Jessica Pratt: "Back, Baby"

Ironically, the first song I pick to post in a long time is "Back, Baby" from a long time favorite Jessica Pratt. The mysterious songwriter with the Stevie Nicks "Landslide" delivery and early Marianne Faithful rasp-on-command, delivers a beautiful new track in "Back, Baby" - the lead track from her upcoming new album and Drag City debut, On Your Own Love Again due Jan 27. Welcome back to Jessica Pratt, and to me, baby.

Sophia Knapp: "Close to Me"

[mp3] Sophia Knapp: "Close to Me" 

I'm pretty sure I'm not listening to enough new disco stuff. I dabbled in the fleeting joy that was Music Go Music. God, that was a slick band. Not sure whatever happened to them. Sophia Knapp captures that pseudo-indie disco vibe of the late 70s... you know when those great artists you loved from the 60s moved to LA and started making really polished and coked out new music. I don't mean that to detract from Knapp at all, this is a super tasty little pop nugget, complete with wistful vocals, compelling melodies and a clear Stevie Nicks infatuation. Sophia Knapp’s Into the Waves is out February 28th on Drag City. Sophia plays her record release show in New York on Wed. Feb. 29th at Sway.

Sharon Van Etten - Guest Apartment

Watch the full concert at baeblemusic.com

You all know we love her. Here's why. Her debut album, Because I was in Love is out now on Drag City.

...For the Whole World to See

Death "Keep on Knocking" mp3

To begin, I must state that I am no expert on the chronology of punk music. Outside of the heavy hitters (The Jam, Clash, Stooges etc...), I can't really say I listen to all that much early punk rock. Yet, this reissue of Death's lost 1973 record ...For the Whole World to See is blowing my fucking mind. I'm sure someone out there can recite to me a litany of bands that Death either drew from or influenced, but I feel no compulsion to do that here. There are, of course, elements of punk fundamentals on this album: speed, punchy bass and simple chord structures; but there is something so transcendental about this record that it ceases to be of a certain era or a certain genre. The songs are visceral and moving, and the lyrical content is poignant and meaningful. There is even a freaking drum solo on the track "Let the World Turn." These three brothers from Detroit (Dannis, Bobby and David Hackney) somehow nailed it, and we thank Drag City for getting this back out there. Our new friend from Other Music, Mikey (I think that's his name) has even been so inspired as to start a facebook page for the record. Join up, and buy the record - I'm talking like, within the next hour.