What are you listening to? Music veteran David Hersrud launches column about Music That Doesn’t Suck
Welcome to the first edition of NMTDS (New Music That Doesn’t Suck). In fact we are so new we don’t have a logo (yet). Meantime, the photo above during my time that included working with some of the biggest bands in the world will head up each edition.
Our mission is quite simple: with between 23,000 and 100,000 songs being added to streaming services (Spotify, Tencent, Apple, YouTube, etc.) every day how can you possibly hear everything?
And with your song selections being determined in many cases by algorithms, staying even mildly engaged is almost impossible. So what to do?
We hope NMTDS can help cut through the clutter of the streaming music universe with recommendations and suggestions from all musical genres. Hopefully with something for every musical taste. So here is our first list of 10 new songs along with links to YouTube videos. Enjoy!
Chris Stapleton: “Bad As I Used To Be”
Is there a Grammy or CMA award Stapleton hasn’t won? He stopped being considered strictly a country artist a few years ago. He is now in a musical category reserved for artists like Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton. Here is his latest, a song from the “F1” movie soundtrack.
The Mighty Rootsmen: “I Won’t Back Down” from “The Mighty Rootsmen”
Imagine Paul McCartney, Elton John, Stevie Wonder and Bruce Springsteen getting together to record some of their favorite songs. The Mighty Rootsmen is the reggae version with artists like Toots Hibbert, Gregory Isaacs, Mykal Rose and the rhythm section of Sly and Robbie. The songs are classics like “Summer Breeze”, “Peace Train” and the Tom Petty classic “I Won’t Back Down”.
Jethro Tull: “Curious Remnant” from “Curious Remnant”
I have been a Jethro Tull fan forever; a band that added a whole new dimension to progressive rock in the ‘70s. The new album is like all 23 previous albums, some quite average but totally enjoyable songs and some destined to beome classics. It also provokes the question I ask every year: “Why isn’t this band in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame?
Alison Krauss: “Richmond On The James” from “Arcadia”
This is from her eighth album, her first in 14 years and her first since her collaboration with Robert Plant in 2021. Alison is another artist who defies easy musical descriptions and strict categories. One of my favorite albums so far this year.
If you like ACDC’s brand of hard rock, but feel the band is getting a little long in the tooth. If you are still mourning the death of Malcolm Young or think Angus needs to buy some rogaine, then I recommend Airbourne, a hard-rock band also from Australia. They have released five studio albums and supported The Stones and Motley Crue. “Gutsy” is hopefully the first song from a new album supposedly due this year.
Santana with Grupo Frontera: “Me Retiro”
I would need an extra page if I were to list all the musicians and artists that Carlos has played with since becoming a full-time musician in 1966: Miles Davis, Michael Jackson, YoYo Ma, Steven Tyler, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Alice Coltrane, John McLaughlin and the list goes on and on. “Mei Retiro” is the result of a collaboration with the Grammy-award-winning Mexican-American band Grupo Frontera and a wonderful blend of norteno rhythms and rock. I hope we eventually get an album.
The Doobie Brothers: “Learn To Let Go” and “Angels & Mercy” from “Walk This Road”
I am a longstanding Doobie Brothers fan, particularly albums like “Toulouse Street,” “Minute By Minute” and “Takin’ It To The Street.” And here we are 55 years later and with Michael McDonald back in the fold they have just released an album that is as good as any of their classic 1970s and ‘80s albums. I had trouble trying to decide on a song to include here so I decided to double your fun and include two.
The New Zealand band’s last album (their third) “Expert In A Dying Field” made just about every major “Best Albums of the Year” list after it came out in September 2022. That included my “Best of” list as well. “Metal” is their first new music in two years as they have changed labels and are preparing for a world tour. The indie rock band created another what one reviewer has called a “small masterpiece”.
The Bad Plus: “Casa Ben” from “Complex Emotions”
My daughter turned me on to the band in the early 2000s. How can you go wrong with a band that mixes elements of avant-garde jazz with rock and pop influences? And if you haven’t heard their versions of songs by Nirvana, Blondie, Pink Floyd and Black Sabbath you should. I had the opportunity to hear the newest edition of the band (with Minneapolis natives and founders of the group bassist Reid Anderson and drummer Dave King) at the Treefort Music Festival in March as they played music from their 16th album “Complex Emotions”. Wonderful music.
Ed Sheeran: “Sapphire” from “Play”
I am not a big fan of Ed Sheeran (sorry Ed fans) but I really like the first two singles off his upcoming album “Play” which should be released in September. And I am even more intrigued after hearing the latest song “Sapphire” from the album. I wouldn’t call Ed a world artist but the rhythmic South-Asian percussion is infectious and the contributions of Indian artist Arijit Singh.
Till next time … good listening!
David Hersrud is a third-generation South Dakota native. After college and graduate school, he spent more than six years in the music industry working with bands and artists like George Harrison, Eagles, The Beach Boys, Queen, Led Zeppelin, Frank Sinatra and Fleetwood Mac. He stayed active after returning to South Dakota and the family business as a writer, consultant and then the host of CDTV for 12 years. David and his wife Kathy live in Sturgis.
Photo: the author with George Harrison, courtesy of David Hersrud
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