Zappagram #13
PJ Harvey has a new album coming, some Eagles fans can't take it easy, Howard Stern may run for president, and OK Computer turns 25...
Hey friends,
Welcome to the 13th issue of Zappagram.
I’m not even slightly stitious, much less superstitious, and so once years ago on a trip to New Orleans, I made a personal statement, rejecting the very notion of superstition by getting the roman numeral XIII tattooed on my right arm. I may or may not have been drunk at the time, but I can tell you that there was a bar directly next door to the tattoo parlor where I got inked.
Make of that what you will.
I probably should have done something special to commemorate the occasion like have 13 songs instead of 10 on this week’s playlist, but I didn’t.
What I did learn was that there is a song—apparently, a very popular one—called “Thirteen.” Originally written by Big Star, this song has been covered by everyone and their brother. Elliott Smith, Wilco, Garbage, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and Jesse Malin are but a few of the many who’ve recorded the song which, as best I can tell, has nothing at all to do with superstition.
I don’t know about you, but I’m 13 shades of exhausted, so let’s just dive into this week’s newsletter, shall we?
“The only truth is music.”
―Jack Kerouac
RECENT ESSAYS
The latest essays by Chris Zappa
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How To Automatically Skip Music You Don't Like
A helpful tip for Mac users only
HEAVY ROTATION
New weekly playlists highlighting great music
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WEEKLY PLAYLIST #13
A Girl Called Eddy • Neighbor Lady • Wye Oak • Alex Ebert • Father John Misty • Andrew Bird • Bibio • Soccer Mommy • Harry Styles • Goldmyth
MASTER PLAYLIST (ALL WEEKS)
MUSIC NEWS
The latest happenings in the world of music
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PJ Harvey just finished recording her new album
Her first album in six years is in its final stages of production and is set for release in summer of 2023. [via Consequence]
Frank Zappa’s catalog and archives sold to Universal Music Group
UMG announced that it has purchased what essentially amounts to Frank Zappa’s life work. [via Variety]
Brooklyn man arrested on charges of stalking Taylor Swift
Joshua Christian faces stalking and criminal trespassing for two incidents where he threatened the singer at her Tribeca building. [via Rolling Stone]
Brawl breaks out at Eagles concert during “Take It Easy”
Seems some people just can’t take it easy no matter what. This really is why we can’t have nice things. [via Stereogum]
Halsey shares that having an abortion “saved my life”
The singer wrote that having access to medical intervention during a miscarriage saved her life and "gave way for my son to have his." [via Billboard]
Charlie Watts biography in the works
The official biography of the late Rolling Stones drummer, made with the approval of his family and band mates, arrives in October. [via Pitchfork]
Crosby, Stills & Nash are back on Spotify, individually and collectively
Crosby, in response to someone asking why his music was back on Spotify, said: “I don’t own it now, and the people who do are in business to make money.” [via Stereogum]
Jack White clarifies his plans for releasing lost Prince album
In response to rumors that he was planning to edit or remix the late icon’s previously unreleased album Camille, White appropriately stated that “I would never mess with his music.” [via NME]
NEW RELEASES
Dig on these recently dropped albums
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Alex Crispin
Alex Crispin [listen]
Ghost Woman
Ghost Woman [listen]
GoGo Penguin
Between Two Waves [listen]
Guided By Voices
Tremblers and Goggles by Rank [listen]
Neighbor Lady
For The Birds [listen]
The Dear Hunter
Antimai [listen]
UPCOMING RELEASES
These albums are coming soon
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JULY 8
Delicate Steve: After Hours • Journey: Freedom • Metric: Formentera • Neil Young: Toast
JULY 15
Interpol: The Other Side of Make-Believe • Jeff Beck & Johnny Depp: 18 • The Ballroom Thieves: Clouds
JULY 22
Jack White: Entering Heaven Alive • Maggie Rogers: Surrender • She & Him: Melt Away: A Tribute to Brian Wilson • The Heavy Heavy: Life and Life Only EP
VIDEO SPOTLIGHT
See it to believe it
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Raised by Hippies is an educational media brand dedicated to celebrating music history, the vintage aesthetic and the people who made up the music industry in the twentieth century. Raised By Hippies is run by Vanessa Hughes, an intensely knowledgable music historian from Canada. She is currently doing a tremendous video series on the history of women in music, and her most recent video covering the amazing career of Chrissie Hynde is well worth a watch, as are the rest of her videos. You can also follow her on Instagram and TikTok. [via YouTube]
ON THIS DATE
Musical happenings of historical significance
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JUNE 28
Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne ordered Trump not to use Ozzy’s music for his political campaign. Trump had used “Crazy Train” in a video mocking his Democratic rivals. Sharon Osbourne suggested Trump ask some of his prominent supporters such as Kanye West, Kid Rock, and Ted Nugent to supply him with music for his campaign. (2019)
JUNE 29
Birthday: Colin Hay (1953) • Former Guns N’ Roses drummer Steven Adler was taken to hospital after stabbing himself. (2019)
JUNE 30
Chet Atkins died in Nashville aged 77. (2001) • Bruce Springsteen's “Dancing In The Dark” peaked at #2 on the U.S. charts, the first of six singles from his 7th studio album Born In The U.S.A. all of which hit the U.S. Top 10. (1984)
JULY 1
Birthdays: Debbie Harry (1945) • Fred Schneider of The B-52's (1951) • John Lennon and Yoko Ono were involved in a car accident in Scotland. Both needed hospital treatment. Lennon later had the car crushed into a cube and exhibited it on his lawn at Tittenhurst Park. (1969) • DJ Wolfman Jack died of a heart attack. (1995)
JULY 2
Birthday: Roy Bittan of the E Street Band (1949) • The gravestone of former Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis was stolen from his grave in Macclesfield Cemetery. The stone had the inscription “Ian Curtis 18-5-80” and the words “Love Will Tear Us Apart.” (2008)
JULY 3
Jim Morrison was found dead from a heart attack in a bathtub in Paris. (1971) • U2 crew member Greg Carroll was killed in a motorcycle accident in Dublin while running an errand for Bono. The song “One Tree Hill” on The Joshua Tree was written for and dedicated to him. (1986)
JULY 4
Birthday: Bill Withers (1938) • The Clash made their live debut supporting the Sex Pistols at the Black Swan, Sheffield, England. (1976) • Barry White died from kidney failure, aged 58. (2003) • Foo Fighters released their debut album. (1995)
OFF TOPIC
May or may not be music-related
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RETROSPECTIVE
Radiohead’s “OK Computer” Turns Twenty-Five
It’s possible now to see what the album opened up both for the band and for other ambitious pop and rock acts who would follow. [via The New Yorker]
2024
Howard Stern Says He’s “Not Fucking Around” About Presidential Run
Says he has big plans to "overturn all this bullshit." [via Consequence]
ON REPEAT
Vancouver radio station plays Rage Against The Machine on repeat for hours
Was it a form of protest or publicity stunt? [via AV Club]
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
Inquiring minds want to know
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What music podcasts do you listen to? Have any favorites I should know about? Please leave a comment and let me know.
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Love, peace, and harmony.
CZ 🤘🏻
Somehow I completely missed that there was a new Dear Hunter album coming out, thanks for the reminder!!
I'm very glad you didn't make it to the end of your life without hearing the song "Thirteen". An all-time great for sure. Elliott Smith's is my favorite cover, but I'm not sure anything will ever top the Big Star original.