I'll be listening to exclusively black artists again this February to celebrate Black History Month.
I will post weekly summaries of what I've checked out.
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! _________________ Join us in the canon game :) / Add me on RYM
Here's what I heard during week 1 (February 1-7). Albums I've heard in full before = *
Amazing
(For God's Sake) Give More Power To The People - The Chi-Lites*
Reachin' (A New Refutation Of Time And Space) - Digable Planets*
Coffin For Head Of State - Fela Kuti & Africa 70*
Opposite People - Fela Kuti & Africa 70*
Roforofo Fight - Fela Kuti & Africa 70*
Cosmogramma - Flying Lotus*
Great
Mingus At Antibes - Charles Mingus
Black Messiah - D'Angelo And The Vanguard*
Red Clay - Freddie Hubbard
The Jackie Wilson Story - Jackie Wilson
Love Power Peace: Live At The Olympia, Paris, 1971 - James Brown
My Girl: The Very Best Of The Temptations - The Temptations
Quite Good
Between A Rock And A Hard Place - Artifacts
Durand Jones & The Indications - Durand Jones & The Indications
Black Up - Shabazz Palaces
Regulate... G Funk Era - Warren G
Pretty Good
Purple Haze - Cam'ron
~~~~~
Verdict: the three best albums I discovered this week were...
A great James Brown live album. He and the J.B.s are at the peak of their powers and bursting with funk energy ... The setlist is very solid, but it could have been stronger. Of course, that's just a minor quibble, as this really is fantastic listening.
The combo tears through the majority of these tracks with infectious abandon. When it gets mellower, it stays engaging. And there's even a sense of humor that comes through at times. I think the chemistry with Eric Dolphy is what really makes this all work so well.
Another great soulful jazz album from Hubbard, accompanied here by strong supporting cast. The bookends are the clear standouts (and it was fun picking up the Tribe sample in the title track), but the middle tracks are no slouch either. _________________ Join us in the canon game :) / Add me on RYM
baystateoftheartNeil Young as a butternut squashProfile Massachusetts
Anyone else have some recs you want to share? Particularly interested in your recent discoveries, but music you've loved for a while is cool too. _________________ Join us in the canon game :) / Add me on RYM
babyBlueSedanUsed to be sort of blind, now can sort of seeProfile
Last month I got on an afro-funk kick and found a few great albums. The best one was this one, which is two long funk grooves that make you wish they never end:
And a Billy Woods album that I absolutely should have already heard, because it's very good, but which convinced me that Woods is one of the 3 best hip hop artists of the 2010s:
Thumbnail. Click to enlarge.
Known Unknowns by Billy Woods _________________ And it's hard to be a human being. And it's harder as anything else.
mickilennialThe Most Trusted Name in NewsProfile Detroit
Here's what I heard during week 2 (February 8-14). Albums I've heard in full before = *
Near-Perfect
To Pimp A Butterfly - Kendrick Lamar*
Amazing
Shakara - Fela Kuti & Africa 70*
Zombie - Fela Kuti & Africa 70*
It's Your World - Gil Scott-Heron And Brian Jackson
Liquid Swords - GZA*
Sextant - Herbie Hancock*
Black Unity - Pharoah Sanders*
It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back - Public Enemy*
Gold - The Supremes
Great
Tracy Chapman - Tracy Chapman
The Lost Boy - YBN Cordae
Quite Good
Blackheart Man - Bunny Wailer
Mirrorland - EarthGang
Planeta Fome - Elza Soares
Eve - Rapsody
Pretty Good
AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted - Ice Cube
~~~~~
Verdict: the three best albums I discovered this week were...
Scott-Heron is in top form with both his singing and spoken word. I love the jazz-funk instrumentation that Jackson has masterminded, and the band cooks live. Although the instrumentals are also amazing on Scott-Heron's solo work, this feels like a more balanced blend of emphasis between vocals and instrumentals. Essential listening.
The rare album in which one track is head and shoulders above the rest (Fast Car, of course), yet everything else is still great. The instrumentals don't always do these songs justice, but Chapman's vocals and songwriting are strong enough to carry the record regardless. After hearing this, I've now heard every album by black artists in the BEA top 500.
A major label rap debut in 2019 that treads a familiar sonic path is not something I'd expect to love. But Cordae has bars and charisma, the jazzy production is A1, and this is a comfy listen that doesn't overstay its welcome. Worth checking for hip-hop fans. _________________ Join us in the canon game :) / Add me on RYM
baystateoftheartNeil Young as a butternut squashProfile Massachusetts
Thanks for the recs, babyBlueSedan, Gowi, and Luigii! I have already added several of them to my library. _________________ Join us in the canon game :) / Add me on RYM
mickilennialThe Most Trusted Name in NewsProfile Detroit
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