By Karen Glauber
I finally took today off—I will do nothing but stare at the ocean and finish the Alan Vega biography I started in August. But no, I volunteered to write a year-end column. Well, at least the view is spectacular. Ten years ago today, I was in Portland, Oregon, with Spoon and KNRK’s Mark Hamilton, on the occasion of the station’s “December to Remember.” Mark still books these shows every year, and we applaud him for that.
He also added Mk.gee’s “ROCKMAN” this week. I give Christine Malovetz at Audacy NYC full credit for talking the record to her peers, even before Mk.gee’s SNL appearance. Audacy is definitely leading the way, with KITS, KNDD, KKDO, KNRK and KVIL on board, with KBZT, WRXL and ALT98.7 testing it this week. I’m obsessed with this record—some people say it reminds them of The Police and Peter Gabriel. I love how unique “ROCKMAN” is—it sounds like nothing else but has that indescribable “magic” that makes you want to hear it again. I listened to nothing else last Tuesday—hit “repeat” on Spotify and let it play for hours. Andy Hawk at KKDO said that the texting response has been huge. Here’s what I know about Mk.gee: “Mike is from New Jersey.” Also, we both love The Blue Nile, so that’s a shared point of interest.
Excited to be working this record in January—and MOST EXCITED that there will be a new Lumineers record very soon. Many of you have heard the single and love it (except for Jeremy Pritchard, which surprises no one). I’m always happiest when I have a Lumineers record to work.
Until this week, only ONE female has had a Top 10 record this year—Billie Eilish, with “LUNCH”—but beabadoobee has finally joined this select club with “Beaches.” Seriously, the BEST MUSIC ALL YEAR was from female artists! The majority of this year’s Spotify Wrapped included Taylor, Charli, Sabrina, Billie and, of course, Chappell. The smartest programmers at Alternative radio are women. They just understand that there are many dynamics to a hit song, including the need to establish artists for the next generation. While I’m incredibly happy that certain heritage bands had some of their biggest career records this year, I am always looking forward to what’s next.
Thinking about the Grammys early next year, I’m obsessively focused on the Best Alternative Music Album category, which includes Nick Cave’s Wild God, one of the best albums of the year; Clairo’s Charm, another favorite, especially “Juna”; St. Vincent’s All Born Screaming, another epic masterpiece; Brittany Howard’s What Now; and Kim Gordon’s The Collective, which reminds everyone that age doesn’t fucking matter.
Nominees for Best Alternative Music Performance repeated three of the above: Nick Cave for “Song of the Lake,” St. Vincent for “Flea” and Kim Gordon for “Bye Bye,” plus “Neon Pill” by Cage the Elephant and “Starburster” by U.K. wonders Fontaines D.C. I loved Fontaines until they accepted the Rolling Stone U.K. award for Album of the Year with a decidedly antisemitic speech. Brittany and St. Vincent have won Alternative Grammys in prior years—does that give them the advantage? Or will voters give either Nick or Kim a “lifetime achievement” award for their decades of impactful music and spectacular fashion campaigns (Kim’s latest for H&M is iconic). OR will the voters award a younger artist—Clairo—as they did the past few years with boygenius and Wet Leg?
I’ve loved Nick Cave and Kim Gordon for decades, and I’ll never forget the first time I saw Alabama Shakes at the Troubadour, falling madly in love with Brittany Howard. St. Vincent’s show at the Hollywood Bowl also proved why she is one of the all-time great performers and deserves every accolade. Clairo has carved a space for artists who are the future, including beabadoobee, Magdalena Bay, Gigi Perez, Wallice, Lola Young and Orla Gartland—all among my favorites on the Lorem playlist.
FAVORITE SONG OF THE YEAR: “Tiny Moves” by Bleachers. Happiest of holidays to those who celebrate. Bah, humbug.
