Best Ever Albums

Re: Black History Month Listening Project (Fifth Annual)

baystateoftheart — Sun, 20 Mar 2022 19:07:29 GMT

Author: baystateoftheart

Posted: 03/20/2022 23:07

Tha1ChiefRocka wrote:

You watched Summer of Soul yet?

I finally watched it last night, and it's a remarkable testament to the power of music. Especially black music.

No, I haven't. Added to my movie to-do list.

~~~~~

So I've been off BEA for about 3 weeks, which is rare, but it's because I've been preoccupied in a good way.

I did finish up this Black History Month listening project. I don't have the bandwidth to do the comprehensive wrap-up I'd planned, but in terms of albums I heard based on folks' recs in this thread, The Big Beat was great, while Internal Empire, Kwanza, and Folk Songs And Blues were all very good. Thanks everyone!

Also, I have been doing the Women's History Month listening project throughout March as planned, but similarly, I don't have the bandwidth to put something together like I usually do.

In general, I've phased out several aspects of my music cataloguing to make it easier to sustain going forward, and I'll be around BEA for sure - just probably not as intensively as I have been at times.

Re: Black History Month Listening Project (Fifth Annual)

Tha1ChiefRocka — Fri, 25 Feb 2022 22:28:50 GMT

Author: Tha1ChiefRocka

Posted: 02/26/2022 03:28

You watched Summer of Soul yet?

I finally watched it last night, and it's a remarkable testament to the power of music. Especially black music.

Re: Black History Month Listening Project (Fifth Annual)

baystateoftheart — Fri, 25 Feb 2022 13:18:57 GMT

Author: baystateoftheart

Posted: 02/25/2022 18:18

Here's what I heard during week 3 (February 15-21). Albums I've heard in full before = *

Amazing

I'm Still In Love With You - Al Green*
LP1 - FKA Twigs*
Midnight Marauders - A Tribe Called Quest*
Super Ape - The Upsetters*

Great

History Will Absolve Me - Billy Woods*
New Amerykah Part One: 4th World War - Erykah Badu*
Room 25 - Noname*
Play With The Changes - Rochelle Jordan

Quite Good

Roadrunner: New Light, New Machine - Brockhampton
The Night's Gambit - Ka
In Control, Volume 1 - Marley Marl*
Don't Pass Me By - Pastor T.L. Barrett
Underground Kingz - UGK

Pretty Good

Romanworld - Romanthony

~~~~~

Verdict: the best album I discovered this week was...

GOLD

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Play With The Changes by Rochelle Jordan

The production (largely Machinedrum) and vocals are both incredible, and fit together so well. A perfect blend of electronic and r&b. Sometimes silky smooth, other times crystalline, but consistently great. Jordan's songwriting is quite strong too. Play With The Changes is an excellent nighttime vibes album, and severely underrated on BEA.

(I didn't listen to any other 4/5+ albums for the first time this week, so no silver or bronze.)

Re: Black History Month Listening Project (Fifth Annual)

baystateoftheart — Mon, 21 Feb 2022 15:10:36 GMT

Author: baystateoftheart

Posted: 02/21/2022 20:10

Here's what I heard during week 2 (February 8-14). Albums I've heard in full before = *

Amazing

Fly Me To The Moon - Bobby Womack*
Got To Find A Way - Curtis Mayfield*
Summertime: The Mixtape - DJ Jazzy Jeff & Mick Boogie*
The Electric Lady - Janelle Monáe*
Telefone - Noname*
What Color Is Love - Terry Callier*

Great

Conexão (EP) - Amber Mark*
Idle Moments - Grant Green*
Mwandishi - Herbie Hancock
The Ultimate Collection - Jackson 5*
Maxinquaye - Tricky

Quite Good

Second Line - Dawn Richard
Lianne La Havas - Lianne La Havas*
No Label II - Migos*
Jewelz - O.C.*
Pump Tha Party (Puttin' In Work) - Partners-N-Crime
Standing On The Corner - Standing On The Corner*
Sugarhill Gang - Sugarhill Gang*
Misterioso - Thelonious Monk Quartet*
Supa Sista - Ursula Rucker

Pretty Good

Hot Pink - Doja Cat

~~~~~

Verdict: the best albums I discovered this week were...

GOLD

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Mwandishi by Herbie Hancock

Another beautiful fusion album from Herbie Hancock where every track is strong. The standout is the particularly gorgeous opener, a suite dedicated to Angela Davis. Hancock's keys are the highlight as expected, but the rest of the lineup is outstanding too.

SILVER

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Maxinquaye by Tricky

I don't know why it took me so long to try this trip-hop classic, because after one listen I can already tell it holds up well to the other giants of the genre. Between Tricky's many inspired production choices, strong vocals (especially those of Martina Topley-Bird), and the tension and sensuality the hushed music masterfully conveys, Maxinquaye is a winner. Even the curveball of a Public Enemy cover works.

(I didn't listen to any other 4/5+ albums for the first time this week, so no bronze.)

Re: Black History Month Listening Project (Fifth Annual)

baystateoftheart — Sun, 13 Feb 2022 17:23:12 GMT

Author: baystateoftheart

Posted: 02/13/2022 22:23

Also, thanks for the recs LedZep, Fischman, and Hayden! I've added four to my queue for this month.

Re: Black History Month Listening Project (Fifth Annual)

baystateoftheart — Sun, 13 Feb 2022 17:08:38 GMT

Author: baystateoftheart

Posted: 02/13/2022 22:08

Here's what I heard during week 1 (February 1-7). Albums I've heard in full before = *

Amazing

Let's Stay Together - Al Green*

Great

Fever - Black Milk*
Alive! - Grant Green
Search For The New Land - Lee Morgan*
Never Too Much - Luther Vandross*
Sarah Vaughan In Hi-Fi - Sarah Vaughan*
I Learned The Hard Way - Sharon Jones And The Dap-Kings*
When I Get Home - Solange*
Athena - Sudan Archives*
In The Midnight Hour - Wilson Pickett*

Quite Good

Cassidy - Bows
Blackheart Man - Bunny Wailer*
Charlie Parker With Strings - Charlie Parker*
The Outrunners - Curren$y & Harry Fraud*
...For The Whole World To See - Death
Imperial - Denzel Curry*
3 'N The Mornin': Part Two [Blue] - DJ Screw*
The Children Of Africa - Dollar Brand*
Fatigue - L'Rain
Balens Cho (Hot Candles) - Mach-Hommy
Right Time - Mighty Diamonds*
Résumé: The Best Of Richie Havens - Richie Havens*
Dap-Dippin' With... Sharon Jones And The Dap-Kings - Sharon Jones And The Dap-Kings*

Pretty Good

Back From The Dead - Chief Keef

~~~~~

Verdict: the best album I discovered this week was...

GOLD

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Alive! by Grant Green

baystateoftheart in canon game wrote:

Oh yeah, this absolutely cooks! I love Grant Green's jazz guitar playing, and turns out it's a perfect match for jazz-funk. Alive! features both the harder, more danceable side and the softer, more lyrical side, nailing them both. Beautiful stuff, and a must-listen for anyone who likes jazz guitar or jazz-funk. I'm starting it at a high 4/5.

(I didn't listen to any other 4/5+ albums for the first time this week, so no silver and bronze.)

Re: Black History Month Listening Project (Fifth Annual)

Hayden — Sat, 5 Feb 2022 12:48:59 GMT

Author: Hayden

Posted: 02/05/2022 17:48

I don't usually participate in this sort of stuff— I think pinpointing a single month to celebrate black history is... weird...— but by coincidence I happen to be in the midst of a couple works that fit the bill.

I'm reading these books this month—
Kei Miller - Augustown
Ismael Reed - Yellow Back Radio Broke-Down
Henry Dumas - Echo Tree
Roger Mais - Brother Man
Ngugi Wa Thiong'o - Wizard of The Crow (Almost done)
Dany Laferrière - The Return (Done)
Franketienne - Dezafi (Done)

Hoping to finish most of them by the end of February. And maybe Claude McKay's Amiable with Big Teeth if I can squeeze some time. It's got a bit of dust on my shelf.

And as far as music goes, I'm wrapping up my blues chart. Hoping to make it public in the next week or so. I think some members on here know this, but for a few reasons I've been studying a lot of blues, jazz and tango the last year. I know we already have quite a good blues chart posted on BEA, but I'm liking my crack at it. Looking forward to posting it.

Re: Black History Month Listening Project (Fifth Annual)

Fischman — Sat, 5 Feb 2022 12:17:02 GMT

Author: Fischman

Posted: 02/05/2022 17:17

While I'm not likely to redesign my listening queue to be exclusively black artists, I do like to take this time to reflect on those black artists and album I've discovered/rediscovered in the past year.

In reviewing my diary, I find these to be my favorite albums by artists new to me:
Louis Smith - Here Comes Louis Smith
Archie Shepp - Kwanza
Prince Lasha and Sonny Simmons - Firebirds
Carmen McRae - Birds of a Feather
Denys Baptiste - Alternating Currents
Nate Morgan - Journey into Nigrita
Marcus Strickland; Open Reel Deck
Carter Jefferson - The Rise of Atlantis
Betty Carter - The Modern Sound of Betty Carter
Walter Smith III - Still Casual
Jay Jay Johnson - The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson
Fred Jackson - Hootin' and Tootin'
Lonnie Smith - Finger Lickin' Good

And these my favorite albums new to my but by familiar artists:
McCoy Tyner - Echoes of a Friend
Freddie Hubbard - Goin' Up
Charles Mingus - East Coasting
Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers - The Big Beat
Clark Terry - Swahili
Reggie Workman - Summit Conference
Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane - At Carnegie Hall
Donald Byrd - Fuego
Grant Green - Gooden's Corner
Blue Mitchell - Big 6
Regina Carter - Reverse Thread
Wayne Shorter - Night Dreamer
Dianne Reeves - A Little Moonlight

Other black artists I spent a lot of time rediscovering in 2021:
Jon Butcher
Parliament/Funkadelic
Aretha Franklin
William Grant Still
Fela Kuti

Re: Black History Month Listening Project (Fifth Annual)

Tha1ChiefRocka — Wed, 2 Feb 2022 22:49:32 GMT

Author: Tha1ChiefRocka

Posted: 02/03/2022 03:49

baystateoftheart wrote:

Sure, thanks!

Very well. It has been changed.

Re: Black History Month Listening Project (Fifth Annual)

baystateoftheart — Wed, 2 Feb 2022 22:34:55 GMT

Author: baystateoftheart

Posted: 02/03/2022 03:34

Tha1ChiefRocka wrote:

Would you like me to change my rec in the album below you thread to correspond to your month of listening? I'd be happy to do so.

Sure, thanks!

Re: Black History Month Listening Project (Fifth Annual)

LedZep — Wed, 2 Feb 2022 22:28:52 GMT

Author: LedZep

Posted: 02/03/2022 03:28

Well if you feel like listening to some great Detroit techno at any point this month, give this a go

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Internal Empire by Robert Hood

Re: Black History Month Listening Project (Fifth Annual)

Tha1ChiefRocka — Wed, 2 Feb 2022 22:18:55 GMT

Author: Tha1ChiefRocka

Posted: 02/03/2022 03:18

Would you like me to change my rec in the album below you thread to correspond to your month of listening? I'd be happy to do so.

Black History Month Listening Project (Fifth Annual)

baystateoftheart — Wed, 2 Feb 2022 22:07:41 GMT

Author: baystateoftheart

Posted: 02/03/2022 03:07

I'll be listening to Black artists exclusively again this February to celebrate Black History Month.

I will post weekly summaries of what I've checked out here.

If you want to join me in full or in part, this is the thread for you. Or if you want to simply share discoveries, recommendations, and discussion, this is also the thread for you!