The Doldrums of Winter Are Here
Giant Steps is 66! | Liner Notes: R.E.M.'s Murmur | A New Playlist | New Releases
Yep, it’s still cold and snowy here in coastal New Hampshire. It looks like we got another foot of snow today and more later in the week, but Spring is only 26 days away! I’ve said this in the past, but it’s true once again this week: It’s a good time for staying indoors with a warm bowl of soup or a hot cappuccino, and reading a book or listening to a record. I swear, spring is less than a month away!
John Coltrane’s Giant Steps is 66 Years Old
February is Black History Month, and 66 years ago, John Coltrane stepped into the studio to record Giant Steps, which was released in February 1960 on Atlantic Records.
It was his first album as a leader for his new record label, and recordings began about two weeks after his final sessions with Miles Davis for Kind of Blue. It’s still one of my favorite albums by Coltrane.
“His music contains universal values that still speak to us now – the essential humanity of his work, the sheer joy of music making, and the power and energy of his playing that even today can be both moving and uplifting.”
Liner Notes
Liner Notes is a new section where I share stories about albums in my collection. My mission is simple: one record and one story at a time. Since I bought my first record in 1982, I’ve been obsessed with the stories hidden in the grooves. This is a sanctuary for the music nerds and the audibly curious, dedicated to records and the liner notes that keep them alive.
R.E.M. Murmur (I.R.S.)
When R.E.M. released Murmur in 1983, it didn’t sound like anything else heard on the radio. Back then, most pop and rock music was full of bright synthesizers, but R.E.M. played beautiful jangly garage rock with one of the best vocalists, and songwriters, in rock music at the helm. They made an album that felt quiet, earthy, and contagious. It was made for college rock. Peter Buck’s Rickenbacker guitar explored beautiful ringing sounds, and the whole record felt like a walk through the woods near Athens, Georgia. Murmur wasn’t trying to blow out your speakers, it was trying to pull you in with its clever lyrics, irresistible and captivating guitar melodies, simple but effective bass lines, and unpresuming, pleasant drum beats.
R.E.M. paved the road for a lot of the indie and alternative bands that I would discover in high school and college. It’s classic because it’s honest, simple, and still sounds great almost forty-three years later. In high school, I couldn’t wait for new music from R.E.M. I had all their albums on cassette.
My favorite tracks? ‘Catapult,’ ‘Talk About the Passion,’ ‘Radio Free Europe,’ ‘Sitting Still,’ and ‘We Walk’. I just loved their sound and it brought me to appreciate other bands with a similar feel, like The Feelies, The Smiths, The Chills, and The Replacements. What about you?
New Releases
New albums or reissues now available for purchase on vinyl, CD, or digitally.
Various Artists Aman Aman - Greek Anatolian Laments (Mississippi Records)
Wonderful historic Greek recordings courtesy of Mississippi Records. This is a collection of songs originally released between 1911 and 1935 on 78 RPM records.
Aman Aman translates to “mercy,” a call of despair, but also one of joy and admiration. Now available on vinyl or digital download.
Moonchild Waves (Tru Thoughts)
Brand new album in the vein of neo-soul, R&B, and jazz from this Los Angeles group featuring guests like Robert Glasper, Jill Scott, and many more. Released Friday, February 20, 2026, on Tru Thoughts.
Playlist
The Rolling Stones - Winter
Badly Drawn Boy - Fall In A River
The Album Leaf - On Your Way
Archers Of Loaf - Chumming The Ocean
Esmerine - Imaginary Pasts
Bat for Lashes - Daniel
Daniel Martin Moore - Lay Down Your Lonesome Burden
Belle & Sebastian - The Fox In The Snow
Andrew Bird - Dissent
Kristin Hersh - Your Ghost (w/ Michael Stipe)
Marisa Anderson - Sant Feliu de Guíxols
Library Additions
Here are a few other new albums that I added to my collection this weekend…
What new albums have you purchased recently?
Thanks for reading. Until next week! - JB