Rop Bop Radio Episode 2 Part 2

If you missed my last post You might want to go check it out. This is the second part of a two part post. Or don't, you'll just miss out on the blurbs about the artists that took a long time to research and all of the hard work I did to type it up, and code it properly. It's really none of my business.

Last post I mentioned that you should give Julien Baker's cover of Modern Leper by the band Frightened Rabbit a listen. If you recall, I mentioned the track was from a Frightened Rabbit tribute album, and as odd as it seems there are actually two covers of the same song on the album. While Julien's cover was the soft and raw sound she is known for, this version is the complete opposite. It builds to this amazing loud and crashing crescendo, that really reflects the emotion of the original. Any fan of Blue October, Arcane Roots or Twin Atlantic, you'll really like these guys. straight up emotional rock with slight dark overtones. If you like what you hear you might want to keep an eye out as Biffy Clyro has a new album titled A Celebration Of Endings coming out in May, and be sure to give Frightened Rabbit a listen as well.

Biffy Clyro - The Modren Leper




Lake Street Drive hails from Boston, MA and tends to weave in and out of genres pretty flawlessly. The band started as a country band, but changed direction early on and with the help of a submitted jazz song to the John Lennon Songwriting Contest the band started their legacy. The song I chose is a modern style throwback mix of big band sound and southern rock and 60's vocal harmonies. It's one of the thightest sounding bands I have ever heard. you can tell that every musician here is an expert in their craft. The singer has a wide vocal range and knows how to set the bar on fire with a ferocious animal instinct like delivery. You might want to down a shot or two to this one.

Lake Street Drive - You Go Down Smooth




I am pretty sure I have talked about Bill Callahan before, but I just love how he can capture that laid back vibe and yet make songs that range from dark and scary to downright happy. He's got a unique style that's for sure. This is one of those songs I listen to when I am going through a tough time and I need to be reminded that I must preserver. It has a nervous rhythm and creeping strings that swell anxiously until it comes to a head with a calming refrain before returning to the eerie desolate nervousness. If you like this make sure you explore his gigantic discography including the band Smog.

Bill Callahan - Drover




I have written about Hop Along recently, and you don't really need to know anything other than they are amazing, so I am going to write something random. I hope in the future I get to see actual smart robots that can interact with you on human level. You know like the computer from Star Trek, or C3PO from Star Wars. I'd also like to have K.I.T. from night rider. Of course I'd worry about them taking over, so I'd be super nice to them. I wonder it that would be as cool as I think it is? Do I just want a friend?.... I think I need to hold a puppy.

Hop Along - Prior Things




Not a lot of people are familiar with Judy or Tommy, they were pretty obscure artists from the 1970's who dabbled in the psych/folf rock scene. Tommy Came from a more jazz oriented background and played the horn, but due to an injury he was no longer able to play. Rather than moving on from music he hosted recording sessions with fellow musicians at his house and sang on the tracks. It should be noted that singing was not really his thing, but the stuff he recorded is amazing. Judy was in the folk scene and released a few albums herself, but led a very troubled life and sadly passed away from a drug overdose. This song was dug up and re-released on Light In The Attic Records and the music while really shining in a lot of places is also disjointed and bizarre in others. It's one of those perfectly flawed albums in my opinion. The song in particular show cases that strange magic and features both Peltier and Sill's outstanding vocals, backed by a spacy twangy and twinkling guitar. This is a must listen if you like your 70's soft rock a bit on the weird side.

Tommy Peltier with Judy Sill - Time After Time




I'm not a big fan of modern country music. I grew up on late 80's and early 90's country and then it got to poppy for my taste. However, there has been a small but rising indie country scene that is bringing country back to it's classic roots. Artists like Colter Wall, Sturgil Simpson, and Jason Isbell are circling back to a time when country was a bit more reckless and twangy. Kentucky native Tyler Childres, is a prime example, with his bluegrass influenced mountain music sound. It's a breath of fresh air and I surprisingly inviting to even those who dislike traditional country music. It's become one of my recent favorite songs and it usually gets at least one repeat. Tyler was scheduled to be on tour with Sturgil Simpson, but due to Covid-19 the shows have been canceled. I want to help get his name out there a bit and show him some love. I think this is one I need to have on vinyl.

Tyler Childers - Feathered Indians




To close things out, we end with this feel good breezy pop number by Trove Stryke. Just a word of warning, if you go looking for more music by her, know that she is very comfortable with her sexuality, so here is your "not safe for work" warning. This video is pretty tame though, so no worries.

Tove Stryke - Sway




Well there you have it folks, Rop Bop Radio Episode 2! It was a lot of fun to put this together and I hope you find some new favorites. Make sure to support these artists, and if you can buy local. Oh what's that? I promised you a spotify playlist?! in the words of Michelle Tanner "You got it. dude!"


Here is the link to the playlist.

As always make sure to support these artists, and if you can shop local.

Hawkin' The Pandemic

There are so many songs from this band that I wanted to pick and I will admit that this song is not their best. The reason I picked this song is because I think it's important to have songs that you can relate to, and right now it's important to have songs that you can vent out all your frustrations too. This song is about being down in the bottom of the barrel. Broke, lost, tired, etc. The punk hip hop beat is masterfully crafted by non other than Travis Barker (Blink-182) with Rob Aston telling it like it is. The song is further accentuated with the boozy sluured vocals of Tim Armstrong (Rancid) and groaning backing vocals of Brodie Dalle (The Distillers). Despite it's down trodden theme, the song is still very breezy and light in a way. In the end, the lyrics come back to that punk attitude of staying strong and holding on as long as you can. This ain't a happy one, but it's better than some depressing old sad bastard song.

The Transplants - Weigh On My Mind




I don't write about much jazz music here as it's never really been my deal, but as of the last year and a half I have been dipping my toe into the jazz world and have found a lot of stuff I really like, along with a lot I don't like (sorry Coltrane I respect you, but I don't get it.) One of my favorite suggestion I have received is the album Chet Baker Sings. While it's not anything wild, in fact it's pretty similar to a lot of the crooner artists like Frank Sinatra or Michael Buble, but in my opinion, way better. If your not familiar with Bakers work he is a jazz trumpet player and singer from Oklahoma who rose through the ranks in the early 50's. His delicate style both vocal and instrumental earned him a place in the "cool" jazz category. Towards the late 50's his career fizzled out due to drug problems and those problems followed him throughout the 60's. He made a slight comeback in the 70's and 80's but years of addiction had take their toll on his voice, however critics do say that his most notable years of playing were between the late 70's and 80's. He passed away in 1988 in Amsterdam after falling from a hotel window. This is a very different from the indie stuff I put up, but it's a real treat. On a side note, if you're a romance doofus and reading this, this is the one to to play when you want to get intimate. *wink wink nudge nudge*

Chet Baker - Always You




I have been in the house for almost 2 weeks now due to the Covid-19 lock down in my state. I have never been an extrovert so the time inside is pretty normal for me and I have plenty to do. However, I have found myself tiring of binging TV shows and movies and now I am trying to find some interesting documentaries to dive into, especially anything about music. If you watch any music documentary during your quarantine, let it be this one. The Wrecking Crew is the story of historic legendary L.A. session musicians who have played on numerous top hits throughout the 60's and 70's yet were never really noticed by people outside of the studio. I can almost guarantee you have heard at least a song or two they played on. The list is mind blowing. While randomly browsing YouTube looking for a song to write about I saw that YouTube has the movie up for free. You'd be a fool to pass on it if you are even slightly into music history. It's really well made, unlike a lot of music docs out there with plenty of interviews and fun moments. It's even rated PG so it's something you can watch with the kids. Educational and entertaining....B-B-B-BONUS!





Speaking of being stuck inside and boredom I want to share with you readers the story of my mohawk. I was reading the news yesterday and I am sure like many, I ran my fingers through my hair out of frustration (I am surprised I am not bald at this point). Since I had yet to take a shower my hair just stayed up and didn't go back down. It was only until I passed by the mirror that I noticed it was pretty damn long and in need of a trim. I usually just go the buzz cut look in the summer and I have a clippers so I can do it myself. It's not that hard to do on your own. I realized that in all my 40 years on this planet I have never rocked a mohawk. Not even when I was at the height of my my punk rock phase in my late teens. I figured I'm not going to see anyone for a while in person, it's getting warmer, and if I continue to let it grow by the time I come out of quarantine I might look like Cousin It. If somehow I have to go back to work and be a professional, I can just shave the rest. So I put on some punk rock for inspiration and went to work.

I don't think it turned out too bad.

It's not the cleanest looking in the back, but for my first try and doing all the work myself, I think I did well. I really like the way it looks and might actually try to get it done professionally when things get back to some semblance of normal. My buddy said he was thinking of mohawking it as well and he suggested starting a mohawk covid-19 challenge. If you get "hawked" you either shave your head down to a mohawk or make a donation to a charity that needs help during the pandemic. I have no idea how to make things go viral, but I love this idea and maybe there is someone smarter than me who can do so. Look at it this way, a lot of people are going to be cutting their or someone else's hair anyway and there will probably be a lot those that go awry. So if it happens don't have a bad hair day about it! Make he best of it and have some fun. We all need to have a few laughs these days and why not help others while we are doing it. Throw on some punk rock and get to hawkin'!

MXPX - Bad Hair Day



Since most of this post is going to be pandemic adjacent, and we had a song that helped us vent our frustrations, I feel we need the music equivalent of hand sanitizer. We need to wash away that frustration and be reminded that we are a lot stronger than we think we are and are capable of overcoming tough situations. This song is a prime example of that. It's about reaching deep finding bravery, determination and fortitude. It's about staying in motion, even if it's the smallest step, when in everything is against you. That is your inner ninja. Hell, you might as well try to act like a ninja, we already look like one wearing our masks. We can all be ninjas together.

Classified - Inner Ninja (Feat. David Myles)



He lights the days last cigarette as the music faintly flows the the screen door and onto the porch like a refreshing breeze. It's dark and the tiny white bulb above his head casts a silver glow on the trees in the back yard. The night air is cooling and fresh compared to the temperature in cramped house he was in earlier. There may have been too many people for his taste, but all in all it was worth it. There would be quite a bit of clean up, but that would be for his sober self in the morning to deal with. The fun exciting energy that filled the house just an hour ago has finally trailed off. The day is ending, faculties are out of place, and in this moment he is happy and free. Now all that is left to hear is the soft rustle of swaying leaves, crickets and a familiar back beat. As he reaches down to grasp his nearly drained beverage, his hand is wet with condensation. He pays no mind as when he tilts the bottle to his lips and the beads drip onto his leg. They feel good on his skin and he has no intention of wiping them away. Just a little signal that in this moment he is alive and electric. He empties the remainder of the bottle and lets out an audible refreshing "Ahh" and clumsily walks back inside. As he makes his rounds shutting things down before climbing the stairs to his bed, he can't help but chuckle and think to himself, "This will be a night to remember."

G3RSt - Stand By Last Friday Night (Katy Perry vs. Ben E. King)