Why does everything feel fake?

"Recent surveys show that Americans are more anxious than ever, and that worry is mixed with anger. People feel exploited, broke and unable to protect themselves from the looming catastrophes of war and environmental disaster. They are afraid of AI, afraid of getting sick or getting deported, afraid of having to work until they die." 

So much THIS. 

Back in the day, this was a NORMAL article, but these days, one might consider it LONG. Ann Powers has been a music journalist for a long while so her name is what got me to click on the article. https://www.npr.org/2026/10/27/nx-s1-5993861/why-does-everything-feel-fake-music-essay

G. Love & Special Sauce feat. Merry Clayton - One Night Romance

Loved seeing (and learning about) her in 20 feet from Stardom and stumbled across this today. Groovy soulful stuff.

Michael

 

I've been seeing the posters around for a while now, 

but haven't really thought too much about listening to the "new" Michael Jackson record. While 

at the chiropractor on Thursday, he was telling me about a duet that was out featuring Justin Timberlake so today I found the video.

I'm digging this. Totally reminiscent of late-Jacksons, pre Off The Wall Michael.



 

Hal

Saw "Only Lovers Left Alive" a few weeks back and was stricken by this lovely singer and her haunting song. Totally fit the mood of the movie and the rest of the music that was played throughout.

Yasmine Hamdan - Hal

Yasiin Gaye

Advancing the direction of his Otis Redding x Big Boi, re-work "Shutterbugg", Gazaway's new *Soul Mates* series continues the theme of his previous work in creating collaborations that never were. On the series’ first installment, the producer unites Brooklyn rapper Yasiin Bey (FKA Mos Def) and soul legend Marvin Gaye for a dream collaboration aptly titled “Yasiin Gaye.” Building the album's foundation from deconstructed samples of Gaye’s Motown classics, Gazaway re-orchestrates the instrumentation into new productions within a similar framework. Carefully weaving Bey’s dense raps and Gaye’s soulful vocals over his new arrangements, the producer delivers a quality far closer to Gaye's famous duets than that of a "mashup" album.



  I can't seem to embed the bandcamp player here so the YouTube snippet will have to suffice. 






You can find the full track with free download here. (It will cost you your email address)

Afterglow

Afterglow by Wilkinson.
What a great video. I get lost in it and almost forget to listen to the track. :)

Lucius

Revisiting Lucius from my eMusic "save for later" list.
I first heard them on Radiolab where Jad featured their song "How Loud Your Heart Gets" which hadn't been released yet.

Fast forward a few months and it turns out they are the opening band as I get to the Grace Potter & The Nocturnals show here in Chicago at The Vic. I love the harmonies and the unexpected power of their band on some songs.