I have on several occasions shared with you a selection of new music that I have been listening to on YouTube, and as the most recent of those was four months ago it feels like time for another. There is no theme for these: they are simply a set of music videos that have been published in the past few weeks that I have enjoyed, and hope you will too. They are a bit of a mix, but what else would you expect from me?

I’m guessing that a couple of these might be new acts for you, though all bar one have featured here before. This first one needs absolutely no introduction, a stunningly good video from a band that has been around for a few years:

That was, of course, The Rolling Stones with In The Stars, a track from their new album, Foreign Tongues, which is scheduled for release on 10 July. I love the way the video uses doubles to take the place of band members, and it is very cleverly done. The cast list for this stretches to nearly 100, so it was clearly something which took a while to put together. Underlying that is another stonker of a Stones track: even at this late stage in their career they still have it. This is one of two songs which have so far been issued as teasers for the album: the other, Rough And Twisted, is a blues-based stomper to open proceedings. I’m looking forward to it!

And now for something completely different, as Mr Python used to say. I played a song by this duo a few weeks ago and as it was extremely well received I thought I’d share another of theirs with you. It is one from their back catalogue which they are in the process of updating, and is just as lovely as the previous one I played. This is Jack & Daisy:

Apparently, You Belong To Me is a cover of a song by Jo Stafford, but I don’t know the original, and after hearing this I don’t really want to seek it out: this is just too good! The recording is a studio one, unlike many of their more recent videos which have either been overlooking the sea in Spain, where they live, or with the pair of them sitting in the boot of their car. Their harmonies are simply lovely, and hopefully there are more like this on the way.

The next tune is another from an upcoming album, from two of my favourites. Old Crow Medicine Show are fantastic, and this track also features the incredibly talented Molly Tuttle, who has recently become engaged to Ketch Secor, leader of the band, who shares vocals with her on this:

Ketch co-wrote Last American Waltz with another band member, Critter Fuqua (yes, his real name but not pronounced how you are imagining it). As you heard, the waltz is used as an allegory to depict their view of what is happening to their country, in its current decline. It is the most gentle and subtle of protest songs, and isn’t the first time he has made political comments through his music. The song and video are lovely, enhanced by the two (uncredited) dancers, and the album, Union Made, is due out on 5 June. Another to which I am very much looking forward.

This next one is another making a political statement, which is also very relevant in the US right now, with the demonisation of immigrants by the current administration, who seem to be ignorant of the fact that the great majority of their population are descended from immigrants, apart from those who were displaced from their land at the outset. It isn’t a new song, but has been re-recorded for present times:

That was the inimitable Steve Earle with City Of Immigrants, which was originally a track on his twelfth album, Washington Square Serenade, which was released in September 2007. On the record, as in this video, he is accompanied by Forro in the Dark, who are a New York-based collective of Brazilian expatriates that formed in 2002. The group combines the musical style of forró (pronounced “faw-HAW”), “the percussion-heavy, rhythmic dance music” of their native Brazil, with elements of rock, folk, jazz, and country. I find this one incredibly powerful in making its point, and liken it to Jackson Browne’s song The Dreamer, which is also well worth watching.

This next singer might be a new one for you unless you have been following me for some time and have a good memory. I’ve played several of her songs before, and even devoted a whole post to a new album she had just released. This is a new video for a song from her most recent record:

Divorce In A Small Town is a track from Good Omen, the latest release by Caroline Jones, which came out in February, though this video is only a couple of weeks old. I’ve been a fan of Caroline’s music for quite a while now, and love everything she does. She was one of those who kept us going during the pandemic with shows from her home, which were always a mix of great music and extremely scatty behaviour to accompany it. As I said, I’ve played her music quite a bit, and if you want to see more just type her name into the search box. She is accompanied on this by Alyssa Bonagura, another talented singer-songwriter who I have also played before, including a previous collaboration with Caroline. Two for the price of one, really.

I said at the outset that one of today’s videos is by a debutant on my blog, and I’ve saved it till the end as it is a good way to sign off. As you may have noticed, I have a fondness for a good covers band, notably First To Eleven who, by a strange coincidence, have also recently released their cover of this song. This, however, is the Middle Aged Dad Jam Band, with their version of Pat Benatar’s Heartbreaker, on which they are joined by a special guest:

That is very typical of the MADJB, in its relaxed style and approach. As here, they are often accompanied by wives, girlfriends and assorted hangers on, and I love their approach to music: they have fun, which is, for me, essential. And getting Tia Carrere to join in and take lead vocal on this was quite a coup for them – you may recall her role in the two Wayne’s World movies. As someone has written in the YouTube comments on this “I believe I speak on behalf of an entire generation when I say… Schwing!” If you don’t get that reference , you need to see the movies, which are brilliant.

That’s my lot for today.  As I said these were a bit of a mixture but I hope you enjoyed at least some of them. I’ll see you again for Song Lyric Sunday, so until then take care 👍