Sunf1ower Bean King of the Dudes
4. Detroit C0bras Stay Down
5. Sister J0hn I'm The One
6. The Dates Star
7. Creem Circus Automatic Style
8. Rusty Strange Game
9. Hammered Satin Dynamite
10. The Sore1s She's in the Gang
11. Linda Kay I Wanna Love You
12. Wyatt B1air Cherry Rose
13. Dead Furies Stay Gold, Ponyboy
14. The Vicious Cyc1es Life Insurance
15. Crimina1 Hygiene Incompletely
16. Yo1a Love All Night (Work All Day)
17. The Last Bees Can't Wait
18. The King Khan Experience Turkey Ride
19. James Ha11 Purr...
20. Martha Orange Juice
21. Baby Shakes Cause a Scene
22. BB Sea Be Bop Palooza
23. The Nuc1ears Lightspeed Getaway
24. Rea1 Sickies Bye Bye

Orphans 2018

Once again, it turns out there's a ton of music that somehow slipped past me before I finalized my Best of the Year round-up - and I attempt to make amends for the oversight with this Orphans mix.  The one inescapable truth that makes itself apparent every year is that there is always better, greater, and cooler music than what is promoted through the mainstream sites. Some of these songs represent albums that should have been included in my Top 30, some of them are merely singles, but all are tracks that I wish I'd heard during the twelve months of 2018. Give a listen, and see if you share my righteous indignation over the unfair neglect of such aweomeness and awesomosity.

Got Jumped By a Bottle of Scotch

1. Dirty Sidewa1ks Rock and Roll (Save My Soul)
2. Bee Bee Sea Lou Weird
3. The Ratchets Gotta Be Cool
4. The Me0ws I Don't Care
5. Barrence Whitfie1d & the Savages Pain
6. Laura Jane Grase & the Devouring Mothers I Hate Chicago
7. Heatwave Nothing Matters
8. Locks1ey My Love Is Strong
9. Robbie Fu1ks & Linda Gai1 Lewis Wild Wild Wild
10. The Detr0it Cobras What More
11. Ryan Hami1ton & the Traitors The Ghost of James Dean
12. Skegss Smogged Out
13. The C0nnection Looking Back At You
14. The Speedways Just Another Regular Summer
15. Prima D0nna Press Your Luck
16. Loves0res Gods of Ancient Grease
17. Ace 0f Cups Feel Good
18. The Beths You Wouldn't Like Me
19. Th0mas Abban Time to Think
20. Lazy Daizies Runaway
21. Starcraw1er Pussy Tower
22. J0n Spencer I Got The Hits
23. M. Ward Miracle Man
24. The Pi1grims Fav New Kid
25. Lucer0 For the Lonely Ones

2017 Orphans Mix

Sometimes, despite your best intentions, you just miss a detail or two. Happens to me every year. I try to listen to as much as I can, and yet there's always a small pile of deserving tracks and albums that somehow eluded me. These Orphans mixes are an attempt to make right with those unintentionally neglected artists. And, make no mistake, I'm aware that there's a bunch of stuff I still haven't found. Some oversights are just easier to spot than others.

Should've Learned To Play Guitar

1. F1amin' Groovies What The Hell's Goin' On
2. The Brixton Riot The Ballad of Pete Best
3. The Forty Nineteens Easy Come Easy Go
4. Pugwash What Are You Like
5. Ryan Hami1ton & the Traitors Drugs and Fashion
6. Le Troub1e Fatal Flaw
7. The Peac0cks I've Had Enough
8. The Red Butt0n Tracy's Party
9. Derrick Anders0n Stop Messin' About
10. Stiff Richards Ride On Me
11. The Sweet Things Slather
12. The Wi11owz Just Can't Wait
13. W1retree J.F. Sebastian
14. Br1x & the Extricated Feelin' Numb
15. K1ng Khan Born in '77
16. Emperor Penguin Halfway to Havana
17. Deep State Idiot Waster
18. Mark Crozer & the Re1s Loathsome Freddie
19. The Men Come Alive
20. Eye1ids Falling Eyes
21. Blank Pages High Flyer
22. Tim He1decker Trump Tower
23. Nico1e Atkins Listen Up
24. Litt1e Steven I Don't Want To Go Home

2016 Orphans Mix

The 2016 train may have left the station, but that doesn't mean there isn't a bunch of stuff still to catch up with. As usual, I only heard a fraction of what was released over the year - and it always amazes me how much great music drops into the void without even a peep from the hypeosphere of modern media. Some of these tracks are just singles - teases, one hopes, for an album in the coming months - but most appeared on full-length releases that simply slipped by my antiquated radar.

Better Than The Beatles Or The Stones

1. Tim East0n Right Before Your Own Eyes
2. The Dead Sh1ps Company Line
3. James Wi11iamson (w/ Maia) Sickkk
4. F1rst Base If I See You With That Girl Again
5. G00d0 Ordinary Girl
6. The Exc1tements Hold On Together
7. P1nk Turns Blue Something Deep Inside
8. Shake Some Act1on The Only Way Is Up
9. Miss Cha1n & the Broken Hee1s Uh Uh
10. The Cheap Ca55ettes Disappear With You
11. Ex1t Verse Silver Cup
12. The Jean1es Amilee
13. Happyne55 SB's Truck
14. Nick P1unt1 One Hit Wonder
15. The C0mputers Crucifixed On You
16. The Evers0ns Emily
17. U1ysses Law and Order
18. 1an Hunter Dandy
19. The Je5us and Mary Cha1n Amputation
20. Curt Baker Baby's Gone Bad
21. M1ng City Rockers All I Wanna Do Is Waste My Time With You
22. Earth Gir1s I Thought You Knew
23. Vega5 With Rando1ph Three Red Hooks
24. Pretender5 Alone

2015 Orphans Mix

I always hold off on compiling my Best of the Year list until deep into January, and even then there's always a stack of shoulda-been hits I never managed to hear in time. Subsequently, I use the Orphans series as a place to house such lost gems - as well as being a repository for some of the tracks that just never quite sonically fit in during the year. This time out, however, I'm breaking my own rule by including tracks by the Ravyns and CVB (which date back to 2014), Va11ey Lodge (2013), and the Nomads (2012). All the rest obediently adhere to the established UHM tenets, meaning they're from 2015. Also meaning they totally rock.

I'll Be Your Oyster, If You Be My Pearl

1. B1itzen Trapper Rock & Roll Was Made For You
2. The Be11furies Bad Seed Sown
3. Jetbone Fifth Time Loser
4. Honeymoon Disease You're Too Late
5. The Pi1grims Smokes Too Much
6. The Ravyns Incidentally Baby
7. Shove1s & Rope w/ Butch Wa1ker Bullet Belt
8. At1antic Thri11s Treat My Baby
9. Thee Tsunamis Cry Baby
10. Va11ey Lodge Kiss Me, I'm Drunk
11. The New Trocaderos I'm So Bad
12. Modern Kicks Up All Night
13. Curt Baker I Can't Wait
14. Camper Von Beethoven It Was Like That When We Got Here
15. Matt Whipkey 1:59
16. Nick Waterhouse It No. 3
17. Graham Parker & the Rumour Swing State
18. The Stone Foxes New York Ta1k
19. The Breakdowns I Know Your Name, I Lost Your Number
20. The Vo1canics What I Found
21. The Nomads You Won't Break My Heart
22. Cristopher the Conquered I'm Giving Up On Rock & Roll

2014 Orphans Mix

A collection of songs and bands I missed out while 2014 was an active concern. Some truly remarkable music was buried under the avalanche of releases last year, so consider this a too-little too-late corrective.

Some readers of this blog hepped me to the Bo-Dogs and the Crusaders of Love, so big thanks for those additions to the mix. Faz Waltz and Hector's Pets were deservedly pimped on the RatBoy blog, so a second shout-out there. The rest is a result of slow accumulation. I'd known of the Singles beforehand, but wasn't prepared for the quantum leap in songwriting they delivered on "Look How Fast a Heart Can Break." Ditto Smash Fashion and their "Big Cat Love" reckid (a must-own for fans of 70s and 80s glam). Watts will be getting a full review of their "Flash of White Light" album in the near future (spoiler: it's awesome). I'm also really surprised I didn't hear more about Gramercy Arms, if only for the fact that Lloyd Cole guests on vocals on a few tracks. "Giving It All Away" by Sunrise Highway addresses the toll that on-line pirating takes on the artist, and I'm very aware of the irony of including it on the mix - but if it helps lead anyone to purchasing their solid "Windows" album then it's gotta be worthwhile, right? And, yes, that's a Macy Gray track towards the end. Unheard of? Maybe not. But she definitely falls into my definition of un-herd.

 Needles in a Stack of Hay

1. The New Piccadi11ys Judy is a Punk
2. Faz Wa1tz Let's Get Around
3. The Shivas You Make Me Wanna Die
4. The Bo-Doggs Hey, Mr. Oil Drop Man
5. The Deaf Running Back To You
6. Sunrize Highway Giving It All Away
7. Chuck Prophit Tell Me Anything (Turn to Gold)
8. Watts Northern Boys
9. The Fraidies Xs on Your Eyes
10. St. Pau1 & the Broken Bones Half the City
11. The Sing1es We Don't Talk Anymore
12. Smash Fashion Super G1am
13. The Ex-Gent1emen All Night
14. B1ack Heart Breakers X Heart
15. Dave Hawse The Great Depression
16. Summer Canniba1s Summer
17. Crusaders of Love Reckless Minds
18. Rancd Co11ision Course
19. Hector's Pets Fast as Fuck
20. Denny & the Jets Bye Bye Queenie
21. The Boys She's the Reason
22. Gramercy Arms The Night Is Your Only Friend
23. Macy Grey Need You Now
24. The A-Bones Questions I Can't Answer

2013 Orphans Mix

Here's the deal: I try to stay caught up with new music, and try to pimp it on a timely basis, but there's just so much great stuff that manages to slip by without me noticing (or, more precisely, without me noticing until after I compile my Best of the Year list). That means there's always a batch of truly worthwhile songs and albums from every year that get stranded on their lonesome, ignored on the Faves mixes and unfairly left off the year-end round-up; unheard even by Un-Herd.

So the Orphans mixes do their best to rectify that, even if it's frustratingly too late. There are songs from singles and EPs, songs that didn't fit on other collections, and tunes - from the Mayflowers and the Scruffs - that date back to 2012 (I'm really late to the party on those). As well, this mix contains songs from two albums (The Bad Lovers Wild Times and Wyldlife The Time Has Come To Rock & Roll) that would have easily been in my 2013 Top 20 had I known about them. They're both spectacular and distinct takes on the kind of sleazy, punk and glam-inspired rock & roll this blog lives for, and it's a crime neither got the major attention they deserve.

A big thank-you goes to Sir Rick Laferriere, who has once again hepped me to the existence of a slew of artists and bands. And, as always, the biggest thanks goes to all the bands out there on the front lines, fighting the good fight. You are, eventually, heard.

It's Just Another Case of Here We Go Again

1. Gringo Star The Start
2. The Mayflowers Cat's Boro Blues
3. Wyldlife Trash
4. Mozes & the Firstborn What's Wrong Momma?
5. Miss Chain & the Broken Heels Don't Look Back
6. Dirt Farmer All I Know
7. Sugar Stems Love You To Pieces
8. Bye Bye Blackbirds Shook Down Softly
9. Kim Salmon & Spencer P. Jones It's All The Same
10. The Danks Experimental Fiction
11. Super Wild Horses Heavy Step
12. The Menzingers The Shakes
13. Nato Coles & the Blue Diamond Band See Some Lights
14. Giuda Yellow Dash
15. Lisa Mychols Foolin' the World
16. Imperial State Electric Underwhelmed
17. The Bamboos Your Lovin' Is Easy
18. Tranzplants Something's Different
19. The Woggles Take It To The People
20. Sweet Talk Pickup Lines
21. The Scruffs Take Me Downtown
22. The New Trocaderos The Kids
23. The Bad Lovers Got It Bad
24. Willis Earl Beal (w/ Cat Power) Coming Through

2012 Orphan Mix

Too much of a good thing, y'all. Sometimes there's just too much goodness for a single sitting. 2012 was like that for music, so I figured I'd make a mix of all the great stuff I didn't get around to including last year. This mix may seem a tad schizo, eclectically darting around between a late night vibe, some cool R&B grooves, and upbeat power pop, but overall it finds a mood all its own.

I've included a couple songs from 2013  (James Hunter Six and Lady, both of which are orphaned from the upcoming first volume of Faves of 2013) and, randomly, one from 2004 ("Satisfied Fool" by the awesome Nathaniel Mayer, which is included simply because I've been obsessing over it recently). Everything else is 2012 and deserving of ears and money.

And a note of thanks to Mr. Rick Laferriere, who turned me on to a whole swack of great stuff (most notably the band Games and, specifically to this mix, Chains of Love and the Deer Tick track).

Chow down.

I Could Open Up A Bakery

1. Lady Tell The Truth
2. Mark Crozer & the Rels Put Those 80s Records On
3. Chains of Love In Between
4. Low Cut Connie Boozophilia
5. Beth Hart Swing My Thing Back Around
6. Sean Hayes Bam Bam
7. Electric Guest The Bait
8. Kelly Hogan Pass On By
9. Miss Li You Could Have It (So Much Better Without Me)
10. Amy Stroup & Trent Dabbs I Think I Said Too Much
11. Successful Failures Mickey Mantle's Knees
12. Alexandra Starlight Without My Sunshine
13. James Hunter Six Look Out
14. Eli Paperboy Reed w/ the Pepperpots There Ain't No Man That Can't Be Caught
15. Deer Tick Born at Zero
16. Nathaniel Mayer Satisfied Fool
17. Night Moves Colored Emotions
18. Two Wounded Birds I'm No Saviour
19. The Jazz Butcher Shame About You
20. The Heavy Curse Me Good