I second that Nubya Garcia album, it's every bit as excellent as Fischman and EyeKanFly claim. Never miss a chance to recommend it.
Also the Kelly Lee Owens album is one of the best things I've heard last year, glad you liked it. In a somewhat similar vein, I'd suggest new Jessy Lanza.
Here's what I heard during week 2 (March 8-14). Albums I've heard in full before = *
Great
World Galaxy - Alice Coltrane*
Composes, Produces And Sings - Ellie Greenwich*
Tell Mama - Etta James*
Love And Glitter, Hot Days And Music - Helen Love*
The Expanding Universe - Laurie Spiegel*
ๅ่จดในใใชใใ (Shลso Strip) - ๆคๅๆๆช [Sheena Ringo]
Quite Good
Collapsed In Sunbeams - Arlo Parks
Nasty Gal - Betty Davis
Trilogie De La Mort - รliane Radigue
Ill Na Na - Foxy Brown*
Ego Death - The Internet*
Devotion - Jessie Ware*
Short Movie - Laura Marling*
Song For Our Daughter - Laura Marling
Historian - Lucy Dacus*
Ahwar - Nadah El Shazly*
Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea - PJ Harvey
Overpowered - Rรณisรญn Murphy
Peng! - Stereolab*
Dum-Dum - The Vaselines*
Dying For It (EP) - The Vaselines*
Son Of A Gun (EP) - The Vaselines*
The Way Of The Vaselines: A Complete History - The Vaselines*
~~~~~
Verdict: the best album I discovered this week was...
This is the second album I've heard from Sheena Ringo, with the first being the everything but the kitchen sink pop of 2003's Kalk Samen Kuri No Hana. This one, her sophomore effort, apparently features less of her own production, and sounds quite different. It's a heavy, noisy alt-rock record that feels greatly influenced by the 80s/90s giants of that realm. There are more sonic curveballs than you'll find on an average album, but overall it's not as exciting as what she would go on to release in 2003. That said, it is still a great and dynamic listen with strong vocals.
Rec from: Streams [liberally interpreted the mention of Radigue as encouragement to listen to more from her in general]
Thoughts: I figured I should dive into her most acclaimed work, all three discs of it. This is probably the most spare drone album I've ever heard. That opens up a lot of interesting possibilities for subtle and gradual manipulation of sound. You really need to listen on headphones to catch everything she's doing here. While I did appreciate/enjoy this quite a bit, it is uncharted enough territory for my ears that it won't be an instant favorite.
Rec from: babyBlueSedan
Thoughts: This album has a very warm vibe that matches its title. Parks is a great singer, and while the songwriting is not always as good as her vocals, it's solid enough to make this an enjoyable listen throughout. The consistency can be a bit of a double-edged sword.
Rec from: babyBlueSedan
Thoughts: Perhaps her rawest and roughest album, with hard-edged funk and often raspy vocals. There are a number of great songs, and I'm glad for the nudge to hear this. I'd rank it as her second-best behind the more controlled chaos of her self-titled debut. _________________ Join us in the canon game :) / Add me on RYM
Rec from: Streams [liberally interpreted the mention of Radigue as encouragement to listen to more from her in general]
Thoughts: I figured I should dive into her most acclaimed work, all three discs of it. This is probably the most spare drone album I've ever heard. That opens up a lot of interesting possibilities for subtle and gradual manipulation of sound. You really need to listen on headphones to catch everything she's doing here. While I did appreciate/enjoy this quite a bit, it is uncharted enough territory for my ears that it won't be an instant favorite.
Great! I'm actually still acclimating to her earlier work too; I'm mostly familiar with her acoustic compositions from ca. 2011 onwards. Definitely headphones records. With a lot of this kind of stuff, I tend to listen for changes in pulse and the shifting rhythms they create, or the kind of quantum glow of sustained harmonics and how they interact with newly introduced harmonics. Really, drone is often thought of as static - I still have this bias with a lot of rock-based drone from electric instruments - but I think its defining feature is its movement, it just takes a close listen to hear it. Sound American (always free to read) should have an issue dedicated to Radigue coming out soon...
Recently discovered cellist Leila Bordreuil's solo not an elegy, released this month. Texturally rich shredding for fans of Joanna Mattrey's Veiled (viola) or gabby fluke-mogul's threshold (violin). Two sidelong tracks; one recorded in the subway, the other recorded in a hallway with the cello soundholes facing (or maybe the cello is resting on) an upright piano - interesting environments embodied in the music.
baystateoftheartNeil Young as a butternut squashProfile Massachusetts
Here's what I heard during week 3 (March 15-21). Albums I've heard in full before = *
Great
Aretha Live At Fillmore West - Aretha Franklin
The Best Of Buffy Sainte-Marie - Buffy Sainte-Marie*
Acts Of Rebellion - Ela Minus
What Makes It Go? - Komeda*
Lucinda Williams - Lucinda Williams
Respect M.E. - Missy Elliott*
Source - Nubya Garcia
1000 Kisses - Patty Griffin*
Crush (EP) - Ravyn Lenae*
Promise - Sade
Quite Good
Wild Planet - The B-52's*
Utopia - Bjรถrk*
Psycho Tropical Berlin - La Femme*
Soul Journey - Gillian Welch
ๆฅใจไฟฎ็พ (Haru To Shura) - ๆฅใญใใ [Haru Nemuri]*
Helen Merrill - Helen Merrill*
Black Origami - Jlin*
The Kick Inside - Kate Bush*
Deconstructed (EP) - Kesha*
Dreaming Wide Awake - Lizz Wright*
Mary Lou Williams - Mary Lou Williams
Hell-On - Neko Case*
Magic Mirror - Pearl Charles
Pretty In Black - The Raveonettes*
100 Days, 100 Nights - Sharon Jones And The Dap-Kings*
Actor - St. Vincent*
Great Expectations - Tasmin Archer
์์ธ์ฌ์ (Soul Lady) - ์ ํค์นด [YUKIKA]
Pretty Good
Made Of Bricks - Kate Nash*
Bop City (EP) - Terror Jr*
~~~~~
Verdict: the best three albums I discovered this week were...
Damn. This is a great live album. I knew Aretha Franklin was an excellent live performer based on the gospel tour de force that is Amazing Grace, but this is my first taste of the Queen of Soul singing the music she's best known for live. If you're a fan of the genre in any capacity, this is a record for you. It starts with a tremendous, fiery performance of Respect, then moves into less up-tempo territory, including a standout performance of Bridge Over Troubled Water. Then for the climax, Franklin (with Ray Charles for the reprise) brings the house down with two renditions of Spirit In The Dark. All told, a little more than half of this is strong but not amazing, and a little less than half of it is spectacular.
My prior experience with Lucinda Williams consists only of Car Wheels On A Gravel Road, an album I love, so checking out more of her work is overdue. And after one listen, I love this self-titled album about as much - possibly more. Williams exudes effortless cool musically just like she does on the cover. First of all, the eleven original songs are excellent. They're to-the-point, not showy, with an economy of language reminiscent of Neil Young. They're incredibly evocative and emotionally potent. And they have a depth of lived-in authenticity that's uncommon. The only song Williams didn't pen is the closer, a great Howlin' Wolf cover. This album's second great strength is that Williams' vocals are as stellar as her songwriting. Finally, the arrangements are cool too, with lots of rootsy americana plus some rather surprising jangle pop influence. I thoroughly enjoyed this one, and would not be surprised if it grows into a personal favorite with future listens.
Top-flight rec from EyeKanFly and Fischman, and instantly easily one of my favorite jazz albums released in the last decade (I'd put it comfortably above The Epic btw). Excellent playing by Garcia and her band, and some great grooves. The best moments are found in the forays into fusion, as I am a sucker for the electric piano. The dub influence is very cool as well, and it's not the only intriguing sonic detour. Based on the cover I was skeptical that it would sound this fresh, but you know what they say about covers and judgment. Source goes right into my top 15 of 2020. _________________ Join us in the canon game :) / Add me on RYM
baystateoftheartNeil Young as a butternut squashProfile Massachusetts
Rec from: Fischman
Thoughts: This is a very interesting combination of jazz and gospel, unique from anything else I've heard. Mary Lou Williams is a skilled pianist, but the vocal tracks are where the record shines brightest. The album isn't totally cohesive, but it's a very good listen that feels very significant.
Rec from: an-outlaw
Thoughts: I had never heard of Tasmin Archer at all before getting this rec. I'd classify this as tasteful "adult alternative" singer/songwriter music. While the first song and biggest hit is definitely a highlight, there are also a number of other great tracks. Unfortunately, it's a fairly front-loaded album, but still quite a good listen.
Rec from: EyeKanFly
Thoughts: I can see why Kelly Lee Owens inspired this rec, as the musical style is extremely similar. Overall, it's a strong record with great atmosphere and texture, although I don't find it quite as well-executed or captivating as Inner Song. _________________ Join us in the canon game :) / Add me on RYM
Hi if you want some obscure retro to try, one of my top 10 favourite albums is 1985's Colourbox by Colourbox. They were an innovative sampling electro production duo of brothers but 8 tenths of the album is basically gorgeous pop-soul by stunning vocalist Lorita Grahame. The singles were Say You, and The Moon is Blue if you want to start with just one.
The Man, The King, The Girl - Deerhoof
Peng! - Stereolab (I discovered these guys thanks to my weekly Spotify playlist. Awesome stuff!)
Kacey Musgraves - Same Trailer, Different Park
Dolly Parton - Coat of Many Colours
Also listened to bits and bobs from other female artists, including Laura Nyro, Alison Krauss, Imogen Heap and Laura Marling. _________________ Top 40 Greatest Music Albums by indieshins
Stereolab are certainly the artist that I own the most albums by!
I own everything, except I haven't bought this years new release yet. Dots and Loops (1997) is the one that is highest placed in my chart.
It's the last day for the month but
The Sundays - Reading Writing and Arithmetic (1990)
Neneh Cherry - Raw Like Sushi (1989)
Michelle Shocked - Short Sharp Shocked (1988)
are three other all-time great albums that spring to mind.
baystateoftheartNeil Young as a butternut squashProfile Massachusetts
Here's what I heard during week 4+ (March 22-31). Albums I've heard in full before = *
Amazing
The Best Of The Girl Groups Volume 1 - Various Artists*
Great
Illuminations - Buffy Sainte-Marie*
Ceres & Calypso In The Deep Time - Candy Claws
Sucker - Charli XCX*
Colourbox - Colourbox
Deus ร Mulher - Elza Soares*
Wrecking Ball - Emmylou Harris*
Baby Pop - France Gall*
Keepsake - Hatchie*
Never For Ever - Kate Bush*
The Best Of Lesley Gore: Sunshine, Lollipops & Rainbows - Lesley Gore*
Confessions On A Dance Floor - Madonna
Deep Listening - Pauline Oliveros, Stuart Dempster & Panaiotis*
Black Cadillac - Rosanne Cash*
Night Time, My Time - Sky Ferreira*
Aquarius - Tinashe*
Quite Good
Live - Alison Krauss & Union Station
The Road Is Just A Surface - Anja Garbarek*
Timely!! - Anri
As God Intended - Apollo Brown & Che Noir
The Collection - Bessie Smith*
Invasion Of Privacy - Cardi B*
Case / Lang / Veirs - Case / Lang / Veirs*
Gaslighter - The Chicks
La Vita Nuova (EP) - Christine And The Queens
Lotta Sea Lice - Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile*
He's A Rebel - The Crystals*
Bad Girls - Donna Summer
Rockferry - Duffy*
Too True - Dum Dum Girls*
Orcorara 2010 - Elysia Crampton
Songbird - Eva Cassidy*
Control - Janet Jackson
All The Time - Jessy Lanza
Exile In Guyville - Liz Phair*
The World's Greatest Gospel Singer - Mahalia Jackson*
The Family Jewels - Marina And The Diamonds*
Good News - Megan Thee Stallion
Short Sharp Shocked - Michelle Shocked
The End... - Nico*
We Are The Pipettes - The Pipettes*
Is This Desire? - PJ Harvey
Whip It On (EP) - The Raveonettes*
The Con - Tegan And Sara*
Sprinter - Torres*
~~~~~
Verdict: the best three albums I discovered this week+ were...
This album has been on my to-do list for a while, so I'm glad for the nudge. It's all I expected it would be: a gorgeous, dreamy, shoegazey haze with complementary vocals. Total musical comfort food. A great first listen, but I really only have a feel for the atmosphere (though that's arguably the most important part of dream pop or shoegaze). I expect my esteem for it to grow as the details of the sound design and songwriting move into focus on future listens.
One listen in and it's already my favorite Madonna album. We get off to a torrid start with gorgeous earworm Hung Up. Also, it's always fun to recognize a sample chain when you hear a song (in this case ABBA -> Madonna -> Kelis). The hot streak continues until I Love New York, which is a ridiculous dud that should have been left on the cutting room floor. But it doesn't derail the album, as there are a number of great songs after. An exuberant danceable record with rock-solid production and vocals is exactly what I needed, and Madonna delivers.
Thanks to drstuey for a great rec I never would have heard otherwise. Colourbox were simultaneously one of the lesser-known and poppier 4AD acts of the time. Their only full-length is a genre grab bag with great vocals and some very cool production. I wish there were more songs like Give 'Em Whiskey, a clear highlight, but there are plenty of other strong tracks alongside several mediocre ones. Overall, it's groovy stuff, with a decent amount of left-field choices to keep it feeling fresh. _________________ Join us in the canon game :) / Add me on RYM
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