Some new albums that don’t exactly contain new content, so I’m reviewing them in bulk.
Album: MassEducation Artist: St. Vincent Release Date: October 12, 2018 Favorite Tracks: “Slow Disco,” “Los Ageless,” Thoughts: A release of Masseduction with everything stripped away except Annie Clarke’s voice and a piano, making her sound more like a chanteuse. I think I like this version better, although I didn’t really like the original much at all. Rating: ***
Album: My Way Artist: Willie Nelson Release Date: September 14, 2018 Favorite Tracks: “Summer Wind,” “Fly Me to the Moon,” “One for My Baby (And One More For the Road,” “What is This Thing Called Love?,” and “My Way” Thoughts: Willie Nelson sings swinging standards in the style of Frank Sinatra. What’s not to like? Rating: ***
Album: Piano and a Microphone 1983 Artist: Prince Release Date: September 21, 2018 Favorite Tracks: “17 Days,” “Cold Coffee & Cocaine,” and “Why the Butterflies” Thoughts: The first posthumous release from Prince’s music vaults is a glimpse of an artist at work. Just Prince tooling around on a piano, working on several songs, and being amazingly talented. Rating: ***1/2
Got a backlog of albums from recent months, so here’s a collection of quick reviews.
Album: re:member Artist: Ólafur Arnalds Release Date: 24 August 2018 Favorite Tracks: “re:member,” “undir,” and “ekki hugsa” Thoughts: Piano-based ambient music, reminiscent of Sigur Ros. Very soothing. Rating: ****
Album: Marauder Artist: Interpol Release Date: 24 August 2018 Favorite Tracks: “If You Really Love Nothing” and “The Rover” Thoughts: I’ve liked Interpol’s previous recordings, and this is an acceptable addition to their oeuvre. But it feels a bit redundant and uninspired Rating: ***
Album: Negro Swan Artist: Blood Orange Release Date: August 24, 2018 Favorite Tracks: “Charcoal Baby,” “Holy Will,” “Daenham Dream,” and “Out of Your League” Thoughts: Dev Hynes fourth album recording as Blood Orange is smooooooooooth. The music is chill, but the lyrics examine depression and anxiety through an intersectional lens of political consciousness. Rating: ***
Album: The Now Now Artist: Gorillaz Release Date: June 29, 2018 Favorite Tracks: “Humility (feat. George Benson),” “Hollywood,” Thoughts: Damon Albarn’s second band – a “virtual band” at that – is now a veteran band of 20 years. It features a stripped-down sound with fewer guest artists and I think it benefits from that even as it falls a bit short of Gorillaz best work. Rating: ***1/2
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:
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”
