YTD recordings listened to: 997
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 580
Not good music: 358
Buys: 42 (not all 2012 releases)
Possibles: Isaiah Toothtaker (2011), Ondatropica, Sidsel Endresen & Stan Westerhus, The Ones to Blame, Boyd Rivers, Abdoulaye Alhassane Toure, Cryptopsy, Nick Waterhouse, Patterson Hood, Skyzoo, Bettye Lavette, Philippe Petite, Chris McGregor, Brother Ali (2009), Bio Ritmo, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Nico Muhly, Bob Gluck Trio, Eric Boeren Quartet, Wadada Leo Smith/Louis Moholo
@@@ Mrs. Medicine: Strange Heaven (Swami, 2012). I first listened to this record about 6 weeks ago after seeing it on the Aquarius Records weekly email list. I would have put it on my best of list except for my extremely professional policy of listening to records more than once before putting them on my best of list. I take this shit seriously, as you should too.
This is what I thought indie rock was supposed to be. Not all the cheesed out synth dance horseshit I’m drowning in during the course of maintaining this blog for the people of America (and you too rest of the world). Some rockin’, a lot of quirkin’, blending of styles — in this case surf music and garage influences to a lesser extent. I’m not a huge fan of upbeat pop music but I can roll with this due to high end arranging/songwriting. This is some smart, bouncy shit folks.
@@@ James Vincent McMorrow: Early in the Morng (Believe Digital, 2012). A down country tinged singer songwriter record recommend to me by MOG due to my starring the Lianne Le Havas record. McMorrow’s voice is pillowy soft and mournful — very dramatic music.
@@@ The Thing: Fire Dem (Dubthing, 2012). I thought this was the Scandinavian super jazz cats who made a record with Neneh Cherry this year, but it’s a dub/electronica outfit. I have no idea who they are or where they’re from — it’s a catalog mistake by the digital services. The dubs here are focused more on the rhythms and while the tracks sport a massive low end wallop, they’re not filled out with guitars but more with slow blurps and electronic sounds. Solid B, and I can’t find anything outside of MOG for folks to peep.