@@@ Lana Del Rey: Norman Fucking Rockwell (UMG, 2019) One of my least favorite mainstream musicians; however this record got 4 out 5 stars in the Guardian so I thought I would throw it a listen. My general take on Del Rey is that her music is so slack it makes me feel nappy. If I try to see the appeal of her music it is her jaded female take on life and relationsips and shit. I get that but the first tune feels too long and the slack tempo contributes to that feeling of length. Oh this second one is a slow one too, get the oxy out! I do like some of these lyrics, they cut through the fog of slow tempo, though in truth it is a time honored tradition of faded rock star business to roll in this world weary, cynical manner. The lyrics are the star here and her singing is very good. I’m way less annoyed by this Del Rey business but she’s not really for me.
@@@ Alicai Harley: Rushing (Warner, 2019) Listed as pop on Apple Music but described as hot dancehall in the Line of Best Fit email we are here to clear the air. What the fuck is this? I guess it’s both as she hits the dancehall groove and toasting but with a plethora of pop sounds. Somebody took the classic dancehall beat and snuck a few trap hats in there and some updated pop synth sounds as well. By the end of the tune it’s a tapestry of vocal tracks which I always find a bit lazy. I say hit the mic and dig that groove deep instead of piling the vocals on.
@@@ Raphael Saddiq: Jimmy Lee (Sony, 2019) Off last week’s All Music notable release email. I know this musician gets lots of love from r&b fans but I’ve never heard the track that brought the love forth from me. This is a serious record about the death of this musician’s brother from a drug overdose back in the day. This first tune is a blend of r&b and a little rock. I like the album’s aspirations but I didn’t love the first track. The second track, So Ready, evokes a Michael Jackson funk with a poppin’ fresh bassline and fingersnaps. I’m on the third track now, This World is Drunk. I like the sounds and Saddiq is a talented musician but I don’t really feel his tunes. It’s not working for me though I get he’s got skills and folks love him.
YTD recordings listened to: 454
Good music, not list worthy: 276
Not good music: 153
Best: 0
Honorable Mentions: 0
Possibles: Retox, Defeater, Jonwayne, Okkyung Lee, Slidhr, The Chewers, Susie Iberra/Roberto Rodriguez, The Coral, T.O.M.B., Lozen, Erase Errata, Mastery, Hartley C. White, Weed, Cold Water, Luther Dickinson, Graeme Barrett, Fast Asleep, Goldlink, Cavanaugh, 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, Noname, Klara Lewis, Krullur, The Lowest Form, Hard Proof, Yotoco, Jungle Fire, Sandoz, Oddisee, RAM, Fiver, Succumb Succumb, Gloom, Priests, Propaganda, This is the Kit, Roberto Gonzalez, Integrity, Tuba Skinny, The Expanders, Criolo, Billy Strings, Flowers of Sulphur, Portal, Lawaii, Etran De L’Air, Ruby Karinto, Elysia Crampton, Parquet Courts, Moskus, Kendl Winter, Tkay Maidza, Barro, Daniel Khan, Tallawit Timbouctou, Sumac, Tropical Fuck Storm, Harriet Tubman, Ammar 808, Anais Maviel, Chaka Khan, Pom Poko, Fried Egg, Horndal, Wyxz, Tarek Atoui, Hawktail, Saicobab, Shannon and the Clams, General Purv, Shipping News, Big Thief, Emma Louise, Andre Bratten, Nathan Corder/Tom Weeks, Oli XL, Buzzherd, Logistic Slaughter, The Muslims, Tobe Nwigwe, Saint Abdullah
Deep In the Music 