I need to revisit City Burials. Nothing jumped out at me initially, although it was a relatively enjoyable listen start to finish.
Took this recent purchase with me over the weekend driving upstate with my youngest daughter for some day hiking. Its a great record. Very laid back for the most part. Nice "mountain listening." Definitely a favorite of the year for me.
Seconded! Had an absolute blast listening to it today - after all these years CH's voice still never ceases to give me goosebumps.
"Beyond The Pale" by Jarv Is is really good. Probably Cockers best since "We Love Life"? It sounds like a new contemporary version of his old band! His voice seems unchanged by age. Recommended!!
I'll replace Dream Syndicate with Julianna Barwick's great Healing Is A Miracle at this point, but surprised there isn't more love for the Noveller (Sarah Lipstate) album, it's such a cinematic and emotional album, just ordered the vinyl, along with Julianna Barwick (which apparently doesn't release until the middle of August in the US). Really looking forward to the new Maarja Nuut & Ruum.
You may also like Pacific Range. They released a great album this year called High Upon The Mountain.
Disco Elysium, by British Sea Power "British Sea Power's BAFTA winning Original Soundtrack to the multi-award-winning RPG Computer Game 'DISCO ELYSIUM'." Eclectronic orchestral.
Glad you liked it. It's shaping up to be one of my favourite records of the year, and I read today that it's the first in a planned trilogy of releases from the same recording sessions, with another album and an EP to follow.
Kamaal Williams, Wu Hen Just out and listening on spotify as I wait for the vinyl to arrive. Lovely production and and beautiful flow...
Not sure what took me so long, but I finally got around to listening to "Fetch the Bolt Cutters" by Fiona Apple. I've heard only the opening track so far, but that's all it took to jolt me back awake, remembering how arresting and mind blowing music can be. The dissonance in the passing tones while she holds out that sustained "you..." in the refrain gives me chills. The lyrics in the second verse especially are stunning - the references to the wind, the elasticity of time, the recycling of matter, the PULSE. Against an impossibly vast and perplexing aloneness, she pivots back to declare that "while I'm in this body" she wants to connect with someone. This is extraordinary in its beauty and courage. And her mad scatting at the end is terrifying and beautiful like I've only heard from Kristin Hersh (Throwing Muses). I can't wait to hear track 2.
I've gotten a lot of pleasure from Robert Cray's latest. I have not followed his work loyally, but I plan to double-back and explore what I've missed.
You will have a lot to enjoy! By my last count he has 24 albums. All are good. Some are outstanding!!
First Rose of Spring has grown on me a lot over the past couple of weeks. His voice is a marvel. Stealin' Home is one of the most sentimentally affecting reflections on "time" that I've ever heard. Blue Star is a stunning new Willie original. I don't know if Toby Keith wrote Don't Let The Old Man In for Willie, but "Ask yourself how old you'd be, if you didn't know the day you were born." is a perfect observation about embracing life as the decades pile-up. Highly recommended to any and all fans of Willie Nelson.
So I have just 1/3 or so. I'm not sure why I didn't follow his career more closely. I always liked him. Maybe I didn't see his new albums on display in the NYC shops that I used to frequent.
Habibi Funk 013: The King Of Sudanese Jazz, by Sharhabil Ahmed "Referring to its sonic apperance, Sudanese Jazz hasn’t too much in common with the western idea of Jazz. Sharhabil’s sound feels more like a unique combination of surf, rock n roll, funk, Congolese music and East African harmonies a.o. So it kind of made sense to me, while visiting him in Sudan, to see the records he kept over the years: 2 of his own and 2 by Mulatu Astatke signed to him, further proving the influence of Ethiopian and other neighboring countries. In fact, Sharhabil was not just one of many Sudanese Jazz artist. He is the king of Jazz, literally, since in he won a competion over other artists for that title."
In no particular order: Margo Price - That's How Rumors Get Started Bob Dylan - Rough And Rowdy Ways Fiona Apple - Fetch The Bolt Cutters Waxahatchee - Saint Cloud Swamp Dogg - Sorry You Couldn't Make It Courtney Barnett - MTV Unplugged: Live In Melbourne Lucinda Williams - Good Souls Better Angels Archival/Reissue: Neil Young - Home Grown Blaze Foley - Clay Pigeons Hank Williams - Pictures From Life's Other Side
Taylor Swift's eighth album Folklore is a pop masterpiece. A deeply empathetic, richly evocative slice of ethereal maturity. Most of the album focuses on storytelling songs and character study. Musically, it blends folk, indie, and pop into a truly lovely, hushed mood. I highly recommend it even if you have not been a fan of Taylor in the past. If you have been a fan (like me) this is the best album of her career yet.
I've finally gotten around to the latest Jarvis Cocker project/album "Jarv is." Its good. Love Pulp but have never spent much time in his solo output but this is pretty good.
It’s got to be Michael McDermott’s ‘What in the World’ for me.As Bruce hasn’t written any new classics for some years now, this guy should have taken over his mantle, as he just keeps getting better.
Haven’t heard the album yet, but listened to the track “I Must Evolve” earlier today. It was tremendous fun, with the female chorus echoing his existential questions (E.g. “must I grow old?” “Must I change?” Etc.) with an obvious and hilarious “yes yes yes”. One of my favorite albums of a few years back was Jarvis’ collaboration with Chilly Gonzalez called Room 29.
