Sometimes the amount of cool stuff I have on my radar makes it impossible to fit into one Facebook post, and thus another “Rad Stuff” post is born.  I have some really great friends putting out records this week.  Czech it:

RAD LISTENS

The Belle Sounds – Blackstone
This band is amazing. Every time I see them live I am awash in amazing harmonies, cool pop hooks, and great writing. Also, they are the KINDEST people, which makes it even better. This is the first Belle Sounds album my good friend Emily Shirley is on, and I am so glad for her. Go team, go! BUY IT.

Drew Kennedy – Sad Songs Happily Played
There’s a cool concert series in League City, TX called the San Benave Series, and Drew did a show there. It was an amazing show. He didn’t know they were recording it, and he was pleased when he found out they had. So pleased, he’s releasing the show! Drew is aces at storytelling and of course his songs are articulate, smart, and singable (which is the best combo). BUY IT.

RAD READS

I had a lot of time to read in the car this trip. One book that particularly sucked me in because we spent a lot of time in Northern New Mexico, Eastern Colorado, and Western Kansas was “The Worst Hard Time” about the Dust Bowl. This is the real story of the Dust Bowl, not the glossed over “it stopped raining and there was dirt everywhere” grade school version. Short version: humans messing up the environment made more problems for humans. Imagine that. READ IT.

Taylor Swift is this month’s Rolling Stone cover story. I think she’s great. You get to make your own decision.