🎶 Marching In Like A Lion

Summer festivals are coming... New music review, a new playlist, and more.

Setting the Vibe

We’re only two full months into 2025, and there’s already a wealth of new music to explore and enjoy. Additionally, the summer music festivals and tours are gradually being announced. I just bought tickets to see Neil Young perform in August as part of his Love Earth tour with the Chrome Hearts. I’ve only seen him once before, but that was during an interview with Patti Smith at the 2012 Book Expo, so I’m excited to see him live on stage, finally.

In addition, I’m thinking about attending the Festival International De Jazz De Montréal once again. It's always a great experience, with free and ticketed shows in a city with such diversity in food, art, culture, and music.

What live music are you looking forward to this summer?

Keep reading; I have a playlist to soundtrack your week and a lil’ review of a new record that's spinning nonstop on my turntable…

Digital Music Files: What’s the Difference?

Sound quality often comes down to a trade-off between convenience and fidelity in this digital music era. MP3, the most common format, compresses audio to save space, sacrificing some detail—especially the highs and lows—making it a solid choice for casual listening but lacking depth for the more serious audiophile. CD quality (16-bit/44.1kHz) offers a noticeable upgrade, preserving more of the original recording’s nuances and providing a fuller soundstage. FLAC, which stands for Free Lossless Audio Codec, takes things further, delivering studio-quality sound without compression, making it ideal for listeners who crave every detail—whether it’s the resonance of a cymbal or the breathiness in a vocal track. For most, streaming at high-bitrate settings (Apple Music Lossless, QoBuz, TIDAL HiFi) strikes a balance between quality and accessibility, but if you want to experience an album as intended, investing in FLAC files paired with a good DAC and headphones can make a difference. (or you could buy the vinyl if you can afford the physical storage space and the prices)

As a music listener, do you have an opinion or care what file type is streaming? Do you have a system? Let’s discuss.

🎧 On The Turntable

Okonski Entrance Music (Colemine Records)

Just released on Friday, February 28, 2025, is a mesmerizing dive into the world of meditative, groove-heavy jazz. Building on the warm, analog textures of 2023’s Magnolia, the trio, led by pianist Steve Okonski, leans further into their signature sound of hypnotic piano lines, subtle yet propulsive rhythms, and a cinematic atmosphere full of intimacy and wonder. Entrance Music sometimes recalls the hushed elegance of Bill Evans’ Peace Piece or the minimalist explorations of Ludovico Einaudi, yet it also carries the soulfulness of Khruangbin. The album plays like a lost soundtrack to a late-night drive—moody, evocative, and effortlessly cool. 🎹

🎧 amplified playlist 008:

This playlist was influenced by recent loss and old memories of traveling abroad. I hope you find something you love here.

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Lastly, remembering two giant losses in music this week…

David Johansen. Singer, songwriter, and entertainer who pushed boundaries with New York Dolls died this week. Gavin Edwards wrote an excellent piece in the Sunday NYT.

Roberta Flack. Singer, songwriter, and performer recognized for her ability to cross numerous genres of music—from pop to jazz and R&B. Her voice and music are truly timeless. Hanif Abdurraqib recently wrote a wonderful tribute to her in the New Yorker. 

Thank you for reading; let’s chat again soon. Slava Ukraini. 🇺🇦 ❤️