What's Good (Week of 9/20/26)
Happy Dolly Parton Day, happy 100th 'Trane, and welcome to the end of the week for What's Good. You made it to the weekend, so as always I've got new music for you, including:
New Albums
- Action Figure 973 & Soul La Flare
- Fresh Daily & Mon$rock
- Kiefer
- megiapa
- Raz Fresco
- Tinashe
New Singles
- Chè Noir
- Donwill & The Expert
- Goya Gumbani
- mary in the junkyard
- St. Panther
- Wynne
If you haven't already subscribed, be sure to do so to get the blog delievered right to your inbox every Friday. Now let's get into it.
Playlists
TIDAL
TIDAL: What's Good Playlist - Week of 9/20/26
YouTube
Bonus Beats
Curly Castro and Locust stopped by the Rap Music Plug Podcast to talk Yaphet, including its two posse cuts in "Black Don't Crack" and "New Mutants", Castro and Locust's relationship, Castro's vulnerability on the album, and more.
Chiquita Magic had a set on live hardware (aka live off drum machines) at MUTEK Montreal last month, and brought it to her YouTube channel this week.
Show Me The Body covered Charli XCX's "Rock Music" for the Spotify Live Room.
Jesse Hassenger
They Might Be Giants sat down with Jesse Hassenger ahead of their new album The World Is To Dig to talk about the songs in their catalog that are about bands, being in them, or how much they all write after each other.
Paste: In 2003, I caught a twentieth anniversary show you guys did at the Bowery Ballroom. For whatever reason, this stuck in mind: Linnell, you had joked that you were about to play a song that always felt to you like it had been written specifically about They Might Be Giants, and then you guys played the theme from The Monkees. Then when I heard “The Mesopotamians” a year or so later, I thought, “Oh, okay, it’s The Monkees!” “We’re the Replacements” has a little bit of that too. It’s such an interesting song to have loomed large over another band!
Linnell: Yeah, obviously we’ve done more than one song about that idea that we’re the clowns that are traveling around. It’s a vibe. There was a song by NRBQ that had a roll-call of the band that I really loved. And I think the Velvet Underground did a really funny song when they had their brief reunion in the early ’90s? There was this really light-hearted song that was the same kind of thing—a roll-call song. Probably all of them descend from the Monkees theme.
Flansburgh: But this is a strange thing, speaking of the kitty-litter rule. Boyce and Hart [songwriters who wrote for the Monkees] are like the kings of appropriation, reiteration, re-interpolation, and I didn’t hear this until this like five years ago—Linnell, you might have even been the one to point this out to me—the Monkees theme is clearly riffing on “Catch Me If You Can” by the Dave Clark Five. They thought of a successful pop song as just some virus that was wafting over the culture. I think a lot of songwriters work with very deep catalog stuff rattling around their brains. But with Boyce and Hart, they heard “Satisfaction” and wrote “Valerie” the week they heard it.
Linnell: I think even when it was obvious that someone was riffing on something, it was not considered shameful. I think that is a tradition that has long existed.
Flansburgh: Like “Istanbul” is “Puttin’ on the Ritz.” When the controversy around Olivia Rodrigio’s plagiarism came up, you were very casual about it, Linnell.
Linnell: I thought Elvis Costello had the most articulate and best response. Because she was supposedly ripping him off, and he was like, “Look, I ripped off Bob Dylan. This couldn’t be more of a daisy chain. This is how it works.”
Music
redveil - pawn shop (What's Good PSA: I encourage rappers to enjoy rapping. I would caution against encouraging "type beat" purveyors. Nevertheless. Stream: Soundcloud | Audiomack)
Ghais Guevara - ETERNAL BOY (Out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | Youtube Music)
Bad Snacks - stargazer (Out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Michael Christmas, Chris Crack, & Girl Talk - Dr. Umar Radio Station on GTA6 (From Don't Come To My House Sharing Your Location, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Vinyl via Illegal Art | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
New World Man - I Am The Machine (From I Am The Machine, out on 10/23/26. Preorder: Bandcamp | Vinyl and merch via Closed Casket Activities | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Gritfall - Shea Butter feat. The 6th Letter (From Fall Classic, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music | The Bakery - Raz Fresco's BKRSCLB streaming service)
Cookin Soul & Estee Nack - Hear Me (From AL-ANDALUS, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Physicals via RRC | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Mali Obomsawin - Triage (From Automatic, out on 10/16/26. Purchase: Bandcamp | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Fresh Daily & Mon$rock - Rhythm and Pulse (From As You Were, out now. Purchase/Stream: Bandcamp)
Leon Bridges - Watch You Dance (From Happiness Anytime, out now. Purchase: Physicals and merch via Leon Bridges' official shop | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
devonwho - pluja (From TV2, out on 10/16/26. Preorder: Bandcamp | Physicals and digital via Leaving Records, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Ibelisse Guardia Ferragutti & Frank Rosaly - X (From O, out on 10/16/26. Preorder: Bandcamp | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
RetcH - SIX BRADY (From FINESSE THE WORLD 2, out now. Purchase: Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | Youtube Music)
Rockitneedspace & SURF GANG - Mr. Doubt feat. Earl Sweatshirt & Cletus Strap (From Next Day Air., out on 10/2/26. Preorder: Bandcamp | Qobuz | Digital via Tan Cressida, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Radamiz & Mahershala Ali - Thin Ice (From Bottom Of Heaven I, out now. Purchase: Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | Youtube Music)
Ammi Boyz - The Relay feat. Novelist (Out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Isaiah Rashad - Cameras feat. Dominic Fike (From It's Been Awful, out now. Purchase: Physicals via TDE | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
mary in the junkyard - Jane (Out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
St. Panther - EAST SIDE GIRL (From East Side Love Story, out on 11/20/26. Preorder: Bandcamp | Vinyl and digital via drinksumwtr, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Jeff Parker - Miles' Mode feat. Chris Speed, Kaveh Rastegar, & Aaron Steele (Out now, in honor of John Coltrane's 100th birthday. Purchase: Bandcamp | Digital via Nonesuch Records, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Sour Widows - Choke Chain (From Sigil, out on 10/23/26. Preorder: Bandcamp | Physicals and merch via Julia's War Recordings | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Daniel Son, Asun Eastwood, & Futurewave - Dejounte Murray (From Dejounte Murray EP, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp, Stream: Tidal | Apple | Youtube Music)
Goya Gumbani - Shouldn't Be feat. Joe Armon Jones (From Bean Pie, out on 10/23/26. Preorder: Bandcamp | Ghostly International, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
monti (fka Chester Watson) - silent watcher (Out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Frank Leone - FORBIDDEN RICE (From FREE IMPATIENCE! EP, out on 10/2/26. Preorder: Bandcamp, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Lapgan & Daku - Dakumentary (Out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Tone Liv - black mass (From BIG CHURCH, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp, Stream: Tidal | Youtube Music)
Roy Rutto - NO COLD FEET! (Out now. Purchase: Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Selector Forecast - an onyx star in the sky (Full EP, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp, Stream: Youtube)
cropscropscrops & pty - another word for forage (From the another word for forage / sometimes single, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Chè Noir - Urban Essence feat. The Uce (From the upcoming It Takes A Village. Purchase "Urban Essence": Bandcamp | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Wynne - hold my purse (Out now. Purchase: Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Kiefer - Won't Be Long feat. Amber Navran, Phil Beaudreau, & Shibo (From Memory Bomb, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Raz Fresco - More Colour Money feat. Boldy James (From Boulangerie Deux, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Nick Bruno & Nicholas Craven - Drop The Ball (From Brutality, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
1999 Write The Future & Souls of Mischief - Nothing Without You feat. Dame D.O.L.L.A. & Brookfield Deuce (From Clean Getaway, out on 10/9/26. Preorder: Vinyl via Get On Down | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
BLUEHILLBILL - Bloody Paper (From H.N.I.P, out now. Stream: Untitled)
Joey Dosik - Do You Wanna Leave (Out now. Purchase: Bandcamp, Stream: Tidal | Apple | Youtube Music)
Fatboi Sharif - Jocelyn (From the Dome of Doom 15 Year Anniversary Compilation, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Vinyl via Dome of Doom | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Tinashe - Empty Stadium (From Popstar, out now. Purchase: Physicals via Tinashe's official shop | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Action Figure 973 & Soul La Flare - JUNKYARD DOG (From Dark Side Of The Ring 4, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 5, 2024
067Red - ONYX CARTIER TIGER feat. Vic Spencer (From I REALLY CAN'T SHOW MY FACE, out now. Purchase/Stream: Bandcamp)
AshTreJinkins
AshTreJinkins - ShipsOnSand (From SilverStrand, out now. Purchase/Stream: Bandcamp)
Ghost Dubs - Long Way To Go (From Oblique, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Nelson Bandela - Later Worries (From the upcoming Uncle Nelson. YouTube only for now.)
Big Flowers & shemar - my people megazord feat. KO6i (From i love nature!, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Lily Juniper - Subdued (From Bloom Gloom, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
megiapa - Black Gold of the Sun (From Intentions, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Vinyl and digital via International Anthem | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Semiratruth - Veruca Salt (From S!M, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Physicals and digital via Sooper Records | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Donwill & The Expert - Nosey People feat. Rob Cave & Joel Leon (From EXPERTISE, out on 11/13/26. Preorder: Bandcamp, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
That'll do it for this week! Thank for rocking with me, and if you enjoyed anything, be sure to share the blog with your friends. Enjoy the weekend, take care of each other, and as always, make good choices.
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