Back it up back it up back it up back it up...

 

It's Friday. And, forgive me, that means it's also Fri-YAY! And whilst things may seem dark right now—I mean, it is the start of winter and the skies have been largely grey and gloomy—I think Neal Francis may just have the antidote to any blahs (or arghs) you're feeling today.

"Back It Up" is a slinky funk stroll that seems perfectly suited for a good ol' fashioned summer strut, hence it's lovely jam to help melt your woes. For at least the next four-and-a-half minutes or so.

Let's just try ... writing?

Some days I'm just going to have to sit here and type until something comes to me. I have felt the growing urge to return to daily posting, but often feel like there is such a logjam of thoughts in my brain I often have no clue where to start! So today, let's just—HEY! I got it. News! NEWS!

News advice.

On election night I watched television news for the first time in eons, and was shocked at how ... terrible it is. And it was then that I realized that while I take in my news primarily in written form from a variety of sources, most folks get their news from network TV, 24-hour TV news, or long-talk format podcasts. And that is ... not great news for any of us.

Pull the plug and get out your reading glasses. And broaden your purview. It might not give you the most reassuring view of the world, but it will give you a far more accurate read of things. And you'll start to see the rhythms and repetitions and dissmeninate between turbulence and actual events.

My other word of advice is to not get pulled up into the current chaos most news outlets are currently obsessed with. In my humble opinion, we need to stop taking sides now since I predict by this time next year we will all be in the same boat, regardless of your political beliefs and affiliations. 

And we'll all need each other, then. 

What the UNT? Pinhead Gunpowder is back!

Photo via Pinhead Gunpowder's Instagram

Wow, I still remember when early Pinhead Gunpowder stuff was coming out, and how wild it felt to have the guy from Green Day in another punk band that sounded like an even punkier version of Green Day. So if you dig the catchy melodies, but don't like the production sheen of "Major Label Punk" then Pinhead Gunpowder definitely scratches that itch.

It seems the band released a new full-length album last month—their first full-length album since 1997—with little fanfare (that I saw) so I was pleasantly surprised to see the band was still active. 

Enjoy UNT, may it rile you up and send you into the weekend with a surplus of energy.

Get ready to sink your ears into excellent music from The DIFF!

Photo of The DIFF by me.

I've told you about The DIFF before. Repeatedly. And while they released their long-awaited "lost" album on vinyl last year ... it was only available via vinyl. Meaning only the dedicated few fans got a chance to delve into the disc.

Well, The DIFF finally released their debut Whats The DIFF to stream or buy in digital format, meaning you no longer have an excuse not to give into its bevy of power-pop new wave delights! 

I'll note you can still get the vinyl version of the album, complete with cool additions like a band patch and pin and a fanzine. If you dig the digital tunes, you will love the vinyl format for this one.