This is the 20th edition of Enjoy Music, and I couldn’t be more excited to reach this incredible pinnacle. The Peak Of Stack Mountain, they call it. Not every Stack makes it to 20 baby! But we did, not just me, but all of us. It got dicey there for a stretch too. You don’t go to LA and just write a Stack with your time. Who would ever do that. Not me; I was out Enjoying Life.
Anyways, we are back, and it’s the big 2-0, and in honour of that, I present to you: another edition of Enjoy Music. For the 10th edition, I pulled out all the stops and presented you with 10 songs. I’m not gonna lie, I toyed with the idea of doing a 20 song extravagaza. But then I remembered, I’m still unpacking boxes, and I’ll never forget what Stack legend Sam Valenti “Mr. Herb Sundays” IV told me once:
“Always Stack at a pace that works for you.”
If my life only makes time for Five Tracks, steaming up your DiscMan (or era appropriate player), and not Twenty Tracks, then that’s just what it’s gonna have to be.
“You Get What You Get And You Don’t Get Upset” - An Enjoyable Proverb.
Okay, let’s stop all this hilarious banter and get to the next five additions to the Great Enjoy Music Songbook. Love y’all, thanks for reading 20 editions of this silliness. And of course: ENJOY!
The Zenmenn - Coney Island Subway Blues (Live at La Pot) (2023)
“Come on”
They’re back baby, and they’re zenner than ever. I’ve got no scoop on whether this tune is gonna appear on a new record, but let’s keep our fingers crossed that they’ll be gracing us with a Hot New Disc sometime soon. I’ve already expressed by affinity for the boys, their collab record with John Moods, and of course their live clip for Flags Of The World, which manages to be hilarious and an incredible jam at the same time. A feat that is hard to accomplish, let me tell you. This live clip falls in the same category. The Zen Boys just know how to do it. Go watch all these clips for these unreleased tunes of theirs, and Pray that they Bless us with a new disc soon.
Cocteau Twins - Know Who You Are At Every Age (1993)
Nothing more Enjoyable than a piece of music that can not only surprise you, but also make you cry while you wait at your gate for a flight. I was pretty well-acquainted with Heaven or Las Vegas, but had never listened to Four-Calendar Cafe. I don’t know what struck me that day at LaGuardia, but I decided to fire it up, and was completely stunned. It is, without a doubt, a perfect album. Every single song is completely drenched in emotion. Maybe this is just a nostalgic thing for me. I was born in the mid 80s, and this sound was the sound of my youth, even if it wasn’t this specific record. It feels like a warm blanket. Honestly, I’ve got nothing funny to write here, this is just Beautiful Music. Enjoy It!
The Blue Nile - Stay (1984)
I don’t think I’ve talked about The Blue Nile on any Enjoy Music editions (please fact check me if I have), and considering the deep love that I have for this band, it only felt right to say a few words about them. It is the 20th edition after all.
I can’t think of any band who’s style and all-around vibe have quite as strong of a pull. While they’re definitely not a “two album band”, even though they’re often spoken about as one (Peace At Last has some beautiful songs on it), their first two records are untouchable. I chose Stay here because I had never seen the video before, and because Deep Down, I think I like A Walk Across Rooftops more than Hats. Put me in Sophistipop Jail, I don’t even care.
BONUS ENJOY: Watch Flags and Fences, a short doc on The Blue Nile’s tour of America in the early 90s. Stunning to watch them performing the classic songs with such tremendous force. Here it is so you don’t have to click away:
Dana and Alden - Coyote, You’re My Star (2024)
Wow, this is Brand New Music. Like this literally came out TODAY. The boys are back, and I gotta say, Quiet Music For Young People, their last LP, has been getting some serious spins around Enjoy Music HQ. And here’s a little glimpse into the Daily Life of Teen Daze: my four year old is obsessed with this record. We listen to it at least three times a day. Every time “Let’s Go To Trader Joe’s” comes on, he shouts “YOGURT AISLE”. I live in a dream.
Anyways, the Jazz Boys are back with a new single, and it’s a jam baby. I would make some boring capitalistic statement about “buying stock in this band”, but instead I’ll say something earnest: It is a treat to watch a young band grow and progress right before your eyes. I truly Enjoy these guys, and am thrilled to see what happens next. Enjoy NEW MUSIC from The Jazz Boys!
Eyedress - Okanagan Lake (ft. Daryl Johns & Horse Morrison) (2024)
It’s official - I have my finger on the pulse of NEW MUSIC. This new one from Eyedress and co. is an absolute power-pop masterpiece. Visions of The Ogopogo dance across my mind (that’s an Okanagan Joke for all you residents of Western Canada). Question: Has this song actually existed for decades already? They tapped into something timeless on this one. This one makes me wanna pick up a guitar baby. Enjoy Eyedress & The Gang.
IN TEEN DAZE NEWS: That’s it up there folks! My new single Back yard (incredibly art by Miles Wintner, and photo by Neil Kryszak - shout out to the boys!) is out on May 8 (that’s just under two weeks away). You can pre-save it, but honestly I don’t know what that does, or why a person does it. If you head over to my (soon-to-be-banned?) TikTok, I’ve got a bunch of videos of me messing around with the tune, playing it in different ways. I am a Content Machine. The truth is, this song is Deeply Meaningful, and I’m a big fan of it, and I want the Entire World to hear it.
And oh yeah, that’s SAM WILKES on the bass, and ANDY SHAUF on the drums. Mama mia.
So if you Enjoy This Newsletter, and you Enjoy Teen Daze Songs, when May 8 comes along, tell a friend, make a post. Or, who are we kidding, take 2 mins to give it a listen. It’s all I can really ask for this day and age.
ALSO: My new remix for MAUVEY, a new friend and neighbour of mine, is out today! This one has me dipping into some strange and exciting sonic territories. All I know is I had a BLAST making it. Go put some headphones on, and get deep into Mauvey world.
LOVE Y’ALL, see ya next week…for more…ENJOY MUSIC!
oh man, what a lineup this week! hard to choose a favourite this time but the chord change from the verse into the chorus of Stay might be my favourite Moment. Transcendent!