Human Canon Ball

[RoundTheBend]

[baystateoftheart]

Forgot to mention in the prior post, but while I was listening to Super Ape, I was stuck in traffic, and the car in front of me had a window sticker that said "I & I University." Got a chuckle out of that funny coincidence.

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Talking With The Taxman About Poetry by Billy Bragg

Released: 1986
RYM Primary Genres: Singer/Songwriter, Folk Rock
BEA Rank: #2208 overall & #32 in 1986; RYM Rank: #4336 overall & #54 in 1986
First Listen April 1, 2016

I decided to try Billy Bragg solo because I liked the first two Mermaid Avenue albums with Wilco. This is a very melancholy album, with songs about political and romantic discontent. I'm not far from Bragg politically, but his more personal material is definitely stronger than his activism. There are some really good tracks here, and others that fall flat because the lyrics are too on-the-nose and the music is very derivative. For example, I noticed that "Ideology" is a direct copy of "Chimes Of Freedom" musically. It's not a bad album at all, but it slightly underperformed my expectations.

~~~

I also tried two great singles and I've been playing both a lot:

https://soundcloud.com/pcmus/bobby

Bobby by GFOTY
Released: 2013

https://soundcloud.com/youngthugworld/0...-dirty-116

Best Friend by Young Thug
Released: 2015
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[baystateoftheart]

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Radio Tank Mix by A. G. Cook

Released: 2013
RYM Primary Genres: Bubblegum Bass, Dance-Pop
BEA Rank: #6022 overall & #127 in 2013; RYM Rank: #246 overall & #2 in 2013 (among unauthorized)
Re-Listen April 2, 2016

It's been a couple months since I first listened to this, and I definitely like it more than I used to. The start and the finish of the mix are both incredible and otherworldly, but the quality dips a bit in the middle. In particular, I don't like the inclusion of Guess Wot. I think in general, I like the sweet side of bubblegum bass a lot more than its busier, more abrasive (sometimes wonky-informed?) edges. This is why SOPHIE is my least favorite major producer of the genre, although he's still pretty good. Anyway, the sugary sections in this mix are downright blissful and constitute the absolute peak of bubblegum bass in my opinion. The vocal samples are hilarious and get me every time, especially the one right before the This Kiss Remix, which I believe is from The Sims. This album is always a fun listen with headphones, although I confess I'm a bit sheepish about blasting it from speakers. I'll take a few points off for the inconsistencies, although in some ways their zaniness adds to the charm of the mix.

Verdict: 4.0 out of 5, 75 out of 100

You should listen if: You like bubblegum bass, any syrupy borderline-cloying music, or eccentric DJ mixes.
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[baystateoftheart]

Here are some more albums I've recently listened to in the background or while driving, so I'll keep it brief once again:

There's No Place Like America Today by Curtis Mayfield

Released: 1975
RYM Primary Genres: Soul, Funk
BEA Rank: #7689 overall & #123 in 1975; RYM Rank: #5849 overall & #134 in 1975
First Listen April 2, 2016

It's another sensational album by Curtis Mayfield from the tail end of his creative peak. As usual, there's a great blend of socially conscious tracks (although often too vaguely stated) and beautiful love songs.

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Emmerdale by The Cardigans

Released: 1994
RYM Primary Genres: Indie Pop, Twee Pop
BEA Rank: #15629 overall & #340 in 1994; RYM Rank: #561 in 1994
First Listen April 2, 2016

Emmerdale is the Cardigans' debut, a twee and fun listen. I knew several of these tracks from listening to the US version of Life, although they flow better here in their original context. I would say this is tentatively my second favorite of theirs, after First Band On The Moon.

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Facts Of Life by Bobby Womack

Released: 1973
RYM Primary Genres: Soul, Deep Soul
BEA Rank: #56491 overall & #692 in 1973; RYM Rank: #378 in 1973
First Listen April 2, 2016

This is one of the better albums I've listened to by Womack so far, and criminally underrated on BEA. His vocal delivery is on point, rich musical soul food with just the right amount of pathos. My favorite track is probably "Fact Of Life / He'll Be There When The Sun Goes Down", and the one major flaw is the closing track, in which he does a cut-rate imitation of Hendrix instead of making the song truly his own.

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Long Gone Before Daylight by The Cardigans

Released: 2003
RYM Primary Genres: Pop Rock, Indie Pop
BEA Rank: #2804 overall & #75 in 2003; RYM Rank: #291 in 2003
First Listen April 3, 2016

At this point the Cardigans had left their twee roots behind for a more alt-rock sound, and I even noticed Americana influences on some tracks. Lyrically, it contains both some of their strongest and some of their most cringe-worthy work. Unfortunately, to my ears the album is overlong and not varied enough to engage consistently. It's still usually pleasant, but far from their best effort.
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[baystateoftheart]

So I've hardly been listening to any music lately, and I might not for a while. It's hard for me to do homework to music or fall asleep to music as some do. And I almost never want to listen to music when I'm depressed; it seems to make things worse.

The reason? On Monday my significant other broke up with me after a 17-month relationship because of "fear of commitment." There were hardly any warning signs and we had both more or less consistently expressed to each other a desire to be together far into the future. Now it seems unlikely that we'll get back together, although time will tell.

Looking back, I would say the majority of all music I was listening to was playing while were spending time together (which somewhat explains my exploration of soul ) or while I was driving to meet them. For now anything with a love theme is intolerable, so the only thing I've listened to lately is this one:

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Rainforest EP by Clams Casino

Released: 2011
RYM Primary Genres: Instrumental Hip Hop, Cloud Rap
BEA Rank: #31716 overall & #1035 in 2011; RYM Rank: #1645 overall & #46 in 2011 (among EPs)
Re-Listen April 5, 2016

Having heard and enjoyed all of Clams Casino's projects, this one is definitely my favorite. The concept gives it a cohesiveness that's lacking in his scattershot beat tapes. As usual, most of the production choices are dope and the hazy atmosphere envelops you. It should be in the top 100 for the year on BEA, but it's not even in the top 1000!

Verdict: 4.0 out of 5, 80 out of 100

You should listen if: You like cloud rap instrumentals and/or want to experience the feeling of being in a peaceful rainforest.

~~~

Anyway, I probably won't be writing in this diary or listening to much music until things are at least somewhat better in my personal life, and that might be a long time. See you guys later!
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[baystateoftheart]

Life has been going a bit better, contrary to the dramatic forecast in my previous post, and I've managed to listen to some music after all. Here are some albums I've heard lately. Most did not have my undivided attention, so I won't be too grandiose with the commentary.

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Songs For Drella by Lou Reed and John Cale

Released: 1990
RYM Primary Genres: Art Rock
BEA Rank: #2374 overall & #38 in 1990; RYM Rank: #3036 overall & #44 in 1990
First Listen April 8, 2016

This was a really poignant memorial album for Andy Warhol, the songs often functioning as vignettes. My eyes were a bit misty at the end. I had never before heard anything by John Cale outside of VU, and his contributions shine here. I'll have to check out some of his solo work.

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Psychedelic Shack by The Temptations

Released: 1970
RYM Primary Genres: Psychedelic Soul
BEA Rank: #27894 overall & #346 in 1970; RYM Rank: #5766 overall & #158 in 1970
First Listen April 8, 2016

The Temptations might be my father's favorite band, so I heard a lot of their greatest hits tapes growing up. I only started listening to their individual albums more recently, and this is the first one that I fully enjoyed front to back. It has great energy throughout and should contend for a high place on my charts with further listening. The title track is classic and the record doesn't drag significantly at any point; there's even a funky version of "War" (made famous by Edwin Starr), and it turns out this was the original!

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Present Tense by Wild Beasts

Released: 2014
RYM Primary Genres: Art Pop
BEA Rank: #4491 overall & #55 in 2014; RYM Rank: #422 in 2014
First Listen April 9, 2016

This album was rather blasé on first listen. Some good tracks and others that seem formulaic, without feeling, or lyrically pointless. I may not be giving it a fair shake now, so I'll see how I feel later.

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Step In The Arena by Gang Starr

Released: 1991
RYM Primary Genres: East Coast Hip Hop, Jazz Rap
BEA Rank: #3355 overall & #54 in 1991; RYM Rank: #1992 overall & #41 in 1991
First Listen April 9, 2016

I had more fun listening to this album than anything else I've heard by Gang Starr. Either it is a cut above, or I was really feeling it for some reason, or both. The production from DJ Premier is impeccable, and Guru is corny less often than usual (which isn't super often anyway).

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Understanding by Bobby Womack

Released: 1972
RYM Primary Genres: Soul
BEA Rank: #28680 overall & #364 in 1972; RYM Rank: #287 in 1972
First Listen April 10, 2016

Understanding is a great effort by Bobby Womack, at my first impression in the upper echelon of what I've heard by him. He brings the heat consistently with deep, gravelly grown-folks soul. It also contains my favorite rendition of "Sweet Caroline", a vast improvement on the schmaltz of Diamond's original.
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[SuedeSwede]

[baystateoftheart]

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Manipulator by Ty Segall

Released: 2014
RYM Primary Genres: Psychedelic Rock
BEA Rank: #7056 overall & #106 in 2014; RYM Rank: #34 in 2014
First Listen April 13, 2016

This album is what it sounds like when a total weirdo with an indie aesthetic throws garage rock and glam rock into a blender. Fun to listen to and low-key. There's something about the combination of the riffs and drumming style that is inexplicably deeply satisfying. In short, it's a rock album with some good hooks and a cool vibe, and considered by many to be Segall's finest hour.
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[dihansse]

This is a great way of discovering new music especially taking into account the fact that you started so late; I like your appreciaties for Songs for Drella

[baystateoftheart]