Not so long ago, a rapper from Dublin, Ireland would’ve been a novelty gimmick. But the worldwide expansion of the hip-hop genre, and growing diversity of Ireland (at least in major cities like Dublin) means that an Irish rapper can stand on its own. Dear Annie is hip-hop at its most smooth, Snow’s voices over jazzy samples. At 20 tracks, this album feels bloated to me, but Rejjie Snow’s talent and potential stands out in it’s strongest parts.
Album: Little Dark Age Artist: MGMT Release Date: 2018 February 9 Favorite Tracks:
Little Dark Age
Me and Michael
One Thing Left to Try
Thoughts:
Little Dark Age sounds like it was recorded in 1985 and has been sitting in a vault all these years to finally be released. You could find it on the shelf somewhere between Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark and the Pet Shop Boys, and even the lyrics of songs like “She Works Out Too Much” sound like commentary on the 80s aerobic craze. The songs on this album are hit or miss, and it’s never going to live up to Oracular Spectacular, but it’s a fun pop confection.
Album: Revelations Artist: Shamir Release Date: 3 November 27 Favorite Tracks: “90’s Kids,” “Blooming,” and “Straight Boy” Thoughts: Shamir Bailey’s debut album Ratchet was built on electronic beats and dance rhythms, making it club ready. His latest album is stunning stripped-down, pure pop melodies that draw on rock genres from 60’s girl groups to grunge. The music doesn’t impress me much, but I do love Shamir’s soulful voice and how it emphasizes the striking lyrics of tracks like “90’s Kids” and “Straight Boy.” It’s a short album (31 minutes), so give it a second listen if it doesn’t move you the first time. Rating: ***
This week, quick thoughts on three new albums I listened to today.
Album: Plunge Artist: Fever Ray Release Date: 2017 October 27 Favorite Tracks: “Wanna Sip” and “IDK About You” Thoughts: Fever Ray is the solo project of Swedish electronic musician Karin Dreijer, also of the duo The Knife. The album has some sick beats and synths, but Dreijer’s voice is unpleasant and the frequent profanity seems to be juvenile attempt to be shocking. Rating: **1/2
Album: Wild and Reckless Artist: Blitzen Trapper Release Date: 2017 November 3 Favorite Tracks: “Joanna” and “Stolen Hearts” Thoughts: A twangier, pure country outing from Blitzen Trapper grew out of a “rock opera” staged in their native Portland, OR that tells a sci-fi love story of two kids on the run. Rating: **1/2
Album: Queens of the Breakers Artist: The Barr Brothers Release Date: 2017 October 13 Favorite Tracks: “You Would Have to Lose Your Mind” and “It Came To Me” Thoughts: The Montreal-based Americana jam band with a harp received good reviews for their innovative sound, but the album sounds kind of like generic folk-pop to me. Not my thing. Rating: **
Album: Colors Artist: Beck Release Date: October 13, 2017 Favorite Tracks: Nothing stands out Thoughts: I’ve been a Beck fan since he emerged on the scene in the 1990s and even once performed in a Beck choral performance, so I had to check out this new album. And it is rather dull. Nothing offensive about it, it features upbeat pop tunes that may sound good in the background at a party, but nothing you’d want to come back to. So it’s ok, but disappointing for Beck who has done better. Rating: **
Album:Harmony of Difference Artist: Kamasi Washington Release Date: September 29, 2017 Thoughts:
I don’t listen much to jazz, especially contemporary jazz, but a streaming music account means there’s no excuse to not try new things. The new EP by the hot saxophonist and composer Kamasi Washington brings together 6 pieces in about 30 minutes of running time. There’s a lot of retro feeling to this music, with nods to Coltrane’s “A Love Supreme,” 60’s Brazilian bossanova, and 70s funk fusion. The EP culminates with the 15-minute piece “Truth” which brings back and mixes together themes from the other five pieces. Washington’s music has a sound that would be suited to scoring films although it’s also a bit too “smooth jazz” for my taste. Rating: **1/2
Album: The Wild Artist: Kris Delmhorst Release Date: September 22, 2017 Favorite Tracks: Thoughts: I’ve been following Delmhort’s career for years (decades, actually!) and while she’s no stranger to the ballad, her albums usually have a fair share of raucous, upbeat tunes as well. The Wild finds her in a more contemplative mood as every track slow, emphasizing her voice and introspective lyrics, with a touch of a country twang. It may not be up there with my favorite Delmhorst recordings, but it’s still pretty darn good. Rating: ***1/2
Album: Cost of Living Artist: Downtown Boys Release Date: August 11, 2017 Favorite Tracks: “A Wall,” “Somos Chulas (No Somos Pendejas), “Lips that Bite” and “Clara Rancia.”
Thoughts: The Providence-based, bilingual punk band is back with an energetic new album filled with hard riffs and pointed lyrics. I particularly like it when the horns kick in. This is the music for our fraught political times, filled with anger but leavened with hope. Rating: ****
Album: Prophets of Rage Artist: Prophets of Rage Release Date: September 15, 2017 Favorite Tracks: “Unfuck the World” Thoughts: Back in the 80s, Public Enemy’s Chuck D said “rap is CNN for black people,” reflecting on the urgency of rap music to spread the word through the community. The idea of message spreading is central to the new album from Prophets of Rage, the rock rap supergroup Chuck D formed with Rage Against the Machine’s Tim Commerford, Tom Morello, and Brad Wilk, Cypress Hill’s B-Real, and DJ Lord of Public Enemy. And yet message seems to be all they’ve got, while the nearly 30-year-old It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back still stands up musically. At it’s best, Prophets of Rage reminds me of great collaborations of rap and hard rock like Public Enemy with Anthrax or Rage Against the Machine at their best, but unfortunately most of the album reminds me of the dreck that was late-90s rap-metal, and not worthy of the talent involved in its creation. Rating: **
Album: The Underside of Power Artist: Algiers Release Date: June 23, 2017 Favorite Tracks: “Walk Like a Panther,” “Cry of the Martyrs,” “The Underside of Power,” “Death March,” and “Cleveland” Thoughts:
This may be the most important album of 2017, and one that will certainly be on my year end best of ’17 list. The politically-charged lyrics of the Atlanta-based band offer hope in times of chaos and despair. Algiers sound is remarkable as it is indescribable, kind of a mix of gospel, with psychedelic soul (such as late-60s Temptations or Funkadelic at their most political), and punk rock all echoed in a wall of sound. This is definitely an album you should put on your list to check out. Rating: ****1/2
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.
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.
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: **
I started working on this post a few weeks ago, set it aside, and in the intervening time one of the artists review straight-up DIED. I feel terrible guilt that I didn’t get my thoughts on Leonard Cohen’s now-final album up in a timely manner. Before anything bad happens to any of the other artists, here are my thoughts on five recently released albums you should give a listen to.
Artist: Jenny Hval Album: Blood Bitch Release Date: September 30, 2016 Favorite Tracks: “Female Vampire” and “Secret Touch” Thoughts: Norwegian avant-garde musician Jenny Hval presents this concept album on the theme of blood. It’s sonicaly rich with complex lyrics about things ranging from vampirism to menstruation Rating: ***
Artist: Leonard Cohen Album: You Want It Darker Release Date: 21 October 2016 Lyrics of Note:
As he died to make men holy
Let us die to make things cheap – “Steer Your Way”
Favorite Tracks: “You Want It Darker,” “Treaty,” “Leaving the Table,” and “Steer Your Way” Thoughts: A beautiful farewell from the singer/songwriter/poet Cohen (although he could have very well gone on to record another brilliant album had he survived). It seems unprecedented that much of Cohen’s best work came at such an advanced age. Even if his older songs are much-covered classics, the work on his final albums has some of the best instrumentation, production, and performing. Rating: ****
Artist: Tanya Tagaq Album: Retribution Release Date: 21 October 2016 Favorite Tracks: “Nacreous,” “Aorta,” “Centre,” Thoughts: The Inuit throat singer’s newest album sees her crossing over into other musical styles, bringing in Tuvan throat singers, collaborating with rapper Shad, and covering Nirvana’s “Rape Me.” But this isn’t a cozy Putamayo “world music” release from the 1990s, instead it is a vital statement of plight of indigenous peoples and global warming, and a call to political action. Rating:
Artist: John K. Samson Album: Winter Wheat Release Date: 21 October 2016 Favorite Tracks: “Select All Delete,” “Oldest Oak at Brookside,” “Alpha Adept,” and “Virtute at Rest” Thoughts: The lead vocalist of The Weakerthans newest solo project sounds a lot like a Weakerthans recording but stripped down to just the vocals and a few instruments. The songs navigate technology and nature and addiction and recovery. It’s a musically sad, but lyrically hopeful recording so worth a deep listen, even if you’re down in the dumps. Rating: ***1/2
Artist: Agnes Obel Album: Citzen of Glass Release Date: 21 October 2016 Favorite Tracks: “Familiar,” “Trojan Horses,” and “Citizens of Glass,” Lyrics of Note: Thoughts: Danish-born, Berlin-based artist Agnes Obel’s music reminds me of a lot of things – Phillip Glass’ avant guarde keyboards, Clannad’s layering of vocals and instruments, Joanna Newsom’s vocal stylings, and Led Zeppelin in their most mystical folkiness. Rating: ***
Turns out this was a very Northern review with three Canadian and two Scandinavian artists. If there’s a new album you think I should hear and review in December, let me know in the comments.
***** – An all-time classic album (highly recommended)
**** – Great album (recommended)
*** – Solid album (consider buying or streaming/downloading top tracks)
** – Weak album (only consider streaming/downloading top tracks)
* – Poor album (not recommended)
ARTIST: Warpaint ALBUM: Heads Up RELEASE DATE: 1 August 2016 RATING: ** FAVORITE TRACKS: “New Song” COMMENTS: I enjoyed the band’s previous album, particularly the track “Disco // very” but there’s nothing that vital or energetic on this album. It’s dream pop, but it’s more sleep inducing with bland musical arrangements and not much emotion in the vocals. It’s getting good reviews, so your tastes may differ, but this one’s a bit too dry for me.
ARTIST: Against Me! ALBUM: Shape Shift With Me RELEASE DATE: 16 September 2016 RATING: ***1/2 FAVORITE TRACKS: “Boyfriend,” “Rebecca,” “Norse Truth,” and “All This (And More)” COMMENTS: A great package of melodic punk from the Florida band. The lyrics rely heavily on the personal and intimate experience of singer/guitarist/songwriter Laura Jane Grace. But the personal is political for Grace who has become an icon for the transgender community since coming out as a transgender woman in 2012.
ARTIST: A Tribe Called Red ALBUM: We Are the Halluci Nation RELEASE DATE: 16 Septemebr 2016 RATING: **** FAVORITE TRACKS: “R.E.D,” “Sila,” “The Light,” and “Maima Koopi” COMMENTS: The trio of DJs based in Ottawa combine traditional singing and rythmns with electronic dance sounds in what they call “Electric Pow Wow.” Their third album is unapologetic in its political stance and call to activism for First Nations cause, but also shows an increasing musical confidence and willing to experiment with styles ranging from R&B to pop to rap to the Inuit throat singing of guest artist Tanya Tagaq. This is an album at once good for the dance floor as it is for raising consciousness
I never got up my AOTM post for August, so here’s a two for one.
Ratings scale:
***** – An all-time classic album (highly recommended)
**** – Great album (recommended)
*** – Solid album (consider buying or streaming/downloading top tracks)
** – Weak album (only consider streaming/downloading top tracks)
* – Poor album (not recommended)
ARTIST: Elza Soares ALBUM: A Mulher do Fim do Mundo (The Woman at the End of the World) RELEASE DATE:3 June 2016 RATING: **** COMMENTS: At 79-years-old, Elza Soares is an iconic samba performer in Brazil. Her voice is gravelly, but it captures perfectly the emotions. I don’t understand Portequese but I can understand the feeling in these songs about poverty, domestic violence, and the political strife of her native land. Musically there are traditional samba elements, but also fuzzed-out electric guitar and a bass line sometimes reminiscent of Primus. It’s an innovative fusion, unlike anything I’ve ever heard and a voice at once defiant and celebratory. OUTSTANDING TRACKS: “Dança,” “Benedita,” “Pra Fuder,” and “Maria da Vila Matilde”
ARTIST: case/lang/veirs ALBUM: case/lang/veirs RELEASE DATE: 18 June 2016 RATING: ***1/2 COMMENTS: Three artists come together and form a more cohesive band sound than I would’ve expected. Some great tunes and harmonies, the best tracks seem to be loaded toward the front of the album. OUTSTANDING TRACKS: “I Want to Be Here,” “Honey and Smoke,” “Georgia Stars,” “Blue Fires,” and “Atomic Number”
ARTIST: The Avalanches ALBUM: Wild Flowers RELEASE DATE: 8 July 2016 RATING: *** COMMENTS: The band’s 2000 album Since I Left You is an all-time classic. Is the follow-up as good? Not really. Was it worth waiting 16 years? Probably not. Nevertheless this is a delightful cacophony of sounds that feels like a journey through American music played on the radios of passing cars or spilling out of a nightclub down the block. OUTSTANDING TRACKS: “Because I’m Me,” “The Noisy Eater,” and “Frankie Sinatra”
ARTIST: Angel Olsen ALBUM: My Woman RELEASE DATE: 2 September 2016 RATING: *** COMMENTS: Indie folk rock with ethereal vocals is my bag. The early part of My Woman is peppy, almost punk with 50s/60s girl band thrown in, but as the album proceeds the songs slow down and stretch out, each showing varying degrees of optimism and melancholy. OUTSTANDING TRACKS: “Shut Up Kiss Me,” “Never Be Mine,” and “Intern”
ARTIST: Clipping. ALBUM: Splendor & Money RELEASE DATE: 9 September 2016 RATING: ***1/2 COMMENTS: Clipping. is an experimental hip-hop group featuring Daveed Diggs of Hamilton fame. This hip-hop space opera is reminiscent of Afro-futuristic works of PFunk and Janelle Monae. Gospel melodies are paired with rapid-fire rap. OUTSTANDING TRACKS:
I’m adding to my stable of music criticism posts by introducing a new Albums of the Month feature. The basic gist is that on the second Wednesday of the month (or, as is the case when I procrastinate, on Friday), I will write reviews of 3-5 albums released within the past three months (in this case May, June, and July of 2016). If there’s an album you love that you’d like me to review, post a suggestion below. Similarly, if there’s an album you hate that you want me to pillory, also let me know. And if there’s an album you’re timid about listening to and want me to try first, I’m open to anything.
Ratings scale:
***** – An all-time classic album (highly recommended)
**** – Great album (recommended)
*** – Solid album (consider buying or streaming/downloading top tracks)
** – Weak album (only consider streaming/downloading top tracks)
* – Poor album (not recommended)
ARTIST: James Blake ALBUM: The Colour in Anything RELEASE DATE: 6 May 2016 RATING: *** COMMENTS: Blake’s gospel-style voice is paired with electronic sounds or sometimes a piano in this mournful album of love lost and a directionless life. This is a headphone album to hear the textures deep in the sounds in the often spare arrangements. This is not something to put on when you’re already feeling blue. Despite the title, this is a colourless, muted recording. OUTSTANDING TRACKS: “Points,” “Waves Know Shores,” “Always,” and “Meet You in the Maze.”
ARTIST: Tourist ALBUM: U RELEASE DATE: 6 May 2016 RATING: **1/2 COMMENTS: Reminiscent of Passion Pit and Jamie xx, this is electronic music that is danceable but introspective. The standout tracks are excellent but overall it sounds repetitive and dull. OUTSTANDING TRACKS: “Run,” “To Have You Back,” and “Foolish.”
ARTIST: Radiohead ALBUM: A Moon Shaped Pool RELEASE DATE: 8 May 2016 RATING: *** COMMENTS: Quiet and folky with orchestral flourishes, sometimes reminiscent of Sigur Ros and early 70’s folk pop, This is not as innovative as I’m accustomed from Radiohead and while a worthy addition to their catalog, it’s not a vital one. OUTSTANDING TRACKS: “Burn the Witch” and “Desert Island Disk”
ARTIST: Flume ALBUM: Skin RELEASE DATE: 27 May 2016 RATING: ** COMMENTS:A downtempo electronic album feels the strains of anxiety and uncertainty, especially in the high register vocals of the many guest artists. A few songs stand out, but overall this is kind of a drag. OUTSTANDING TRACKS: “Never Be Like You (featuring Kai)”, “Wall Fuck,” and “Tiny Cities (featuring Beck)”
ARTIST: Moon Hooch ALBUM: Red Sky RELEASE DATE: 10 June 2016 RATING: **** COMMENTS: This is the latest collection of saxophone tunes with EDM arrangements. Mostly instrumental, but a few vocal tracks (with less sax because they’re singing – duh). A great party record. OUTSTANDING TRACKS: “Sunken Ship,” “That’s What They Say,” “Something Else,” and “Alien Invasion”
ARTIST: Blood Orange ALBUM: Freetown Sound RELEASE DATE: 18 June 2016 RATING: *** COMMENTS: This album bridges 80s r&b rhythms and sounds (a definite Michael Jackson influence) with socially conscious lyrics. I want to like it more than I do. OUTSTANDING TRACKS: “By Ourselves,” “Augustine,” “But You,” and “Hands Up”
