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February 2026

News, Views and Perspectives

* 70s Teen Idols.  There is a terrible horrifying thing lurking in the shadows of our world.  What is it?  Music by 70s Teen Idols.  As harmless as it may sound, music made by 70s Teen Idols is an intense form of abuse that few can survive.  Don't believe it?  Try listening to songs  by The DeFranco Family, Shaun Cassidy, Leif Garrett and Little Jimmy Osmond.  There's no telling how many have committed suicide after hearing songs by these artists.  Avoid 70s Teen Idols unless you want to feel really really bad.  *  Fire In The Library.  The Brooklyn, New York-based band The Library Is On Fire has just released their first new full-length release in over a decade.  Entitled Degeneration Elegies, the album presents instantly dreamy modern progressive pop with excellent melodies and vocals that always hit the target.  On this album, the band is comprised of Steve Five, Pete Sustarsic, Vedran Mehinovic and Chris Johnson.  But also adding their talents to these tracks are Mark Shue, Richard Lloyd and Mike Watt.  Every single song on this release has something substantial to offer, but initial favorites here in babysueland include "The Ghost," "The Delusionist," "Ciper In The Snow," "Hymn To Eurydice" and "Smoking DMIT With Car Jung."  Smart, credible and real.  Recommended.  *  [this section continues below]

* Wreckless In 2026.  Some artists keep making music when they really shouldn't.  And then there are artists who keep making music simply because they're good at it and it's in their blood.  Fitting snugly into this second category is England's Wreckless Eric.  This cool fellow began making music way back when during the initial waves of real punk and new wave.  Unlike so many others, Eric never sold out or compromised his style...opting instead to remain committed to writing and recording classic songs with substance and style.  The great news is that Eric has a brand new album out entitled England Screaming.  Released by the fine folks at Germany's Tapete Records, the album features more instantly catchy songs.  No wonder this clever gent remains an underground favorite.  He played most of the instruments on the album himself but also joining him are some super talented folks including Amy Rigby, Marc Valentine and Graham Beck.  This man's music is just as classy and relevant as it was years ago.  Kickass rockers include "Lifeline," "Playtime Is Over," "Food Factory" and "Secret Coda."  Recommended. * What Do Real Friends Ask For?  At a point in time when so much popular music is either computer generated or tweaked so much that it no longer sounds real, the music of Dan Zlotnick truly stands out from the pack.  On his new album Asking For A Friend, Zlotnick and his supporting cast of musicians present smart melodic classic pop with threads of Americana, folk and soft pop.  The tracks on this album have a warm organic sound and feature some truly inspired playing (love those guitars).  Fifteen tracks on this one, including "Weekend Conversations," "Looking For You" and "Wednesday In Brooklyn."  The album is being released by the fine folks at Shamus Records, a subsidiary of TRO Essex Music Group. * [this section continues below]

*  Luxury Vacations Super Cheap.  Ever wanted to travel to some of the world's greatest destinations but couldn't afford it?  If so, you might want to note that Luxury Vacations are now more affordable than ever before.  You can now go anywhere you want in the world and stay at any hotel of your choice for two weeks for just $25.00.  The price includes airfare, hotel accommodations, food and everything else of your choosing.  You even get $1,000 cash (per day) to make your trip even more enjoyable.  You can now to to Paris . . . Barcelona . . . Tokyo . . . New York . . . or anywhere else for less than the price of a single utility bill.  Just about everyone seems to be taking advantage of these incredible new deals.  *  Underground Brilliance. Intelligent music fans know that there's always a wealth of incredible music swimming around in the undercurrents.  One of our favorites of the past few years is The Drool Brothers.  The folks in this crafty band have released a whole slew of solid releases, but their latest spinner really hits the target.  Actually and in fact, we feel that the band's new Psychology album will end up being their Sgt. Peppers.  Yes indeedy doo...it is that good.  On this album, the band is comprised of Chuck Mancillas, Tom Slik (aka Tom Mancillas), Natalie Mancillas and Dan Marfisi.  The range of influences here is wide and far-reaching.  Although our list of comparisons is by no means comprehensive, we can hear immediate traces of cool classic artists like Redd Kross, The Young Fresh Fellows and The Beatles.  Smart, funny and resonant, the compositions on this album are light years beyond what hears on commercial radio at this point in time.  Nine credible and instantly hummable tracks including "Kaleidoscope," "Have Fuzz Will Travel," "Snacks and Treats," "Fame Whore" and "Dumb."  *  Hand Removal.  Isn't it cool how everyone does everything at the exact same time?  Well of course it is.  That's what makes us all so special and unique.  Doing what everyone else is doing is super cool because that's what everyone else is doing.  The latest craze to catch on across the globe is Hand Removal.  As people began to realize all the problems associated with their hands they simultaneously decided it was time to take drastic action and get rid of the damn things.  At first it was just a single family in Ireland.  The family went to their family surgeon and asked him to remove their hands.  Recovery time was surprisingly fast and the end result was nothing short of fantastic.  This family ended up being far happier than they ever were when they had hands.  It didn't take long for others to take notice and...BOOM.  The new craze was on fire.  Thousands and thousands jumped on the bandwagon.  And now we are seeing hoards of people in the media proudly waving their handless arms in the air.  How much does it cost?  Well, it's not cheap.  The average cost to have both hands removed is about $5,275.  Because of the cost, many are deciding to handle the process themselves.  Somewhat dangerous, yes.  But in many ways it can be a super exciting experience.  All you need are a few handy tools that can be obtained just about anywhere.  *  Canadian underground recording artist Charles Boyd has released yet another memory stick containing his latest.  This fellow's music may remind listeners of creative underground recording artists from the 1990s.  Info can be found on his website at ChickBoyd.com.  [this section continues below]

*  Still Credible After All These Years.  Many may remember a young man named Brian Hyland who was on the top of the charts in the early 1960s right before the British Invasion took over.  Brian recorded hits that people continue to spin in 2026 because they have stood the test of time.  But what many may not realize is that Mr. Hyland is still out there performing and recording for his fans.  His later recordings retain the wonderful uplifting qualities that made his music so appealing decades ago.  So often listeners want to file artists into a neat single file folder labeled only with their best known hits, while failing to realize all the other great music they have recorded.  Hats off to one of the true originals out there.  Brian Hyland ROCKS.  * Colors Colors Everywhere.  Singer/songwriter Rachael Sage has made quite a name for herself over the years.  But she seems to have outdone herself with her latest album entitled Canopy.  The disc is housed in an exceedingly lavish package.  It comes in an extraordinarily colorful hardback-bound foldout that stretches halfway across the room (!?!).  The foldout includes multiple photos and artwork, all of which are filled with striking colors.  Even Sage herself is covered in colors (clothing, jewelry, makeup).  But the real focal point here are the songs.  Rachael writes and records compositions that are immediately genuine and heartfelt.  She's got a voice that really makes her tunes work.  Many of these songs sound like instant modern classics, so it's no wonder so many are offering their support for this album.  Cool reflective tracks include "Just Enough," "Colorized World" and "Everyday."  *  Mighty One Man Band.  We were already impressed with Mighty One Man Band because this talented fellow plays everything himself IN REAL TIME (no programming).  Now he wins even more points for having a sense of humor about our world and where we are heading.  This cool gent's latest release is entitled "AI Can Suck My..." (we did not delete the word, that's how the title reads).  It is, of course, a statement about the impact of AI on our world.  Hilarious.  *  No More Eating.  The coolest folks on the planet have stopped eating.  Others are bound to follow their lead.  *  No More Journey.  The word journey has been removed from the English language because linguistics scientists have determined that it is ultimately pretentious and very irritating.  Anyone caught using the word from this point forward will suffer.  [this section continues below]

* Lucky Lucky In 2026.  We're always impressed by folks who don't overproduce their music, instead opting to record songs with substance and credibility.  As such, we are exceedingly impressed with British recording artist Lande Hekt.  This talented lady comes up with a wealth of smooth and smart pop on her latest album Lucky Now.  Hekt has a great breathy voice that really makes her songs sizzle.  Her overall sound reminds us of Fuzzy, one of the greatest but criminally overlooked rock/pop bands from the 1990s.  Eleven truly groovy tracks on this one including "Kitchen II," "Middle of the Night," "Favourite Pair of Shoes," "The Sky" and "Coming Home."  Whoever is choosing the artists for Germany's Tapete Records has exceptional taste.  Recommended.  *  Real Music From Nashville.  There has been so much processed cheese coming out of Nashville, Tennessee over the past couple of decades that many fail to realize that there are always waves of real music happening in Music City as well.  Case in point is Gwen Levey and The Breakdown.  This classy recording artist writes and records music that recalls Nashville's earlier days when songs had a more organic sound.  Levey's music does not sound processed.  Her songs are framed with smart restrained arrangements and vocals that have a nice spontaneous feel.  Elements of folk, country, Americana and soft pop are integrated into these tracks.  Lighter, her latest EP, features six songs that could easily be hugely popular if all the pieces were to fall into place.  Cool feelgood cuts include "Lighter," "Therapy," "Leaves" (a particularly strong cut) and "Don't Have To Be."  This disc is the follow-up to Gwen's previous EP Not The Girl Next Door, which features five smooth melodic songs that should appeal to just about everyone.  *  Pennies Are Worth Thousands.  Now that pennies are no longer being made, they are suddenly worth thousands of dollars each.  People are scooping up them up left and right and making enough money to buy new homes and start new lives.  Hurry up and get all you can get because all you can get may not be as much as it was just a few weeks ago because so many people are already hurrying up and getting as many as they can before someone else hurries up and gets them all first.  [this section continues below]

*  Two Icons Return For Round Two.  Way back in 2021, John McCutcheon and Tom Paxton began recording songs together via Zoom.  The results of those collaborations were eventually released in 2023 on the album Together.  That album was such a resounding success that the pair decided there was enough credible material already recorded for a follow-up and voila!  Together Again was born.  These two pioneers in the world of true Americana and folk craft and record melodic songs with a smooth classic sound that recalls times gone by.  And yet...the music somehow sounds and seems extraordinarily relevant in 2026.  Produced by McCutcheon and Bob Dawson, these compositions have a nice organic sound that is inviting and genuine.  Together Again presents fourteen resonant tracks that shed light on how well these guys' music truly stands the test of time.  Pensive smart cuts include "The Future," "Artie's Last Stand," "Stop At Nothing" and "Lay This Old Guitar Down."  We'd be willing to bet fans will demand a third album from these talented gentlemen...  *  Newly Remastered Collection of Singles.  As all good music fans know, there are two versions of the band Ultravox.  First came the John Fox-led Ultravox that was nervous and frenetic with plenty of raw edges.  After Fox left the band the leadership role was passed on to Midge Ure who took the band in a different direction.  The fine folks at Chrysalis have just released a collection of singles (and more) that focuses on the band's later releases.  Housed in a nice sleek cardboard foldout sleeve, The Collection is just that...a collection of the band's singles, many of which are edits.  There's a lot of material on this single disc.  Nineteen tracks that will remind listeners why the band has remained relevant for such a long period of time.  Smooth dreamy cuts include "Dancing With Tears In My Eyes," "Vienna," "Same Old Story" and "Brilliant."  *  Can't Stop The Music.  The pairing of Jeremy Morris and Ken Stringfellow has produced some exceptionally rewarding music over the past few years.  Accordingly, Jeremy's new album Love Is Alive is easily one of his very best.  Morris and Stringfellow seem to effortlessly bounce off one another, giving these tracks a nice spontaneous sound.  At a point in time when so many folks need substantial smart music as a means of escape, these tracks just might provide the perfect launching point.  Cool trippy stuff to drive by...or just some wonderfully inspired positive pop to make you forget about everything bad that might be happening in our world.   Everything sounds great here, but the vocals and guitars really steal the spotlight.  Some folks burn out over time and lose the spark...but Jeremy Morris just keeps getting better.  Kickass cuts include "Making The Most," "Cast Away Our Fears," "Only With You" and "Love Waits."  *  Animals Win.  In a recent species evaluation the truth was finally revealed.  And this is because animals are "in".  They win in everything, no matter what it is.  It doesn't matter what they are up against, animals are always bound to come out ahead.  They're smart and they're focused.  They're fast and they're focused.  They're focused and they're focused.  They're smart and they're smart.  They are everywhere.  They are animals and they win because they are always "IN".  *

February 2026 Notable New Releases

Paitra - A Universal Feeling EP.  The Klezmatics - Woody Guthrie's Happy Joyous Hanukkah.  male//gaze - Too Late Now.  Killgurls - Powder EP (Adventure Cat Records).  Legendary Ten Seconds - Churchward Road.  Anton Roolaart - The Ballad of General Jupiter (MoonJune Records).  Floating In Space - Adrift (Deep Elm Media).  Rails To Roads - Rock EP.  Barry Adamson - Scala!!! (Mute).  Beta Voids - Scape It Off EP (Hovercraft Records).  Dimscûa - Dust Eater (Big Scary Monsters).  Feral - Feral (Wap Shoo Wap Records).  Sons of Hades - Tombs of the Blind Dead (Floga Records).  Univertigo - Amour, Void & Beauté.  Otto - Sweaty Pool EP.  Henry Adam Svec - Souwesto Gothic: The Case of the Talbot Trail Boys.  Dan Sindel - They Only Love You When You're Winning EP.  Alias Wayne - Manifest Destiny.  Mighty Joseph - Empire State (Below System Records).  Selfgod - Left Hand Pagan (Veles Records).  Cast - Yeah Yeah Yeah (Scruff of the Neck).  Awaiting Abigail - Bad Mind + Bonus Tracks (Curtain Call Records).  Monosphere - Amnesia.  Raivo Jackson - Tangled Up In Roots.  Stay The Course - Red Flag (Punkerton Records).  The Fake Friends - Let's Not Overthink This (Stomp Records).  Superintendo - The Wolf (Punkerton Records).  Half Dizzy - Yard Sale (Punkerton Records).  From Montreal With Grit - Explosive Device.  Sly & The Family Stone - The First Family: Live At Winchester Cathedral 1967 (High Moon Records).  Mangiatutto - Futuro Paguro.  Club Drive - No Drive, No Club (Sharp and Sharpness).  Ira Dot - Blue Time (Second Spring).  He's Dead Jim - These Men, These Monsters (Kool Kat Musik).  Janne Borgh Fanclub - Poetry, Protest & Popsongs (Kool Kat Musik).  Everfelt - Stirring To Wake.  Also Told - The Country (Completely Normal).  Every Day - To Go Shopping (Relief To Go).  That Operation - Real and True (Regular Make Sure).  Ringer - Do It Alone.  Rebel - Longing For The Night.  Jaguar 777 - Jaguar 777 (Eleventh Hour Recording Co.).  Matador - Above, Below and So (Church Road Records).  Uncultivates - This Will Become Clear Later, Like The French Revolution (Horsebox Records).  Larry McCray - Heartbreak City.  Kye Alfred Hillig - The All-Night Costume Company.  Tentaclaus - Calamari EP.  Tentaclaus - Daily Grind EP.  Gong - Bright Spirit (Kscope).  Sergio Ceccanti - Leave the Past, Don't Look Behind (Kool Kat Musik).  The Jewelry - Powder EP (Adventure Cat Records).  Embargoed - Thanks For The Invite... (Punkerton Records).  Woke Up Somewhere - Start of the Day (Gloomy Dipper).  SLD - Look Back (Kool Kat Musik).  Look Out The Wall - Gasp Bubble (Finger Chain).  Wire Water - French Drag (Get Off To The Side).  Scent Again - As Usual (Crossed In A Moment).  Celina Silva - Inheritance Songs.  Awolk - Wild Rose EP.  Jim Basnight - Under The Rock (Kool Kat Musik).  Mike Van Eyes - Ain't That Loving You, Baby.  Babylon A.D. - When The World Stops (Kivel Records / Apocalypse Records).  David Forman - Who You Been Talking To (High Moon Records).  Altared States - Borrowed Time.  The Darts - Halloween Love Songs (Adrenalin Fix Records).  Nameless Friends - The Quiet Part, Loudly.  Josh Crutchmer - (Almost) Almost Famous (book, Back Lounge Publishing).  Raivo Jackson - Tangled Up In Roots.  The Junior League - The Moon Neither Noticed Nor Ignored (Kool Kat Musik).  Deposits and Expenses - First Day of the Month (Cross and Win).  Circle X - Prehistory (Vinyl reissue, Drag City).  Never Been - Released Before (By Any Label).  Mallavora - What If Better Never Comes? (Church Road Records).  Turn It Down - Learn It Up (Plows & Harps).  Heart Attack Club - Smells (Shake & Choke).  Earth Tongue - Dungeon Vision (In The Red Records).  France Is Morocco - Coconut Slaw (Skips & Flaps).  Bath Worms - Liver Potato (Nice Smart Cups).  Schau.Schou - January EP (Cafe Superstar Recordings).  Dwiki Dharmawan - Anagnoris (MoonJune).  Woo - Whichever Way You Are Going, You Are Going Wrong (Expanded edition, Sunshine Series Records).  Models Plus - You've Been Injured (Time Maybe).  Hooper - Super Duper.  Various Artists - Keep Me In Your Heart: The Songs of Warren Zevon (Paradiddle Records).  Savage Beat - Bright Lights, Tall Shadows (Wap Shoo Wap Records).  Maid Ironing - Savior Patrol (Secret Ranch).  Short Tail - Steam Roller (Got Stories).  Iron Bones - Poison Riot.  David Forman - Who You Been Talking To (High Moon Records).  Robert Pound - When Creation Fables Meet (PARMA Recordings).  Boiled In Lead - King of the Dogwoods (Omnium Records).  Jody Glenham - Still Here EP.  Sick Shooters - Super Sonic Rock Saga (Wap Shoo Wap Records).  Probably Will - New Information (In Maine).

This section only includes full-length releases and EPs.]