8/10/25 New Noize on 92.9 KJEE Santa Barbara's Modern Rock

Song of the Week: Big Thief "Los Angeles" 4AD
Album of the Week: No Joy "Bugland" Hand Drawn Dracula

Jens Lekman "Wedding In Leipzig"
Ada Lea "snowglobe"
Kula Shaker "Broke As Folk"
No Joy "My Crud Princess"
Wednesday "Pick Up That Knife"
Big Thief "Los Angeles"
Snooper "Worldwide"
Anamanaguchi "Darcie"
Die Spitz "Pop Punk Anthem"
Ebi "Soda milk in my console"
Kassa "Overall C.R.E.A.M. (CASH RULES EVERYTHING AROUND ME)"

-hour 2-

Memory of Jane "Space Jumps"
Ya Tseen (feat. Portugal. The Man  Meshell Ndegeocello  & Sidibe) "Taste On My Lips"
Danger Mouse & MorMor "Wonder"
Nation of Language "Inept Apollo"
Bob Moses "Last Forever"
Nourished by Time "BABY BABY"
Ho99o9 (feat. Nova Twins, Pink Siifu & Yung Skrrt) "Incline"
Wretched "Decay"
BUSH "The Land of Milk and Honey"
Muse "Unravelling (Acoustic aka Ghost Town Version)
INOHA "Seventh Heaven"
Of Monsters and Men "Ordinary Creature"
AFI "Behind The Clock"
HAERTS "The Lie"
Cavetown "Baby Spoon"

Welcome one and all to another weekly write up and I am currently supporting that post wedding glow. Not my own, I can barely keep a healthy one on one relationship with my Ficus let alone another human. What I can do well is New Noize and it was another solid set.

I started off the show with a 10+ minute song that wasn't BORIS! It was in fact Jens Lekman with his new one "Wedding In Leipzig". He release another single along side this which was 13+ minutes that you should checkout if you like your pop songs long, winding, and unapologetically indulgent.

Then we dove into Ada Lea’s new record when i paint my masterpiece and spun "snowglobe." Fantastic album, spend some quality time with it BUT it’s not our Album of the Week. That honor goes to No Joy with Bugland, which might be my favorite in their catalog. Maybe it’s just new-release bias, but the risks on this record land perfectly. All killer, no filler.

Other standouts include "Unsinking The Cypress", the new one from Memory of Jane, is a trippy ride worth taking if you’re willing to buy the ticket. Anamanaguchi’s "Anyway" is less chiptune-heavy than their earlier work, but don’t worry purists, plenty of 8-bit textures are still baked in. It’s been on heavy rotation here in the Ahmed lab.

We also got new music from Danger Mouse & MorMor "Wonder". No word on whether it’s leading to a full-length, but I can dream. What’s not a dream? Big Thief announcing a new album and blessing us with "Los Angeles" which is also the New Noize Song of the Week. I’m beyond hyped to see them later this year at the Hollywood Bowl.

In unrelated but equally important news, lawnbowling playoffs have begun, and the Lawntourage secured the number one seed. We’ll see if the crown stays on our heads.

Come Saturday I will be watching Shin Godzilla as they have decided to rerelease this 2016 masterpiece in 4K. I own the blu-ray but that's nothing compared to see this at a movie theater. The bummer is that this movie theater is about an hour away! The things I do to get my Kaiju fix. Later that same night, Robert Glasper is (hopefully) finally playing in SB after his third “rescheduled” date. Fingers crossed.

Until next week 

8/3/25 New Noize on 92.9 KJEE Santa Barbara's Modern Rock

Song of the Week: IDLES "Rabbit Run" Partisan
Album of the Week: Wisp "If Not Winter" Interscope

Bret McKenzie "Freak Out City"
hey, nothing "Black Bear"
mark william lewis "Still Above"
The Voidz "Blue Demon"
IDLES "Rabbit Run"
Ghostface Killah "Rap Kingpin"
The Armed "Heathen"
Wisp "Mesmerized"
The Antlers "Carnage"
Yves Tumor & NINA "WE DONT COUNT"
MF Robots "Hello Sunshine"
Quadeca "AT A TIME LIKE THIS"
Far Caspian "First Day"
Bicep "Aappoq"

-hour 2-

Sofia Kourtesis "Unidos (with Daphni)"
Baxter Dury "Schadenfreude"
Fat Dog "Pray To That"
Laibach "Die Kanone (feat. Bjelo Dugme)"
Debby Friday "All I Wanna Do Is Party"
Bon Iver "From"
Ami Taf Ra "The Prophet"
The New Eves "Rivers Run Red"
Orbit Culture "Hydra"
Maren Morris "earth angel"
Avery Tucker "Like I'm Young"
The Beths "Metal"
LAPêCHE "Autotelic Nosebleed"

I’m happy to report I did in fact get tamales at Our Lady of Guadalupe here in SB so yeah, my Fiesta was a success.

But let’s not sugarcoat it, this year felt different. The streets weren’t as packed, and you could sense the tension, especially around the fear of ICE activity in town. It was quieter than usual, and that weight was definitely felt across the celebration. I am also happy to report I was not the one who got stabbed and I like it when my skin is not pierced by violence.

You know we New Noize'd this Sunday like we always do. I was bummed I didn't get to go to the Maren Morris show at the SBBowl but that was mostly due to the fact that I had to do New Noize so instead I played "earth angel".

And yes, as you can see I played a bunch of other things. That’s kind of my whole thing every Sunday.

Kicked it all off with Bret McKenzie, because anytime I can, I will. I love that dude’s songwriting brain. He always sounds like he’s scoring a musical inside someone else’s head.

New Noize Song of the Week goes to IDLES with “Rabbit Run”, featured on the upcoming film Caught Stealing, about a guy who agrees to watch his punk rock roommate’s cat… and then chaos ensues. Check the trailer. It looks wild:

Before I get to Album of the Week, let me shout out a few other records that nearly took the crown which include The Armed, Debby Friday, Quadeca, and two fantastic EPs from Sofia Kourtesis and The Voidz. All worthy of your time and attention.

Top honors got to Wisp for "If Not Winter" Their first studio album and it’s a beautiful, shoegaze-soaked meditation. This record doesn't ask for anything from you. It just envelops you. It places a soft-focus filter on your inner world and lets you view your reality from a slightly off-axis perspective...familiar, but reimagined. I love records that make you immediately hit replay. If Not Winter does that and more.

Now, this would usually be the part where I talk about EVO but I skipped it this year. Still bitter. Inshallah next year.

Catch you next time, new week, New Noize.

7/27/25 New Noize on 92.9 KJEE Santa Barbara's Modern Rock

Song of the Week: Tame Impala "End Of Summer" Columbia
Album of the Week: Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist Alfredo 2

Anamanaguchi "Rage (Kitchen Sink)"
SPRINTS "Rage"
Moon Panda "Butterknife"
Indigo De Souza "Crush"
Hunx And His Punx "No Way Out"
Mac DeMarco "Holy"
Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist "Empanadas"
Platonic Sex "Easy"
Cate Le Bon "Is It Worth It (Happy Birthday)"
John Maus "Came & Got"
Yumi Zouma "Cross My Heart and Hope to Die"
NATION OF LANGUAGE's "Under The Water"
Tame Impala "End Of Summer"
Soulwax "Run Free"
Fcukers "Play Me"
Tyler, The Creator "Stop Playing With Me"
PUNCHBAG "I Love This"

-hour 2-

MIRAMAR "La Playa"
Jamie xx "Dream Night"
Mechatok (ft. Tohji) "200"
HAAi "Hey!"
Fever Ray "I'm Not Done (Radical Romantics Session)"
Big Wild(ft. Phantogram) "Too Loud"
Holly Palmer "Requiem For A Dream"
Daniel Avery "Rapture in Blue"
The Body "A Curse"
Thrice "Gnash"
We Are Scientists "The Big One"
Cory Hanson "On the Rocks"
Flock of Dimes "Long After Midnight"
Kurt Vile & Luke Roberts "wildflower"
Motion City Soundtrack "You Know Who The Fuck We Are"
Sloan "Dream Destroyer"

Not on Spotify:
MIRAMAR "La Playa"
Holly Palmer "Requiem For A Dream"

Viva la Fiesta. It's that special time of year in Santa Barbara when confetti ends up in every crevice of your car, clothes, and existence. I’m still recovering from this past week. Thursday I saw SB local folk rockstar Father John Misty rock the folk out the SBBowl. Friday, Gogol Bordello tore up the Arlington. And Saturday? I saw Fantastic Four. No spoilers, but I’m not a huge FF guy, and I still dug it. Then Sunday? You already know. New Noize time.

This week’s show had some serious weight. I spun a previously unreleased track from MIRAMAR, a sneak peek ahead of his upcoming boat cruise here in Santa Barbara on August 9. Also got in that new Mac DeMarco track “Holy,” a teaser for his upcoming SB Bowl show.

New Noize Song of the Week? No contest—Tame Impala with “End of Summer.” And yes, I played the full 7+ minute non-radio edit. If you’re gonna drift, drift properly.

The New Noize song of the Week goes to Tame Impala with the "End Of Summer", and yes i played the 7+ minute non radio edited version of this banger.

The Album of the Week goes to the follow up to Alfredo, Alfredo 2. Alchemist and Freddie Gibbs created lighting once again. Top to bottom this album is thick with style you wish you had.

Also pour some more our for Alchemist, one of the hardest working humans in 2025 when it comes to music.

As for me?

I'm gonna try to survive Fiesta this week and EVO next week. I won’t be going to EVO this year (still salty), but life conflicts are life conflicts.

Catch you next Sunday. No confetti, no excuses—just New Noize.

7/20/25 New Noize on 92.9 KJEE Santa Barbara's Modern Rock

Song of the Week: Nine Inch Nails "As Alive As You Need Me To Be" Interscope
Album of the Week: DJ Haram "Besides Myself" Hyperdub

Pile "Bouncing in Blue"
Still Blank "Ain't Quite Right"
Jeff Tweedy "Enough"
Wisp "Breathe onto me"
Big Thief "All Night All Day"
Alex G "Spinning"
Child Seat "Love Drug"
Hermanos Gutiérrez(feat. Leon Bridges) "Elegantly Wasted"
she's green "Willow"
They Are Gutting a Body of Water "trainers"
Wombo "Spyhopping"
Wet Leg "pokemon"
Skullcrusher "Exhale"
DRAIN "Stealing Happiness From Tomorrow"
Water From Your Eyes "Playing Classics"

-hour 2-

Hot Chip "Devotion"
Nine Inch Nails "As Alive As You Need Me To Be"
Modeselektor "MEGA MEGA MEGA"
Slikbak "Knot"
DJ Haram (ft. Kayy Drizz) "Do u Love me"
Two Shell "eXist"
Justice(feat. The Flints)  "Mannequin Love(Hudson Mohawke Remix)"
Sudan Archives "MY TYPE"
clipping.(feat. Counterfeit Madison and Kid Koala) "Night of Heaven"
$ilkMoney "THE $400 CHEESEBURGER FROM THE WINDOW SHOPPER VIDEO WAS JUST A BIG MAC"
Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist "1995"
Raekwon(Ft Nas) "The Omerta"
Clipse "So Far Ahead"
Geese "Taxes"  

So there I was, watching The Sandlot at the Santa Barbara Courthouse, peak summer vibes, when a literal rocket launched across the nightsky. I’m not saying that was a sign from the universe, but I am saying my weekend was a bit ridiculous.

Then Saturday hit and I caught The Marías doing a full takeover of the Santa Barbara Bowl. Wild to think I first saw them back in their Soho nightclub infancy—now they’re out here performing for some of the best-looking humans in SoCal. That merch line? Pure chaos. That beverage line? Nonexistent. That opener? Julie. The hyper-opposite of The Marías, and that’s why it worked. I saw Julie open for Foo Fighters once and made sure to show up early & still managed to miss the first song. Don’t sleep on Julie.

And yes, Friday brought another avalanche of new music. I had to slice nearly an hour of material just to fit what made the final cut. Not complaining. That’s my favorite kinda problem.

NINE INCH NAILS IS BACK WITH A NEW OST! Yes, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross have been killing the soundtrack game under their own names for years but now they’re flipping the switch back to NIN mode for the TRON: Ares OST. The moment I heard “As Alive As You Need Me To Be,” I knew it was the New Noize Song of the Week. It’s icy. It’s cinematic. It’s exactly what you want NIN doing in 2025.

Here’s the trailer if you haven’t seen it:

And speaking of being possessed by sound, My Album of the Week is DJ Haram’s "Besides Myself" an unsettling, gorgeous, grime-soaked hallucination of a record. There’s something sinister laced through this whole album, it’s forcing a rewire to your nervous system in real time. Just let it. It’s worth it.

Thursday night, I’m catching Father John Misty, and I will not be watching Marley & Me in the park. Absolutely not. That movie is devastating and I refuse, REFUSE to get emotional in public. Not trying to weep into my reusable wine tumbler while surrounded by strangers. Nope.

I’ll be back next Sunday.
New set. New chaos. Same New Noize.
See you then.