Liam Sullivan's Ideas and Reflections
Welp! The A to Z Challenge is complete, so it’s time to get back to the regular routine around here, which means sharing great new songs from the past month! What new songs do you love? Let me know in the comments.
Calexico and Iron & Wine :: Father Mountain
CLAVVS :: Lay Back
Kindness :: Cry Everything featuring Robyn
Mavis Staples :: Change
Remo Drive :: The Grind
Previous Mixtapes:
Here are 20 of my favorite songs of 2017. For previous year-end lists of previous years check out my lists for 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2009.
In no particular order
“Blue Mountain Road” by Florist
“Memories are Now” by Jesca Hoop
“You Would Have to Lose Your Mind” by Barr Brothers
“Cherry Blossom: by ALA.NI
“Drinkee” by Sofi Tukker
“Every Day’s the Weekend” by Alex Lahey
“Witness” by Benjamin Booker (feat. Mavis Staples)
“I Give You Power” by Arcade Fire (feat. Mavis Staples)
“Quiet” by Milck
“Work” by Charlotte Day Wilson
“Familiar” by Agnes Obel
“Cryin’ in the Streets” by Zeshan B
“Venus Fly” by Grimes (feat. Janelle Monae) – technically this song is from 2015, but the video of this most important collaboration came out this year bringing due attention to the song.
“Hot to Trot” by Jessica Hernandez & The Deltas
“Modafinil Blues” by Matthew Dear
“The Underside of Power” by Algiers
“A Wall” by Downtown Boys
“Future Politics” by Austra
“Learning to Lose” by Margo Price (feat. Willie Nelson)
“Straight Boy” by Shamir
Album: If All I Was Was Black
Artist: Mavis Staples
Release Date: 17 November 2017
Favorite Tracks: “Little Bit,” “If All I Was Was Black,” “Ain’t No Doubt About It,” and “Try Harder”
Thoughts:
One of my favorite musical trends of 2017 is the appearance of the legendary Mavis Staples as guest artist on various recordings. First, Arcade Fire released “I Give You Power” on the eve of Inauguration Day in January:
Then staples added her gospel chops to Benjamin Booker’s statement on police killings of black people “Witness.”
Next Staples joined Pusha T on the virtual hip-hop/electronic band Gorillaz’ Trump-inspired track “Let Me Out.”
Now, at last, we have a full album of new songs from Mavis Staples herself reflecting on our fraught, divided times and what we need to do to fight against it. Frequent Staples’ collaborator, Jeff Tweedy of Wilco, produced the album, appears on one track, and wrote all the songs (quite remarkable when you think that means he wrote the title track). Staples’ versatility that makes her such a strong asset as a guest artist with distinctly different bands is seen here as well as the music mixes gospel, soul, blues, folk, and Americana. Lyrically, the civil rights icon is still fighting the good fight but recognizes that she has limitations and that she’s still called to love her enemy. Mavis Staples’ legacy is already well-established, and this album is probably not going to be what she’s remembered for, but nevertheless it is great to have her voice confront the issues of our times.
Rating: ***1/2
