Jan 21, 2024

 Best of the Week

Katherine Priddy - The Eternal Rocks Beneath

2021  10 tracks  (41:19)

Anyone that thinks folk music doesn’t have a place in modern music should be required to listen to this album. Blessed with a flawless soft voice and nimble guitar playing hands, each tune sounds like it was delivered directly from God’s angels. Occasional stringed accompaniment adorns most tracks, but the beauty is in its simplicity. The song writing is good, but I’m willing to bet it will only get better just because her youth is still a factor.

Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea

1998  11 tracks  (39:51)

One of the many Elephant 6 recording groups, this release developed a cult following over the years for good reason. The songs, led by Jeff Magnum, are simply recorded using a variety of instruments (including a singing saw in the title track) and are captivatingly earthy and real. The genuine character carries through with the funny and irrelevant lyrics in tandem with the lo-fi nature of the recording. This recording all but disappeared until the Internet and Magnum’s withdrawal from public view made it bigger than life, being touted by many prominent bands as an influence in their own music. It’s great and deserves recognition as one of the best albums in rock history. A+

Interesting Finds

Charlie Cunningham - Frame

2023  12 tracks  (40:59)

It may go under the moniker of indie folk, but these songs done with simple arrangements and done delicately are beautiful from start to finish. Cunningham uses his soft voiced vocals and equally soft guitar (and occasional piano) to create songs so delicate they could be broken with a stiff breeze. There are atmospheric treatments in the form of airy keyboards to give just enough support to round out the tunes. Despite the low energy, the songs aren’t boring. Just relaxing. B

Sarah Jarosz - Undercurrent

2016  11 tracks  (36:22)

I’ve had the song “Green Lights” on my player for a long time and finally listened to the album it came from. I should have listened a long time ago. Sarah Jarosz is a young phenom in the folk arts, in all the talents - singing, songwriting, and as a musician with guitars and mandolins. Each song is quality and varies from traditional folk to new country and everything in between. It probably was too much to ask that any of the songs match the sheer beauty and tenderness of “Green Lights”, but there are some tasty nuggets and everything is listenable. B+

Fish - A Feast of Consequences

2013  11 tracks  (1:06:55)

Another album with a track having a long residence on my player and finally listening to the full album. According to a Fish aficionado (pun intended), this album is one of the better post 2000 albums that abandoned his musical ties with the music he made with Marillion and approached a pop/alternative rock direction. Similar to the shift Peter Gabriel made from his Genesis sounding early albums, the shift sometimes worked and other times didn’t. Fish filled his songs with the sound of his voice and left little room for instrumental expression, which is needed to make alternative and progressive rock work. For that reason, there is a level of plainness despite the quality production. This could have been so much better. C

Royksopp - Profound Mysteries III

2022  10 tracks  (1:00:37)

The group Royksopp is a duo from Norway, the austere Tromso area far up north, which probably is one of the reasons the electronic music has a certain starkness. Even so, there are some really good heavy rhythm cuts and very serene female guest vocalists that makes parts captivating. They can get stuck in a rut, repeating sounds and patterns from song to song. It is a mixed bag, but it is attractive throughout.  B-

Delerium - Mythologie

2016  12 tracks  (1:03:57)

Known for making infectious new-age electronic pop and ambient house music, the Vancouver based duo also has a knack for picking excellent supporting (usually female) vocalists to round out the mid-tempo songs. Without the vocalists, the music would come off a little plain. Often during a song, the melody would often wane until they sneak in a shift in key or accenting instrumental segment. The signature spacial chords, deep bass notes, and high key vocals rule every song. It pays to sprinkle these songs in with a high energy rock song list for a welcome change of pace.  B

 

Frost* - Experiments in Mass Appeal

2008  9 tracks  (56:50)

Stuck for well-crafted alternative rock? Frost is the great elixir for the Everything-Sounds-The-Same blues. The blend of musical sounds they make sound timeless, it’s impossible to figure out which decade it comes from. Nothing is totally linear, you can’t expect them to be predictable on any given song, right? Only the last cut, the 15-minute “Wonderland” song needs some sizable editing due to the lengthy spoken word at the very beginning that goes on for many minutes before becoming a real song. Outside of that one cut (well, maybe the 1:07 You/I), it is grand stuff.  B+

Elbow - Asleep in the Back

2001  12 tracks  (1:01:47)

The first Elbow album has a lot of elements found in Radiohead like the penchant for great melody lines with unconventional rock presentation. Add in some Peter Gabriel style vocals and you have music a little more accessible to a general audience. They are not mainstream at all. The britpop sound is less strident than a metal pop and walls of guitars are substituted with more delicate organ, drums, and acoustic guitars. Not a hit machine, but lots to look over the long haul. B+

Bjorn Riis - Lullabies in a Car Crash

2016  6 tracks  (51:28)

This is a little boring. Bjorn Riis is the guitarist for Airbag, the Norwegian prog rock band with steller songs like “Machines and Men”. Sounding similarly, the music relies on a common crutch, the use of standard chord progressions we all know without a meaningful amount of variation between songs. Listening to it doesn’t turn you off, it just doesn’t turn you on. It’s as average as you can get.  C

Forgettable

Fontaines D.C. - Skinty Fla go deo (Disappointing brooding dreck)

Beach House - Teen Dream (boring pop rock, couldn’t get into it)

Clark - Sus Dog (Interesting electro-pop but lacks any musical sense)

Liars - The Apple Drop (Avant Garde rock with toneless vocals)

Jan 12, 2023

Best of the Week

Yo La Tengo - I Can Hear the Heart Beating As One (25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)

2022  22 tracks  (1:50:32)

Yes, this was released in 1997 when Yo La Tengo found their footing that would blaze a path for the next twenty-five years and beyond. Most label them as an alternative rock or indie pop band, but there is no one label that can describe how they lay down basic pop lines with a minimal set of instruments and use the studio like an artist palette. They don’t get stuck in a predictable pattern, each song is not just an extension of adjoining songs. They sound like they are a different band from cut to cut. Which is why you can listen to the (original) 16-cut album and not tire of listening to it. Even with the ten-minute bizarro “Spec Bebop” track.  There are six additional cuts to the anniversary edition, four of which are alternate takes of “Autumn Sweater”. This could be a rock classic.  A+

Skating Polly - Chaos County Line

2023  18 tracks  (1:07:30)

It would be easy to dismiss Skating Polly as a base level girls band with the cutesy vocals and the lyrical focus on boys/relationships, but that’s a mistake. There is true pop craftsmanship (or is it craftsthemship now?) taking place. The song structures are not simple A-B-A-B patterns, much more sophisticated than that. They are still young and much of that comes through, but they have been at this for a dozen years and have developed their musical chops tremendously. Stylistically, they do float around a bit, but there really isn’t a stinker on this 18 cut tracklist. It kicks serious butt all the way through. A-

Ghostwoman - Hindsight is 50/50

2023  10 tracks  (41:07)

If there is such a genre as psychedelic pop shoegaze (psych-gaze?) this would be it. The ghostly vocals and piercing over-fuzzed guitars is an intoxicating combination which Evan Uschenko uses to great effect. Occasionally, he pulls the guitar back a little bit to give the mid-60’s The Ventures vibe. It’s a blast to listen to. A-

Robyn Hitchcock - Shufflemania!

2022  10 tracks  (37:50)

Unlike the relaxing Life After Infinity, Hitchcock is at his usual playful self with the set of irrepressible tunes and lovely singing he has been known for. He’s always been a great lyricist which has not changed here one bit. The songs are fun, lively, and enjoyable. May he never change. A-

Interesting Finds

Tomahawk - Tomahawk

2001  13 tracks  (41:41)

Debut album by Mike Patton (Mr. Bungle, Faith No More) based supergroup that formed and plays for a while, goes into hiatus, and then returns when they aren’t working with their home groups and other projects. They have been playing this form of alternative metal and grunge music for twenty years now, often playing with Melvins and Tool. Their rough-around-the-edges metal pop sound is appealing even if the vocals are less than great (or even good) with the Wolfman Jack/John Kay singing. Mike Paton, the singer, intentionally uses this form of singing despite having a tremendous vocal range. Still, that doesn’t detract from the basic appeal with many of the songs inventive and intriguing.  B

Faith No More - Album of the Year

1997  12 tracks  (43:13)

Not sure what people were looking for when this album came out, but they weren’t very happy with it and I don’t know why. There are some songs on here that are excellent. The legendary Mike Patton was the lead singer by now (see above Tomahawk capsule in this segment) and it showcases his range of vocal delivery. Pitchfork compared this album to a used condom (“sure, the ride was fun while it lasted, but what remains is just plain icky. And you definitely don’t want it in your CD player”). That’s unfortunate because it can easily be mistaken for a Foo Fighters album. It is far from perfect, but there is plenty of meat to chew on. B+

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - Reunions

2020  10 tracks  (41:13)

A nice set of tracks in a southern rock Americana style by this former Drive By Truckers member. The songs all have a certain amount of hooks characteristic of country or folk music which adds a lot of sameness to the set, almost to the point of you’re asking yourself, didn’t I just hear that? The vocals are pleasant and they play in a relaxed style. Nothing really wrong with it, just a little repetitive. C

Vince Clarke - Songs of Silence

2023  10 tracks  (42:45)

Known for his work with the duo Erasure and early work with OMD, Clarke produces a relaxing synth record using simple patterns augmented by brief punctuated sound effects. It’s soothing, not energetic. Not great playlist material, but there is nothing wrong to put this whole record in a dimly lighted room and let it ease the day’s stresses from your body.  C

David Holmes, Raven Violet - Blind On A Galloping Horse

2023  14 tracks  (1:14:36)

David Holmes, a DJ and film soundtrack composer, does music that could be described as electro pop - electronic based music with lots of programming. Raven Violet provides a soft airy voice to the songs. Many of the songs are given pithy titles like “You Will Know Me by the Smell of Onions” and “Tyranny of the Talentless” as well as the title track. The music is fine and mostly enjoyable. Good rhythmic background music.  B-

Hector Tellez Jr. - The Great Unknown

2023  12 tracks  (43:52)

Good on you if you had a Cuban national become someone to look at in the future for blues based rock n roll on your bingo card. Tellez was able to rope two rock icons in Krist Novoselic and Peter Buck to help on his first US release. After growing up listening to US and UK rock - and lots of Muddy Waters - Tellez was able to secure a leave of Cuba where he knew playing salsa and covers was not his lot in life and made the jump to Nashville. His fluid guitar playing and resounding vocals, almost entirely in English, has the talent to be a major player. If anything, his vocals are too perfect as rock tends to favor vocals with some rough edges. A couple of the songs could be better, but for a first release this is a nice start. B

Beartooth - The Surface

2023  11 tracks  (37:32)

Brutally hard rock or metalcore or metalpop, whatever you want to call it, has its moments. The music features many of the same elements as a Disturbed or Fall Out Boys without resorting to growling throat singing. Make no mistake, there are plenty of near scream level vocals, but at least the lyrics are still decipherable. The songs are a little ordinary, using common constructs found in many bands. A little more imagination would go a long way.  C

Robyn Hitchcock - Life After Infinity

2023  11 tracks  (37:20)

Known for his bouncy pop act, Robyn Hitchcock decides to go mostly acoustic and leave the vocals behind in this set of relaxing and contemplative work. This would have found a home in the old Windham Hill records family many years ago. They are all very lovely and touching, sometimes a welcome change to the fast and furious life and music that dominates the landscape. B

The Veils - …And Out of the Void Came Love

2023  15 tracks  (56:39)

The Veils are essentially Finn Andrews with whomever he finds to play the songs he writes and sings. In general, it is an alt-rock band with spooky psychedelic backdrops, pop music on quaaludes. The dreary dreamy tone doesn’t overpower the good pop sense that is evident. The songs are well-structured and inventive albeit with a few clinkers to skip. It has some of the production level one would have expected from a David Bowie album but is more likable. Towards the end of the album, I was fatigued by the schtick and the cuteness of the production.  B-

 

Jan 6, 2024

 

Despite being the third anniversary of one of the most despicable events ever to take place in U.S. history, this weeks music is, for the most part, a sampling of some terrific music. 

One change, no longer titling the heading "week of" because sometimes its a week, sometimes less than a week, and sometimes more than two weeks. 

 

Best of the Week

Orchestral Manoeuvers in the Dark - Bauhaus Staircase

2023   12 tracks   (42:58)

An outstanding set of tunes sets off this rendition of OMD whose work launched the electronic music genre in the early 80’s. If anything, this represents some of their best work, expertly arranged and played. Nothing sucks, it sounds timeless and fresh as ever.  A

Lilly Hiatt - Walking Proof

2020  11 tracks  (37:35)

Following in her father’s, John Hiatt, footsteps, Lilly has a great knack for writing songs with passion, energy, and word sense. Some sound like country, others are more crossover into rock. It’s a great set of songs to boot, all of them are memorable in their own right. That is some accomplishment. She has a fantastic voice, one that reminds me of Allison Krauss. What a delight.  A

Long Distance Calling - Boundless

2018  8 tracks  (49:24)

Call it post-rock, progressive metal, or death metal, this band from Germany plays some excellent instrumentals. All are 5+ minutes, but nothing extends too far and provides enough change and variety to recognize the differences. Every one of the cuts is listenable and a great add to the playlist because when it pops up, you’ll go “all right!”  A-

Interesting Finds

Igorrr - Spirituality and Distortion

2020  14 tracks  (55:36)

French experimental prog musician Gautier Serre, known by the name Igorrr, provides some very bizarre and occasionally captivating musical moments. His music contains black metal, electronic pop, classical baroque, breakcore, trip hop - you name it. I listened to the whole thing which probably doesn’t happen very frequently. I kept going on the premise, gee, what is he going to throw at you next? This won’t show up at your next head slamming party. Carnival music and death metal? You get both with “Musette Maximum”. George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher helps out (?) on “Parpaing”. For the truly adventurous only. D

Dool - Summerland

2020  9 tracks  (54:35)

Dool is a dark heavy metal band from The Netherlands with a decent sense of melody to blend in with the dense guitars and drumming. The first cut “Sulphur & Starlight” makes this clear. There is a certain uniformity that makes listening to an extended set of songs tiring, better to sprinkle them into a playlist. A few standout and the rest are acceptable. B-

Maneskin - Rush!

2023  18 tracks  (55:39)

Maneskin is an Italian glam/pop/hard/funk rock band that plays high energy banger music. Though the group name is Danish for moonlight and are all Italian born, they sound like an American or U.K. dance club band. Panic at the Disco would be a great companion group for them. The eighteen songs run about three minutes each thus not allowing you to tire of the song. All are bouncy beat crazy tunes, fun all the way through.  B+

Tom Meighan - The Reckoning

2023  12 tracks  (41:31)

The volatile former frontman for the group Kasabian has his own gig now. Comparisons to Liam Gallagher are common with the dense production and lively songs, all of single length. The kick ass quality of rock here is done well even if lacks a certain “it” factor. Not bad, not great.  C

Siiilk - Eemynor

2022  10 tracks  (46:05)

This is a proper prog rock endeavor, filled with spectacularly beautiful moments punctuated with soaring guitar and keyboard work. The only frustrating part is that they put out an album once every five years. The two leadoff items, “Eemynor” and “Signs in the Sand”, are both two-part segments for some odd reason. It was better to join them together and will be listened to over and over again.  B+

Devendra Banhart - Flying Wig

2023  10 tracks  (48:04)

Banhart and his music have traveled a long strange road from Houston to Venezuela to San Francisco to Paris. The music here could be psychedelic folk or weird America. It has a dreamlike presence and slow rhythms, but not quite shoegaze. Slow tempo electronic music can be worthwhile, but Banhart is a little too quiet and sparse. His voice is just above a whisper and the keyboard work is like a zonked out Peter Gabriel cut.  C-

Myrkur - Spine

2023  9 tracks  (33:44)

Danish singer Amalie Bruun combines her angelic vocals against a backdrop of heavy fuzz-laden guitar. This symphonic metal hybrid creates a gothic feel that is both lovely and powerful. I would like to see extended versions of these songs that would allow for more flow, but it still is good. B-

M83 - Fantasy

2023  13 tracks  (1:06:20)

French group led by multi-instrumentalist Anthony Gonzalez plays a rich electronic keyboard brand of prog rock a little more energetic than shoegaze with dreamy backdrops. This is their ninth album and the first in four years. Almost all the songs have vocal accompaniment but some are long enough to allow instrumental extension. Hints of Vangelis, Tangerine Dream, and Brit Pop synth bands like Depeche Mode abound. B+

Forgettable

Tribulation - Down Below

2018  10 tracks  (50:19)

Well, this is the pits. Jonathan Hulten, whose solo work is transcendary, is the gravel sounding throat singer for this band. Doubly sad is the music itself has some decent chops. Often a song starts and interests you immediately until the dreaded doom vocals start. Please, somebody make this horrid trend stop, it ruins a lot of good music. Like this one.  F

Week of Jan 2, 2024

Top of the New Year!

Best of the Week

Jonathan Hulten - The Forest Sessions

2022  10 tracks  (38:16)

Once in a great while, an album or artist comes along and just shakes your soul, often when least expecting it. This album by Hulten is a derivative of his studio album Chants from Another Place with many of that album’s songs redone in the bowels of a Swedish forest during the time of Covid isolation. The music is gentle and soaring with precision vocal work to create a masterpiece of sound. It’s a great piece and one that will be revisited many times in the future. A+

Mammoth WVH - II

2023  10 tracks  (48:14)

Eddie Van Halen’s son, Wolfgang, drives this group and he kills it. Great songs, killer guitar licks, and steady vocals as opposed to the showy Haggar/Roth vocals. It would be fair to say Mammoth sounds closer to Green Day than dad’s old band. WVH has a fine sense of melody, rocking techniques, a good voice, and hammers it out consistently. What more could you ask for?  A

Interesting Finds

Greta Van Fleet - Starcatcher

2023  10 tracks  (42:49)

Fascinating sounding rock group formed by three Kiszka brothers and Danny Wagner from Michigan. Straight forward hard rock, Joshua Kiszka has a voice somewhere between Geddy Lee and Grace Slick. Admittedly, his voice takes getting used to as it isn’t the prettiest voice in rock but the band’s ability to rock out overcomes any of the vocalist’s misgivings. Solid effort. B

Teenage Fanclub - Nothing Lasts Forever

2023  10 tracks  (39:28)

This alternative rock band from Scotland plays a throwback style of rock where the tune is more important than the production. This well-received album is their twelfth, they are clearly no spring chickens. It’s warm and inviting throughout. Many enjoyable tunes gives this modern take on an old pop sound new life. B+

The Secret Sisters - Saturn Return

2020  10 tracks  (40:34)

The difference between Americana and country is often slight, but it’s unmistakable; this is definitely Americana with some modern elements. The two women here are clearly of one soul and with that is some sweet songs sung with terrific harmony.  If in the mood for a softer sound, this can be a winner.  B

The Warning - Error

2022  14 tracks  (48:56)

This kick-ass trio of women from Mexico should be on every pop radio. Think of them as elevated Bangles. With guitars blazing, they are a force. Much like the Mammoth WVH above, well done straight ahead rock   B+

Stephen Malkmus - Traditional Techniques

2020  10 tracks  (41:05)

Malkmus plays alternative indie rock with some folk elements featuring acoustic instruments. The songs are pleasant, his voice is not bad if you like Lou Reed intonation, and it doesn’t sound like a rehash of Joni Mitchell songs. It isn’t what you call beautiful. Ugly can work as it does here and there are enough good moments to make a trip to his sound worthwhile. B-

311 - Voyager

2019  13 tracks  (44:15)

It’s been thirty some years since 311 put out Music, the first release that showed the incredible balance between ska, rap, and rock. It doesn’t seem like much has changed, the format still holds. Nick Hexum’s steady vocals plays well against Martinez’ rap singing. There is a lot of repetition from prior releases, some of which works (“Dodging Raindrops”) and some of it doesn’t (“Don’t You Worry”). It’s a little stagnant.  C

Drive-By Truckers - Welcome 2 Club XIII

2022  9 tracks  (42:44)

DBT is a band from Athens, GA that could at times sound like a dead ringer for Neil Young’s band Crazy Horse. The title track, “Welcome 2 Club XIII” (Club Thirteen) sounds just like a bar band number from a southern roadhouse. There is a little of The Replacements in their sound.  A little raunchy and rough around the edges, it’s a fun listen. B-

Stone Temple Pilots - Perdida

2020  10 tracks  (45:33)

They may have been long associated with the grunge scene, but this album is more like easy listening alternative rock. Probably the main reason is because they used only acoustic instruments. The sounds of Camper Van Beethoven come to mind while listening, just a little more serious than CVB. A terrific surprise from a name I wouldn’t have checked into. B+

Forgettable