Mallie's Meandering Monday Musings

First Monday Post Of The Year: January 8, 2024

On Mondays, I’ll share my takes on my previous Friday’s Release Radar compilation, a Makeover Monday (a cover song) selection, some teasers for what’s coming up later in the week, and other general publication and music news for the week ahead.

Good morning. It’s another Monday. A new week, at work, and here on the Eclectic Playlist. Let’s dive right in!

Release Radar Recommendations & Response

This week my Spotify Release Radar was full of lower listens indie rock and pop releases. The algorithm is taking note of my Threads listens and adjusting accordingly. That being said, there were a few “known name” releases this week.

Sleater-Kinney

S-K released shared a new single, “Untidy Creature.” While I’ve enjoyed the three teasers for the next album, I can’t help missing the S-K of days past. The angst is missing, and it’s more produced, less raw. It’s still good. Good enough for all three singles to make it onto my liked list. But it’s missing something. An edge, I’d say.

Green Day

The pop punk power trio slipped us some more goodness on Friday with “One Eyed Bastard.” While Billie Joe’s vocals have strengthened and gained polish over the years, the fun and peppy delivery are the same. Can’t wait to hear more!

Frank Turner

Wow. Frank’s entry into his forties didn’t diminish his appeal or his raucous and rollicking style. “No Thank You For The Music” is fantastic. An anthem. I’ll let you check it out yourself for verification.

New To My Ears & Playlist

As I said above, my Release Radar was full of new and new to me listens this week. Including Jameson Fox and Collins Beach. Fox’s “Providence” is employs the peppy talk-singing storytelling style I enjoy, so check it out if you also enjoy that. “Walk These Streets” by Collins Beach is more dreamy and ethereal, with just enough speed to get you bouncing along in your chair.

Makeover Monday

I love a good cover. Whether it stays true to the original or takes the song in a new direction. This week I’m going back a bit to 1997 cover. Enjoy!

#365Albums2024

I’m currently taking part in a 365 Days challenge. I’m listening to an entire new album (some are EPs) each day this year. I’m tracking my listens on Instagram. Same handle, @itismalliehart, if you want to check it out.

As bonus content for my paying subscribers, I have six now … THANK YOU, I’ll be putting together a month-end recap of the daily album listens with ratings (on a five star scale) along with a few notes about about what I took away from the listen.

Playlist Changes & Plea

I realized I’d done I myself a bit of a disservice by over-segmenting my playlists. Going forward, I’ll have running playlists, updated weekly for Two For Tuesday, Threepeat Thusday, New To My Liked List (NTMLL), with a few more to be determined. Doing so will actually allow me to build a following on each list, rather than getting single likes on a weekly basis.

I’ve made the change to the New To My Liked Playlist, which I published last Friday. And that will be the ongoing playlist, updated each Friday morning, going forward. I’d love it if those of you with Spotify accounts could give it a follow.

I believe I’ve meandered enough this Monday. Apologies for the late publish. I wasn’t able to get this written and schedules yesterday, as I had to help my friend by being a hard ass and making her get rid of years of accumulated items stuffed in her closet. And yes, this is the same friend I constantly have to school on music and pop culture. LOL. But she’s my bestie, so I’m keeping her. The goal, going forward, is to schedule all publishes for no later than 8 AM, so they’re waiting in your inboxes bright and early!

Have a mellifluous Monday, gang!