These compilations take longer and longer to assemble, as it seems that more and more artists are active again, which can be a good thing. I listened to over 40 new releases and selected a song from each one. This year I allowed myself to skip a few: namely, the comeback albums from 38 Special, Doobie Brothers, Spin Doctors, and Counting Crows. Honestly I don't want to hear a record called Butter Miracle - The Complete Sweets!
The biggest and most anticipated names to stage a comeback in 2025 were Alice Cooper (the band), Chameleons (UK), Pulp, and Stereolab. The ones I was personally looking forward to most were mclusky and Prolapse.
Several artists didn’t live to see their own comebacks. Tim Smith (leader of the band Cardiacs) died in 2020, and the album LSD (which he had been planning for years) was completed by Cardiacs bandmates and guests. Adam Schlesinger died in 2020; his bandmates in the group Ivy completed the album Traces Of You without him.
The rapper Prodigy (half of the duo Mobb Deep) died in 2017, and the album Infinite was completed this year by surviving member Havoc, their producer The Alchemist, and guests including Ghostface, Raekwon, and The Clipse.
Speaking of The Clipse, the rapper No Malice returned from his self-imposed retirement to make a new album with his brother Pusha T and the producer Pharrell Williams (who had coproduced the previous Clipse records). Let God Sort ‘Em Out is also an album affected by death, in this case the loss of the brothers’ parents.
It's now more than 40 years since the last albums by Atomic Rooster, the Armory Show, and Glaxo Babies.
At least 30 years have passed since the last albums by the Dogmatics and Red Lorry Yellow Lorry.
20+ years: 20/20, 38 Special, Black Eyes, the Cardiacs, the Chameleons (UK), the Cruel Sea, Deadguy, Dr. Strangely Strange, Edith Frost, the Mayflies (USA), mclusky, Mobb Deep, Prolapse, Pulp, and Slick Rick. This year's comeback albums by Mobb Deep and Slick Rick are part of the Legend Has It series of new LP's by veteran MC’s.
Plenty to absorb among these 42 tracks, and hopefully you'll find something to make the yuletide bright.
2025 Comebacks, vol. 1: https://pixeldrain.com/u/Pa5kVNMG
ReplyDelete2025 Comebacks, vol. 2: https://pixeldrain.com/u/G15hzqa7
Great way to end the year again Jonder, thanks. I had no idea that Fishbone & Pop Will Eat Itself had released anything new...
ReplyDeleteThanks, Koen! There is so much music coming out each year that it's easy for things like that to get overlooked. One of the reasons I do "Comeback Specials" is to find out who decided to "get the band back together" (with or without original members). Atomic Rooster is now Steve Bolton plus some younger musicians (who do a fine job).
DeleteFishbone's album is really solid. I almost went with the song "Racist Piece Of Shit", but George Clinton's verse on the killing of Breonna Taylor is a powerful statement.
Dax Riggs' album is excellent, and I enjoyed Alice Cooper too! I actually DID listen to the Doobie Brothers' record (just once) and it sounded pretty good. Michael McDonald sings about half the songs, and I think Tom Johnston sings the rest.
Going over the list, checking it twice. The wonder of Jonder, enough somethings nice.
ReplyDeleteGlaxo Babies are back. And they sound very well. and Wevie Stonder, I have that first cd on Skam. and Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, another blast from the past.
A great work you do every year. much apreciated
Thank you, Richard. Glaxo Babies' new album is mostly generic guitar rock, which was disappointing. I was hoping that it would be offbeat and funky, like their 1980's material. "I Don't Want To Be Loved" is a good track, but is not representative of the rest of the record.
Deletehttps://bristolarchiverecords.bandcamp.com/album/men-of-stone
What's with the slandering of Counting Crows?!? The weird-ass title is due to them essentially upgrading their Butter Miracle EP and turning it into a full album. Haven't checked it yet, I only heard "The Tall Grass" but it's supposed to be pretty good...
ReplyDeleteSorry for judging the record by its title. I'm just not a fan of their music, and I didn't want to listen to it. Same with the Spin Doctors (whose new album has a song called "I Liked You Better When Your Butt Was Big").
DeleteOh hey, it's all good, I'm not, like, the biggest Counting Crows fan in the world or anything, but it's interesting that you have a distaste for their music. I thought they make music that everyone kinda sorta finds okay, but maybe not...
DeleteNow, Spin Doctors I only know their one big hit over here, "Tw Princes", which I still like...
Not proud to admit it, but I'm a snob at heart, suspicious of anyone who has the talent to "make music that everyone kinda sorta finds okay". Also white people with dreads, so that's two strikes against Counting Crows.
DeleteHilarious, Jon.
DeleteOBG, another one of THE SPIN DOCTORS biggest hits was LITTLE MISS CAN'T BE WRONG, which I also like!
I think I'm the biggest musical omnivore around these parts.
Holy shit Dogmatics!!!!!! Yippee Hooray! Used to love those two ep's and the 7 of Gimme The Shakes is still super valuable in my ears. I did know about Fishbone--love that! Jonder I think we is on the same page you and I with a lot of the music. Ha Ha I would have passed on Spin Doctors too....always rubbed me wrong somehow to be overplayed ad infinitum. Now if I could just remember that band's name from the 90's who had two hit tunes: Somewhere in the Middle..I can meet you half way I think was one title and the other mega huge hit was 'Two Minds' thinking at the same time both searching for that soul or something like that. I had on one of my comp.'s and have drew a blank each time...so bad. You correct me from my blogging habit with old stuff to where I would be normally every year so big thanks for this great idea of a series.
ReplyDeleteI agree completely -- "Gimme The Shakes" is still a fantastic song, and it's great to hear them again. Maybe someone will read your comment and recognize those lyrics? The only hit I could find called "Somewhere In The Middle" was by Dishwalla in 2002, and the only "Meet You Halfway" I found was by the Partridge Family!
DeleteIt was the blog Unheard Music that tipped me off to the Dogmatics' comeback. Thanks, Roy!
https://unherdmusic.blogspot.com/
https://dogmatics.bandcamp.com/
Jonder got it!!!! Went directly from your answer today to a quick search and everything finally aligned for INCLINED!!! That is the band and I just got the CD (again lost it somewhere) for a future post. I remember I discovered them and The Spin Doctors came on the same compilation tape with a couple songs from each band and may have been others too but too long ago. They really got sucked down the drain hole (unrightly so!) not a peep on the discogs info
DeleteI see on Discogs that Inclined had a 1993 single called "Somewhere In The Middle", and another one called "Two Minds". Never heard of them before!
DeleteInclined was led by singer/guitarist Miles Tackett, whose father is Fred Tackett from Little Feat. Miles formed the group Breakestra after the breakup of Inclined.
Last I can find is this 2010 cool tune…WoW Southern U.S.A. ROYALTY that family! Thanks for info hers da link https://somethingelsereviews.com/2012/02/02/inclined-might-not-know-it-now-2010/
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