Music for 2/28/17!!! Lana Del Ray, Ab-Soul, Permit

@@@ Lana Del Ray: Love (Polypro, 2017) I really appreciate how boring Lana Del Ray’s music is.  She only makes slack love songs and there’s nothing notable about any of it yet she is a huge star.  Her lyrics aren’t very smart or clever or literate, the sounds are standard, and she’s an average and extremely glum singer.  I see from the interwebz that she’s a former model so that explains that.  Snooze on Lana!  18 million hits on the google tube for this biscuit, oh lord.

@@@ Ab-Soul: Do What thou Wilt (Top Dawg, 2016)  Neither full left field hip hop nor mainstream nor gangster hip hop.  I’m feeling this second tune (clipped below).  Mr. Ab-Soul is into some strangeness — he’s alternately super quick on the mic but he gets into cough syrup strange ass vocal processing that slows his tracks down.  He’s got a lot of guest MCs so it’s a bit hard to know who’s rhyming what.  The beats are stripped down but they hit pretty good and the arrangements are trippy.

@@@ Permit: Vol 1 – EP (Fat Possum, 2016)  Some super caffeinated and distorted punk pop that I got to from an All Music notable release email from a few months back.  Man, they squished the fuck out of this mix, it kinda hurts.  Lots of systemic static, much like our President.  Let’s move it forward a track.  These guys can play for sure and I dig the quiet sweetness of the tunes but it’s just crunched to fuck.  It’s all right when you can’t tune a radio station in and get half an ass of static but to have it be a choice, oy.

YTD recordings listened to: 139
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 76
Not good music: 43

Buys: 0
Honorable Mentions: 1

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, A Tribe Called Quest, Noname, Gouge Away, Anna Hogberg, Klara Lewis, Aethenor, Krullur, The Lowest Form, Hard Proof, James Brandon Lewis, Yotoco, Tinariwen, Jungle Fire, Sandoz, Power Trip

Music for 2/27/17!!! Steve Lacy, Power Trip, Rev. Sam Dixon

@@@ Steve Lacy: Steve Lacy’s Demo EP (Three Quarter, 2017)  An alt r&b record I got to via the Apple Music new music section.   And no, not Steve Lacy the sax player from the ’60s-’70s.  These first two tunes are centered around Lacy’s guitar playing and he’s got some sophisticated vocal arrangements in this second tune, Ryd.  The cover of the record has Mr. lacy sandwiched between a guitar and a bass so I’m thinking he programmed these beats and let fly with the rest of it.  It’s pretty good.  I would have dug some more variety of guitar tones as in maybe some Prince like guitar shredding.

@@@ Power Trip: Nightmare Logic (Southern Lord, 2017)  I checked the advance single and felt it so I’m back for more now that the full length banger is out.  Plus I’m a Southern Lord.  These guys have a militant vibe to their metal stomp with plenty of thrash drumming and some extreme Red Bull shredding in this first tune (clipped below).  I remember the Motorhead vibes these guys pump out like stale body odor.  The second tune, Executioner’s Song, brings on big stomp.  I’ve checked out four of the tunes here and I’m going to have to swing back on this record before I go burn somebody’s house down.

@@@ Rev. Sam Dixon: My Soul Says Yes (Manufactured, 2017)  Some old school gospel with r&b sprinklings that I got to via a music publicist email.  Some really beautiful gospel choir action and an interesting guitar player on this first tune.  The vibe here is super old school and I dig that.  If you, fabulous listener on this blog are not hip to the flavors of gospel and how much it has informed today’s soul/r&b music check out the reverend and get an earful for yourself.

YTD recordings listened to: 136
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 75
Not good music: 41

Buys: 0
Honorable Mentions: 1

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, A Tribe Called Quest, Noname, Gouge Away, Anna Hogberg, Klara Lewis, Aethenor, Krullur, The Lowest Form, Hard Proof, James Brandon Lewis, Yotoco, Tinariwen, Jungle Fire, Sandoz, Power Trip

2017 Honorable Mention Pick 1

Acid Arab: Musique de France (Crammed Discs, 2016)

A timely shot of Middle Eastern electronica that goes out to that racist fucker Marine Le Pen in France and our very own homegrown piece of shit, Donald Trump.

Heavy club beats with modern bass sounds and Arabic melodies over the top.  A little like Omar Suleiman but less manic.  Guest singers but just shots of vocals not verse-chorus, etc.

I’ve clipped one of my favorite tracks below.

 

Music for 2/25/17!!! Calvin Harris, Zeal and Ardor

@@@ Calvin Harris: Slide (Sony, 2017)  Featuring Frank Ocean and Migos out of Atlanta Calvin Harris returns with a cheesy disco biscuit for the masses.  Lord Frank Ocean needs a Red Bull or something and if you’re looking for a sonic burrito of watered down soft dance sounds Calvin hook you up yo!  The Migos raise the temperature a bit but this is oxy-disco.  Yikes.

@@@ Zeal & Ardor: Devil is Fine (MVKA, 2017)  Blurbed as a mash of black metal and blues, I’ll believe it when I see it.  This first tune has only the slightest bit of metal in it.  Let’s peep some more of this.  The second tune gets a little darker but these guitar tones that they’re using as black metal are kinda limp.  I like this third tune Sacreligium I as it combines some fat bass with some manic glitching.  I like this all right but I wish the tunes were stronger.

YTD recordings listened to: 133
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 73
Not good music: 41

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, James Brandon Lewis, Yotoco, Tinariwen, Jungle Fire, Sandoz

Music for 2/24/17!!! Rhiannon Giddens, Thundercat, Crystal Fairy

@@@ Rhiannon Giddens: Freedom Highway (Nonesuch, 2017)  Some folk off this week’s All Music notable release email.  I’m guessing this is going to be polished folk for NPR listeners but you never know.  This first tune features some nice sounds but I’d like to check out more.  Giddens’ voice is very pleasing, no oversinging with a subtle vibrato.  Her voice is really the star here — the band is solid but not particularly ear catching in their playing.  There’s a conservatism at work here but a lot of so called adventurous listeners are really pretty conservative in their tastes.

@@@ Thundercat: Drunk (Brainfeeder, 2017)  Some alternative r&b off this week’s All Music notable release email.  There’s some Frank Zappa music nerd combined with black music sounds.  The second tune after the intro gets into some manic jazz fusion energy.  Fusion is not my favorite sound but let’s check a bit more.  It’s accomplished playing and arranging but I’m not super into it, check for yourself.

@@@ Crystal Fairy: Crystal Fairy (Ipecac, 2017)  Sludge metal off this week’s All Music weekly email.  This first tune is grungier than sludgier so if you prefer sludge over grunge well then you will feel a tad ripped.  The singer sounds a bunch like the gent in Rush — that sort of high, nerdy voice.  The second tune Drugs on the Bus is coming slow out of the gate but maybe it will pick up.  Plenty of Stone Temple Pilots up in here, it’s all right.

YTD recordings listened to: 131
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 71
Not good music: 41

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, James Brandon Lewis, Yotoco, Tinariwen, Jungle Fire, Sandoz

Music for 2/23/17!!! Lorna Shore, Hanni El Katib, Maggie Rogers

@@@ Lorna Shore: Flesh Coffin (Outerloop, 2017)  Some gloom metal off the Apple Music new music section.  This first tune is all guitar distortion and arena drumming.  Oh, enter the agitated Neanderthal grunting and orc-ing like he ate some bad berries out in the forest!!  The second tune, Denounce the Light, opens up with a brief pleasant before launching into the barkfest.  I think there may be two vocalizers here, one caveman and one orc.  The drummer is killing it here, double kick blamming and spraying tom fills all over.

@@@ Hanni El Katib: Savage Times (Innovative Leisure, 2017)  Some upbeat mainstream guitar rock/pop.  Think the Strokes but without the glam ‘tude of the Strokes.  Bright guitars, lots of rock toms.  The second tune, Gonna Die Alon, is less guitars (none yet) built on a drums/bass thing.  Oh, there’s some guitar squall.  I like the energy, the songs are pretty standard rock with a tad of funk.  I’m on the fourth tune and there’s a bit of jumping around sonically.  A little rock, some ’70s era Stones type vibes.  The third tune is called Born Brown so it’s probably okay to say that a gent named Hanni El Katib is gonna bring some of that culture into his music.

@@@ Maggie Rogers: Now that the Light is Fading EP (Capitol, 2017)  A folk-tronica record off the Apple Music new music section.  The first tune is a solemn sort of acapella with crickets tune.  Serious and meaningful lyrics people.  The second tune features a chill electronic beat, her voice which is unadorned and varied, and some ethereal synth sounds.  This is a combination of light sounds with New Age lyrics so if you don’t buy the lyrics as being heartfelt and delivered with real heart then the whole thing is gonna smell more like a marketing mash than a real expression.  And I’m feeling like I don’t feel these lyrics as true.  I also don’t hear any folk music type of sounds here at all so they’re milking the associations people have with folk.

YTD recordings listened to: 128
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 69
Not good music: 43

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, James Brandon Lewis, Yotoco, Tinariwen, Jungle Fire, Sandoz

Music for 2/22/17!!! King Woman, Electric Guest, Ritalin Boy

@@@ King Woman: Created in the Image of Suffering (Relapse, 2017)  Some stoner/doom metal off this week’s CFUV playlist email.  Big syrup-y detuned waves of guitar distortion with ethereal, reverbed out dudes.  The second tune, Deny, brings the tempo down to a slow roll.  With this cloudy reverb on the vocals I really have no idea what they’re singing about but that may be for the best.  This third tune, Shame (they have four up on the Apple Music) takes it down further and it’s quite hypnotic.  If you’re driving pull over right now!  Be safe, oh this is epic.  Like a slow motion final scene in a Tom Cruise where he’s hanging out of a helicopter holding his co-star by the wrist trying not to drop her while people throw slices of bologna at them.  That could happen.

@@@ Electric Guest: Plural (Downton, 2017)  Some indie electronic off last week’s All Music notable release email.  Well indie electronic on the bottom and a flamboyant Elton John kinda thing on the type.  Falsetto vocals, piano, not my formula but I always have an open heart.  This second tune is kicking off like a Hall and Oates tune, wow, I’m not sure what to say.  It’s not full on Hall and Oates, maybe it’s just Oates.  I picked, it was random.  All right, one more tune.  This is kinda mislabelled, this is very light pop for people who are very sensitive but still want to shake their booties.

@@@ Ritalin Boy: Adult Entertainment (Self-released, 2017)  A glam punk record off this week’s CFUV weekly playlist email.  Mucho power chords and big singalong choruses in the opener, Happy People Have no Stories.  The second tune, Dr. Doctor, is about anti-depressants.  If you like catchy punk dig out the old Clash records, try London Calling.  Much better lyrics.

YTD recordings listened to: 125
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 67
Not good music: 42

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, James Brandon Lewis, Yotoco, Tinariwen, Jungle Fire, Sandoz

Music for 2/21/17!!! David Grissom, Viriditas, Withdrawal

@@@ David Grissom: Slow Me Down (Mother Lode, 2016)  A single by a Texas bluesman after I saw a gig he having at National Sawdust in Brooklyn.  To my ears this tune is close to FM rock than classic Texas blues.  My guess he’s gonna bust a big guitar solo shred.  Ah, I got that right.  Myself I prefer my modern rock to be separate from my blues — I love that old school dirty Howlin’ Wolf business.

@@@ Viriditas: Viriditas (Eschatology, 2015).  A jazz record I found via a twat on the twatter.  This first tune is opening up ambient in the drumming area with some interesting low key jazz work and an engaging bass player.  This second tune is straighter and very pretty.  I like the tones here but I could use more improv like the opening track as the pace slows down as the record moves along.

@@@ Withdrawal: Never (Escapist, 2016).  Some no bullshit straight beat down metal off this week’s CFUV weekly email.  This first tune is a tasty blend of hardcore and thrash.  The singer has a ton of energy and the drummer is working overtime.  There are very nice sounds going on here and the energy is fantastic.  I’m on the third tune and I want to go burn somebody’s house down.  Check these guys out!

YTD recordings listened to: 122
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 66
Not good music: 40

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, James Brandon Lewis, Yotoco, Tinariwen, Jungle Fire, Sandoz

Music for 2/20/17!!! Ibibio Sound Machine, Hunck, D.O.C.

@@@ Ibibio Sound Machine: Uyai (Merge, 2017)  This world music outfit has two tunes up on the Apple Music and this record is reviewed this week by WRIR in Virginia.  This first tune more than subtly bites Michael Jackson’s ‘Don’t Stop til you Get Enough’.  As WRIR says in the review these guys are trying to leave the world music ghetto and they’ve filed a lot of edges down here to get to mainstream listeners.  The energy is very high and the female singer is quite active on the mic.  I dig the rhythm section on this tune as well.  I guess I’m not feeling the synth hooks here, they’re not awful but they change the complexion and aspirations for the record.

@@@ Hunck: Little Women (Not sure, 2017)  I’ve been getting mad publicist emails about this band Hunck so I will give a peep and maybe a Trumpian pee.  Dance rock beats, medium strong ’80s rock vibes, and an aspiring porn star singer.  I’m feeling the drummer as he’s pulling off the sleazy vibes, but the guitar player, eh not so much.  Pretty standard stuff for the earholes.

@@@ D.O.C.: Parched Dredge EP (Iron Lung, 2017)  Some rough, sped up metal off this week’s CFUV playlist email.  Hardcore singer with a little caveman grunting, herky jerky sizzly guitars — quite an impressive wall of them actually.  And the drummer, somebody get the drummer a beverage he’s drumming his nuts off.  Thrashing about like a fish on the bottom of a boat.  The bass player lays down a bed of sweet stanky bass.  These are all 30 second to 1 minute blasts of hate, really quite well done.

YTD recordings listened to: 119
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 64
Not good music: 39

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, James Brandon Lewis, Yotoco, Tinariwen, Jungle Fire, Sandoz

Music for 2/19/17!!! Strand of Oaks, Nikki Lane

@@@ Strand of Oaks: Hard Love (Dead Oceans, 2017)  Some indie rock that got a front page article on Salon saying it is a rock ‘n roll masterpiece.  In this first tune I hear a lot of Replacements vibe especially with the singer’s delivery.  It does not have that slap ass Replacements energy, it has more of a Wilco slack band energy.  Let’s peep more.  The second tune features a distorted electric guitar and more of a faded ’70s rock vibe, which is fine.  I’m not feeling masterpiece level feelings but I’ll check a bit more.  Oy, that was the third tune as my Apple Music player skipped me ahead — damn you interwebz.  This second tune has that desperate yearning thing and the fourth tune, Salt Brothers, is the most interesting of what I’ve heard thus far.  It’s a good record but I can’t give it masterpiece ratings.

@@@ Nikkie Lane: Highway Queen (New West, 2017)  Some new old school country off this week’s Apple Music new music section.  This first tune, 700,000 Rednecks, is pretty hot.  I’m not sure if this is aimed at Trump but it would be funny if it was.  I like this second tune, the title track, but not as much as the opener.  Let’s peep a bit more.  I’ve checked portions of four tunes and the opener is still my favorite.  The band has plenty of energy and she has a classic country voice.

YTD recordings listened to: 116
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 62
Not good music: 38

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, James Brandon Lewis, Yotoco, Tinariwen, Jungle Fire, Sandoz