A quick set for you to listen to – let me know what you think! You can click the below link to listen to this playlist or check the embeds below:
https://bandcamp.com/jackmesenbourg/playlist/11292025
5 To Spin for 11.29.2025
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Author Archives: Jack Mesenbourg
Release Alert! Bicycle Inn – Long in the Tooth
Back in September I had the opportunity to preview the single “Longsword (4th Place)” off of this new album. I enjoyed that track especially the harder guitar riffs and some of the subtleties of the melody. This full set just dropped on November 21st and is a really solid collection of edgier-than-usual emo music.
Right from go the lead-off song “In the End, It’s Just Starting Again” brings much energy from a cycling, buzzing guitar riff and a prominent but simple drum line. That track also features a really nice down-tempo moment right around the 00:40 mark before rising into some anguished vocals. Other stand-outs on this for me were “Ordinary Hell” (cool drum / bass interplay) and “I’d Bet My Life On It”” (nice, subtle guitar melody and a bit of a sonic buzz groove).
You can stream it in all of your usual places and if you have the inclination please think about purchasing it as streaming music does not pay well even times a thousand.
Song Review- Double Tiger- “Love Garden”
This single just dropped courtesy of Easy Star Records and was definitely one I wanted to check out right away. Double Tiger (who is AKA Jay Spaker) had a long run with seminal American reggae band John’s Brown’s Body, adding his guitar and vocal skills to their sound. That group, which was started out in Ithaca, New York back in the mid-90’s, has some great albums you can check out if you have any interest in listening to their music. A good starting point is All Time which was their 1996 debut but it is hard to find. I was fortunate enough to have someone play a CD copy for me back in 2005 which I believe was some kind of a re-release of the original. For an easier to find suggestion check out This Day from 2000.
This new song from Double Tiger is a very melodic reggae style tune with some great horns adding warm textures right after a short rhythmic lead-in. It carries a slow, groovy tempo throughout the track and has a great bass sound that provides a nice counterpoint to the drums. Also featuring a mellow vocal line that still delivers poignant lyrics this single is a good listen and worth a spin when you are ready to indulge in some peaceful contemplation about keeping life a little more simple.
The video for this can be checked out here:
And if you have the inclination …think about purchasing it if you can as steaming music does not pay well even times a thousand.
Please remember to support your locals – community is powerful!
Release Alert! Six Going On Seven – “Jack Jones” from the upcoming album Human Tears
Well, twenty-four years between albums is admittedly a long time but I was pretty interested when I received the press release from Earshot Media. I was not aware of this band back in the late 90’s and early 00’s when they were actively putting out three albums in five years. Instead I had run across them during one of those Apple Music rabbit holes where you start clicking on “Similar Artists” (I think back then it was “you might also like…” or “other artists like…”?) and eventually cross paths with some interesting bands. I believe that particular chase had started with Samian but however it started, I ended up on Self-Made Mess (1997) from Six Going on Seven. The music on that album was unique in its sparse lyrics and the arrangements woven around those words. “Flu Season” and “Getaway Car” are two stand-out tracks on that release. They had a couple more after that with Heartbreak’s Got Backbeat and American’t (Or Won’t) before they dropped off the scene. Josh English (vocals, bass) released some solo work after that (“Great like Ghosts” is a favorite of mine) and I am unfortunately not aware of what James Bransford (guitar) and Will Bartlett (drums) have been up to in the interim.
The new album is set to come out January 9, 2026 via Spartan Records and this single is the first one available to check out their current sound. It opens up soft and slow and sets a kind of wistful tone that is joined by a little piano before filling out to a more full sound a little after the one minute mark. The song from that point on is defined by a fairly linear drum track which sets an excellent framework for the music. It is enhanced by bass guitar that adds sonic texture and guitar that jumps through at some moments like a lonely scream. The vocals are clear and assertive, delivering lyrics that have a definite story to tell. This track, which shows the band is back and already going strong, is a good listen and hopefully a sign of a lot of good things to come on that album.
You can check out the video for this one here on YouTube:
You can pre-save the album (and yes, this does help:) here:
And get a pre-order in for the vinyl here:
Let me know what you think!
Song Review- Mylo Bybee – “Time Machine” from the upcoming EP Revisions
So, this is a new band to me and I do appreciate that Mike Cubillos at Earshot Media included me in a chance to give this a listen. I later went back to check out some of their previous releases and found some good music there also. I especially liked “Down Not Out” (from their 2021 self-tiled EP) and “Run, Run” (2023’s Master & Machine).
This new single opens on a very cool sonic vocal that seems to breathe big and evoke open spaces. You get about 20 seconds of that great vibe, accompanied very lightly by a spare guitar strum, and then it jumps right into a fast paced, drum-fueled sprint full of spirit and emotion. The track then ends on a long run out that is an interesting combination of falling in on itself and rushing out toward the horizon. This is a really good song in the alternative rock genre and I have high hopes for the rest of what might be on that upcoming EP which will be released on Gold Ship Records.
Musicians on this are: Tyler Schlagenhauf (vocals, guitar), Tim Fahlen (guitar), Tony Caruso (bass) and Jason Guadalupe (drums).
They have a video out for this also (with a slightly disconcerting deer’s head included…I felt like it was watching me the whole time…) and you can check it here:
You can also review some of their older music, including what I referenced above here:
https://mylobybee.bandcamp.com/
And if you have the inclination …think about purchasing some tracks if you can as steaming music does not pay well even times a thousand.
Help build a strong and powerful community around you 🙂
Song Review- The Chains- “Don’t Believe in Christmas”
Having just recently picked up a CD copy of a Sonics album, namely Boom (the version I purchased had been released in 1999 by Norton Records – originally it came out in 1966 on Etiquette Records), I thought it was pretty cool when Leigh Pierce from Grizz Media emailed me a heads up about this single from The Chains. The Sonics version of the song (written by their lead singer Gerry Roslie) appears on an album from 1965 simply titled Merry Christmas. That release features eleven holiday themed songs from The Wailers and The Galaxies in addition to four from the Sonics.
Just like that Sonics version, this track from The Chains is short (1:53) and it adds a bopping-along groove with a cool reggae vibe layered in for good effect. Going along with that is an absolutely great bass line that really sets the rhythm and keep this song moving along nicely. This single is a solid start to a new holiday playlist for anyone (especially if you have a bit of a sense of humor!).
Musicians on this are: Kevin Leo (lead guitar), Jakob Palitzsch (organ), David Peter (bass), Lasse Elmer (rhythm guitar), Pato Siebenhaar (vocals), Bjørn Hardenberg (drums).
Once you get a chance to give this one a listen …think about purchasing it if you can as steaming music does not pay well even times a thousand.
And support your locals – community is powerful!
Song Review- Red Clay Revival – “Devil’s Gonna Get Ya”
Erin at Dreamspider Publicity was kind enough to loop me in on a preview of this single and I initially thought that Red Clay Revival was a totally new band to me. Something though was tickling the back of my memory as the name sounded vaguely familiar (…and not as a reference to Red Clay Strays although that is another group you could check out when you have a minute) so I dug around my collection. It turns out that I did have a prior track that featured this band. They had appeared on an interesting EP from Josh Phillips back in 2023 called Starts to Rain. Basically the premise of that project was Phillips taking a single from an upcoming full album (’Til We All Move Forward) and including some re-mixes / interpretations of that song by various other musicians and groups. It was a different approach, kind of a “covers album before release” situation that caught my attention at the time. Red Clay Revival’s “campfire mix” was my personal fav interpretation of the song.
This track has a kind of soul / southern rock feel and combines some great guitar sounds with piano, organ, drums and also a bit of banjo providing melody in the background. Their singer Doug McElvy Jr brings strong and clear vocals to the song along with his work on synthesizer and rhythm guitar. Check out a couple cool solos along the way and you have a solid listening journey that will leave you feeling a little soulful.
Musicians on this (other than McElvy) are: Jacob Baumann (drums), Drew Matulich (electric guitar), Daniel Iannucci (bass guitar), Simon George (piano, organ), Shaun Nicklin (banjo) and Billy Cardine (steel guitar)
You can check out the video here:
It is of course available at your favorite listening channels also – and maybe think about purchasing this song after you listen – streaming music does not pay much even times a thousand…
Remember to be a good neighbor 🙂
Let me know you think!
Release Alert! Katie Knipp – Dance Me
I am always a fan of artists who take a chance and step out of their usual style or genre to give some other sounds a try. Knipp has long been a great talent (mostly in the blues / rock space) going all the way back to her first album Midnight Mind. She has displayed other chops along the way (speaking of that first album check out “Someonewherelse” which is a piano driven number and a fav of mine). Some other highlights from the past to check out include “Santa Cruz Blues” (off Take It With You), “The Gospel of Good Intentions” (The Well and also a great performance on Live at the Green Room Social Club) and “Outlaw Doc” (Me). One of the things I appreciate the most (other than the great band she always has with her) is her ability to write piercing lyrics that kind of sneak up on you sometimes…you can just be listening along and she will turn a phrase or a sharp line on you unexpectedly. So, all of that being said, when I started seeing her release some “re-mixes” as singles I had a “what the heck is this all about moment?” Not to worry though as Dance Me, which she proudly proclaims as “my first ever electronica record!” is an interesting and worthy addition to her catalog.
This new album, featuring re-mixes of eight of the ten songs off of 2024’s Me, hits a range of grooves in that electronica space. These include a club-bopping version of “Vampire”, the slow and slightly breathless funk of “Go” and a dreamy and stark reggae influenced take on “Stillness.” You can definitely dance to these but they are also pretty cool to listen to just sitting around and pondering the world.
If you check these songs or the album out…please think about purchasing as streaming does not pay well even times a thousand.
You can check out more music and info at either link below:
https://katieknipp.bandcamp.com/music
And please remember to support all of your locals…that community out there is a pretty cool place 🙂
Release Alert! The Chesterfield Kings – Loose Ends: 1989 – 2004 Rare, B-sides & Unreleased
I wanted to get a quick post out about this very cool news – Wicked Cool Records just released this ten track set on October 31st and it is worth picking up right away. I had the good fortune to be able to preview the music and was impressed not only by the songs themselves but also by the production quality. This album sounds great – loud, clear and just as boisterous as anything else the Chesterfield Kings ever put out. My personal favs are “Pictures of Matchstick Men” (a bit on the psychedelic side) and “Rosalyn” (just a killer rock n’ roll tune) but there is a lot to like here.
If you are new to this band you might have to work a little harder than usual to get a full feel for their sound as it goes all the way back to 1982’s Here Are The Chesterfield Kings (if you ever see this on vinyl…please get hold of me!) and spans 11 albums and a wide collection of singles and EP’s. There have also been a good number of musicians in and out of the group over that time period but the music has stayed consistently good and accessible. If you want a quick tour through the years I would suggest that first album (if you can find it), Drunk On Muddy Water (with a pretty cool version of Robert Johnson’s “I Got Ramblin”), 2007’s Psychedelic Sunrise and their most recent album, We’re Still All The Same.
Once you check it on your usual places and see what you think!
Album Review- Seahaven- Winter Forever
Yes, yes, I know…this is an album from quite a long time ago…15 years to be exact. I had not listened to it for a good stretch of time either when the press release from Earshot Media hit my inbox announcing that Seahaven was headed out on a special tour. This short run (which will span eleven dates in January and February 2026) will feature them playing the album in full. Considering that Winter Forever contains a really great collection of emo / pop-punk songs this sets up to an event worth attending.
Back in the day (2011) when I first heard the album I was struck by a few things:
- The unique voice of Kyle Soto (who also plays guitar) which adds a layer of texture to every song; kind of a heartfelt, ironic, slightly cheeky overlay that will stick with you.
- Interesting and varied arrangements; these range from the change-of pace groove of “Goodnight” to the hammering choppiness of “Thank You” and on to the simple, stripped down “Honeybee.” There is a lot of musical talent going on within these tracks.
- Very cool guitar sounds – I have always liked the tone on this album – a simple thing but notable to me.
Musicians on this (other than Soto) are: Cody Christian (guitar), Mike DeBartolo (bass, piano) and Eric Findlay (drums).
Check it out on your favorite streaming channel and let me know your thoughts about it – music makes for good conversation 🙂
And if you have the inclination …think about purchasing it if you can as steaming music does not pay well even times a thousand.
There is also a pretty cool acoustic EP on Bandcamp that is worth checking out (including a version of “Goodnight “ which is also on Winter Forever) – link below:
https://seahaven.bandcamp.com/album/acoustic-sessions
And support your locals – community is powerful!
jack mesenbourg 