Tune in to 89.3 FM (89.3 WHFR.FM) in the Dearborn-Detroit area, use this special time machine link to stream it: https://whfr.fm/streamer/ or use Tune In Player to stream it.
Please share freely with your fans, friends, and families, but say something about yourself in the comments section when you repost it, so that everyone knows why you’re posting it!
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And please feel free to “like” the Phil Maq page! Thank you!
“All Your Favorite Bands” by Dawes (Philby Album Award Winner) https://philmaq.com/philbys/2016-philby-album-award-winners/ is another album that starts right off with a great hook and then continues to supply them all the way through the album!
This is Day 5 of my “New Rotations: Albums” list! These are albums that are still in my listening rotation beyond what I would consider to be a normal run on my music player. They are post influence forming, but are awesome nonetheless! They should have been deleted long ago to make room for other music, yet I like them so much, I break my own rules for this music.
“Things Happen” the leadoff track, tells you in its “cliche” title, that pretty much things don’t work out: life, relationships, albums…
Nothing feels right. Ever. Most of the characters in the song never find happiness. It seems like they either carry a torch for former lovers or keep waiting for the other shoe to fall.
The songs on the album features excellent understated drumming by Griffin Goldsmith, with beats and rhythms that keep the listener off balance.
The arrangements are expertly constructed. Take for example, “Don’t Send Me Away.” Harmonies vary throughout the song and just when you think the song has nowhere to go, in steps Taylor Goldsmith, (lead guitarist, lead vocalist), with a jarring solo that takes the song to an even higher level.
I should also mention the terrific keyboard play of Tray Strathairn and intricate bass play of Wylie Gelber!
There is an extended jam as the final track on “All Your Favorite Bands,” “Now That It’s Too Late, Maria.” A jam that features wonderful harmonies as the guitar solo builds!
Brilliant song after brilliant song: “Somewhere Along the Way,” “Don’t Send Me Away,” “To Be Completely Honest.”
Gillian Welch, Dave Rawlings, and super studio musician, Tim Bennett, guest on the album.
But there is still a foreboding, morose feel to the album summed up in the lyrics of the the title track, “All Your Favorite Bands.” The singer makes a bittersweet wish that’s impossible because, you know, “things happen,” but it’s a wonderful wish nontheless:
I hope your brother’s El Camino runs forever/
I hope the world sees the same person that you always were to me/
And may all your favorite bands stay together.
Hmm. An album that feels sad but sounds happy. Where have we heard that before? I know. Every Jackson Browne [Hall of Fame] album I’ve ever listened to! Oh, and what a surprise, Jackson made a guest appearance on one of Dawes early albums!
Over time, my listening habits have changed and at the moment I usually listen to albums completely through. I haven’t done that in years, but it’s actually very rewarding—particularly when the album is good. Every album that will be on this list will fit that category.
Songs from the albums on this list forms the basis of my countdown list for the “Top 9 at 9:09” segment of my “Prime Time Theme Attic Show,” (Mondays, 8P-10P ET) on alternating weeks, along with my “Phil’s Faves, Songs” lists!
They may also turn up on my “Theme Attic Show,” (Wednesdays, 10A-12N ET)
Here’s a link:
https://whfr.fm/streamer/
It’s another peak into my listening habits—which is a goal of mine. If you want to know where I’m heading or what I think about some new music, you will find it here.
I honestly don’t expect there to be much volatility on this list because these albums are what I have been basing many of the sets on my show.
Once again, there will be no boundaries. I will go wherever my musical muse takes me.
If you like what you see, don’t forget to spread the word by hitting the “like” button for my Facebook page, Phil Maq!
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Nina and The Buffalo Riders ride to the top!
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Top 10 Albums for the Week of April 29, 2018
1. For the Dirt—Nina and The Buffalo Riders
2. A World Unknown—Caleb Ford
3. The Gap of Dreams—Altan [Hall of Fame]
4. Weighted Mind—Sierra Hull
5. Extralife—Darlingside
6. Raven Hotel—Matt Harlan
7. Clear Blue Sky—Joe Overton
8. The Threshold and The Hearth—The Ragbirds
9. Play—The Scott Martin Band
10.The Deep Enders—Matt Jones and The Reconstruction
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“Revolutions” by The Liquid Scene is a special album.
This is Day 4 of my “New Rotations: Albums” list! These are albums that are still in my listening rotation beyond what I would consider to be a normal run on my music player. They are post influence forming, but are awesome nonetheless! They should have been deleted long ago to make room for other music, yet I like them so much, I break my own rules for this music.
It’s a combination of many of the things that I like about psychedelic and prog music.
There’s good melodies and harmonies.
There’s awkward and dramatic chord changes.
There’s sound effects.
There’s sitar!
“Which Side of Time Are You On?” has a harpsichord sounding solo that George Martin might have played for The Beatles ala “In My Life.”
“Love Was Here” could have fit on any prime era Yes album.
“Leave Me Here” is just peaceful and wonderful!
Endre Tarczy’s keyboard work is outstanding.
The Liquid Scene describes itself as “Yesterday’s sounds…today.”
“Revolutions” is serene!
“Revolutions” is mellow!
Yeah! It’s groovy music, man!
Check it out! Here’s “In My Water Room.” I love the statement when the video starts: “The revolution begins with music.” That’s heavy! :
Album five will arrive very soon…
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Check out my radio shows, “Theme Attic,” heard Wednesdays, 10A-12N ET, or “Prime Time Theme Attic,” heard Mondays, 8P-10P ET!
This is a weekly Top Ten list of what I consider to be the best songs that I listened to the previous week. Most songs will be current, but there are no boundaries. I’ve already stated on this web site that I am obsessed with music. I am constantly hunting it down whether it’s online, on CD, from my personal collection, from a library (Yes, I think the library is a great source of music–especially for music that you aren’t sure about.), TV, or radio. Since most of these sources mostly emphasize new music, the odds are pretty good that most of the songs on this list will be new. But in my search, I don’t use any boundaries for the other sources. I am just looking for good music that I haven’t heard, or happened to forget about. Everyone, including myself, has forgotten way more great music than they can ever remember-even if they are also music fanatics.
Also, there will be no rules concerning songs on this list. A song can show up or drop off a number of times. This will be the most volatile of my lists. It all depends on how much music I am exposed to during the week and what I find interesting. On really obscure stuff, I will try to include the source, if I know it.
Most of the songs heard on this list have been played on my radio shows, “Theme Attic,” heard Wednesdays, 10A-12N ET, or “Prime Time Theme Attic,” heard Mondays, 8P-10P ET!
This list forms the basis of my countdown list on the “Top 9 at 9:09” segment of my “Prime Time Theme Attic Show” on alternating weeks, along with my “Phil’s Faves, Albums” lists!
If you like what you see, don’t forget to spread the word by hitting the “like” button on my Facebook page, Phil Maq!
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Windborne notch a #1 song!
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Top Ten Songs for the Week of April 29, 2018
1. Bread and Roses—Windborne
2. When Love Is a Game—Linda McRae and Ray Bonneville
3. Twelve Songs—The Hangabouts
4. Brighter Side—Scott Fab
5. Flowerin’—Roger Clyne and The Peacemakers
6. Come Back to You—Royal Wood
7. Shake Your Money Maker—Caleb Ford
8. We Need Justice—Dan Hall
9. Don’t Stay With Me—The Claudettes
10.Carrie May, But I Refuse To—I Don’t Trust Robots
I can’t tell you how many times I hear from friends and listeners, “It’s too bad they don’t make music like they used to.”
This is Day 3 of my “New Rotations: Albums” list! These are albums that are still in my listening rotation beyond what I would consider to be a normal run on my music player. They are post influence forming, but are awesome nonetheless! They should have been deleted long ago to make room for other music, yet I like them so much, I break my own rules for this music.
Well, some bands actually still do.
One in particular is Vandenberg’s MoonKings. Everything is here just like it used to be back in the 70s, 80s, and 90s!
There’s searing guitar solos!
Power ballads that don’t make you cringe!
Classic rock riffs!
A big huge sound!
Every track is solid.
And it should be because lead guitarist Adrian Vandenberg used to be with Whitesnake when they were in their prime. He’s the dude playing the guitar solo on “Here I Go Again!” A medical situation kept him from taking the band higher.
But I don’t think about the old days. I think about right now:
If Classic Rock stations actually played new Classic Rock, everyone would know Vandenberg’s MoonKings!
This is a Philby Award winner!
Here’s a Philby Award winning Hot Song of 2017, “Lust and Lies”:
So much music for today’s “Theme Attic” with Phil Maq Wednesday morning from 10A-12 Noon EDT!!!
Two big events happen on Saturday: the Kentucky Derby and Cinco de Mayo!!! So as I do every year, I will play a lot of music loosely based on those themes.
Today is also Link Wray‘s birthday, so I will induct him into my “Theme Attic Hall of Fame!!!”
Tune in to 89.3 FM (89.3 WHFR.FM) in the Dearborn-Detroit area, use this special Kentucky/Cinco link to stream it: https://whfr.fm/streamer/ or use Tune In Player to stream it.
Please share freely with your fans, friends, and families, but say something about yourself in the comments section when you repost it, so that everyone knows why you’re posting it!
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And please feel free to “like” the Phil Maq page! Thank you!
So what can I say about Phil Lee’s “So Long, It’s Been Good to Know You” album that would make any sense?
This is Day 2 of my “New Rotations: Albums” list! These are albums that are still in my listening rotation beyond what I would consider to be a normal run on my music player. They are post influence forming, but are awesome nonetheless! They should have been deleted long ago to make room for other music, yet I like them so much, I break my own rules for this music.
The album is all over the place. I guess it’s Americana by genre. I hate that it would fall into a generic category because it’s so much more than that.
It’s twang-meets pop-meets country-meets singer/songwriter-meets Celtic-meets minstrel and damn near anything else you can think of.
This was before Phil’s “Mighty King of Love” years. (Although I think he probably always had that nickname—except when he was a young’un.)
All of the songs are polished, but the observations can be raw.
Several of them can make me cry.
“25 Mexicans” is a subtle song about immigration issues because they’re all living in his childhood home.
“Sonny George” deals with an accident where eleven children are killed in a truck accident.
Now these aren’t Red Sovine weepers. They are honest renderings about real life situations.
Some can make me laugh!
There’s plenty of “love songs.” Of course, they’re done Phil Lee style.
“Killin’ Time” is about an affair that his “lover” is having with someone else, and he hopes that when they’re mattress dancing, she’s not getting enjoyment out of it and is actually thinking of something else. The character appears to be having trouble with reality. But it makes me chuckle to myself.
In “Lovers Everywhere,” Phil sees happy lovers in public places and wishes he “could slap their face” because his character can’t seem to find any. Once again, another chuckle.
But the all out gut buster is “Where a Rat’s Lips Have Touched.” The song deals with his lover’s infidelity with allowing someone else into their bedroom for “one kiss too much—ch!” The overemphasis on exaggerating the pronunciation is funny in itself.
The pseudo—seriousness of the choir of background singers is hilarious! It’s like Benny Hill or Monty Python lives again!
Throughout the album—which sounds like it must have been a blast to make, Mr. Lee takes his craft seriously. The songs are well put together. Arrangements are sharp!
“I Hope Love Always Knows You” was used on a movie soundtrack!
“So Long, It’s Been Good to Know You” is an album that can make you both laugh and cry while you sing along!
How many of those can you think of?
This is another leftover pleasure of an album that stays in my rotation.
Or ya might call it “sloppy seconds.” Or thirds even!
Phil would understand!
But give him a “Neon Tombstone” when he goes. He’s earned it!
I’m not sure when the third album will post, but stay engaged…
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If you like what you see, don’t forget to spread the word by hitting the “like” button for my Facebook page, Phil Maq!
We’re closing in on May which means that it’s time for the annual May Day show on “Prime Time Theme Attic” with Phil Maq on Monday night from 8PM-10PM EDT!!!
There is a large amount of music that deals with the downtrodden and manual workers of the world, so I look at it as a time to play a few protest type songs. It won’t be all righteous labor songs, though.
There will be the “Top 9 at 9:09” of Phil’s Faves Albums for the week, as well as artist shows coming up!
Tune in to 89.3 FM (89.3 WHFR.FM) in the Dearborn-Detroit area, stream it with our new improved stream: https://whfr.fm/streamer/ or use Tune In Player to stream it.
Please share freely with your fans, friends, and families, but say something about yourself in the comments section when you repost it, so that everyone knows why you’re posting it!
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And please feel free to “like” the Phil Maq page! Thank you!
“Brill Bruisers” by The New Pornographers explodes in your ears with the title track!
It’s a shimmering adventure of infectious melodies, pop hooks, and multilayered harmonies!
I love it!
Neko Case has never sounded better to me! I don’t even find the synthesized background vocals (“Backstairs,” “Wide Eyes”) annoying—which I normally do.
This is Day 1 of my “New Rotations: Albums” list! These are albums that are still in my listening rotation beyond what I would consider to be a normal run on my music player. They are post influence forming, but are awesome nonetheless! They should have been deleted long ago to make room for other music, yet I like them so much, I break my own rules for this music.
And the songs keep coming at you! “Champions of Red Wine!” “Backstairs!” “Marching Orders!”
When this album comes up on my player, I crank it up!
“Brill Bruisers” didn’t make any Philby list because I ran across it much later than other albums from that time and kinda forgot about it. I had problems with some of my former music players and it was accidentally lost. Since I have “found it,” I crank it up every time it comes on!
Of course, I can pretty much say that about any album on this list. Isn’t that what it’s for?
Stay tuned for the second album…
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If you like what you see, don’t forget to spread the word by hitting the “like” button for my Facebook page, Phil Maq!
