The Historic New Jersey collective has undergone a notable glow-up in recent times, with Jeff Tweedy squarely at its heart. The Philadelphia-based circle is known for elevating fresh acts such as Rubber Band Gun, Star Moles, and Sam and Louise Sullivan—the retro-leaning siblings Wilco spotlighted at their Solid Sound festival. Emily Moales of Star Moles spent the festival alongside the Sullivans, and Tweedy has begun championing her as well.
In March, Moales issued Highway To Hell, the newest Star Moles album. We’re big fans of it, and we spoke with her earlier this spring about its quirky, retro-flavored indie-pop sound. It turns out Tweedy is a supporter too. He frequently posts cover pieces in his Starship Casual newsletter on Substack, though most of those tracks are behind a paywall. Today, he has released a public take on the Highway To Hell track “Real Magic.”
Some words from Tweedy on the tune:
I had to sing this one quite low because I was in a hotel room and couldn’t hit the high notes. And there are a lot of clever melodic twists that she weaves in—I’m not sure I caught every single one, but I hope the idea comes through. It’s a remarkable song, and she writes lyrics that are playful, warm, and touching.
Listen at Starship Casual, and if you haven’t checked out Highway To Hell yet, give it a listen below.
