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So much great music, only two ears! Holy conundrum! I do remember enjoying Roosevelt on your first post about him, so look forward to playing the songs you link to here when I’m not bombarded by rushing waters and chasing pups! I did notice the connection of reading about our German friend Roosevelt on this particular day, that of U.S. Independence Day, thus reminding me of our global connectedness more so than the more nationalistic messaging this holiday tends to promote.

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I'm happy you're enjoying Roosevelt, too! I'm happy to find a current artist worth following! They're few and far between, and finding a Roosevelt, an SG Lewis, and The Midnight helps give me some relevance (I'd like to think) with the kids these days!

BTW, 'twas virtually a year ago to the day (7/6/22) that I published this about The Midnight, and I don't know if you were on board quite yet. I checked the comments, and you weren't there. If you missed it, here it is: https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/audio-autopsy-2022-the-midnight-and

I sensed you weren't busy, and had some free time on your hands!😁Rushing pups and chasing waters, oh my!😱

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This is fantastic, both Luna and Ordinary Love as well as their 2021 album which I’m listening to now. Thanks for the intro!

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More than my pleasure, Mark! I'm just so delighted I can find a "current artist" who is barely tolerable.....and make no mistake, Roosevelt is coming close to entering my personal GOAT territory! Do make sure you check out that 4-song YT vid, MY very first intro to them....plus, he and his band are fun to watch play live!

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Thanks for directing me to the earlier post, which I hadn’t checked out yet. I just went and watched that KEXP (love them!) performance and it was fantastic!

Do you not enjoy many current artists? I saw you mention The Midnight I’m the linked post - I thoroughly enjoyed their 2021 EP Horror Show.

Without knowing much about your taste in music (only been subscribed for less than a month), I thought you may possibly be interested in one or more of these artists (based on this post about Roosevelt), all released in the last few years:

Tempers - New Meaning (2022)

Haerts - Dream Nation (2021)

Nation of Language - Introduction, Presence (2020)

Moaning - Uneasy Laughter (2020)

SPECTRES - Nostalgia (2019)

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My tastes in music? I'm the only person on the planet who's seen both Judy Garland (https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/the-houston-astrodome-as-family-member) and The Sex Pistols (https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/sid-johnny-and-me-live-and-up-close) in concert in the same lifetime!

I have bought, listened to, and enjoyed, music from Sinatra to the Ramones, and from Streisand to SG Lewis (https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/audiolust-and-higherlove-the-new). You're right, The Midnight (at least one song) I really enjoyed. Generally speaking, current music relies too heavily on monotonous synths and negligible melodies, relentless disco beats, and no originality.

The artists we've mentioned, though (and that I've written about) all have one thing in common: classic pop songwriting skills. Witness Nile Rodgers loving, himself, Roosevelt, Daft Punk, and SG Lewis, all because he sees what I've seen in them....care taken in crafting a song, however retro-disco (like his Chic canon) they may be!

And, the endlessly charming, interesting, and talented Billy Strings, 30! https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/audio-autopsy-21st-century-bluegrass

They're few and far between, Mark, but if they've got talent, they'll usually find themselves FRONT ROW & BACKSTAGE........like you! Thanks for your input, and I'll check out your suggestions!

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Wow! Your musical sensibilities are about as broad as they come. I’ve enjoyed SG Lewis’ latest and it may end up on my top 50 list this year. It’s a great listen.

There was a time in my life where “pop” music was a dirty word. Now I’m older (wiser?) I don’t really care what people think about what I listen to. I listen to stuff I enjoy and that includes enjoying good pop music along the way. My favorite song of all time remains “God Only Knows” which is certainly a classic pop/rock song.

For me, most of what passes as “pop” music today (in the sense of “popular”) is recycled, overly processed, unoriginal drek. God that makes me sound old (“you kids get off my lawn!”). Having said that, there’s still an awful lot of amazing new music out there, for which I’m truly grateful.

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Jul 2, 2023·edited Jul 2, 2023Author

Brian Wilson is my spirit animal. BTW, if you haven't read about Brian's friend (and astounding talent in his own right), Tandyn Almer, that's here: https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/toytown-psychedelia-songwriter-tandyn

Thanks so much for subscribing, Mark! Great to have you past the velvet rope line, FRONT ROW & BACKSTAGE!

I appreciate your generosity and support! I know you're gonna dig our upcoming "Summer Hot-Some Are Chill" Paid-Only posts! I'll get started on one of them this week! BTW, if you'd like to put together a guest post on your music-listening history (or anything musical about you), let me know! I'd be happy to hear and host your story! And thanks again!

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I’ve never heard about Tandyn Almer, I’ll definitely check that out thanks!

Glad to be here as a subscriber, supporting yours and others’ writing on music. I enjoy learning and I absolutely love music, both old and new. I really feel like I’ve discovered an amazing community of likeminded individuals here and have already learned so much in the few weeks I’ve been here. Perfect example: I’d never even heard of The Raspberries until last week!

Thanks for the offer of a guest post - I’ll definitely give it some thought!

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I am a HUGE disco lover and boy did The Wolfman bring back wonderful memories. It reminded me of Saturdays watching American Bandstand followed by Soul Train! 😊 Oh to be young again...glad I'm still so young at heart!

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We're glad, too, Ellen! Yes, Saturdays (alone, a brilliant programming ploy!) with the Train following Bandstand was terrific programming, and likely did a lot for the cross-over success for both pop/white/Top 40 acts on one, and the urban/soul/R&B/mostly-Black artists on the other! I know I watched "Soul Train" just so I could see and hear music I might've been missing, especially if they hadn't broken thru to Top 40 yet!

BTW, in case you missed it, Stephen Michael Schwartz and da Wolfman both saw the same Elvis show in August '74 at the Vegas Hilton, and both rode the elevator up to The King's penthouse suite, after! Here, in his own words, is Stephen's story: https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/schwartz-stories-1-viva-hilton-stephen

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I am loving Luna!! So catchy! A great lift that I needed this morning. Thanks, Brad.

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My pleasure, Ellen! Thanks for chiming in.....as you know, FR&B has a rather decided Roosevelt jones (whoever HE is!!), and, frankly, I'm happy to have found a current artist who has gotten my full attention! It'd be so easy to just wave away "those kids today and their wacky music," but acts like Roosevelt and SG Lewis give me hope (and some catchy tunes)!

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Jun 30, 2023Liked by Brad Kyle

I ran across Roosevelt a few year's ago on Pandora. Nice to see he's teamed up with Nile Roger's, who also helped propel Daft Punk (more Germans) into the top 40 arena. Will have to check this one out. Thanks for the post!

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The Daft Punk/Rodgers connection we covered, at length, as well, Jonathan! Enjoy! https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/the-multi-generational-genius-of

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