88.5 FM receives so much music on a daily basis... CDs, downloads, reissues, box sets, cassette tapes, vinyl records and more. Songs are generally chosen by committee at the station, but it's the job of the music director to go through the stacks and stacks with a fine tooth comb. This blog may include major label releases, independent artists, even random submissions for your listening pleasure.
Music Director Picks #12
JENNY LEWIS - RED BULL & HENNESSEY
Having ended 2018 on a high note with the announcement of her fourth solo album On The Line (to be released March 22nd). Jenny Lewis has now unleashed the first taste of her highly anticipated return with the first single “Red Bull & Hennessy”. Recorded at Capitol Records’ Studio B, the new album boasts a backing band of incredible talent featuring Beck, Benmont Tench, Don Was, Jim Keltner, Ringo Starr and Ryan Adams. Last but certainly not least, Jenny has announced several new dates in support of On The Line. In addition to newly added headline performances, Jenny is pleased to confirm that she will be supporting Death Cab For Cutie on select dates in June.
VAMPIRE WEEKEND - HARMONY HALL
Father of the Bride is the upcoming fourth studio album by Vampire Weekend. For the first release in quite some time, Vampire Weekend stomps out of the gates in 2019 with a powerful, thoughtful, beautifully written and arranged song. A true student of music, Ezra Koenig took his time for this record. In a recent interview, he stated, "I'm the type of person who has spent hours poring over the avant-garde poetic lyrics of certain songwriters, and there was something that felt so good [about how] from the first verse, you knew who was singing, who they were singing to, what kind of situation they were in... I realized there's not a ton of Vampire Weekend songs where you could listen to the first verse and immediately answer the question of who's singing and who are they singing to."
BETTER OBLIVION COMMUNITY CENTER - DYLAN THOMAS
The rumors on Reddit boards and Twitter were finally confirmed recently when an album entitled Better Oblivion Community Center by Better Oblivion Community Center appeared. This new band, formed by Phoebe Bridgers and Conor Oberst, kept their plans under wraps for months as they wrote and recorded in Los Angeles in the summer and fall of 2018. By the tail end of the year rumors were swirling and a mysterious phone number appeared on social media platforms. Fans of both artists began receiving brochures in the mail and a bus stop advertising the Better Oblivion Community Center appeared in their hometown of LA. The album appeared without warning and within the hour the band were performing, for the very first time, on network television.
