@@@ L.A. Salami: L.A. Salami Presents Lookman and the Bootmakers EP (Sunday Best, 2017) I got to this folk record via a music blog that followed this music blog. Blog blog blog. The most dominant element in this first tune is Salami’s highbrow English accent. I’m not saying he’s highbrow but he’s got literate lyrics going and a mannered delivery. Simple bass accompaniment and strummed acoustic guitar along for the ride. That’s a long 4 minute song so let’s peep a bit more. It’s never a good situation when a song feels mad long. In the second tune we get a drummer and an electric guitar accompaniment added to the Salami. This is more of a rock biscuit and it’s all right. I don’t despise Mr. Salami’s music but I’m not jumping up and down after nibbles on four of the Salami’s tracks.
@@@ Brian McKnight: Genesis (SoNo Recording Group, 2017) Some pretty futuristic r&b off this week’s All Music notable release email. The first tune is a pro-environmental track that I kinda get with. This second tune is a super huge love ballad with piano and emotive vocals. He wants her, most definitely. I’m kinda torn on this space age production — it’s very intricate which I like but it’s also slick and that drains a tad of humanity from the proceedings. It feels like you’re listening to a robot band, which I’m sure is being designed right now. Cuz you don’t have to pay royalties to robots, because they don’t have to eat. It’s not a formula I super feel but if you do this is comfort r&b, very empathetic and emotional.
@@@ Bodies of Water: Spear in the City (Secretly Canadian, 2017) Somebody in this band has some David Bowie records in their collection. I think it’s the singer. This is some art school indie, serious in intent but with a tambourine. A tambourine is almost always a great sign! Let’s peep more. I can’t place exactly who this singer sounds like — yes, it’s that bald bitch in Midnight Oil, who I am sure is a great fella. He’s just bald. It’s not a David Booey record, it’s a closeted arena rock record with a serious singer. I’m not a big fan of the sexy frontman, nor the serious frontman. I like some of the guitar player’s work, he’s grabbing my ear in places. This is too earnest for me, maybe the singer’s name is Ernest. That would be fitting.
YTD recordings listened to: 566
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 303
Not good music: 237
Buys: 8
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, American Lips, Sudan Archives