Liam Sullivan's Ideas and Reflections
Hot songs spinning in my ears over the past month.
Courtney Barnett – “Nameless, Faceless”
Femi Kuti – “One People One World”
Jorge Elbrecht – “Here Lies (Feat. Tamaryn)”
Orquesta Akokan– “Mambo Rapidito”
Khruangbin – “Maria También”
Hollie Cook – “Stay Alive”
Previous Mixtapes:
Open up 2018 with a danceable track from London’s Django Django, “In Your Beat.”
What new music are you looking forward to in 2018?
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
The seasonally appropriate final song of the week for 2017 is “It’s Xmas (and Everyone is Miserable” by The Dirty Sidewalks. Hey, part of a healthy holiday season is acknowledging your feelings, even the dark ones.
Merry Christmas to all, even if you’re miserable.
On a chilly day one can warm up with the Afrobeat sounds of Ikebe Shakedown, the 70s funk revival septet from New York. “Brushfire” should get you dancing.
The sweet voice of Margo Price is paired with the wizened voice of Willie Nelson on the tearjerking country ballad “Learning to Lose.”
Sofi Tukker is a New York City based dance pop duo consisting of Sophie Hawley-Weld and Tucker Halpern. You may have heard it before because apparently it’s being used in commercials, but since I don’t have tv I’ve come to it with no preconceptions. Anyhow, a song about friendship is ideal for Thanksgiving weekend, and it also has some nice beats.
The Nunnery of Minneapolis makes loops of vocal sound live to create the mesmerizing “Powerwalk.” And that’s about all I can tell you about The Nunnery because they seem vague about their identity online.
On November 18, 2016, Sharon Jones died leaving behind a musical legacy and broken hearts everywhere. A year later, the final Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings album Soul of a Woman will be released on November 17, 2017. The first single, a peace anthem called “Matter of Time” reminds us of what we lost and what we’ll always have from Miss Sharon Jones’ musical gift.
“All Rolled Up” is an atmospheric, electronic track from an Australian trio with a name that defies Google, F Ingers. It’s on their new album Awkwardly Blissing Out.
“Deadly Valentine” is the lastest single from British-French actor and musician Charlotte Gainsbourg. It’s a dancable track with lyrics that make wedding vows sound really creepy. But this song is nowhere as creepy as “Lemon Incest.” The song is featured on Gainsbourg’s newest Album Rest, due out on November 17.
“Almost Like Praying” is a benefit song by composer and playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda to raise funds for relief efforts in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. The title of the song is a lyric from “Maria” a song in the musical West Side Story about the female lead character from Puerto Rico. In addition to the recognition that the name Maria will never be seen the same in Puerto Rico after this disaster, the song lists the name of every town in Puerto Rico. A team of all-star singers perform the song to a reggaeton beat. Visit the Almost Like Praying website to get the song and/or make a donation to the Hispanic Federation. Learn more about the song in this interview with Lin-Manuel Miranda on NPR’s All Songs Considered.
The Brooklyn band Florist performs “Blue Mountain Road,” a sad but beautiful song about death and loss, inspired the death of singer Emily Sprague’s mother.
This week’s track is a weird and moody piece from King Krule, aka Archy Marshall, a singer and rapper from the UK.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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: **
