12 August 2026 - aespa - LEMONADE

I have always thought of aespa of a version of BLACKPINK if you brought them from Temu.

With their new album LEMONADE I don't think that anymore. Without even mentioning that it's better than BLACKPINK's latest album, this is a more distinctive version of the group - and they have found a harder edged, in-your-face sound. 

Is it groundbreaking?  No.  Is it pleasing, fun, and easy to dance to?  You betcha. 

Do they perform it live at Lollapalooza last week?  Kinda. 

10 August 2026 - Nia Archives - Danger

Nia Archives released her new album Emotional Junglist last month..... and very quickly after its release was included on the 2026 Mercury Prize shortlist. I've listened to most of this shortlist, and let me tell you, they got the inclusion of this one RIGHT!  It is excellent. 

It didn't take long to realize this was a very special - and explicit - album. 

This song, co-written by the artist (whose real name is Dehaney Hunt, so if you go hunting on Spotify for the credits, you know I'm telling the truth), Ethan P. Flynn and Livvi Franc, is a fast-paced exciting song, as is the rest of the album. It does not give you a break - and yet still stays cool and mellow.   

6 May 2027.... I mean, 6 August 2026 - The Darling Buds - Lost Time

You know, I thought Darling Buds Day was gonna die years ago.

And, yes, while I jokingly say that I'm the reason the Darling Buds got back together, I know that's not really true.

What I did NOT have on my bingo card was NEW Darling Buds music in 2026..... a whole new album called Same Sun / Same Sky, which was their first full length album in 34 years!!!!  

And it's really good!  I'd put it among their top four albums. (IYKYK)

So, yeah, guess we're gonna keep this going.  And I'm really happy about that, because they are a great band and they have shown appreciation for what we're doing here.  We couldn't have picked a better group to celebrate. 

And now, I have enough material to actually post about the Darling Buds on a day other than May 6th.

4 Aug 2026 - The Cramps - Goo Goo Muck

The Cramps were an influential but not well known band.

Until, that is, Wednesday Addams danced to the song.  

Yeah, I know.  You saw this on social media with a different song.  This is what they ACTUALLY played in the episode. And the song - along with the series - gets credit for reviving goth subculture among Gen Z, as its feature was a huge hit. 

The song, a cover of a Ronnie Cook and the Gaylads single from the 1960s, was recorded by The Cramps in 1981 for their album Psychedelic Jungle.  It became one of their best known songs. 

But, rather than watching Jenna Ortega performing to the song, I feel like you should see how Lux Interior (yep, that was his stage name.  Don't worry.  No one named their kid Lux Interior) performed it live.... which was wild as heck.

30 July 2026 - HyunA - Flower Shower

I feel like you can't talk about K-Pop without mentioning HyunA.  I've been a fan for a lot of years, long before every K-Pop artist was an instant hitmaker.... even before "Gangnam Style".  

No, she had to work and toil for DECADES to get where she is.

This song, from 2019, was cowritten and produced by Psy himself.  She's had many comebacks since then, but this was one of her best. 

29 July 2026 - Karen Dió - Sick Ride

In June 2023, Karen Dió was a struggling Brazilian musician.

In July 2023, she had a badass single.

And just like that, there was some worldwide attention on the Brazilian punk scene thanks to this riot grrrl.  

Formerly of Violet Soda (who broke apart in 2021), Karen Dió made the conscious choice to go solo this time, so she could keep the control. Kinda hard for a solo act to break up, eh?

Anyway, the song is great.

Hell yeah she does it live. This performance from Germany shows the energy she brings to the song. 

28 July 2026 - Night Ranger - Sister Christian

This song - written by drummer Kelly Keagy, who also sings and drums on the track, as a tribute to his sister, Christy (Jack Blades just thought it was Christian) - was released in March 1984.

I was 12.

The song was EVERYWHERE and unescapable on radio.

I couldn't stand the song. HATED it.

Well, time has made me see that the song is brilliantly constructed. The second single from their album Midnight Madness, it is by far their biggest hit.

When you hear "motorin'", you should think "cruisin'", as in going SO FAST. 

I find it absolutely fascinating that anyone can drum and sing at the same time, and yet, that's exactly what Keagy did live.

This is from a 1983 performance, and the lyrics are slightly different because they are performing the album version, which had more words. Single and album versions of songs were once a bigger deal. 

Did you assume that Night Ranger was a thing of the past?

Nope.  They're still together. And as you can see in this performance from 2024, still playing the hell out of this song. 

They are not to be confused with Bobby Knight Ranger, who were a fictional band played by Yo La Tengo on the TV show Parks and Recreation.