Music for 1/31/17!!! Austria, Nothingness, Kehlani

@@@ Austra: Future Politics (Domino, 2017). Some club sounds with a singer that I got to From this week’s CFUV weekly playlist email.  I don’t like this singer.  I like the super fat distorted bass on this first track but I’m not feeling the singer.  Let’s peep more.  Te second tune, the title track, is the same.  I’ve checked portions of four songs and this doesn’t work for me.  As always listen for yourself, you might love it.

@@@ Nothingness: Being (Big Smoke, 2017). Also off this week’s CFUV weekly playlist email.  It’s opening up slow with guitar notes, simple horns ,and rainfall.  Rainfall is not a good sign.  Now we’re getting into a big indie rock sound.  Earnest lyrics and a very nice Fender amp guitar sound.  Fuck, why is everybody so earnest, it’s annoying as fuck.  This third tune (and the others) evokes some firehose from back in the day, but the singer is not in that vein.  Ah, more rainfall on this third tune, is this some quadrophenia remake?

@@@ Kehlani: SweetSexySavage (Atlantic, 2017). I’ve seen this female r&b singer’s debut record mentioned in various nooks and crannies of the interwebz.  After a bit of a cosmic intro spoken word piece regarding her divine nature we get into a pretty standard modern sounding r&b tune.  She’s blurbed on Apple Music as silky and that’s spot on.  I dig the synth sample on this third tune.  Lush.  Let’s peep one of her dirty tracks because it’s supposed to be hot.  Tis tune, Not Used to It, is not so dirty it’s a ballad.  If a tune named Do U Dirty isn’t dirty then I don’t know what to say.  She’s not doing anything dirty, she’s just gonna mistreat whoever this person is.  I think this record is a tad hyped.  I dig some of the sounds but I don’t think she’s some star dropping magic from the sky.  Not yet.

YTD recordings listened to: 70
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 42
Not good music: 21

Buys: 0
Honorable Mentions: 0

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, Graeme Barrett, Fast Asleep, Goldlink, Cavanaugh, Gentleman Surfer, Satoko Fuji, Divanhana, Moken, Juan Atkins, Drone, Lantern, Twin Peaks, Djelimady Tounkara, The Oh Sees, Denny Zeitlin, MILF, Unfun, De La Soul, Carl Sagan’s Skate Shoes, Magrudergrind, Acid Arab, A Tribe Called Quest, Noname, Gouge Away, Anna Hogberg, Klara Lewis, Aethenor, Krullur, The Lowest Form, Hard Proof

Music for 1/30/17!!! Miocardio, Awa Puolo, Kodie Shane

@@@ Miocardio: Barro (Self-released, 2016)  Some hipster Latin indie rock off this week’s WRIR weekly playlist email.  I did some Duck Duck going and could not ascertain where this musician hails from.  I don’t want to hazard a guess, that’s racist.  Very nice guitar and drum sounds and the record sports very nice production.  The second tune is slower with some tuba and a stylish arrangement.  I’m guessing Brazil for this musician, just a hunch.  Very nice arrangements so check him out.

@@@ AWA POULO | Poulo Warali | Awesome Tapes From Africa.  Also off this week’s WRIR playlist email.  This is some pretty traditional West African music with flute, stringed instruments, hand drums, and a sort of violin.  A female lead singer and she’s good, but I’m on the third tune and to be honest the playing sounds a tad flat, not a lot of energy.

@@@ Kodie Shane: Zero Gravity (Epic, 2016).  I’m peeping this hip hop EP due to Lil Yachty’s participation.  Lil  Yachty is all right and he’s down with DRAM and I dig DRAM as well.  This first tune features some dirty paper bag bass, some skitter and a swinging rhythmic flow over a spaced out keyboard part.  Kodie is a gal by the way.  This second tune has Lil Yachty on it.  It’s slower and I don’t like it as much as the opener.  Ah, that was the third tune, my damned interwebz player skipped a track.  I like the first tune the most and that’s clipped below.

YTD recordings listened to: 67
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 40
Not good music: 20

Buys: 0
Honorable Mentions: 0

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, Graeme Barrett, Fast Asleep, Goldlink, Cavanaugh, Gentleman Surfer, Satoko Fuji, Divanhana, Moken, Juan Atkins, Drone, Lantern, Twin Peaks, Djelimady Tounkara, The Oh Sees, Denny Zeitlin, MILF, Unfun, De La Soul, Carl Sagan’s Skate Shoes, Magrudergrind, Acid Arab, A Tribe Called Quest, Noname, Gouge Away, Anna Hogberg, Klara Lewis, Aethenor, Krullur, The Lowest Form, Hard Proof

Music for 1/28/17!!! Tycho, Jenny and the Mexicans

@@@ Tycho: Epoch (Ghostly, 2016).  Mesmerizing melodies and ambient textures — that’s the blurb for this record on Apple Music.  It sounds like a Joshua Tree era U2 jam with synth squiggles.  Synth-y happy rock for the Trump era.  Let’s peep a little more.  I get the mash of 1980 rock sounds with update lush synth action, I just don’t really want to spend a lot of time listening to it.  Good music for retail shopping outlets.

@@@ Jenny and the Mexicats: La Diabla (Not sure, 2017).  A merengue tune I got to via a publicist that usually traffics in the indie business so I thought this would be a hipster Latin jam.  It is a little bit but this is definitely what you might hear in the bodega right around the corner from me.  Big big energy, female singer, relentless rhythm, big call and response vocals.  Check this out.

YTD recordings listened to: 64
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 38
Not good music: 18

Buys: 0
Honorable Mentions: 0

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, Graeme Barrett, Fast Asleep, Goldlink, Cavanaugh, Gentleman Surfer, Satoko Fuji, Divanhana, Moken, Juan Atkins, Drone, Lantern, Twin Peaks, Djelimady Tounkara, The Oh Sees, Denny Zeitlin, MILF, Unfun, De La Soul, Carl Sagan’s Skate Shoes, Magrudergrind, Acid Arab, A Tribe Called Quest, Noname, Gouge Away, Anna Hogberg, Klara Lewis, Aethenor, Krullur, The Lowest Form, Hard Proof

Music for 1/27/17!!! Japandroids, Allison Crutchfield, Tift Merritt

@@@ Japandroids: Nearer to the Wild Heart of Life (Anti-, 2016).  Off this week’s All Music notable release email and it jumps right out of the gate with big guitar sound.  Oh boy, it’s one of these big, anthemic singers, that could be a problem.  Especially with emotional indie style lyrics I have no interest in hearing about.  Let’s peep more.  Oh shit, a big Bon Jovi whoa ho in the chorus, that’s heavy and not something I’m looking to hear.  If I want big Bon Jovi whoa ho background vocals I can go stream a Bon Jovi biscuit.  I really like the guitar sounds and if you’re an American youth head straight to some old Bob Mould/Sugar records cuz you shouldn’t have to listen to the faux sophisticated lyrics.  Or those whack ass Jovi vocal stacks.

@@@ Allison Crutchfield: Tourist in this town (Merge, 2017)  Looks like it’s gonna be an overwrought indie Friday listening session.  This first tune opens up mostly a cappella with country twang.  I don’t know if this first tune had a band in it because I fast forwarded and this second tune is some faded California indie.  I’m going to need more than sweet/bittersweet feelings here, it’s just a tad….splooshy.  This fourth tune is a way uptempo synth rocker and I just think I’m not a big synth rock guy, but check it for yourself.

@@@ Tift Merritt: Stitch of the world (Yep Roc, 2017)  Also  off this week’s All Music notable release email.  With some smoky dual guitar playing on this first tune and Merritt’s weary voice she’s off to a good start in my book.  The second tune is a piano ballad and I like it but it makes me realize I was just in the first song for the exquisite guitar playing.  The third tune is very close to a Emmylou Harris tune and it’s good but this might be a bit mopey for me.  I like this record, it’s really heartfelt, the guitar playing is great, the record sounds great, her voice is really good.  I don’t love the lyrics but that’s just me, a lot of folks don’t care about the lyrics.

YTD recordings listened to: 62
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 37
Not good music: 17

Buys: 0
Honorable Mentions: 0

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, Graeme Barrett, Fast Asleep, Goldlink, Cavanaugh, Gentleman Surfer, Satoko Fuji, Divanhana, Moken, Juan Atkins, Drone, Lantern, Twin Peaks, Djelimady Tounkara, The Oh Sees, Denny Zeitlin, MILF, Unfun, De La Soul, Carl Sagan’s Skate Shoes, Magrudergrind, Acid Arab, A Tribe Called Quest, Noname, Gouge Away, Anna Hogberg, Klara Lewis, Aethenor, Krullur, The Lowest Form, Hard Proof

Music for 1/26/17!!! Mannequin Pussy, Monkey Junk, John K. Samson

@@@ Mannequin Pussy: Romantic (Tiny Engines, 2016)  Some squally and hopped up punk off this week’s CFUV weekly email.  At least the first tune, as the second one is more of retro-grunge-y ironical tune.  It’s got that whole quiet then crush move that Nirvana took to the bank.  Oh, the female loses her shit on this third tune, Ten.  I like that.  This is a mash of the poppy side of the Breeders with some Bleach era Cobain.  High energy.

@@@ MonkeyJunk: Time To Roll (Stony Plain, 2016)  Off the folk/roots section of the CFUV weekly playlist email.  After a bunch of interwebz non-connectivity I got the ball rolling on this electric blues record.  The singer is rocking part growl/part preacher in this first tune with dual guitars with solid tones.  Let’s peep more.  The second track, Time to Roll, is a slow blues about driving with clean guitars that explodes out into a big anthemic chorus of ‘Time to Roll’.  Regular readers know I like dirty, crusty blues, Imma huge Howlin Wolf fan.  I dig the ZZ Top vibe of this third tune See the Sign but I could use more grit.

@@@ John K. Samson: Winter Wheat (Anti-, 2016)  Also off this week’s CFUV weekly playlist email.  This first tune features large sounding Daniel Lanois style production.  Big reverbs, slow drums, contemplative sounds for NPR listeners.  I don’t like the lyrics on this first tune Select All Delete.  The second tune, Postdoc Blues, is more uptempo but I don’t like these lyrics either.  I believe in you and your Powerpoint — yikes.  Too hipster-y.  The title tune is better and I like a bunch of the sounds on this record but it’s not aimed at me.  Check for yourself.

YTD recordings listened to: 59
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 34
Not good music: 17

Buys: 0
Honorable Mentions: 0

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, Graeme Barrett, Fast Asleep, Goldlink, Cavanaugh, Gentleman Surfer, Satoko Fuji, Divanhana, Moken, Juan Atkins, Drone, Lantern, Twin Peaks, Djelimady Tounkara, The Oh Sees, Denny Zeitlin, MILF, Unfun, De La Soul, Carl Sagan’s Skate Shoes, Magrudergrind, Acid Arab, A Tribe Called Quest, Noname, Gouge Away, Anna Hogberg, Klara Lewis, Aethenor, Krullur, The Lowest Form, Hard Proof

Music for 1/25/17!!! Ani Cordero, Hard Proof, Residual Kid

@@@ Ani Cordero: Recordar (Ani Cordero, 2014)  I got a review email from WRIR in Virginia that reviewed Cordero’s latest record.  However, this 2014 record is all that is up on Apple Music.  This first tune is mostly a Latin tune, sung in Spanish, but with hints of indie.  Cordero’s voice is powerful and quite pretty.  The instrumentation is great with accordion and a horn section in addition to her traditional stringed instrument.  Her lyrics are self-described as being about love and protest but I’m not fluent in Spanish.  I would definitely check out her latest when it hits the interwebz.

@@@ Hard Proof: Stinger (Modern Outsider, 2017)  Also off excellent world music station WRIR’s review email.  These guys are from Austin and they do an instrumental funk/quasi-Afrobeat thing.  It’s not straight Afrobeat, I don’t lie, and it’s a large ensemble.  After a swaggering opening track they get more into a midtempo blaxploitation vibe on the second tune, Men of Trouble.  These guys can play for sure.  They appear to hit peak funkiness on the fifth or sixth track Trickle Down.  Ooh, nasty guitar along side the plinked African style, a righteously sweet combination of dirt and honey.  Check these dudes/ladies/both out.

@@@ Residual Kid: The Volcom Sessions (Sire, 2016)  I got a PR email from Warner Bros. promo department announcing that these guys got best punk band at SXSW.  From the record cover (clipped below) it looks like we are listening to some Asian or Asian-American punk business.  These guys are on the Foo-ey side of the railroad tracks with a big power chord sound and midtempo stompers.  Ooh, big Nirvana stink lines on this second tune Tidal Wave.  Not quite as twisted as pre-Nevermind Nirvana Bleach madness.  Solid B.

YTD recordings listened to: 56
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 32
Not good music: 16

Buys: 0
Honorable Mentions: 0

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, Graeme Barrett, Fast Asleep, Goldlink, Cavanaugh, Gentleman Surfer, Satoko Fuji, Divanhana, Moken, Juan Atkins, Drone, Lantern, Twin Peaks, Djelimady Tounkara, The Oh Sees, Denny Zeitlin, MILF, Unfun, De La Soul, Carl Sagan’s Skate Shoes, Magrudergrind, Acid Arab, A Tribe Called Quest, Noname, Gouge Away, Anna Hogberg, Klara Lewis, Aethenor, Krullur, The Lowest Form, Hard Proof

Music for 1/24/17!!! Cherry Glazerr, As Lions, Shy Girls

@@@ Cherry Glazerr: Apocalipstick (Secretly Canadain, 2017)  A featured artist in the new music section of Apple Music.  It’s indie with some punk edge and my first impression is the drummer is solid but the guitar player needs some lessons.  The singer is brash but not too punky.  As if too punky is a thing.  The second tune Trash People mixes in some electro and smells kinda Blondie-ish.  She wears her underpants three days in a row.  I say grab a ticket and get in line.  The band is all right, the tunes are standard, the lyrics are pretty immature so it should be huge.

@@@ As Lions: Selfish Image (Better Noise, 2017)  These guys are blurbed as rock legends in the making even though this is their debut.  Seems to be a bit of a premature marketing ejaculation.  I see from the GooglePimpTube that this band the Iron Maiden singer’s son.  Well it must be good, right?  This is art school/shopping mall metal with plenty of sheen and polish.  The lyrics are overwrought, I’m hearing ‘we walk into the fire’ on this first track.  Oy.  The second tune, The Suffering, is a watered down Metallica tune with no teeth.  Oy the drama continues with a piano opening on the third tune Bury My Dead.  Very sophisticated production but incredibly cliche lyrics and standard song arrangements.  I will put money that these guys will not be legends.

@@@ Shy Girls: Salt (Hit City, 2016)  Blurbed as ‘bedroom r&b’ on Apple Music the opening intro consists of some abstract wimpering with some solo piano and a waterfall sound.  Let’s not finish that.  The second tune You Like the Pain Too is a song about loneliness.  It’s a slow one with lots of piano chords ringing out and some lush sounds.  I’m not super feeling it but I do like some of the sounds.  The third tune Watercolor Dreams shows some spunk with some spacious guitar sounds panned out wide and some booty bass.  He’s going for a Prince vibe and he succeeds to a degree but he doesn’t have the rawness of classic Prince tracks.  Oh man, on this tune Trivial Motion (clipped below) he’s moving away from Prince towards Michael Jackson/Lionel Richie territory.  That’s my ticket out.

YTD recordings listened to: 53
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 31
Not good music: 15

Buys: 0
Honorable Mentions: 0

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, Graeme Barrett, Fast Asleep, Goldlink, Cavanaugh, Gentleman Surfer, Satoko Fuji, Divanhana, Moken, Juan Atkins, Drone, Lantern, Twin Peaks, Djelimady Tounkara, The Oh Sees, Denny Zeitlin, MILF, Unfun, De La Soul, Carl Sagan’s Skate Shoes, Magrudergrind, Acid Arab, A Tribe Called Quest, Noname, Gouge Away, Anna Hogberg, Klara Lewis, Aethenor, Krullur, The Lowest Form

Music for 1/23/17!!! Nouvelle Vague, Shadow, Post Malone

@@@  NOUVELLE VAGUE | I Could Be Happy  (Kwaidan / !K7, 2016)  A Portugese music record done by some French dudes that I got to via this week’s WRIR weekly charts.  This first tune is a lush sophisticated pop burner reminiscent of K.D. Laing’s early music.  The female singer is sultry.  The second tune, Love Comes in Spurts (yikes, are we doing phrasing?) introduces some hipster French pop influences busting out the extraterrestial organ.  It’s a tad hip for my tastes.  Let’s peep one more.  I’m thinking this third tune, I Wanna Be Sedated,and it is! an acoustic non-punk version of the Ramones classic.  Slack snare work, some minimal guitar playing and the singer milking the mic for all she’s worth.  I like this but it’s for people that dress up and want to wear their hipness readily.  My shit is ghetto.

@@@ SHADOW: Sweet Sweet Dreams (Analog Africa, 2016) A soca record also off this week’s WRIR charts email.  I can see from the Bandcamp blurb that this is a re-issue of a way ahead of its time record from 1984.  I hear that as it’s a mash of Caribbean music, but also some African vibes and other sounds that would end up becoming very familiar to listeners.  ’80s pop, a little taste of what became EDM and African electronica.  The songs are all 4 and one half minutes or longer so these are more on the slightly jammy side than the poppy side.

@@@ Post Malone: Stoney (Republic/UMG, 2016) You gotta have a snack of mainstream nuggets once in a blue so why not now?  This dreaded, tatted young man is supposed to be a triple threat of folk, hip hop, singing, guitar and rhyming.  This first tune is high on cough syrup and low on energy.  Let’s give Post Malone another peep though I do dig the fat booty bass and beats that break out a third of the way through.  This second tune has some club pubes but I’m noticing I don’t like Mr. Malone’s vocal stylings.  We should check this third tune as Justin Bieber is on this third tune.  You know you love the Beebs you bitches.  Hopefully they tongue kiss on this anthem.  I do think Malone and Beebs both share this loverboy/gangsta pose and I find both to be less than convincing.  This is a halfway X rated slow booty tune.  Here’s the Beebs, Oh Lord what talent!  It’s coming out his ass.  This is some cheese ass gangsta balladry by two soft as butta motherfuckers.  Post Malone, I done with you.

YTD recordings listened to: 50
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 32
Not good music: 13

Buys: 0
Honorable Mentions: 0

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, Graeme Barrett, Fast Asleep, Goldlink, Cavanaugh, Gentleman Surfer, Satoko Fuji, Divanhana, Moken, Juan Atkins, Drone, Lantern, Twin Peaks, Djelimady Tounkara, The Oh Sees, Denny Zeitlin, MILF, Unfun, De La Soul, Carl Sagan’s Skate Shoes, Magrudergrind, Acid Arab, A Tribe Called Quest, Noname, Gouge Away, Anna Hogberg, Klara Lewis, Aethenor, Krullur, The Lowest Form

Music for 1/20/17!!! John Mayer, The Lowest Form, Withdrawal

@@@ John Mayer: The Search for Everything (Columbia, 2016)  An EP from John Mayer’s upcoming full length.  It seems like a weird choice on Trump’s inauguration day but the more pressing question is who has the toast because Mayer has brought the cheese to make a luscious grilled cheese sandwich.  Soft vocals, plinky and caressing guitar tones and tempos designed to make you sink into a pillow and take a nap.  I certainly hope this gets the suburban mamas moist because if this sensitive loverboy butter doesn’t work with them then Mayer is going to have to sell of some of his valuable watches and get a gig at 7-11.  Stay away if you’re lactose intolerant!

@@@ The Lowest Form: Personal Space (Iron Lung, 2016).  Some noise off the CFUV weekly playlist email.  A perfect listen for the first day of the Trump era.  After an ambient intro they get right into the punky yet post-punk slam dance.  Sweet.  As the tune progresses the wheels start to come off and get messier and messier, just like the future.  The third tune, Gak Attack, continues the uptempo blasting, oh my this is the shit.  It’s the fourth tune and wigs are getting flipped consistently.  You go young punks!  Imma swing back on this when I have more time.

@@@ Withdrawal: Never (Escapist Records, 2016).  Some full on metal also appropriate for the ascent of the Orange Haired Fucknut to sit on America’s toilet throne.  This first tune features some tasty thrash drumming, some metal boot stomping, and some hardcore shout out sing a longs.  Let’s see what else these gents have for us.  These gents have a pretty simple menu of sonic punishment for all you bad children out there.

YTD recordings listened to: 47
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 31
Not good music: 12

Buys: 0
Honorable Mentions: 0

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, Graeme Barrett, Fast Asleep, Goldlink, Cavanaugh, Gentleman Surfer, Satoko Fuji, Divanhana, Moken, Juan Atkins, Drone, Lantern, Twin Peaks, Djelimady Tounkara, The Oh Sees, Denny Zeitlin, MILF, Unfun, De La Soul, Carl Sagan’s Skate Shoes, Magrudergrind, Acid Arab, A Tribe Called Quest, Noname, Gouge Away, Anna Hogberg, Klara Lewis, Aethenor, Krullur, The Lowest Form

Music for 1/19/17!!! Ranger, The Evaporators, Kruller

@@@ Ranger: Speed & Violence (Spinefarm, 2016).  Some classic metal with thrash and hardcore punk flavorings that I got to via the CFUV weekly playlist email.  Wow, the singer just uncorked the most classic metal balls-in-a-vice scream that I’ve heard in a long ass time.  That shit could curdle blood.  I’m thinking the guitar player is gonna need some wrist support after hearing him as well as some Red Bull rehab.  I like it, pretty standard classic thrash coming in at a solid B.

@@@ The Evaporators: Ogopogo Punk (Mint, 2016).  Some old school punk with bits of rockabilly and Dead Kennedy vomit chunks.  Less anti-social bile than Jello but a good solid cheap beer vibe.  This first tune, I Can’t Be Shaved, is a bit of a mystery.  I guess it’s a focus on nonsense unless there’s some pro beard supremacy punk going on out there that I’m not hip to.  The second tune is less punk and more partyistic which is fine — more  Violent Femmes.  The guitar player has skills, something you don’t see mentioned in many reviews.  These guys have great energy and the record moves more into sillytown as it unfolds.

@@@ Krullur: ….failure to comply (Horror Pain Gore Death Productions, 2016).  Also off this week’s CFUV weekly playlist email.  This first tune descends like a crashing helicopter, it’s a full speed blast of thrash drumming and statick-y guitars.  Think wolves chasing down a rabbit and the bunny is gonna lose.  Fuck that first tune was exhausting.  This second tune, Shit, is pretty straightforward hardcore and I like it.  This band is muscular and not fucking around.  The drummer has it going on and they’re working some freshness into a pretty established form.  This is an 18 minute workout and Imma swing back on this as it’s got a lot going for it.  I can’t believe I made it through this review without any donut jokes but I guess that means I’m maturing which is kinda sad.

YTD recordings listened to: 44
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 30
Not good music: 11

Buys: 0
Honorable Mentions: 0

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, Graeme Barrett, Fast Asleep, Goldlink, Cavanaugh, Gentleman Surfer, Satoko Fuji, Divanhana, Moken, Juan Atkins, Drone, Lantern, Twin Peaks, Djelimady Tounkara, The Oh Sees, Denny Zeitlin, MILF, Unfun, De La Soul, Carl Sagan’s Skate Shoes, Magrudergrind, Acid Arab, A Tribe Called Quest, Noname, Gouge Away, Anna Hogberg, Klara Lewis, Aethenor, Krullur