22 minutes of heartfelt, emo punk with great energy. The guitar player is surprisingly engaging as you don’t usually get super interesting guitar playing on straight punk records.
The strength of this record lies in its ability to express/release a lot of negative emotions (frustration, desperation, sadness, anger, etc) with somewhat simple musical elements and allow listeners to have a similar release. And it accomplishes this with a nakedness and/or lack of pretension — it just goes right to it and lets it out. This to me is the essence of great punk rock.
@@@ The Bombay Royale: Run Kitty Run (Hopestreet, 2017) An Australian/Indian funky large ensemble record. There are two tracks up for pre-release on the Apple Music and this first track is funky for sure with some tongue in cheek spy movie/spaghetti western influence. I like the blending of musical cultures and I am enjoying the singers but I’m not jumping up and down.
@@@ Pokey LaFarge: Manic Revelations (Rounder/Concord, 2017) Some old school rocking’ r&b in the vein of James Hunter that I got to via this week’s CFUV playlist email. It’s a larger band with a horn section and an organ player. LaFarge has a very nice voice and this is a celebration of early ’60 r&b. Pre black power/James Brown. Aretha Franklin could probably beat LaFarge up and that would be entertaining.
@@@ Mr. Eazi: Life is Eazi, Vol. 1 — Akkra to Lagos (Banku Music, 2017) A rare African music record on the front page of Apple Music. I can see why they have him front and center as he sounds like an African Bieber except not nearly as annoying. Smooth vocals with some nice African guitar playing and beats you would find on a lot of new American mainstream releases. Regular readers know that I’m a huge listener of all African music but this does not have enough African music in it to super interest me. It’s probably really interesting to a lot of American mainstream music listeners. I’m agnostic.
YTD recordings listened to: 491
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 268
Not good music: 201
Buys: 7
Honorable Mentions: 6
Possibles: Chris McGregor, Retox, Defeater, Jonwayne, Okkyung Lee, The Ballantynes, Slidhr, The Chewers, Toxic Holocaust, Susie Iberra/Roberto Rodriguez, Lenguas Largas, The Coral, T.O.M.B., 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, Moken, Juan Atkins, 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, Krullur, The Lowest Form, Hard Proof, James Brandon Lewis, Yotoco, Jungle Fire, Sandoz, J.I.D., Oddisee, Forro in the Dark, RAM, Fiver, Dona Onete, Succumb Succumb, Gloom, Priests, Propaganda, This is the Kit, Roberto Gonzalez, Integrity
@@@ Olu Bliss: Traveling Bliss EP (As We Arrive, 2017) Today we are going to listen to bands that will be playing Afropunk 2017. I’m not a huge fan of soft, strummed blues folk but Bliss’ voice carries the day. The second tune (clipped below) goes full band (even horns!) but the vibe is still mad mellow with Bliss’ loose and soulful voice. The brother can sing.
@@@ Tamika & the Slay: Ugly EP (Self-released, 2017) Old school rockin’ r&b also from the Afropunk at the Knitting Factory advert. Ms. Tamika has a steamroller of a voice and she’s out in front of a burning band on this first tune. Full horn section, organ player, tambourine, they’re only short the cowbell. These guys may be smoking before the show but they’re washing it down with Red Bull as this is no sleepy ass shit. Let’s peep more. The second tune is a ballad but it builds to quite a crescendo. I’ve peeped parts of four tunes and the one below is the best.
@@@Duendita: Yikes! (Self-released, 2017) I’m not a huge smooth r&b kinda listener but this is a really nice track. The singer has a quirky voice that I enjoy listening to her. The mix has an appealing thickness to it that I dig. A simple arrangement of keyboards and laid-back guitar highlight her super sweet multitrack vocals (in places).
@@@ Shacar: Ghost (feat. Santos) (Paradice, 2017) A r&b single I got to via the same Afropunk semi-final show. It’s a simple arrangement with a simple tight beat, some piano chords underneath Shacar hitting the microphone. There is a break with some rhymes but it’s Shacar and a vocal guest singing really well. A focused, clean and funky track.
YTD recordings listened to: 488
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 266
Not good music: 200
Buys: 7
Honorable Mentions: 6
Possibles: Chris McGregor, Retox, Defeater, Jonwayne, Okkyung Lee, The Ballantynes, Slidhr, The Chewers, Toxic Holocaust, Susie Iberra/Roberto Rodriguez, Lenguas Largas, The Coral, T.O.M.B., 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, Moken, Juan Atkins, 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, Krullur, The Lowest Form, Hard Proof, James Brandon Lewis, Yotoco, Jungle Fire, Sandoz, J.I.D., Oddisee, Forro in the Dark, RAM, Fiver, Dona Onete, Succumb Succumb, Gloom, Priests, Propaganda, This is the Kit, Roberto Gonzalez, Integrity
@@@ Poppy: Interweb (Mad Decent, 2017) The official anthem of the NSA! Maybe I’m a spider, maybe I’m a fisherman, I’ll catch you in my interweb. A sultry female singer, some synths and a standard boom bap beat but the lyrics are great. Tongue in cheek I would think but ya never know.
@@@ Tyler, the Creator: Flower Boy (Sony, 2017) I really liked one of the singles so I’m back for the full length. I really like his rhymes, but I don’t dig the sounds on this record thus far. It’s a lot of synths which decreases the funk factor (for me at least). I continue to really like Who Dat Boy, the pre release single, it really stands apart from the first three tracks. Folks expecting a continuation of that single will be disappointed. Is it wrong for me to want my hip hop funky?
@@@ Dasher: Sodium (Jagjaguwar, 2017) Some garage-y punk off this week’s CFUV playlist email. Fast out of the gate with slashing guitars these guys whip a solid punk shitty. All members of the outfit are at full energy. They have a little bit of a ’80s Janes Addiction kind of sound in the vocals and the guitar sound. Solid B+ and the female singer does good work.
YTD recordings listened to: 484
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 264
Not good music: 198
Buys: 7
Honorable Mentions: 6
Possibles: Chris McGregor, Retox, Defeater, Jonwayne, Okkyung Lee, The Ballantynes, Slidhr, The Chewers, Toxic Holocaust, Susie Iberra/Roberto Rodriguez, Lenguas Largas, The Coral, T.O.M.B., 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, Moken, Juan Atkins, 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, Krullur, The Lowest Form, Hard Proof, James Brandon Lewis, Yotoco, Jungle Fire, Sandoz, J.I.D., Oddisee, Forro in the Dark, RAM, Fiver, Dona Onete, Succumb Succumb, Gloom, Priests, Propaganda, This is the Kit, Roberto Gonzalez, Integrity
@@@ Vera Blue: Perennial (Island Records Australia, 2017) Some Kate Bush-y epic electronica/adult alternative off the music blog Indiepulse. The sounds here are a piquant stew of mainstream pop/electronica and New Age with a lot of modern sounding synths, a little schmattering of acoustic guitars and plenty of multitrack vocals. All this slathered over just the right amount of funky for housewives drum machine beats. I’m not a buyer, it panders. I tried to find a lyric video as that’s my favorite thing but I couldn’t find one. And that will be your loss, not to see these lyrics unfold on the video, the tears streaming down your face as you realize yes, I need to be brave, yes! I need to do more self care, and yes! I will love again!!!!
@@@ Meklit: When the People Move the Music Moves too (Six Degrees, 2017) World music off this week’s WRIR playlist chart email. It’s a mash of African sounds, some American black music and adult alternative sounds. It’s uplifting for sure. Ah, I’m not super low IQ — I went to get a video and I see Meklit is an Ethiopian-American so that explains the blend. As the first tune unfolds it has some nice muscle to it so it’s uplifting but it’s not soft, a combination I don’t really love. The production is strong and the horn section is happening. The lyrics are not to my taste but I’m very finicky. She has really mashed American music with African music here. Check her out.
@@@ Ritual: In This Moment (Atlantic, 2017) Metal off the Apple Music new release section. The first tune is opening up like a Hollywood soundtrack — epic with huge tom rolls, chants, and a rising guitar squall. In an odd turn of events the second track gets into a blues vocal with thunderous arena rock production. Yikes! I guess that’s what this record is going to be as the third tune keeps those blues inflected vocals, though a dude steps in and they start rocking. I can’t really get with this music, it’s not a blend of sounds I can get with. It’s just too shiny and epic and shall we say a tad cheesy for my taste. There are a bunch of covers of songs here that I don’t think needed to be covered.
@@@ Shania Twian: Poor Me (Mercury Nashville, 2017) A pre release mainstream country single off the Apple Music hot tracks section. It is breathtaking how far stretched country music has gotten. I can’t find a single country music element in this tune — not a twanghy guitar, no pickup truck lyrical references. Ms. Twain is a big star, she doesn’t have to do country music and it’s just an observation. I neither hate the tune nor love it, it just sorta passes through and is over.
YTD recordings listened to: 481
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 262
Not good music: 197
Buys: 7
Honorable Mentions: 6
Possibles: Chris McGregor, Retox, Defeater, Jonwayne, Okkyung Lee, The Ballantynes, Slidhr, The Chewers, Toxic Holocaust, Susie Iberra/Roberto Rodriguez, Lenguas Largas, The Coral, T.O.M.B., 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, Moken, Juan Atkins, 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, Krullur, The Lowest Form, Hard Proof, James Brandon Lewis, Yotoco, Jungle Fire, Sandoz, J.I.D., Oddisee, Forro in the Dark, RAM, Fiver, Dona Onete, Succumb Succumb, Gloom, Priests, Propaganda, This is the Kit, Roberto Gonzalez, Integrity
@@@ Japanese Breakfast: Soft Sounds from another Planet (Dead Oceans, 2017) Off this week’s CFUV weekly playlist email. ’80s influenced synth rock with a dreamy female singer. It gets guitar noisy in a breakdown section and then goes back to its arpeggiated guitar sound. They’re back with the shiny guitar and the reverbed out vocals in the second tune and while I understand this is a trendy, comeback hip indie sound I can’t abide by it. I find it more than a bit self-indulgent and kinda boring.
@@@ Integrity: Howling for the Darkness Shall Consume (Relapse, 2017) Epic metal off this week’s CFUV playlist email. Oh, they’re switching up gears and into a sweet tasty thrash — I love that suffocating snare sound and the grinding guitars. I’m feeling this second tune Fallen to Destroy. These guys play with a lot of energy and sort of slip in and out of sections with dexterity — thrashing into slick rocking sections into classic metal melodies. I usually decry classic metal records as cheesy and somewhat ridiculous but the way these guys do it is really happenin’. Imma swing back on this record when I have more time but if you’re into metal these guys have it going on.
YTD recordings listened to: 477
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 260
Not good music: 195
Buys: 7
Honorable Mentions: 6
Possibles: Chris McGregor, Retox, Defeater, Jonwayne, Okkyung Lee, The Ballantynes, Slidhr, The Chewers, Toxic Holocaust, Susie Iberra/Roberto Rodriguez, Lenguas Largas, The Coral, T.O.M.B., 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, Moken, Juan Atkins, 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, Krullur, The Lowest Form, Hard Proof, James Brandon Lewis, Yotoco, Jungle Fire, Sandoz, J.I.D., Oddisee, Forro in the Dark, RAM, Fiver, Dona Onete, Succumb Succumb, Gloom, Priests, Propaganda, This is the Kit, Roberto Gonzalez, Integrity
Regular readers know of my inner toil regarding heavy metal singers. I don’t like the cavemen, nor do I like the epic and operatic high range classic metal singers. I like this singer a bunch, he works for me. He’s a little punk, a little post-rock, and a little metal in places. There are places where he has a little Kurt Cobain working.
The guitar player is similar in his styles — he’s got some punk, some post-rock, some classic hard rock, and some metal in his playing.
That’s the formula, blending these various sub genres but at the end of the day are tunes good and is the music fresh? Yes is my answer. While I often bemoan shiny music custom aimed at the heart of alienated suburban youth, this is high quality shit for the fringey upset folks in Westchester county, Chicago suburbs etc.
Nice sounds and tones, really energetic playing and a really good singer.
@@@ The Grape and the Grain: Holy Rollin’ (The Grape and the Grain, 2017) If you’re looking for some sexy boy classic rock for your hot summer day these guys will hook you up. I got to this EP via a music publicist. The singer is feeling his hormones. I’m not sure about the guitar player as he sounds like he’s been holed up in his room studying great rock differs from days gone by. Big Foghat/Led Zeppelin/Lenny Kravitz/Bad Company vibes here for sure. The drummer is pulling his weight or otherwise this trip into very familiar territory would fall apart. I liked the opening track the best.
@@@ Umoja: 707 (Awesome Tapes from Africa, 2017) A South African bubblegum disco re-issue I got to via this week’s WRIR review email. I tend to be a bit prejudiced against South African music as the beats don’t have the heaviness of the West African music. The reviewer makes the good point that these early synths and drum machines are making a comeback in the tight blue jean indie crowd so folks should check out the African working of these sounds. They’re not my favorite sounds but they’re deployed in a much funkier manner here than white boys and white girls and their wonder bread funk.
@@@ Lafa Taylor & Aabo: Feel (Mixto, 2017). Some hip hop influenced club boom/titch I got to via the new release section of Apple Music. A couple MCs freestylin’, some synth bass and other non bass patches. The second tune has a less pleasing vocal hook. This is the kind of music they have on in Wall Street bars — bouncy, low IQ, and faux funky just like the folks listening.
@@@ Jeremy Pinnell: Different Kind of Woman (Sofaburn 2017) A pre-release singer from a down and out country singer whose debut made my year end list. I like Pinball’s voice — it’s world weary but not so flat and boring that I want to turn the stereo off. On top of that Pinnell’s band is pretty top notch, especially the guitarist. This is not your standard Nashville babyfood, and thank God for that.
YTD recordings listened to: 475
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 260
Not good music: 194
Buys: 7
Honorable Mentions: 6
Possibles: Chris McGregor, Retox, Defeater, Jonwayne, Okkyung Lee, The Ballantynes, Slidhr, The Chewers, Toxic Holocaust, Susie Iberra/Roberto Rodriguez, Lenguas Largas, The Coral, T.O.M.B., 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, Moken, Juan Atkins, 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, Krullur, The Lowest Form, Hard Proof, James Brandon Lewis, Yotoco, Jungle Fire, Sandoz, J.I.D., Oddisee, Forro in the Dark, RAM, Fiver, Dona Onete, Succumb Succumb, Gloom, Dead Ranch, Priests, Propaganda. This is the Kit, Roberto Gonzalez
@@@ Nine Inch Nails: Less Than (The Null Corporation, 2017) We won’t spend much time discussing that the leader of Nine Inch Nails is a senior executive at Apple Music (or was at it’s predecessor Beats) and his new track is in the first slot on the hot tracks section at Apple Music. Hey, what the fuck, that smells like the digital version of old school music business mafia action!! Hey, it’s not gonna matter because the song is pretty boring — it’s the classic Nine Inch Nails mixture of darkness and alienation but with some pretty rote guitar power chords and Reznor’s downer singing/lyrics. Pole position won’t save this ship from sinking.
@@@ Rococode: Young Ones (Marquis Services, 2017) We switch up gears to some bouncy and hopeful indie electronic, ’80s flavored pop rock. Oooh boy, bouncy bass, snappy drums, friendly synths, and an engaging male singer. The second tune has a female singer but the formula is mostly the same especially in the rhythm section. These aren’t sounds I like but they’re well done. Songwriting is pretty standard pop so it’s sweet musical baby food for adults.
@@@ Larissa Tandy: The Grip (Larissa Tandy, 2017) Off the folk/roots section of the CFUV weekly playlist email. I like the plainness of the production and the music is in that folk/soft rock/indie/adult alternative neighborhood. Tandy has a bit of an odd accent to her voice that catches my ear. I’m on the fourth tune and she’s hopping around a bit stylistically while overall becoming more indie rock than folk roots. This is not my favorite style of music but I can see more mainstream listeners digging this — she’s got some rocking, some passion to her voice and a bit of spark with familiar sounds.
@@@ The Lemon Twigs: Brothers of Destruction EP (4AD, 2017) A pre-release single off an upcoming full length. I would put this in the quirky, lo-fi, classic rock reprisal of the indie area. If you took the Velvet Underground and they had a baby with Captain Beefheart’s adopted son it would sound a bit like this. There’s a bit of a sour-ish sound to the music and the singer is annoying (in my opinion and it’s my blog) so I probably won’t be checking out the full length when it happens.
YTD recordings listened to: 471
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 258
Not good music: 192
Buys: 7
Honorable Mentions: 6
Possibles: Chris McGregor, Retox, Defeater, Jonwayne, Okkyung Lee, The Ballantynes, Slidhr, The Chewers, Toxic Holocaust, Susie Iberra/Roberto Rodriguez, Lenguas Largas, The Coral, T.O.M.B., 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, Moken, Juan Atkins, 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, Krullur, The Lowest Form, Hard Proof, James Brandon Lewis, Yotoco, Jungle Fire, Sandoz, J.I.D., Oddisee, Forro in the Dark, RAM, Fiver, Dona Onete, Succumb Succumb, Gloom, Dead Ranch, Priests, Propaganda. This is the Kit, Roberto Gonzalez
@@@ Terence Martin Presents the Pollyseeds: The Sounds of Crenshaw Vol. 1 (Ropeadope, 2017) Fusion-y (guess) jazz off the Apple Music new release section. Electric guitar, nerdy guitar tones and laid-back smooth funky grooves. I do, however, feel the huge synth bass that’s a beautiful voice. The third tune brings in the vintage drum machine and the super smooth vocals. I think you need some liquor or weed to make this music more interesting as it’s pretty standard r&b/smooth jazz.
@@@ OBGMS: Pill (Black Box Records, 2017) Black punk off a music publicist’s email. After a spaced out intro they get into whipping a medium shitty. I like the drummer, I wish the guitarist would go get a Red Bull and I like the singer just fine. While the tune has a pleasant herk-a-jerk baked into it they never really lose their shit and descend into full blasted punk. I got my Bad Brains records and I still listen to ’em after all these years cuz they lose their shit yo.
@@@ Breakfast Muff: Eurgh! (Amour Foo, 2017) Some hopped up girl punk off last week’s all Music notable release email. The singer does NOT need a Red Bull, she’s doing just fine — however, the male singer in the second tune does need something. Maybe a slap or maybe a danish. The tunes are commando style clocking in around 2 minutes and the lyrics have plenty of humor with some political tinges. For example, the third tune is called R U a Feminist. I like the tunes with the woman out front more than the gent and I’ve clipped the best of what I heard below.
@@@ Selena Gomez: Fetish (Interscope, 2017) Selena Gomez is basically a soft core porn star that makes music on the side. She looks about 12 and that’s great for the 12 year old girl wannabes and all the other horny bastards out there that wanna get with it. Not that I’m an expert but I don’t think she knows what a fetish is. She’s not talking about what are considered odd desires just how she’s hot and some dude has a fetish for her love. So, in classic fashion, this is highly manicured and polished nonsense.
YTD recordings listened to: 467
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 256
Not good music: 190
Buys: 7
Honorable Mentions: 6
Possibles: Chris McGregor, Retox, Defeater, Jonwayne, Okkyung Lee, The Ballantynes, Slidhr, The Chewers, Toxic Holocaust, Susie Iberra/Roberto Rodriguez, Lenguas Largas, The Coral, T.O.M.B., 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, Moken, Juan Atkins, 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, Krullur, The Lowest Form, Hard Proof, James Brandon Lewis, Yotoco, Jungle Fire, Sandoz, J.I.D., Oddisee, Forro in the Dark, RAM, Fiver, Dona Onete, Succumb Succumb, Gloom, Dead Ranch, Priests, Propaganda. This is the Kit, Roberto Gonzalez
Deep In the Music 