Music for 11/30/16!!! Loscil, Daniel Bachman, Dori Freeman, Jacob Lattimore

@@@ Loscil: Monument Builders (Kranky, 2016).  I saw this record high up on the CFUV weekly charts.  This is going to be ambient and it’s going to be slow, which is all right by me.  These are all 4 and one half to 6 and one half minute bangers.  This first one sports a simple kick pulse with a typewriter on top, a metallic scrape, a normal synth melody, and some clouds in the back.  Let’s peep more.  The second tune, Red Tide opens up with arpeggiated chords with some phasing up front and clouds in the back.  The arpeggios remain but get draped in some long tones that are a tad horn-y and a bit piano-ish.  Not booty shaking horny, but like horns.  The third tune, the title track, gets into some very tasty tremolo-ed chords.  Guitars but not guitars.  Oh this is the best of what I’ve heard — it has a minimalist and pleasing orchestral flow going.  Peep this one and go one from there.

@@@ Daniel Bachman: Daniel Bachman (Three Lobed, 2016).  His last record, River, was on my best of list last year and this one appears to want to move away from that Americana sound into a more grating territory.  Grating and drone-y, yes I like that I like it a lot.  After about 2 and one half minutes of that multi-layered industrial drone it moves into solo acoustic, more reminiscent of last year’s record.   Bachman has skills and control, developing his ideas at a relaxed pace with a righteous tone.  I’m not sure if I like this effort as much as River, but if you haven’t heard Bachman play, you should check him out.

@@@ Dori Freeman: Dori Freeman (Dori Freeman, 2016).  Some country folk off Ted Gioia’s honorable mention list.  This first tune, You Say, is a lonesome I’m still in love with somebody tune — simple strum and a lovely vocal melody.  Let’s peep more.  The second tune is a duet with a male singer and it’s nicer than the first tune.  The Apple Music genre slot has her as traditional folk but that ignores the country melodies in both the playing and the vocals.  Imma have to swing back on this record quickly because time is a runnin short and she’s working a classic formula but doing a really good job with it.

@@@ Jacob Lattimore: Mutual (  , 2016)  A single off an upcoming long player that I got to via Apple Music.  I’m guessing from the intro that this is not going to be a throwback tune — some squirgly synths (pleasing) and fingersnaps (not pleasing).  Full loverboy action, panting and feeling it.  Pretty raw lyrics, not pornographic but regarding past lovers and what not.  I give respect for him getting raw like that but I don’t love the sounds.

YTD recordings listened to: 947
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 527
Not good music: 358

Buys: 16
Honorable Mentions: 17

Possibles: Chris McGregor, Dave Arner Trio, Zomby, Retox, Defeater, Jonwayne, Okkyung Lee, The Ballantynes, Slidhr, The Chewers, Toxic Holocaust, Susie Iberra/Roberto Rodriguez, Lenguas Largas, The Coral, T.O.M.B., Fofoulah, Lozen, Erase Errata, Mastery, Leviathan, Hartley C. White, Weed, Cold Water, Janelle Monae, Luther Dickinson, Destruction Unit, Graeme Barrett, Fast Asleep, Goldlink, Cavanaugh, Gentleman Surfer, Satoko Fuji, Mystic Braves, Divanhana, Unrestrained, Moken, Systema Solar, Brian Eno, Juan Atkins, Drone, Lantern, Twin Peaks, Djelimady Tounkara, Miramar, The Oh Sees, Denny Zeitlin, MILF, Joe Sticky, Unfun, De La Soul, Carl Sagan’s Skate Shoes, Neurosis, Magrudergrind, Solange, Acid Arab, Bonga, A Tribe Called Quest, 6Lack, Dori Freeman

Music for 11/29/16!!! Sarah Jarosz, Mo Pitney, Andres Landero, Emilio Rojas

@@@ Sarah Jarosz: Undercurrents (Sugar Hill/Concord, 2016).  New folk that I got to via Ted Gioia’s Honorable mention 2016 list.  This first tune is intimate singing with simple arpeggiated guitar.  #highproduction  The second tune is more of a band — two guitars, an upright bass and a pair of singers.  Oh, that’s the third tune, my player skipped ahead.  This second tune is a double tracked uber pretty vibe.  I don’t like the production of this record — too much reverb on the vocals, too pretty, too NPR.  I don’t hate this, but I don’t love it with these sounds.  Live this may work killer.

@@@  Mo Pitney: Behind this Guitar (Curb, 2016).  Also off Mr. Gioia’s honorable mention list.  A piquant blend of old and new school vibes.  Pitney has a classic country voice with a low rumble but smooth.   Let’s peep more.  The second tune, Cleanup on aisle Five, is shaping up to be a tearjerker.  He sees an old flame in aisle 4 of Famiy Dollar and they do it right there in the dog food section.  And neither one of them has dogs.  No, that’s just some foul commentary.  He sees her and realizes how he’s not over her.  Hold on I gotta get a tissue.  One more tune Mr. Pitney.  He’s back to country rocking on this third tune where he has a good relationship going and they’re going out to get a big bucket of fried chicken.  Not really, but prolly some popcorn and going to the movies in the middle of the day.  It’s all right, it’s for the higher end Trumpkins.  #whitepeople

@@@ ANDRES LANDERO | El Clarin de Montana (Producciones Demar, 2016)  I saw this artist listed on this week’s WRIR playlist email but this is the record that is up on the interwebz.  Old school cumbia music with soulful accordion playing and a weathered voice.  He’s joined by a hand drummer, a shaker, and some backup singers.  Man, you gotta dig the old school cumbia music.  Let’s peep more.  The second tune is a bit more of an updated sound with a regal feel.  It’s a bit confusing but this record is a split between Landero who rocks an old school vibe and another cumbia player Roy Rodriguez.  Good stuff and I prefer Landero by a Latin American mile.

@@@ Emilio Rojas: Fuck with the People who Fuck with You (Same Plate, 2016)  A full gangsta anthem for the Trump era and all his Trump-a-lumpas!  The verse is standard but the chorus explodes into a chorus of ‘Fuck People, Fuck You’, you have to peep it.  The verses are pretty standard, but the chorus is delicious, you can’t beat that with a stick.

YTD recordings listened to: 943
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 525
Not good music: 357

Buys: 16
Honorable Mentions: 16

Possibles: Chris McGregor, Dave Arner Trio, Zomby, Retox, Defeater, Jonwayne, Okkyung Lee, The Ballantynes, Slidhr, The Chewers, Toxic Holocaust, Susie Iberra/Roberto Rodriguez, Lenguas Largas, The Coral, T.O.M.B., Fofoulah, Lozen, Erase Errata, Mastery, Leviathan, Hartley C. White, Weed, Cold Water, Janelle Monae, Luther Dickinson, Destruction Unit, Graeme Barrett, Fast Asleep, Goldlink, Cavanaugh, Gentleman Surfer, Satoko Fuji, Mystic Braves, Divanhana, Unrestrained, Moken, Systema Solar, Brian Eno, Juan Atkins, Drone, Lantern, Twin Peaks, Djelimady Tounkara, Miramar, The Oh Sees, Denny Zeitlin, MILF, Joe Sticky, Unfun, De La Soul, Carl Sagan’s Skate Shoes, Neurosis, Magrudergrind, Solange, Acid Arab, Xylouris White, Bonga, A Tribe Called Quest, 6Lack

Music for 11/28/16!!! John Legend, The Weeknd, Venom Prison, Jinjee

@@@ John Legend: I Know Better (Sony, 2016).  The official anthem of Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign.  Oh boy!  Thanks, and I’ll be here all week. Mr. Legend will not be one — he’s ridden his looks and his penchant for xeroxing vintage r&b with light cheese swirls will not get him to where Curtis Mayfield currently rests.  This is Disney r&b, I just want to kick back, have some popcorn and wait for Bambi to be reunited with the moms and shit.  This tune aspires to black church authenticity but it doesn’t work for me.

@@@ The Weeknd: Starboy (UMG, 2016).  The Weeknd is a big fucking deal, people love the Weeknd.  I can’t say I understand why.  The production is deft and he sings all right but it’s got this slick sci-fi angle that grates on me.  Maybe that’s why people like him — he’s a loverboy astronaut for the alienated youth of America.  Let’s peep more.  He also sports a hip hop undercarriage with fat booty bass and skittery beats.  This third tune dabbles in synth rock but I find his lyrics and his singing annoying.

@@@ Venom Prison: Animus (Prosthetic, 2016).  I gotta listen to a bit of metal cuz I don’t want to lose my underground fans.  All 4 of them.  This is a sludgy, doomy opening — kind of gassy actually.  The bass sounds like a man who ate at a funky Mexican joint and could make it outside before his behind exploded.  And then it segues into a full on lose your shit jam.  Thrashy, end of rope vocals, splat.  There’s amphetamine feel to this tune — maybe unlimited Red Bull and a few lines of fertilizer!  Let’s peep more and be frightened.  The third tune, Celestial Patricide, is blowing out at the seams.  Really quite delicious like someone set Trump’s orange hair on fire.  Fuck, that would be so delicious to see that asshole sprinting down the street begging for water to put that wig out.  #dicknut.  Small, spurts of guitar melody or riffs lend a more fractured feel to the already sprayed out drumming.  This is pretty committed and fully fueled agony.

@@@ Jinjee: Searching (self-released, 2016).  A constantly morphing black music jam that opens up sci-fi, then moves kind of old school before it comes out jazz fusion with a dash of prog.  #highenergy Big modern guitar solo, some sax shredding and pushing pushing pushing.  Nice work, check it out.

YTD recordings listened to: 939
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 523
Not good music: 355

Buys: 15
Honorable Mentions: 16

Possibles: Chris McGregor, Dave Arner Trio, Zomby, Retox, Defeater, Jonwayne, Okkyung Lee, The Ballantynes, Slidhr, The Chewers, Toxic Holocaust, Susie Iberra/Roberto Rodriguez, Lenguas Largas, The Coral, T.O.M.B., Fofoulah, Lozen, Erase Errata, Mastery, Leviathan, Hartley C. White, Weed, Cold Water, Janelle Monae, Luther Dickinson, Destruction Unit, Graeme Barrett, Fast Asleep, Goldlink, Cavanaugh, Gentleman Surfer, Satoko Fuji, Mystic Braves, Divanhana, Unrestrained, Moken, Systema Solar, Brian Eno, Juan Atkins, Drone, Lantern, Twin Peaks, Djelimady Tounkara, Miramar, The Oh Sees, Denny Zeitlin, MILF, Joe Sticky, Unfun, De La Soul, Carl Sagan’s Skate Shoes, Neurosis, Magrudergrind, Solange, Acid Arab, Xylouris White, Vadou Game, Bonga, A Tribe Called Quest, 6Lack

Music for 11/27/16!!! The Two Tens, Left Lane Cruiser, Moderat

@@@ The Two Tens: Volume (Ugly Sugar, 2016).  Some caffeinated singalong punk I got to from their PR rep and the interwebz email.  Big power chord pushing, straight rock beats, male and female singers, it’s the full ol’ school East Village punk fest.  Think the Ramones with a little more vocal range and a dash more imagination.

@@@ Left Lane Cruiser: Beck in Black (Alivenatural Sound, 2016)  Let’s check back with trailer park punk blues splatterers Left Lane Cruiser.    I had to read some blurb material to clarify this record title.  This record is a celebration of the drummer (named Beck) leaving this band so they remastered a bunch of old tracks and slapped up a couple of unreleased ones and came up with this here white blues biscuit.  This first tune Pusher is one of the unreleased ones and it’s pretty hot.  This is a guitar and drums duo and that means both have to be playing interesting shit or I’m going to be nodding off like an oxycodone addict at a laundromat.  Oh I like this record, they got high energy and musicality going on here.

@@@ Moderat: Live (Mute, 2016)  Some live techno (with a singer) that I got to via this week’s All Music notable release email.  I don’t want to be too cutting but this sounds more than a bit like Lionel Richie soft funk but tailored for beardies.  It also evokes some old school krautrock but with a soft singer. The tunes are mostly 5+ minutes long and they take on a sort of jammy feel and it also a bit of a New Age feel.

YTD recordings listened to: 935
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 521
Not good music: 353

Buys: 15
Honorable Mentions: 16

Possibles: Chris McGregor, Dave Arner Trio, Zomby, Retox, Defeater, Jonwayne, Okkyung Lee, The Ballantynes, Slidhr, The Chewers, Toxic Holocaust, Susie Iberra/Roberto Rodriguez, Lenguas Largas, The Coral, T.O.M.B., Fofoulah, Lozen, Erase Errata, Mastery, Leviathan, Hartley C. White, Weed, Cold Water, Janelle Monae, Luther Dickinson, Destruction Unit, Graeme Barrett, Fast Asleep, Goldlink, Cavanaugh, Gentleman Surfer, Satoko Fuji, Mystic Braves, Divanhana, Unrestrained, Moken, Systema Solar, Brian Eno, Juan Atkins, Drone, Lantern, Twin Peaks, Djelimady Tounkara, Miramar, The Oh Sees, Denny Zeitlin, MILF, Joe Sticky, Unfun, De La Soul, Carl Sagan’s Skate Shoes, Neurosis, Magrudergrind, Solange, Acid Arab, Xylouris White, Vadou Game, Bonga, A Tribe Called Quest, 6Lack

2016 Honorable Mention Pick 16

Michael Wollny & Vincent Peirani: Tandem (ACT, 2016)

This piano and accordion record is the kind of music you could put on at a brunch and not feel like a pretentious dickbag without taste.  I dig this record primarily of the way the piano and accordion sound together.  The contrast between the highbrow piano and the folk-y sound of the accordion is delicious — it works for me big time.

The mood of these pieces is slower rather than faster, not sad but certainly not bouncy.  I would use the word contemplative but the music critic shitbirds have stolen that word from normal people.  It’s mellow and melodic.  The tunes have a bit of a classical tinge (more on the piano playing side) and the tunes feel more composed than improvised though this record is out on a small European jazz label.

 

11/25/16!!! Garth Brooks, Tonbruket, The Suffers

@@@ Garth Brooks: Gunslinger (Pearl, 2016).  I wanted to check out this new record by Garth Brooks after reading a long article about how he fought with his label when he originally wanted to a country opera about masturbation called Pudwhacker.  Apparently he backed off that title and went with Gunslinger but it’s not on Apple Music and that gives me the sads big time.  Here’s the new single off this greatest hits collection off the GoogleTube.  Sounds like Garth wants to be the Jimmy Buffett of country, this is mad upbeat.  Some may say too upbeat and that would be me.

@@@ Tonbruket: Forevergreens (ACT, 2016)  Ted Gioia is the only music critic I know of that listens to more music than me but he doesn’t listen to all the nasty business that I love — the metal and the hard hip hop.  This is on his honorable mention list for 2016 which I just peeped.  It’s 100 records of honorable mention and on the downside he’s got Beyonce’s Lemonade and Sting’s new biscuit on there.  This record is described as jazz/prog/ambient folk.  I was interested in how that ambient folk might manifest itself but I don’t hear it in this first tune.  Let’s peep more.  This third tune, Sinkadus, does bring some folk guitar and folk vibes and it’s a very sweet and minimalist tune.  The fourth tune, Tarantella opens up with an epic quasi-metal guitar blaster so this record looks set to jump around.  I find some of it interesting but I wouldn’t put it on my year end list.

@@@ The Suffers:  The Suffers (The Suffers Music, 2016).  Some Gulf Coast soul also of Gioia’s honorable mention.  Super sweet female singer and a firm and upscale beat in this first tune, Make Some Room. I’m on the the fourth tune and though I like the big ensemble sound and I dig the drummer I would enjoy this record more if it had a bit more muscle.  I like some grit in my soul music yo.

YTD recordings listened to: 932
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 519
Not good music: 352

Buys: 15
Honorable Mentions: 15

Possibles: Chris McGregor, Dave Arner Trio, Zomby, Retox, Defeater, Jonwayne, Okkyung Lee, The Ballantynes, Slidhr, The Chewers, Toxic Holocaust, Susie Iberra/Roberto Rodriguez, Lenguas Largas, The Coral, T.O.M.B., Fofoulah, Lozen, Erase Errata, Mastery, Leviathan, Hartley C. White, Weed, Cold Water, Janelle Monae, Luther Dickinson, Destruction Unit, Graeme Barrett, Fast Asleep, Goldlink, Cavanaugh, Gentleman Surfer, Satoko Fuji, Mystic Braves, Divanhana, Unrestrained, Moken, Systema Solar, Brian Eno, Juan Atkins, Drone, Lantern, Twin Peaks, Djelimady Tounkara, Miramar, The Oh Sees, Denny Zeitlin, MILF, Joe Sticky, Unfun, De La Soul, Carl Sagan’s Skate Shoes, Neurosis, Magrudergrind, Solange, Acid Arab, Xylouris White, Vadou Game, Michael Wollny/Vincent Peirani, Bonga, A Tribe Called Quest, 6Lack

Music for 11/24/16!!! Kingdom, Nikitch, Talab

@@@ Kingdom: Nothin’ (Fade to Mind, 2016).  I’m on the late night electronic tracks for the party comedown on Apple Music.  I thought that this vibe works for turkey stuffed humans — I didn’t go the dead bird route but I live amongst them.  This is a slow jam centered around depression and gettin it on.  Female singers, some more thwacky beats than what you would usually get in a slow bummer/burner like this.  This is supposed to be a UK garage influenced jam but I guess I don’t know what garage music is, well the beats are a tad garage but it’s basically a r&b booty jam.

@@@ Nikitch: When it all falls down (  ,2016).  This is more appropriate for tryptophan sufferers.  It’s got a simple arpeggiated beat, a bit trance-y with a slip tongued singer.  She doesn’t sound like she ate a ton of food but she seems sympathetic to those who might have hit the bird hard.  Oh yeah, kick back and chill on this jam it will help you intestinally, it’s quite soothing.   I don’t usually love the full synth tracks but they did a good job with this track.

@@@ Thalab: 2 Sails (Juicebox, 2016)  This tune features some fine and simple metallic percussion which might be reminisicent of the knives and forks at your holiday meal.  The synths are simple and well done.  I don’t have beef with the singer but I’m not super feeling him.  He’s actually telling some sort of story and I have no focus for that, I much prefer consuming the sounds and leaving the rest behind.  It’s got a little guitar at the back end of the tune which is a bit plump at 6 minutes long but it’s chill and right now we need chill.  It’s blond surfer mellow yellow yo.

YTD recordings listened to: 929
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 517
Not good music: 351

Buys: 15
Honorable Mentions: 15

Possibles: Chris McGregor, Dave Arner Trio, Zomby, Retox, Defeater, Jonwayne, Okkyung Lee, The Ballantynes, Slidhr, The Chewers, Toxic Holocaust, Susie Iberra/Roberto Rodriguez, Lenguas Largas, The Coral, T.O.M.B., Fofoulah, Lozen, Erase Errata, Mastery, Leviathan, Hartley C. White, Weed, Cold Water, Janelle Monae, Luther Dickinson, Destruction Unit, Graeme Barrett, Fast Asleep, Goldlink, Cavanaugh, Gentleman Surfer, Satoko Fuji, Mystic Braves, Divanhana, Unrestrained, Moken, Systema Solar, Brian Eno, Juan Atkins, Drone, Lantern, Twin Peaks, Djelimady Tounkara, Miramar, The Oh Sees, Denny Zeitlin, MILF, Joe Sticky, Unfun, De La Soul, Carl Sagan’s Skate Shoes, Neurosis, Magrudergrind, Solange, Acid Arab, Xylouris White, Vadou Game, Michael Wollny/Vincent Peirani, Bonga, A Tribe Called Quest, 6Lack

Music for 11/23/16!!! Dessert, John Mayer, Eminem

@@@ Dessert: Eyes Wide Shut (Dessert, 2016).  Let’s get Thanksgiving started with dessert!  I could work in the marketing department (and then set it on fire).  This is a party biscuit with this decade electro influences as well as a distinctly ’80s vibe, especially in the vocal arrangements.  I’m not sure I could tell you about, or it is about anything but it’s the vocal hook they’re going with.  A big rock guitar solo in the middle followed by a synth mod wheel solo, oh that was the end, it just sort of solos out and splats.  Kinda a vague poppy thing, not my favorite type of dessert.

Stream it up over here, it was hard to find tidbits.

@@@ John Mayer: Loving on the Weekend (Columbia, 2016).  Silky soft rock is how it’s blurbed on Apple Music.  I guess putting silky, toilet paper soft rock would not work as far as getting people to listen.  I’m getting the feeling John Mayer desperately wants people to love him again, everything here is just so consumable (to keep up with the Thanksgiving theme)  These oohs and aahs are like grandma’s secret stuffing.  This beat is like like a big gravy boat full of grizzy, smooth turkey gravy.  The echoed guitar chords are like your bloated stomach.  Okay, I’m done.  He wants you to love him on the weekend but I’m sure he’ll take it on other days as wel.

@@@ Eminem: Infinite (WEB Entertainment, 2016).  Likable and horrible Eminem is back with a single following his massive election day lyrical bomb.  It’s kind of a retro beat and I don’t think this is Eminem on the mic, is this Eminem?  I guess it is, maybe he’s sober.  Ah, I see from the GoogleTube this is a remastered track from Eminem’s debut before he got all the way he is now.  And that explains the retro beat as well.  Non-hostile, blown mic Eminem is all right.

YTD recordings listened to: 926
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 515
Not good music: 350

Buys: 15
Honorable Mentions: 15

Possibles: Chris McGregor, Dave Arner Trio, Zomby, Retox, Defeater, Jonwayne, Okkyung Lee, The Ballantynes, Slidhr, The Chewers, Toxic Holocaust, Susie Iberra/Roberto Rodriguez, Lenguas Largas, The Coral, T.O.M.B., Fofoulah, Lozen, Erase Errata, Mastery, Leviathan, Hartley C. White, Weed, Cold Water, Janelle Monae, Luther Dickinson, Destruction Unit, Graeme Barrett, Fast Asleep, Goldlink, Cavanaugh, Gentleman Surfer, Satoko Fuji, Mystic Braves, Divanhana, Unrestrained, Moken, Systema Solar, Brian Eno, Juan Atkins, Drone, Lantern, Twin Peaks, Djelimady Tounkara, Miramar, The Oh Sees, Denny Zeitlin, MILF, Joe Sticky, Unfun, De La Soul, Carl Sagan’s Skate Shoes, Neurosis, Magrudergrind, Solange, Acid Arab, Xylouris White, Vadou Game, Michael Wollny/Vincent Peirani, Bonga, A Tribe Called Quest, 6Lack

Music for 11/22/16!!! Pale Lips, Gord Downie, Marty Regan

@@@ Pale Lips: Wanna Be Bad (Hosehead, 2016).  Some punky fresh hillbilly rock off this week’s CFUV weekly playlist email.  Female singer and straight strummed guitars.  The second tune brings the tempo raising the punk pressure — it’s a singalong boycrush tune.  No guitar solos, a few chords a lot of girl punk.

@@@  Gord Downie: Secret Path (Arts & Crafts, 2016).  A Canadian singer that I got to via this week’s CFUV playlist email.  Heavy ambient influences combined with Neil Young vibes on this opening track.  The second tune shifts gears with a little electronic garnish and a distinctly indie vibe.  I like Downie’s voice and the arrangements are tasteful.

@@@ The Music of Marty Regan Vol. 1: Splash of Indigo (Navona, 2016).  A series of compositions for Western classical instrumentation by a composer that has made composing for traditional Japanese instruments a focus.  I got to this recording by being on the label’s email list.  The first piece is a contemplative solo piano piece, sparsely arranged in sections.  The second piece is an orchestral effort — I’m not a classical scholar by any means (ahem) but to my ears it’s cinematic and I really enjoy the triangle player.  How’s that for high IQ action?  The record consists of Regan’s compositions all performed within different instrumental setting by different performers so it feels a bit like it’s jumping around a bit.  Check this music out.

You can stream samples over here at a music download site.

YTD recordings listened to: 923
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 514
Not good music: 349

Buys: 15
Honorable Mentions: 15

Possibles: Chris McGregor, Dave Arner Trio, Zomby, Retox, Defeater, Jonwayne, Okkyung Lee, The Ballantynes, Slidhr, The Chewers, Toxic Holocaust, Susie Iberra/Roberto Rodriguez, Lenguas Largas, The Coral, T.O.M.B., Fofoulah, Lozen, Erase Errata, Mastery, Leviathan, Hartley C. White, Weed, Cold Water, Janelle Monae, Luther Dickinson, Destruction Unit, Graeme Barrett, Fast Asleep, Goldlink, Cavanaugh, Gentleman Surfer, Satoko Fuji, Mystic Braves, Divanhana, Unrestrained, Moken, Systema Solar, Brian Eno, Juan Atkins, Drone, Lantern, Twin Peaks, Djelimady Tounkara, Miramar, The Oh Sees, Denny Zeitlin, MILF, Joe Sticky, Unfun, De La Soul, Carl Sagan’s Skate Shoes, Neurosis, Magrudergrind, Solange, Acid Arab, Xylouris White, Vadou Game, Michael Wollny/Vincent Peirani, Bonga, A Tribe Called Quest, 6Lack

Music for 11/21/16!! Free 6Lack, Pink Martini, Harvey Mandel, Nick Grant

@@@ Free 6Lack: 6Lack (LVRN/Interscope, 2016).  Some dark hip hop with trippy touches off the Apple Music front page.   After an ambient intro it gets into some tasty skitter with a tasteful pumping synth.  Mr. 6Lack has a slack but not completely cough syrup flow.   He also sings well in places.  Really nice sounds thus far on this record, atmospheric and interesting.  I’m on the third tune and this is the single that I think I’ve heard before.  I’m going to have to swing back on this record — these are some of the best sounds I’ve heard on a mainstream hip hop record this year.

@@@ Pink Martini: Je dis oui! (Heinz Records, 2016).  A tangy, ketchup-y cabaret indie record off this week’s All Music notable release email.  Lyrics sung in French, a large band ensemble, hipster swing.  This is perfect music for a holiday party hosted by a complete asshole.  So smart, so purposely shallow…would you like some more champagne and stinky cheese, don’t mind the homeless people outside?  Yes I’ve been trading SPDERS for a while now, how else do you think I afford the hookers and blow?  Check out Charles Mingus if you want to hear some large ensemble brilliance.

@@@ Harvey Mandel: Snake Pit (Tompkins Square, 2016).  Some instrumental rock from a guitar virtuoso; hey that’s what is said on this week’s All Music notable release email.  At first I thought it was a record by that punk mouthed comedian Mandel, but that’s Howie Mandel and it’s another guy.  The first tune is a mid tempo laid-back thing and this second tune Space Monkeys is similar with a bit more heat.  He can play for sure, and I like his tone all right but I would refer young people to Stevie Ray Vaughan’s playing instead of this.

@@@ Nick Grant: Luxury Vintage Rap (Sony, 2016)  A retro hip hop tune from an apparently rising hip hop star.  I dig the whistle and the quick vibe break,  Grant has big energy on the microphone and he works the vintage hip hop sound with style sans biting.

YTD recordings listened to: 920
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 512
Not good music: 348

Buys: 15
Honorable Mentions: 15

Possibles: Chris McGregor, Dave Arner Trio, Zomby, Retox, Defeater, Jonwayne, Okkyung Lee, The Ballantynes, Slidhr, The Chewers, Toxic Holocaust, Susie Iberra/Roberto Rodriguez, Lenguas Largas, The Coral, T.O.M.B., Fofoulah, Lozen, Erase Errata, Mastery, Leviathan, Hartley C. White, Weed, Cold Water, Janelle Monae, Luther Dickinson, Destruction Unit, Graeme Barrett, Fast Asleep, Goldlink, Cavanaugh, Gentleman Surfer, Satoko Fuji, Mystic Braves, Divanhana, Unrestrained, Moken, Systema Solar, Brian Eno, Juan Atkins, Drone, Lantern, Twin Peaks, Djelimady Tounkara, Miramar, The Oh Sees, Denny Zeitlin, MILF, Joe Sticky, Unfun, De La Soul, Carl Sagan’s Skate Shoes, Neurosis, Magrudergrind, Solange, Acid Arab, Xylouris White, Vadou Game, Michael Wollny/Vincent Peirani, Bonga, A Tribe Called Quest, 6Lack