New Music That Doesn’t Suck: Industry veteran David Hersrud on new music that should be grabbing your attention.
If you follow the music industry (which I do), you know there’s the good, the bad and the ever-so-strange. For example Mars Tapes in Manchester, England, is the last UK music shop that only sells cassette tapes. Record companies began producing cassettes a number of years ago when it was difficult to get vinyl pressings. Mars Tapes even makes it’s own cassette players. And while vinyl record sales continue to grow so is the demand for old music equipment. Who knows, maybe some day I may regret throwing out my old 8-tracks.
Turning to our latest edition of NMTDS, I came to the realization that my first seven selections for this issue were all by singer-songwriters. But not just ANY singer-songwriters. I listen to about 200 to 300 new songs a week. Research shows that people will usually make up their minds if they like a song in as little as 5 seconds. I probably go a bit longer as I listen for the melody (if there is one). I listen initially without knowing the artist, the writers or having read any public relations material. Later on I listen for the lyrics if I like the song. However with these seven, their lyrics are usually so profound that they grab your attention immediately.
James McMurtry: “Pinocchio In Vegas” from The Black Dog and The Wandering Boy. McMurtry is the son of Pulitzer Prize winning novelist Larry McMurtry so his way with words comes naturally. “Black Dog” is his 13th album and is already on my list of the “Best Albums of 2025”. Once again McMurtry calls like he sees it!
Chuck Prophet: “It’s A Good Day To Be Alive” from Wake The Dead Wake The Dead is Prophet’s 17th album and one of this best. It was released in late 2024 but didn’t hit my desk until January. Probably best know for his song “Jesus Was A Social Drinker” and the album Bobby Fuller Died For Your Sins, Prophet has dabbled in surf music, punk, country, folk and turns here to cumbia the rhythmic Columbian dance music. The album was recorded with the Mexican cumbia band ¿Qiensave?
Paul Thorn: “Tough Times Don’t Last” from Life Is Just A Vapor. Thorn plays a mix of southern rock, blues, country with some gospel thrown in and has released (my unofficial count) 16 or 17 albums. He has built a loyal following that enables him to self-release his albums.
Van Morrison: “Down To Joy” and “Back To Writing Love Songs” from Remembering Now. This is Van’s 47th studio album and I am happy to say I like it. His last few were……(if you bought one add your own description). This isn’t a perfect album as Van’s never are but as always the good outnumbers the sometimes average. And as a friend once remarked, “an average Van Morrison is better than most artists' good songs”.
Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts: “Big Change” from Talkin’ To The Trees. It seems that Neil Young has been making music since the dawn of time. I wouldn’t be surprised if they found his name inscribed on a prehistoric cave wall. But you gotta love the guy. He marches to his own drummer and expresses his sentiments and beliefs regardless of public opinion.
Rodney Crowell: “Taking Flight” from Airline Highway. I am not a charter member of the Rodney Crowell fan club, but close enough to argue the point. Airline Highway comes out in late August and the songs I’ve heard so far indicate this may be one of his best albums yet. His songs have been recorded by the likes of Waylon Jennings, Emmylou Harris, Bob Seger and Johnny Cash. Another artist who transcends genre pigeonholes.
Bruce Springsteen: “Rain In The River” from Tracks II: The Lost Albums. The song is from a suite of seven albums recorded between 1983 and 2018 and never released. Contemplating an artist recording seven albums and not releasing even one boggles the mind!
And now for three more songs you should hear: Fishbone: “Last Call In America” from Stockholm Syndrome. The ska-punk-funk pioneers join forces with George Clinton the godfather of funk for another twist in their decades-long music activism.
Connie Francis: “Pretty Little Baby” from Connie Francis Sings Second Hand Love. So, David, why are you including a song from an album released in 1962? Well, this is what happens when a song is featured in videos shown on various social media websites 63 years later and a single is released and becomes a worldwide hit. Here is the Spanish version.
The Third Mind: “Darkness Darkness” from Right Now! TheThird Mind is described as an experimental, improvisational musical collective or a psychedelic supergroup. They can take a 3 minute 1963 hit by the Jaynetts (Sally Go Round The Roses) and turn it into a 6 plus minute opus. Their version of Darkness Darkness from their upcoming album is a tribute to Jesse Colin Young who died this year. I am including The Third Mind’s version and the original as recorded by The Youngbloods in 1969.
Till next time……good listening.
Photo: the author with George Harrison, courtesy of David Hersrud
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