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.
Tag: Song of the Week
Song of the Week: “New York” by St. Vincent
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.
Song of the Week: “Hot to Trot” by Jessica Hernandez & The Deltas
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!
What I’m Listening to Now – April 2017
Song of the Month
“Cherry Blossom” by ALA.NI
Podcasts of the Month
Best of the Left – Progressives Fight on Multiple Fronts
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.
Sound Opinions – Mavis Staples
An insightful interview with the musical legend.
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.
Ben Frankin’s World – Paul Revere’s Ride Through History
Four scholars explore the history of Paul Revere and why we remember him today.
99% Invisible – Sounds Natural
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.
StarTalk Radio – Baseball: Physics at the Plate
A baseball player, physicists, and comedians join together to discuss baseball at SXSW. Good things happen
Planet Money – Georgetown, Lousiana
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.
What I’m Listening to Now – March 2017
It’s more than halfway through April so it’s about time I get this post up for March.
Podcasts of the Month
99% Invisible – Church, Sanctuary part 1 –
Sanctuary churches have been in the news. Here is how it works in practice.
BackStory – Taking it to the Streets –
A history of mass protests in the United States.
Best of the Left – Living in an empire of lies (Propaganda)
Stepping back from the headline news and taking a deep dive into the history of propaganda in the United States.
To the Best of Our Knowledge – Every Time You Troll Me, A Scientist Gets Her Due
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.
Radiolab – Shots Fired, part 1
An investigation into police shootings of innocent or unarmed individuals and the networks of the families and friends left behind.
Fresh Air – An ‘Intimate Portrait’ Of Dorothy Day, The Catholic Activist With A Bohemian Past
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.
What I’m Listening to Now – February 2017
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.
Podcasts of the Month
Fresh Air – The History of US Intervention
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.
Jacobin Radio – We Can Do Better
What is capitalism, what role does it play in our lives, and is it really the best we can do?
To The Best of Our Knowledge – A Borderless World
Borders and immigration are a key issue of our times. These stories illustrate how the idea of borders is becoming an outdated one.
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.
This American Life – It’s Working Out Very Nicely
Stories of the confusion and struggle that arose in the wake of Trump’s executive order banning travel from seven Muslim-majority nations.
Twenty Thousand Hertz – Audio Descriptions
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.
Decode DC – How cops can legally take your car, home, or cash
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.
Have You Heard? – You’re Fired
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: **
Song of the Week: “Ngoni” by Africaine 808
The duo from Berlin, Germany, Africaine 808, mixes global music with dance beats. A simple concept but it works oh so well on tracks like “Ngoni.”
Song of the Week: “Inter-Dubio” by Eter Dub
Eter Dub is a dub reggae project lead by DJ and producer Federico Balza of Mendoza, Argentina.
Song of the Week: “Brother, What Happened?” by Muddy Magnolias
The Nashville blues/country/folk/rock duo Muddy Magnolias ask the important question “Brother, What Happened?”
Song of the Week: “A Simple Love” by Moby & The Void Pacific Choir
Moby is back with a band called The Void Pacific Choir and a new album called These Systems are Failing. “A Simple Love” is a great track off the album.
Song of the Week: “Pink White House” by Priests
The new release from D.C. punk band Priests is dark and cynical and features a casually violent video. It seems all too fitting for our times.
Song of the Week: “Life on Mars?” by Sophia Anne Caruso
Just when you thought there was already enough David Bowie content on this blog, today’s Song of the Week comes from the recently released cast recording of the David Bowie musical, Lazarus. Sophia Anne Caruso’s interpretation of “Life on Mars?” is the perfect Bowie and the musical theater. I can’t stop listening to it.
Take a gander and see if you think the same.
Song of the Week: “Bounce” by Lauren Sarah Hayes
This week’s track is “Bounce” and improved electronic piece by Edinburgh’s Lauren Sarah Hayes.
Song of the Week: “Tired By Kids” by Poitín
Today, we are halfway to St. Patrick’s Day as celebrated on the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast. Thus this week’s song is an Irish folk tune from halfway around the world in the Czech Republic, where the band Poitín is one of the most prominent members of the Irish pub music scene.
I can related to the subject matter of this tune “Tired By Kids” as related on the band’s website:
Tom (concertina) wrote the last tune in this set and named it after his own experience as a father of three kids and owner of a very boisterous dog. Celebrating the ups and downs of parenthood!
Song of the Week: “Your Best American Girl” by Mitski
The song “Your Best American Girl” by Mitski has been out for several months, but I only became acquainted with it a few weeks ago, and then I heard it broken down in this excellent episode of the Song Exploder.
Song of the Week: “Ya” by Factory Floor
“Ya” by Factory Floor is reminiscent of “Oh Yeah” by Yello, perhaps even less lyrically challenging, but I can still envision it played over an action montage in an 80s comedy. It’s Labor Day Weekend after all, and the workers of the world don’t want to think too hard, but they do want to dance.
Song of the Week: “Big Bad Good” by My Bubba
This week’s song of the week, “Big Bad Good,” features the alluring harmonies of the Scandanavian folk duo My Bubba.
Song of the Week: “O B 1” by Jagwar Ma
“O B 1” by Jagwar Ma is reminiscent of the industrial dance music inflected alternative rock of the early 1990s, a style of music that seems to be overlooked in 90s music retrospectives, but one I dug. The Australian band will release their full album Every Now & Then in October.
More at KEXP Song of the Day.
Song of the Week: “Fear and Beer (Hymn for Brexit)” by The Mekons
The legendary post-punk band The Mekons have composed what may be the first protest song of Brexit. Appropriate for a boozy sing-a-long at a pub, it is also a call to action
Song of the Week: “Never Going to Die” by CC Dust
Mary Jane Dunphe and David Jaques, a duo from Olympia, WA, perform as CC Dust who produce an exuberant dance pop you can experience on the track “Never Going to Die.”
