We are a nation of immigrants, although some like to act like we’re not, but our musical heritage is rich in songs of the travails and contributions of immigrants.
“Thousands Are Sailing” by The Pogues tells the first person stories of generations of Irish arrivals on American shores.
“America” by Neil Diamond is a cheerful ode to the ideal that’s not always realized.
“Fam Jam (Fe Sum Immigrins)” by Shad is a Canadian hip-hop exploration of the same theme.
“Paper Planes” by M.I.A documents the red tape and paperwork needed to cross borders today.
“Deportee (Plane Wreck at Los Gatos)” by Cisco Houston reminds us that not everyone who makes it here is allowed to stay, and often human live are treated as disposable
“Esta Tierra Es Tuya” by Sones de Mexico Ensemble. But, all the same, “This Land is Your Land,” no matter what language you sing it in.
There are hundreds of songs I could share here, so please let me know some good ones I left out in the comments.
I’ve been meaning to make this a regular feature, and this is a good time to collect some songs written in opposition to fascists, white supremacists, and right-wing extremists of all stripes. It seems that folk and punk are the favored genres of anti-fascism, but if you know a good ripping tune from some other genre to add to the fight, let me know in the comments.
Artists:Fleet Foxes Album: Crack-Up Release Date: 16 June 2017 Favorite Tracks: “I Am All That I Need / Arroyo Seco / Thumbprint Scar,” “Third of May / Ōdaigahara,” and “Fool’s Errand” Thoughts: After a six-year absence, Seattle’s Fleet Foxes return with this brilliant collection of new tunes. The gorgeous harmonies expected from Fleet Foxes are still here. There’s also a lot of experimentation in crafting the songs, many of which are suites of songs that shift dramatically in tone, but not only enough to be disarming not to to annoy. The lyrics are dense and full of allusions, so much so that songwriter Robin Pecknold annotated the songs on Genius, but I find myself content letting the music wash over me. Crack-Up may not be everyone, but I find it the lovely end product of pushing folk rock to its limits.
This weeks track comes from the Olympia, Washington electro-pop duo The Blow. “Get Up” is a spoken word rap over a simple synthesizer beat that brings 80s flashbacks and also reminds me of the dance punk band !!!. The songwriter Khaela Maricich describes the song as being about “the feeling of my whole spirit being crushed by extreme capitalism.” The Blow’s new album Brand New Abyss is due for release in September.
St. Vincent (aka Annie Clark) is back with a new single called “New York.” It’s a different sound for her and not for those who are sensitive to profanity. Read more at All Songs Considered.
Over the past few months I’ve been collecting songs for what I call the Resistance Mixtape.
Music can soothe and inspire. Songs can tell stories and instruct. And most importantly music brings people together.
Here are some songs for the Resistance Mixtape for Independence Day.
Let’s begin with Paul Robeson, singing about “The House I Live In.”
Woody Guthrie’s famous response to “God Bless America” noted that even in a land where people wait in line at the relief office and signs say “No Trespassing” that the reality is that “This Land is Your Land.”
Prince & the Revolution similarly question the premise of “America the Beautiful” and whether or not the grace of God trickles down to our children.
Kim Weston sings a stirring version of the song known as “The Black National Anthem.”
Finally, the love we have for our own nation need does not mean we hate or demean other nations as we learn in the hymn “This is My Song” written by Lloyd Stone.
Ok, this blog has grown moribund and I find it impossible to keep myself organized enough to create a monthly “What I’m Listening To Now” post. So I’m bringing back “Song of the Week.” Especially since I heard this great new song on the radio (yes, the radio!) by Jessica Hernandez & The Deltas. The band is from Detroit, Hernandez sings in English & Spanish, and this track at least reminds a bit of the early B-52s. Enjoy some hot music for this hot Independence Day weekend!
I hear too much infighting about the best way to conduct the resistance, so it’s good to hear this podcast the multiple fronts on which progressives are fighting for our country and our future.
I’ve always enjoyed visiting the Temple of Dendur at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Turns out that the temple is not as old as I thought nor has it been in the Met for as long as I’d imagined either. The stories of why it was built and how it ended up in New York are equally fascinating.
Viewers of nature documentaries expect that everything in the film comes directly from nature, but having microphones in the right place to capture sounds is so difficult and dangerous that most animal sounds are produced by foley artists.
The story of a Louisiana town where many of the residents are descendants of 272 slaves sold to fund Georgetown University.
Albums of the Month
Artist: Charly Bliss Album: Guppy Release Date: April 21, 2017 Favorite Tracks: “Glitter,” “Black Hole,” and “Ruby”
Thoughts: The Brooklyn power pop quartet bring back a mid-90s sound reminiscent of Letters to Cleo and Velocity Girl. Eva Hendricks sings a bit nasally over fuzzed-out guitars and drums with lyrics that aren’t anywhere as sweet as they’re sung. It’s a great throwback but having lived through it all the first time around, I’d prefer something new. Rating: ***
Artist: Future Islands Album: The Far Field Release Date: April 7, 2017 Favorite Tracks: “Beauty of the Road,” “Cave,” and “Shadows”
Thoughts: I was not familiar with the Baltimore-based synthpop outfit, but the reviews of the album were good so I thought I’d give it a shot. The sound is very 80s, reminiscent of Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark, but Samuel Herring’s vocals overlaying the synths are more growly than romantic. Once again, I’m feeling that I’ve heard this all before. The highlight is the duet with Debbie Harry on “Shadows.” Rating: **1/2
Artist: Alexandra Savior Album: Belladonna of Sadness Release Date: April 7, 2017 Thoughts: This debut from the Portland, OR singer-songwriter features moody crooning over 60’s style jazz-pop. It’s a little bit reminiscent of Fiona Apple, not to mention umpteen singers from the swinging sixties. There’s too much polish on this album and the raw talent Savior has is unable to shine through. Rating: **
Artist: The New Pornographers Album: Whiteout Conditions Release Date: April 7, 2017 Favorite Tracks: “High Ticket Attractions”
Thoughts: I’m a long-time fan of The New Pornographers and I’m disappointed by their latest release. There’s nothing new about it as the reliance on synthesizers seems to just water down their traditional sound rather then expand into new territories. The emotion and variety of previous albums. Perhaps the absence of Dan Bejar contributes to the lack of balance and feeling of incompleteness. Rating: **
Artist: Gorillaz Album: Humans Release Date: April 28, 2017 Favorite Tracks: “Ascension” (feat. Vince Staples),”Momentz” (feat. De La Soul), “Let Me Out” (feat. Mavis Staples and Pusha T), and “We Got the Power” (feat. Jenny Beth)
Thoughts: The band of animated characters is joined by an army of guest artists on this hip-hop, indie pop, electronic dance party album. It’s all over the place and delightfully strange but there’s a little something for everyone. Rating: ***1/2
That’s April! If there’s something I should listen to in May, let me know in the comments.
I’m switching things up this month. Instead of focusing on the musical output of one band or artist, I decided to listen to all the albums on a list of favorite albums from one artist. That artist is Guðbjörg Tómasdóttir of the duo My Bubba, she being the Icelandic Bubba with her Swedish partner My Larsdotter. My Bubba have appeared in my Song of the Week posts on two occasions for their tracks “Poem Found in the Pocket of an Amazon” and “Big Bad Good” and the latter song also made my favorite songs of 2016 list.
I found 7 of the 8 albums on streaming services. So here is my venture into Icelandic sometimes folkish, sometimes jazzy, often minimalist, and always vocal oriented popular music
Artist: Björk Guðmundsdóttir & Tríó Guðmundar Ingólfssonar Album: Glíng-Gló (1990) Favorite Tracks: “Kata rokkar,” “Tondeleyo,” and “Börnin við tjörnina” Thoughts: I suspect this isn’t for everyone, but if you find the idea of Björk crooning jazz standards in her native tongue appealing, then this album is for you. Rating: ***1/2
Artist: Emilíana Torrini Album: Fisherman’s Woman (2005) Favorite Tracks: “Nothing Brings Me Down,” “Today Has Been OK” Thoughts: If Björk’s voice doesn’t do it for you, Emilíana Torrini’s is more accessible, both ethereal and emotive. Her style reminds me of the English folk rock movement of the 1970s but these tracks are accompanied by minimalist guitar. Rating: ***1/2
Artist: Ólöf Arnalds Album: Við Og Við (2007) Favorite Tracks: “Í Nýju Húsi” Thoughts: Troubadour-style performances of traditional Icelandic music. Again, I’m reminded of the folk revival styles of the 60s & 70s, but in Icelandic. Rating: ***
Artist: Sigurður Guðmundsson og Memfismafían Album: Oft spurði ég mömmu (2008) Favorite Tracks: “Lady Fish And Chips” and “Veðrið er herfilegt” Thoughts: Another retro album described as “old Icelandic popular tunes,” but here “old” sounds like pop songs of the 30s to 50s. And it’s pretty clear that one of them is “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” which sounds more sexy than creepy in Icelandic. I can’t find anything on the web about this album in English, but the vocalist has a Frank Sinatra vibe, and the whole album swings. Rating: ***1/2
Artist: Múgíson Album: Haglél (2011) Thoughts: This album apparently resonated strongly with the people of Iceland, but I’m not as impressed. Of course, I know nothing of the lyrics, but musically it sounds like 70s pop songs with maybe a little 90s angst. Rating: **
Artist: Valdimar Album: Undraland (2010) Favorite Tracks: Thoughts: Cheerful indie pop. The brass section moves this from mundane to a bit interesting. Rating:**1/2
Artist: amiina Album: Fantômas (2016) Favorite Tracks: “Simplon Express” and “Entrepots de Bercy” Thoughts: This was composed as a score for a 100-year-old silent film, and it’s a beautiful work of minimalist post-rock. Definitely worth listening to if that’s your bag. Rating: ****
That’s my music discovery for the month, let me know if there’s something I should be listening to in May by leaving a comment!
Emily Temple-Wood decided the best way to get back at misogynist trolls on the internet is to write a new entry about a woman scientists on Wikipedia every time they attack.
An interview with Kate Hennessy, author of a new biography of her grandmother, Dorothy Day.
Song of the Month
Frank Turner adds another song to the rapidly growing Resistance Mixtape, “The Sand in the Gears.”
Albums of the Month
Artist: The Feelies Album: In Between Release Date: 24 February 2017 Favorite Tracks: “When to Go,” “Stay the Course” and “Turn Back Time” Rating: ***
The Feelies are a band that seems to have always been around, but this is only their 6th album in 40+ years. They managed to both influence R.E.M. and be beneficiaries of R.E.M.’s popularity in the 1980s. The jangle pop of this album is reminiscent of the 80s, not in the 80s Nostalgia Industry way but in the type of music you’d hear your older sibling’s cool best friend listening to in the car in the 80s. The songs appear laid back, but grow in lyrical and emotional intensity.
Artist: The Shins Album: Heartworms Release Date: 10 March 2017 Favorite Tracks: “So Now What” and “Cherry Hearts” Rating: ***
The Shins return with their typical high harmonies and wall of sound arrangements. This album appears to do some genre hopping – ska to EDM to psychedelia – but all within The Shins’ framework. Definitely a good return to form after a long 5-year hiatus.
Artist: Peter Mulvey Album: Are You Listening Release Date: 25 March 2017 Favorite Tracks: “D.I.A.,” “Are You Listening,” “Just Before the War,” “The Details,” and “Oh, The Rain” Rating: ****
Peter Mulvey is who I’d want to be as a singer-songwriter. On this new album produced by Ani DiFranco, Mulvey’s bass voice resonates and his profound lyrics are full of thought and emotion. Definitely an album you’ll want to check out.
I need a good laugh these days, who doesn’t, so “Weird Al” Yankovic is my Music Discovery this month, just in time for April Fool’s Day. As a song parodist, Weird Al has had an unexpectedly long career. Listening back to all of his albums has the element of opening a time capsule. There were times when I thought “Oh yeah, I remember this song he’s parodying when it was a hit” or found myself chuckling at a reference to a pop culture entity of time gone by. But Weird Al is more than novelty music and a lot of his work has a surprisingly long shelf life. Here are three reasons I think why:
1. He’s a talented musician. Weird Al and his accompanying band are accomplished artists who put as much work into their music as any other popular artist. He’s also been able to keep up with the time, taking styles that didn’t exist when he first started, such as grunge, gangsta rap, and boy bands.
2. He really has a creative way with words that make the lyrics worth listening to again and again.
3. As a parodist, rather than a satirist, he is rarely making reference to current events. Of course, this could also be a criticism of how apolitical Weird Al’s work is, but I just acknowledge that Weird Al is a great parodist while others are great satirists. Besides, we really need funny songs about food, movies, and direct marketing infomercials.
Having listened to all of Weird Al, I’ll say that his own songs and style parodies stand up better than direct song parodies, but a number of them thrive as well. Here is Weird Al at his best:
“Weird Al’s” Five Best Albums
“Weird Al” Yankovic in 3-D (1984) – this was my first Weird Al album so there was a lot of nostalgia listening to this one
Off the Deep End (1992) – this came out when I was in college. Weird Al had been out of the picture for a while, but coming back with an album where he had a big hit parodying Nirvana made him cool again.
Bad Hair Day (1996) – the mid-90s was a time when big time musicians were taking themselves way too seriously so this album is particularly rich.
Straight Outta Lynwood (2006) – may be one of the strongest albums track-by-track of Weird Al’s career.
Mandatory Fun (2014) – Weird Al once again makes a big splash releasing 8 videos in 8 days and what may be his last album (but not last work altogether!)
“Weird Al’s” Top 20 Songs of All Time
This list doesn’t include any of Weird Al’s polka parodies which are their own category of brilliance.
“Another One Rides the Bus” – the lyrics are true to any regular bus rider’s experience
“Eat It” – Weird Al’s first monster hit is also something I can relate to as a parent with fussy eaters.
“Buy Me a Condo” – I always loved this reggae song of an upwardly-mobile rastaman.
“Like a Surgeon” – the lyrics are great but you also have to admire how the song keeps rhythm to the EKG monitor the entire time.
“Yoda” – not for the last time Weird Al sets the plot of a blockbuster film to music and creates a masterpiece.
“Fat” – Michael Jackson was very good to Weird Al in the early days. The wordplay in this fat anthem is particularly strong.
“Smells Like Nirvana” – This may be the first time Weird Al parodied a song to make fun of the band that played it, and it’s hilarious.
“You Don’t Love Me Anymore” – The best of Weird Al’s original love ballads.
“Bohemian Polka” – polkas are always a highlight of any Weird Al album and this is the one time a polka is dedicated to parodying a single song.
“Amish Paradise” – It takes Weird Al to think that gangsta rap and the Amish people needed to be joined together.
“Pancreas” – it is an important organ.
“Everything You Know is Wrong” – things get weird because parodying They Might Be Giants is nigh on impossible since you just end up with a They Might Be Giants’ song. So I guess this is an excellent homage?
“The Saga Begins” – take a mediocre, overplayed song and an awful, overhyped movie and you get something that transcends both towards absolute brilliance.
“Bob” – +1 for parodying Bob Dylan so well. +2 for doing it entirely in palindromes.
“White and Nerdy” – pretty much the official theme song of Weird Al and his most devoted fans.
“Don’t Download This Song” – perhaps Al at his most political, satirizing the moral panic of the music business and the dreck of charity songs.
“Perform This Way” – kind of the essence of Lady Gaga, only funnier.
“Foil” – Weird Al switches topics mid-song and it works so perfectly.
“Mission Statement” – the hippies of the 60s became the vapid corporate execs of today.
It’s been a long time since I posted a concert review because it’s been a long time since I’ve been to a concert. But I couldn’t miss A Tribe Called Red, one of my favorite musical acts to emerge in recent years. The three DJs based in Ottawa, Ontario mix electronic music with First Nations’ chants and drums in a style called Electric Pow Wow. Their music is danceable but lyrically is politically and socially charged with messages from contemporary native communities.
The opening act featured YVNG PAVL and DJ Big Bear of CLLCTV Boston who spun an eclectic mix of dance tracks that got people moving on the floor. The two DJs worked together at a small soundboard often crossing one another’s hands in a surprisingly intimate manner. CLLCTV is definitely something I’ll be checking out in the future.
DJ NDN, Bear Witness, and 2oolman took the stage around 10 pm with a simple set-up on one long table. Projected behind them were repeating clips of movies, cartoons, and perhaps performances on tv variety shows depicting clichéd and stereotypical Native American images in a way of reappropriation of the “Hollywood Indian.” Unlike A Tribe Called Red albums where the musical tracks are distinct pieces, in the live performance they ran as one long and highly infectious dance mix. Periodically a pair of dancers would come on stage, received enthusiastically by the audience, performing a mix of native dances and breakdancing. Their clothing similarly mixed traditional native dress with African-American hip hop styles.
The set seemed to be over soon after it begun, but checking the time I realized that nearly two hours had passed. I long wished to travel to Ottawa to experience the Electronic Pow Wow, but I’m glad that for one night it came closer to home. It was definitely a performance worth seeing.
A side note, this is the first time I attended a concert at The Sinclair. It’s an intimate venue, but while small it didn’t feel crushingly crowded despite a sizeable crowd. There’s a large standing room only space on the floor in front of the stage with a smaller mezzanine with balconies on the sides. Looking at the list of upcoming performances it looks like The Sinclair has taken over the dearly departed T.T. the Bear’s role of offering famed but not superstar performers from a diversity of genres a place to play in Cambridge.
Better late than never, here is the report of what I was listening to in February, a short month punctuated by a delightful vacation where I mostly listened to the laughter of my children.
A discussion of the United States involvement with the rest of the world from isolationism to the world’s police to the more sinister activities of imperialism and corporate hegemony.
The divide between urban and rural populations is one of the major causes of political disagreement in the US today, and one that goes back throughout the history of the United States.
Movies have a track of audio description intended to help the visually impaired and this podcast describes the art of narration and how audio descriptions can benefit all viewers.
The chilling law of civil asset forfeiture that allows police to take property from suspects even if they’re not convicted or even charged with crimes.
All about why school turnarounds – a theory of fixing low-performing schools by firing the teachers and staff that has widespread, bipartisan support – is an idea that doesn’t work, and what actually does.
Song of the Month
Chicago singer-songwriter Zeshan Bagewadi (aka Zeshan B) provides a powerful interpretation of the 1970 protest anthem “Cryin’ in the Streets” by George Perkins that ties together generations of protest for justice and equality in the United States. Learn more about the song The World interview.
Albums of the Month
Artist: Tinariwen Album: Elwan Release Date: 10 February 2017 Favorite Tracks: “Sastanàqqàm,” Ténéré Tàqqàl,” “Assàwt,” and “Nànnuflày” Thoughts: The Northern Africa Desert Blues band from Mali’s most recent release includes guest appearances by indie artists like Kurt Vile, but the band itself is the stand out performer of this collection of melodic, resonant, and politically-charged tunes. Rating: ***1/2
Artist: Clap! Clap! Album: A Thousand Skies Release Date: 17 February 2017 Favorite Tracks: “Ar-Raqis” and “Elephant Seranade” Thoughts: Clap! Clap! is a project of Italian producer Cristiano Crisci, who creates instrumental dance tracks relying heavily on indigenous percussion. An earlier Clap! Clap! recording, Tayi Bebba, made my 2014 favorite albums list. While not as strong as its predecessor, A Thousand Skies is equally enjoyable as festive ambient music for a party or for getting through a gray day at work Rating: ***1/2
Artist: Visible Cloaks Album: Reassemblage Release Date: 17 February 2017 Favorite Tracks: “Bloodstream”, “Place,” “Valve (Revisited)” Thoughts: Somewhere between Phillip Glass, a church organist, and a lullaby lies this lovely collection of ambient tunes. Rating: ***
Artist: Molly Burch Album: Please Be Mine Release Date: 17 February 2017 Favorite Tracks: “Fool” Thoughts: A collection of retro, country-tinged tracks sung sweetly by a barroom singer. It’s pretty and well-produced, and while there’s nothing wrong with Burch’s album it’s nothing we haven’t heard before from Patsy Cline and singers produced by Phil Spector among others, so it’s just a tad bit dull. Rating: **
This is an experiment. Instead of constantly filling this blog with Podcast of the Week, Song of the Week, and Album of the Month posts, I’ve decided to try to collect all the things I listen to over the course of a month in post. Hopefully, allowing myself the time will also allow me to create something more worth reading.
Let me know what you think, and what you’re listening to, in the comments.
This ongoing podcast about the experiences of individual immigrants in America relates the tale of the young Irish woman who was the first person to be processed through Ellis Island.
One of the scariest things in the world today is the lack of access to fresh, clean water, which is of course vital to life. The war in Yemen is possibly the first war ever fought over water.
Nikole Hannah-Jones is a journalist who tracks how generations after Brown v. Board of Education, public schools are still largely segregated by race, and inequitable, and the choices of even the most liberal people of privilege maintain the system.
New songs, especially the first four songs in this podcast, tie in with the political issues of our day. The a cappella performance of MILCK’S “Quiet” from the Women’s March on Washington is below.
The American Left will need to use the tactics and strategy of the Tea Party to make any headway in the Trump years. The Indivisible guide explains how.
Albums of the Month
Artist: Bonobo Album: Migration Release Date: January 13, 2017 Favorite Tracks: “Migration” and “Outlier” Thoughts: Electronic drumbeats and resonant bass notes are coupled with world music melodies on this album that is largely instrumental music. This is not going to get you on the dance floor, but is more music for relaxation and meditation. With the exception of a couple of bland tracks with vocals, this is highly listenable if not too original downtempo electronica. Rating: ***
Artist: Flaming Lips Album: Oczy Mlody Release Date: January 13, 2017 Favorite Tracks: “How??,” “One Night While Hunting for Faeries and Witches and Wizards to Kill”,” and “We a Family” Thoughts: The Flaming Lips have a penchant for being weird, but an album about unicorns and faeries and demons all experienced through a psychedelic drug is really weird. A concept album with a healthy dose of profanity makes this reminiscent of Funkadelic, although this is more dreamy and fuzzed-out than funky. The music is downtempo but also has a sunniness that puts it at odds with the band’s last album The Terror. Also, Miley Cyrus is guest vocalist on one track. Weird. Rating: ***
Artist: Run the Jewels Album: Run the Jewels 3 Release Date: January 13, 2017 Favorite Tracks: “Talk to Me,” “Call Ticketron,” “Don’t Get Captured,” “Thieves! (Screamed the Ghost)” (featuring Tunde Adebimpe), and “Oh Mama” Thoughts: I shouldn’t be allowed to review hip-hop albums since I’ve not paid much attention to the genre the past 25 years, but I’ve liked what I heard from Run the Jewels and their latest doesn’t disappoint. In a way, it’s not too dissimilar to the hip-hop I liked in the late 80s/early 90s – sonically dense, musically creative, and lyric that are conscious and in your face but not preachy. Rating: ****
Artist: The xx Album: I See You Release Date: January 13, 2017 Favorite Tracks: “Dangerous” and “I Dare You” Thoughts: I was looking forward to this album since band member Jamie xx’s album In Colour was on of my favorites of 2015. Unfortunately, I find myself disappointed with the full band’s effort. The songs have more of a contemporary r&b sound, and while there’s nothing wrong with downtempo music, a lot of these tracks sound lethargic. It’s not a bad album, but it’s not memorable either. Rating: **
Artist: Austra Album: Future Politics Release Date: January 20, 2017 Favorite Tracks: “Future Politics,” “Utopia,” and “43” Thoughts: Wow, this is powerful album, musically and politically, from the Canadian band. Once again, I’m reminded of the 1980s with the synthpop sound and the bold vocals of Katie Stelmanis put me in mind of Alison Moyet and Yaz. It’s worth the time to immerse oneself in this album. Rating: ****
Artist: Priests Album: Nothing Feels Natural Release Date: January 27, 2017 Favorite Tracks: “No Big Bang,” “Pink White House,” and “Suck” Thoughts: Loud, angry music from the D.C. punk band. ,Like with Run the Jewels I’m transported back to the 1980s, yet the music is fresh and current. This is music that captures the anxiety of the contemporary zeitgeist. Rating: ***
Once again, it’s time to look back on the music of 2016 with my favorite songs of the year.
I’ve featured many of this songs in my Song of the Week posts this year. If you see a link from a song title it will take you back to the Song of the Week post for that song, or other time I wrote about that band.
For previous year-end lists of previous years check out my lists for 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2009.
In alphabetical order, here are my ten favorite songs of the year:
This is my second attempt at making an Albums of the Year least after my first try in 2014. There aren’t any real surprises here as most of these albums are appearing on every other list, so I will have to seek out younger and more experimental musicians. Nevertheless, here are my thoughts on five great albums from 2016.
Listed alphabetically by title, with links to my original reviews where possible.
Bowie’s final album, released days before his death, shows that he was an experimenter to the very last, incorporating jazz and electronic songs into richly textured songs about mortality.
Beyoncé, Lemonade
Confession: I never listened to anything by Beyoncé before this year. But this album blew me away with it’s mix of genres and the blend of personal travails with the political aspirations of black women. It seems appropriate that it comes 25 years after Nirvana’s Nevermind and The Beatle’s Revolver because each album created a new sound for its generation.
A Tribe Called Red, We Are the Halluci Nation
As the Water Protectors made their stand against DAPL this year, it is appropriate that the Ottawa-based DJs of A Tribe Called Red released their most angry, political album yet.
Another farewell album recorded by an artist in his dying days that shows that the power of creativity can persist into old age.
For an entirely different list of albums I’ve never heard before (but really want to now), check out this list on the Speed of Things by my friend Erik.
Artists:Car Seat Headrest Album: Teens of Denial Release Date: 2016 May 20 Favorite Tracks: “Drunk Drivers/Killer Whales,” “1937 State Park,” and “Connect the Dots (The Saga of Frank Sinatra)” Thoughts: This one is from earlier in the year but I decided I’d give it a spin after hearing Bob Boilen of All Songs Considered declare it one of the best albums of all time. It’s your typical punk/grunge/powerpop blend with tonal and stylistic changes within the track. Reminiscent of bands like Pixies, Pavement, Beck, and Franz Ferdinand (and perhaps because I just spent a week listening to The Replacements I’m hearing their influence too). Not bad, but also kind of generic. Rating: **1/2
Artists:Muddy Magnolias Album: Broken People Release Date: 2016 October 14 Favorite Tracks: “Brother, What Happened?,” “Shine On!,” “Devil’s Teeth,” and “Train” Thoughts: This Nashville-based duo sings songs of love lost and love desired, tragedy and hope in a blend of blues, country, and soul. Both Jessy Wilson and Kallie North can belt it out with their own searing vocals. This album is a balm for our troubled times. Rating: ***
Artists:Margo Price Album: Midwest Farmer’s Daughter Release Date: 2016 March 26 Favorite Tracks: “Hands of Time,” “Four Years of Chances,” and “Hurtin’ (On the Bottle)” Thoughts: Speaking of Nashville, I don’t listen much to country, but when I do I prefer the twangy honky-tonk of the 1960s and 1970s to the more polished pop country of recent decades. Margo Price channels Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, and other country superstars of the era. Her voice is terrific and whether she’s singing about a man who done her wrong or the story of how her parents lost everything, you know she’s taking no prisoners. My favorite Margo Price song, “All American Made,” is not on this album but you can watch her perform it in this Tiny Desk Concert. Rating: ***1/2
Artist: Moby and The Void Pacific Choir Album: These Systems Are Failing Release Date: 2016 October 14 Favorite Tracks: “Hey! Hey!” and “A Simple Love” Thoughts: This album features Moby the hardcore punk funneled through Moby the producer and DJ. It’s a set of 9 songs of angry chants set over drum beats targeting Moby’s political and personal opponents. It’s fun for a listen or two but it does feel empty and repetitive. Rating: **
Artist: The Rolling Stones Album: Blue & Lonesome Release Date: 2 December 2016 Favorite Tracks: They’re all pretty good. Thoughts: The Rolling Stones released their first album in over a decade and it’s a collection entirely of covers of the Chicago Blues classics that inspired them to start a band over 50 years ago. The positives: the rhythm section is tight, Richards’ guitar wails, and Jagger’s harmonica and vocals are the top of their game. There’s no doubt that they’re having a good time making great music. The negatives: the recordings of the original artists performing these songs are out there and they’re just as good or better. And this album is not going to be remembered as part of the Stone’s legacy. So this album is a transient joy but perhaps it can also be a gateway to discovering the Chicago Blues greats and the Stones’ originals. Rating: ***1/2
Artist: Childish Gambino Album: “Awaken, My Love” Release Date: 2 December 2016 Favorite Tracks: “Have Some Love,” “Zombies,” and “Redbone” Thoughts: Donald Glover’s latest album is a sonic trip back to the 1970s reinterpreting the musical sounds of PFunk, Prince, Earth, Wind & Fire and others. It’s a strong album, but much like Blue & Lonesome, I wonder what we get from listening to this over the original music. Rating: ***
The Replacements are a band I started listening to in high school in the 1980s (highly apropos) coming off a time when I’d spent a couple of years listening almost exclusively to Classic Rock. The Replacements were a special band for me because not only was I listening to something current but the cool alternative kids weren’t listening to The Replacements either. Until I got to college where everyone knew The Replacements. And then the band broke up.
Anyhow, I’ve been reading the biography of the band, Trouble Boys by Bob Mehr (review forthcoming), and while I had four of the band’s last five albums, I wasn’t familiar with their early stuff. I figured this was a good opportunity to do a Music Discovery. So crack open a beer, crank up my best of The Replacements playlist on Tidal, and read on. Album: Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash Release Date: 25 August 1981 Favorite Tracks: “Careless,” “I Bought a Headache,” “Don’t Ask Why,” and “I’m in Trouble” Thoughts: This raw debut captures the energy of early 80s punk rock, with The Replacements already showing some of their pop sensibility. 18 songs seems like overkill for a band just starting out, but really there are no stinkers here. Rating: ****
Album: Stink Release Date: 24 June 1982 Favorite Tracks: “Kids Don’t Follow” and “Stuck in the Middle” Thoughts: This EP or mini-LP (or really “Kids Don’t Follow” with 7 B-sides) is straight-up hardcore punk. With tracks named “Fuck School,” “White and Lazy,” “Dope Smokin’ Moron,” and “God Damn Job,” it seems that The Replacements are a stereotype of white teen boys rebelling against suburban, middle class values. But The Replacements are in on the joke, so that makes it work. And songs like “Go” presage the musical and lyrical complexity of future works. Rating: **1/2
Album: Hootenanny Release Date: 29 April 1983 Favorite Tracks: “Color Me Impressed” and “Within Your Reach” Thoughts: I want to say that this is the album where The Replacements found there sound as they moved away from hard punk to something that sounded more like a clearly identifiable Replacements sound, particularly on “Color Me Impressed.” But then again, this album has a little bit of everything – rockabilly, blues rock, and folk particularly – while the drum loop on “Within Your Reach” gives it a contemporary New Wave sound and “Mr. Whirly” is a Beatles’ parody. For an album with a throw-it-at-the-wall-and-see-what-sticks approach, it is surprisingly cohesive. Rating: ***1/2
Album: Let It Be Release Date: 2 October 1984 Favorite Tracks: “I Will Dare,” “Favorite Thing,” “Androgynous,” “Unsatisfied,” “Gary’s Got a Boner,” and “Answering Machine” Thoughts: Finally up to an album I remember from my youth rather than hearing for the first time. And is this not the perfect encapsulation of disaffected youth in the 1980s, from the pain and angst to the puerile humor? It’s hard to come at an album that’s received such accolades from a fresh perspective, other than to say it deserves all of them. Rating: *****
Album: Tim Release Date: October 1985 Favorite Tracks: “Kiss Me on the Bus,” “Bastards of Young,” and “Here Comes a Regular” Thoughts: This is another album I didn’t have when younger, although several of the tracks were familiar. There’s definitely a shift in tone on this album as Westerberg’s singer/songwriter talents and pop sensibilities continue to develop, leading to more down-tempo songs and a mix of rockabilly and folk rock instead of the harder punk of previous albums. It’s a good album but it’s still a big step down from Let It Be. This is also the last album for founding member and guitarist Bob Stinson who either had artistic differences with Westerberg, want to stick to only playing rockers, or was fired by the rest of the band because his substance abuse made him too unreliable for even The Replacements (probably aspects of both are true). Rating: ***
Album: Pleased to Meet Me Release Date: 1985 June 17 Favorite Tracks: “Alex Chilton,” “I Don’t Know,” and “Can’t Hardly Wait” Thoughts: The band’s only album as a trio is also their major label debut and continues to show Westerberg’s skill as a crafter of pop/rock tunes, in some case even bringing in horn and string arrangements. Despite the departure of Bob Stinson, this album seems to have a harder edge than Tim. This album could’ve been an indication of how The Replacements could’ve matched their earlier punk ethic with a more accessible sound, but with the power of hindsight, we know it’s The Replacements’ last great album. Rating: ***1/2
Album: Don’t Tell a Soul Release Date: 7 February 1989 Favorite Tracks: “I’ll Be You” Thoughts: This was the first Replacements’ album I ever listened to, so it breaks my heart to admit that it doesn’t hold up as well as the rest of their work. The production values are very high, but the band’s anarchic brilliance is lost in the process. It’s clear that they were trying to distill The Replacements through the prism of the recent indie rock success of REM’s Document (which is probably why I liked it at the time) but erased The Replacements in the process. “I’ll Be You” is still a brilliant song though. Rating: **
Album: All Shook Down Release Date: 25 September 1990 Favorite Tracks: “Sadly Beautiful” and “When It Began” Thoughts: This album started as a Westerberg solo project and even though the record label insisted it be a Replacements’ recording, the rest of the band merely appears among many session musicians and guest artists. Despite that, it is a brighter and more listenable album than it’s predecessor. It’s a long way in less than a decade from Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash to be at a point where the majority of this album is acoustic, singer/songwriter pieces and the highlight is a track with a cello solo (“Sadly Beautiful”) Rating: **1/2
While working on this post I found this interesting article by Laura Jane Grace of Against Me! listing her favorite songs by the Replacements.
