For the love for music.
I listen to new music and pick one album each week. The sources of my new music are the wonderful Sound Opinions, New Music Fridays, and Spotify's Recent Releases playlists.
I'm still working on a notification model, but if you're interested in this you could follow me on Twitter or add the Spotify playlist below.
Garbology
The nice nice. Soft, lovely, dulcet tones. Relaxing without being boring.
Deep and haunting vocals carried aloft on instrumental accompaniment reminiscent of white water rafting or maybe Philip Glass on speed. Sculpting the Exodus stands out, along with Argument and Dogma.
Almost feels like the soundtrack to an epic Sci-Fi movie or Destiny 2.
Happy Birthday Justin!
Recently while hosting my brother I decided to try some Albums of the Week contenders on him, it's around his birthday and he complemented the Atmosphere, so that pretty much cemented it's position as this weeks Album of the Week.
For my own part, it's an extremely strong album: each track a banger, with thought provoking lyrics and a head bobbing rhythm.
"Never forget this is America, banks rob you" Atmosphere - Pressed
Do you know Sohn? James Blake might. A signature sound of this album feels like a call back to Tremors. Which is to say, deeply sorrowful and ultra modern. Epic, like a car comerical.
Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga, not the other way around. I've never really gotten into The Rat Pack, but one of the great things about this project it that it exposes me to all sorts of music that I wouldn't otherwise listen to.
This album is a great example of that phenomenon. I never would have listened to this. I probably would have laughed at it. And to be sure, it is a gimmick. But it's also a fun album to put on.
I am a little worried about the precidence this sets, esp. with the upcoming Christmas season... But it seems like a good thing today.
'Cause you're my You're my antidote-dote-dote-dote-dote-dote
- Antidote (feat. Adekunle Gold)
"Dote-dote, dote-dote, dote-dote antidote-dote, dote-dote, dote-dote, antidote-dote."
- My head all week long.
You've been warned :P.
Deja is a fantastic example of music that I would have been unlikely to expose myself to without this project. It's not in english, I believe it's in spanish, but I know enough about languages to know that I don't know anything. The musical style is reminicent of Sohn, LCD Sound System or even Stereolab, but with a large pinch of something that is difficult for me to put my finger on. I assume it's a traditional sound from latin america, but it might be KPop. I just couldn't tell you.
What I can tell you is this is a great record to put on and get some work done.
Am I a sucker for spoken word over epic backing tracks? Yes. Is that this album's only appeal? No.
I'm new to Little Simz, but this album makes me very aware of the talent here. I find it a bit genre defying so I wont try.
This EP is actually from early July, but it just recently came across my desk. It's whistling. Old timey, spaghetti western whistling.
I like whistling. If you do too, give this a listen. If you don't, well, don't say I didn't warn you.
Ambisoco? Disbiant? Some combination of "Disco" and "Ambient" are swirled together on this album. Maybe it's a collection of mellowed disco-covers? I wouldn't know.
A fun listen eitherway.
This week I challenged myself to chose an ambient album. This is not how I usually make my selections. So often the bombastic album steals the Album of the Week, and yet, I love ambient music, its just hard to rank ambient amongst professionals who excel at grabbing your attention (like last week's Billie Eilish selection).
So this week: grab your headphones, turn off your mind, relax, and imagine yourself: not your body, your emotions or even your thoughts, but instead imagine you are the watcher, and all the sensations, everything you can perceive, is merely a show put on around your inner-self.
With her patented blend of melodrama, EDM, and pop Billie Eilish makes her first entry into The Albums of the Weeks with her second album. Arguably not as good as her first, but only time will tell.
Don't miss her music videos for this album either.
Did you know that Jackson Browne has a new album and it has some bilingual songs? Both are true. Some competitors this week were a lot more modern sounding, but this album is timeless*.
*: Timeless this week. Time will tell, I suppose.
An incredibly diverse album. It gave me the feeling of being the collected scraps from the editing room floor over 20 years of a producers life. And, when I did the research, that's exactly what it is: Tiny Telephone was a small recording studio set up by Vanderslice, and this is a collection of lost cuts, including some interesting covers.
John, I can’t believe civilization is still going here in 2021! Congratulations to all of us, Love, DCB is a fabulously titled EP released at roughly the same time by Vanderslice which I mention now simply to spread the name. Good job us!
I've recently crossed into the second year of Albums of the Weeks and, well, if you're reading this, please let me know: I have had the greatest time doing this over the past year, and documenting it has been a blast, but I'd love to know if there's an audience out there or if I should invest my time in something less egotistical. Thanks.
The first time I heard this verse it gave me chills. It still does. The rest of the album delivers on the promise of track one. It's time for the feels:
Brothers why we fighting each other.
My sisters, why we let the men take our power
That's what they want, that's what they want, that's what they want, that's what they want
Our leaders conquer and they divide us
Our preachers teach the world of our colonizers
That's what they want, that's what they want, that's what they want, that's what they want
Lets be stronger than our fathers
Free ourselves and please our mothers
Can't you see we can't be governed
If we choose love, if we choose love
Oh its so wild. Strictly speaking this is a classically composed album. The history of it tho... The performance... It's all so interesting, not the least the music itself: It bubbles and babbles like a brook, it melts, rips, and shreds like a block of nice cheddar, it's boring and exhilarating like a road trip.
Don't skip this one.
Techo-R&B, mildy industrial, chill but not boring.
"Black midi" as a term refers to a musical art form that's not exactly the same as a musical genre. It is instead a reference to how the music appears on screen in a midi sequencer. Some midi sequencers are little more than elaborate spread sheets with rows for individual notes played by specific instruments, and columns that represent whether or not that not is being played at that moment. "Black midi" (the art form) refers to music that is composed in such a way to be interesting in the sequencer view. The name refers to when the whole sequencer is full of notes but the art form includes more creative endeavors (which generally sound better than all notes being played at every interval). Some times these tracks are arranged in more of a Guitar Hero, Rockband, or player piano format.
"black midi" the band is more of an homage to this format and you can expect going into this album lots of noise, lots of sound, and even a 'Wall of Noise' effect. Reminds me of some early Flaming Lips.
Good luck!
Moar jazz?! Yaz!
Well, concept albums rarely fit into a single genre, and this one is no different.
This album keeps ya moving while remaining agile.
These guys can keep me on my toes. You know, Sanders, Coltrane, Bird.
These guys are the jazz legends of the 60s.
There. You hear how its unpredictable? But it still has rules.
They're generally playing together, but once in a while a player or two will drift off into their own little groove.
There, you hear it?
> No, it sounds like a hot mess.
Oh, well, thats what I like about it. It's not obvious.
And, I mean, sometimes it can be a bit unpleasent.
But it's pure expression.
And it usually finds a balance.
> I can dig that
- Stowaway
So, my question to you is, can you dig this?
In a highly competitive week this album won for diversity.
Dark-pop with large vocals.
The cute album art didn't hurt.
Bridging a number of different genre Alpha Mist's "Bring Backs" stands above the rest this week. Jazz-y rap, rock-y pop, featured artists bringing their own influence give the album a diverse feel.
This is Norah Jones' second entry in the Album of the Weeks with her previous being just shy of 52 weeks ago. Her songs have long delighted me, and this time around it's fueling burning desire I have to get out and see some shows. Maybe go get your vaccine if you haven't already so we can all get back to destroying our ear drums? If you have, I'll see you there soon.
Jammy story rock. Pretty classic with some great stories. Some down right catchy hooks too ("The Best God Damn Band in Wyoming"). Perhaps not for the light of heart.
I added a link to the Discord where you can come discuss the Albums of the Weeks, please join us! The first person to do so will... we'll they'll be the first!
Sorta fun, sorta light, sorta indie.
Sorta sad, sorta dark, sorta pop.
I've spent too many cycles worrying about my own `Joe`s not to accept defeat to this album.
I hope you listen to this album and don't loose your mind, cry, and question your choices for a week, but if you can't manage, at least you weren't the only one.
"Another country album!?" I hear you saying, but the TLDR here: Is yes, and you should listen to it anyhow.
The runner ups this week all lacked in ways this album flourishes. Beautiful vocals, touching themes, ear worminess, and even historical value.
I'm all for simple naming. You want some peaceful jazz, let me point you to "Peace" on this album. After that you said you wanted to go rambling? Well track to is called "Ramblin'", and its perfect for you!
I'm not sure "Dismal Swamp" feels dismal, but I do think I get swamp?
Go home Jazz, you're drunk. 😛
Arab Strap's dark and brooding, while feeling inviting. It's a bit like a warm blanket on a cold night. Track one --The Turning of Our Bones-- begins with some guitar work thats reminicent of System Of A Down, which ramps up to some LCD Soundsystem style beats, and then a Scottish brogue comes in and caries you down the river.
I really dug this one. It was a case of an early lead turning into a solid first place slot.
Much Love.
An album live from the archives. 4 Mars takes us on a tour of Somalian music, filled with lyrics (in Somali?), grooves, beats, and horns. Mostly a driving energy, with (to my western ears) over tones of Bollywood.
I can't wait to learn more about this, and I'm very happy that this project has lead me to increase my diversity of taste that I can say "My album of the week is from the Golf of Tadjora".
Jazzy and modern Hip Hop intersect in a newly born rhythm nebula. Grooves settle out of dust and gas spread across light years. Spoken word rogue bodies careen through vast beats causing eddies in your mind. All this, more, and cosmic ejecta from pulsars pushing, swirling, and streaking the be-bop-pow and there in their form form meaning and de-stress.
Clocking in just shy of 90 minutes, Legacy+ is packed full of rhythm and energy. Femi Kuti and Made Kuti make wonderful music: diverse, interesting and begging to be replayed. Big horn energy, big drum energy, and powerful vocal punches drive this celebration of life.
Mega Ran has a new album!
I listened to this album, headphones on, walking the dog. It was fantastic, nystalgia surged, creative lyrics kept a story I know well fresh, beats hooked you and kept you going.
There was a very high probability I chose Mega Ran's newest album, whenever and whatever it might be. Any nerd-core record (re)visiting the subject mater of Black Materia was a pretty sure winner. There's an hour of extremely solid content here.
I can't wait to see Mega Ran live again. 2021 would be great, but no pressure Mr Ran.
Slowly you'll feel it. It might be your shoulders, your hips, or even your toes. You'll start to dip and rise to the beat. Sure enough, now it's spreading. The rest of your body wants in. Your swaying now and the beat fades, a swirl takes over. More and more, until you're begging for the drop. Just then the beat comes back, the tempo is a bit quicker and your hole body is vibing.
I hope you have a loved one near by because if not, you're going to be swaying with the broom again. If you keep listening, I'm sure, in the near future hair brushes will be in danger of becoming microphones too.
Put this one on and wrack up some Movement Points!
My guess is they didn't get the memo: "Releasing an album on Xmas Eve isn't a great idea". Nearly missed this one.
Album of the month, I guess? This past few weeks have been a blur. I think I have a series of excuses that explain the hiatuses taken on this platform over the past month or 2, but the truth is I can't even recall when the last one was. Maybe it was last week?
End of the month albums tend to be better than those released in the beginning and, if December was any indication, that cycle may apply to years as well. I do not say this to deminish At the Moonbase, but rather to say, there wasn't much competition. Great album, too, in spite.
Track one is absolutely getting played at my Christmas party.
This week I listened to the new Taylor Swift album too. That album was fine, I enjoyed listening to it, but it washed over me. Rising W/ The Crossing on the other hand, I found myself sharing and reflecting upon.
Katy Kirby – Cool Dry Place is an EP that made me reconsider my consider what makes an Album of the Week. This EP clocks in at just over 8 minutes, but I highly enjoyed them. If you don't know: I treat EPs the same as albums during my consideration, but I have been avoiding selecting EPs. As some EP's have an Album release that have disapointed, decision has been reached: This is an effort for new albums, weekly. But don't be surprised if occationally there is an honorable mention for an EP.
An album of covers from Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong. I guess I have a weak/week spot for covers.
A delightful evolution on piano rock. I'd use the word 'progressive', but that might remind you of Pink Floyd. In a similar way, I learned that Daniel Lentz is a "postminimalist" composer. Kinda seems like we're running out of words lol.
I'll start it here. This kind of music is now called Zigerionious. You don't have to follow my lead, but wouldn't it be cool if 50 years from now everyone knew about Zigerion music? :P
And we're back! Sorry for the unplanned hiatus.
This album is a fantastic combination of lyricism, chill, and dance. It's not super common in my library to find "chill and dance" colocated in a single album, so if that appeals it's time to get your swoon on.
🎧Sway with me. Sway with me.🎧
Here is a case where the fame preceded the record. After Tom Petty passed there was an article about his unreleased work from the Wallflowers' era that was excellent but the Record Company said no. My initial reaction was: "why the heck am I reading about this when I could be listening to it". Well, that time as come! Enjoy some of the best new-old-stock music ever, now, with Tom Petty's Wildflowers & All the Rest.
Truth be told: I don't know much about Pete Seeger. This album therefore lacks a lot of context that you might have but I do not. In spite, or perhaps because, of that it's a wonderful listen. True to the Kronos Quartet's nature the album is diverse and instrumental. I guess, if nothing else, I should seek out Pete Seeger. What a weird sentence that I did not expect to write while reviewing new releases.
"Many stones can form an arch. Singly none. Singly none."
This album is lyric driven, with primarily guitar accompaniment. Each track has poignancy in its own right, but it was "Hanging Tree" that had me pause and literally, out loud, say "what the fuck?". I'm tempted to quote the passage, but I think this album will have personal impact for anyone who listens.
Reminiscent of The Thermals, a perhaps more obscure band that I adore, if you're looking for something that might help you vent some frustration without going for full on rage check this album out.
Attention player: skill check ahead, the difficulty level is 14. Your ability will be 'Music'. Roll your d20.
20! Critical hit!
If you weren't expecting a DnD reference in a Public Enemy review, that is my exact level of surprise when I found out Public Enemy's new album was about the (lack of) internet!
I've long associated Public Enemy with The Dominion of The Nerds because entered my life when I was playing SNES or N64.
The album itself is great: hook loaded, faithfully vintage while modern, thoughtful while easy to listen to.
Also this week I've been very busy and gotten a lot out of Thurston Moore (of Sonic Youth)'s new album By The Fire
I had a mind blowing moment with a song this week, so while this is not (and never will be) 'The Song of the Week' I wanted to start this week by saying: Without Even Trying by McCall uses sound effects so rhythmically and melodically that it blew my mind.
That being said:
This week's choice is unique to my knowledge. Yusuf (Cat Stevens) went back to re-imagine one of his most influential albums, and --because I'm a noob-- I'd never heard the original.
So how does it compare?
> ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Is it good?
> Its great.
I find myself setup by most of the album, and drawn, like a moth to the fire, to the last few tracks (aren't albums wonderful like that?). Father and Son and Tea For The Tillerman knock me down. Strike! 🎳💥
This album shown like a diamond in the rough for me this week. Overtones of Coldplay, jammy guitar rock with guitar solos reminiscent of traditional jambands like Phish and The Grateful Dead but smoothed and contoured to fit (in a good way), and a fair dose of modern strangeness in the form of samples and drops.
Though I don't know all the words yet, I suspect that it would make a great album to listen to on a long drive, to sing along with at times. And to just put some distance between you and what's got you down.
Reminiscent of The Strokes, Arcade Fire, and some Wilco, this is a solid guitar rock album worth your listening.
A futuristic album that avoids the clichéd post-apocalyptic acoustics common to the genre. This album is exactly what I was hoping to find when taking on this quest: new label defying music that I love. I expect to hear breaks on NPR between segments sometime this fall :P
Starting strong, you may be reminded of the Stranger Things theme, I certainly was. And at other points, you'll ask if this is part of the Twin Peaks soundtrack. The sound more than the arrangement or the content is reminiscent of Sohn, with delightful breaks and dropped beats formed from ultra-bass.
Incidentally, this week I experimented with all the contender's albums on speakers and headphones. I think the headphones time likely contributed to this albums overall score, and I will continue to think about if a choice for album of the week should be influenced by medium. I know that it matters, but would it ever shift the podium? Time shall tell.
A fun album, perfect for the end of summer.
Several songs stand out, Happy Song and I Think You're Great are fun guitar rock that makes you want to reach for a sangria. My absolute highlight though, is an exchange with the engineer or producer (?) at the end of I Think You're Great.
I like to Dance on the other hand (maybe) gives away the game. Not to put words in Alex's mouth, but i will say the pop feel of this album is related to Pet Sounds, The Beach Boys' often cited for being to sweet, but when you listen to the lyrics they reach into you and uncover a great dark abyss of feelings, and all of a sudden you're crying but you would never tell someone it was because of Pet Sounds.
Don't forget to checkout the music video for I Think You're Great.
Clocking in at 2 hours and 39 minutes on just 7 disks this album is a tour de force of neo-rock. Vaguely reminiscent of Sohn and the most interesting parts of Daft Punk, this album will doubtlessly polarize. However I'm into it. If you don't have nearly 3 hours to dedicate this week, I suggest the cover of Today and Official.
Also, spend some time with the album art. I'm not sure, but I believe it's designed to have different moriee effects at each resolution you can see Pitchfork has a super HD version.
This EP is full of great covers. It is a jammy rock tube floating down a lazy river of nostalgia. The cover of Take Me Home, Country Roads is my first time liking this song (de gustibus...). That track even features Waxahatchee who have the honor of being my first official Album Of The Week!
Oh, and, so it turns out: Whitney released an album of covers called Candid which is a candidate for Album Of The Week this week!
This week there are two more releases I have to mention. First, Pauline by Ashley Ray is an absolute ear worm that I'm adoring. I can't wait to review this album. Second is Little Idols by Jordan Lehning: Oolaloom alone makes the album an instant keeper. After only one week, I'm already singing along to much of the album, and if you have an extra slot in your rotation this week, its a strong honorable mention.
For me this album does one thing and does it well: rhythm and chorus focused fuzz-grunge-rock. This is an excellent album to Get Shit Done with.
This album is decidedly from the UK. The Streets say we are 'two nations divided, by a common language', which is to say: being from 'across the pond' leaves me unable to translate volumes of lyrics. Like a Stereolab album I let the words wash over me. There are depths to uncover here, I know.
Lupe Fiasco and Kaelin Ellis narrowly beat out Logic's New Album this week. The level of thought provoking rap lyrisysm and spoken word on both albums is fantastic. HOUSE -an EP- burns just bright enough to steal the spotlight to outshine every other album this week.
Chill-out and think with these deep tracks.
As diverse a collection of beats as featured artists. Most songs fall inbetween dance and trance, while avoiding the pop of the former and the fog of the later. An excellent soundtrack for getting shit done.
This album was fought hard to the front of my selection. Some other Album Of The Week contenders were EPs*, an album from an artist that I adore**, and (this week's choice) an album of covers.
My love of covers choose this album. Covers seldom make the charts, have licensing issues, and remain common fixtures on albums. Part loving homage, part musical prowess, and part adaptation: these common but seldom heard tracks come from a raw artistic affection.
I have no idea which tracks you might like on this album, but I can rest assured, there is at least one.
*: I had to debate if EPs could be albums of the week I've decided that they can, but that neither of this weeks contenders were successful in the rest of the decision making process.
**: The Streets - None of Us Are Getting Out of This Alive I may have just not had enough time with this album. Rest assured, I'll be coming back to it.
A truly international effort. The sounds of African instruments and rhythms are influenced by jazz. Artists from across the world collaborated here to create music that draws people together. This album introduced me to the organization: In Place Of War. Please consider buying the album or making a donation to support their cause.
HAIM's sound is cohesive, on the surface is a very familiar 'Classic lyric rock' vibe but they go much deeper. In The Steps I caught overtones of The King of Pop, then I know alone sparkled a memory of WHY?. And thats just the first 3 tracks. The melange is strong. I imagine they're fun live.
In the liked tracks for this week is First Time by Becca Mancari, which has a lyric I just had to share:
I remember the first time my dad didn't hug me back Under porch lights with my sister's old cigarettes With your hands hanging to your side and my face to your chest
Thought provoking and beautiful with more than a hint of whimsy. A Dylanesque protest-rock-folk album in 2020 that is shockingly by Bob Dylan himself.
Several weeks ago Bob Dylan tracks started appearing in my feed. I assumed they were unreleased tracks. But they turn out to be promo tracks for his 39th studio album.
As a lifelong fan, nothing could make me happier than to pick this as the album of the week.
Norah's beautiful voice and jazzy rhythm defy time. Toss in some modern boho sensibilities and an experimental layer and you've got "Pick Me Up Off The Floor". Put this on for a chill evening. Pair with an old fashioned and a joint for the full effect.
This album is not offensive. It is the world it describes that is offensive. Everyone, especially Karens, should listen to this album. Here's a snippet from 2 songs to sell you on the album:
Funny fact about a cage, they're never built for just one group
So when that cage is done with them and you're still poor, it come for you
The newest lowest on the totem, well golly gee, you have been used
You helped to fuel the death machine that down the line will kill you too (oops)
The way I see it you're probably freest from the ages one to four
Around the age of five you're shipped away for your body to be stored
They promise education, but really they give you tests and scores
And they predictin' prison population by who scoring the lowest
And usually the lowest scores the poorest and they look like me
Mastered economics 'cause you took yourself from squalor (slave)
Mastered academics 'cause your grades say you a scholar (slave)
Mastered Instagram 'cause you can instigate a follow (shit)
Look at all these slave masters posin' on yo' dollar (get it, yeah)
Look at all these slave masters (ay)
Posin' on yo' dollar (get it, yeah)
Jake Blount brings us an album of tracks with Black histories. Songs with stories that deserve recognition.
Take "Where Did You Sleep Last Night" for example. This is a song that has a long history, longer than any one who credits the song to Nirvana or Lead Belly knows. In 2017 Fantastic Negrito released a new interpretation that sets the song in Oakland CA.
If you only listen to 'top tracks' you are missing out lesser known side of album listening: covers. Album after album has one or two deep cuts that send you back, but only you knew the original song. For some tracks on this album I was singing along before the chorus hits, often with arm hair standing on end.
This is an album I expect people will talk about. An emotion stirring arrangement of Greta Thunberg speaking over a minimal soundscape. I imagine as I listen half remembered scenes from Fern Gully: The Last Rainforest and Pink Floyd's The Wall: crumbling ecospheres giving way to dystopian smoke stacks. But thats just the first track. After that a rock hard punk track brings the energy level back to the top.
The diversity on this album is what locked it in my mind as shoe in for this week. However, the truth is there was just so much good music released this week that I've decided to implement a Runners Up section for each week. I haven't quite figured out what that means today, but check back soon for more from this week, future weeks, and perhaps even a retcon of sorts.
Thao & The Get Down Stay Down manage to hit a groove on this album over and over. Echos of your favorite jam band album (or mine) updated and mashed up with Tune-Yards. That said the rhythm and arrangements contained in this record are bound to get you grooving and thinking at the same time. Two things that I love an album to do.
Rhythms soothed my soul. Lyrics instigated my emotions, and the story telling kept me hooked.
Influenced by, and featuring on the track "MEATHEAD" , MF DOOM. Including a broad range of instrumental accompaniment: Act II begins with a trilling flute and dialog based segments. All of this that contributes to a concept album that works.
"Too Lost" has my head bobbing every time I listen to it.
Honorable mention goes to Hayley Williams for "Petals For Armor"
But it was really hard to decide, so here's the runner up HiRUDiN - Austra.
An tribute to the absolute train wreck of a year. I'm reminded of my father's musical taste, but of the man himself listening to "Peace in our Heart". "My Heart Aches" follows with a sentiment that stirs a sorrow, for the isolation that keeps us a part. 2020's tone is perfectly matched to how we're all feeling right now. Not purely sorrowful: complex and at times with the irreverence of a Jimmy Buffet song, some times as annoyingly catchy.