Music for 6/22/17!!! Queens of the Stone Age, TOPS, Garden City Disco

@@@ TOPS: Sugar at the Gate (Arbutus, 2017)  Indie pop that TOPS the charts at CFUv out in Vancouver.  It opens up cute and somewhat sultry with a female singer and a melancholic/romantic cloud in the air.  Imagine it’s a sunny day with them big ass fluffy clouds in the sky and you’re running naked through a beautiful field and you’re smeared with honey and all these beautiful butterflies are getting stuck to you more and more until there are so many they just flap their wings all together and you’re flying!!  It’s like that.  Sweeter than pie!

@@@ Queens of the Stone Age: The Way You Used to Do (Matador, 2017)  A pre-release classic rock banger off the Apple Music hot tracks section.  Somebody has been listening and somewhat biting old ZZ Top records.  Guitar sounds are this outfit’s specialty but I find the tracks in the verse to be quite buzzy and without impact.  I’m a little surprised at that.  The singer is in full rock star mode and he does all right with it.

@@@ Garden City Disco: Garden City Disco EP (Self-released, 2017)  This record (that I got to via the CFUV weekly playlist email) should be called Garden City Techno because it comes out of the gate classic boom-titch/unt-sss.  Then comes you arpeggiated synths and a mellow marimba and your kickin’ out the techno jams classic style!  The second tune is much more flavorful with some serious drum machine tom action and a spoken word thing about ballin’ at the club.  The third tune is back to the classics, wave your Molly up in the air people!

YTD recordings listened to: 389
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 218
Not good music: 153

Buys: 6
Honorable Mentions: 4

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, Power Trip, Reverend Payton, J.I.D., Oddisee, Forro in the Dark, RAM, Fiver, Dona Onete, Succumb Succumb, Gloom, Dead Ranch

Music for 6/17/16!!! Joe Gifted, The Drums, Com Truise

@@@ Joe Gifted: Water (Warner Bros, 2017)  Satan could be from Atlanta and he would get a record deal.  That’s how hot that city is right now for hip hop.  This is a single and Mr. Gifted has some nice skitter in the beats and mad bounce in the bass but he also sports a mainstream sound and a kinda friendly flow.  Kinda friendly as he’s definitely for young kids with that potty mouth and he aspires to a lot of stuff and a lot of women.  Beats and bass win here.

@@@ Com Truise: Iteration (Ghostly, 2017)  I follow Ghostly on the Twatter but I didn’t see this new release.  I would call this electronic arena rock as the main voices are synths but the big drums and the overall feel is one of epicness.  Let’s see what some of the other tracks hold for us.  The second tune Ephemeron is not as epic, it’s an inflated early hip hop kind of sound with a fatty fat (but not hip hop) bass and a lot of delayed synth sound ping pong-ing around.  I don’t love the beats or the synths — I guess folks is mad ’80s retro and eat this corn up big time but it’s not for me.

YTD recordings listened to: 373
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 211
Not good music: 145

Buys: 5
Honorable Mentions: 4

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, 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, Krullur, The Lowest Form, Hard Proof, James Brandon Lewis, Yotoco, Jungle Fire, Sandoz, Power Trip, Reverend Payton, J.I.D., Oddisee, Forro in the Dark, RAM, Fiver, Dona Onete, Succumb Succumb, Gloom

Music for 6/8/17!!! Arcade Fire, Pumarosa, Joseph of Mercury, The War on Drugs

@@@ Arcade Fire: Everything Now (Sony, 2017)  I’ve always felt Arcade Fire is a huge band for nerds and geeks and they’re overrated to boot.  This single is an updated Roxy music romantic, 80s soft rock sound for today’s avocado toast eating bitches.  This one comes complete with a string arrangement and a flute ditty halfway through.  It’s definitely about pretty isolation and as I haven’t lived in the suburbs for a long ass time this doesn’t apply to me.  It’s not an awful tune but I continue with my overrated view.

@@@ Pumarosa: The Witch (Universal Music, 2017)  I’m on an indie playlist on the Apple Music and the question Imma asking myself is how these indie folks got so far up their own asses.  You would think this playlist is the musical equivalent of Moses bringing down the tablets from heaven.  This one opens up with the long piano chords and a dramatical female singer and a drone.  Ah, here’s the full band with an electric guitar and an art rock mope.  I’d like some PJ Harvey freakout — at least she has the decency to get her undies in a bunch.  They’re starting to build some sonic pressure now but I fear it’s too late for me.  You can see from below that the singer is a bit of a hottie so that explains some of the appeal here.

@@@ Joseph of Mercury: Find You Inside (Hear the Art, 2017)  Continuing our indie playlist which should be called ‘When did white folks turn into such soft ass pusses?’  Mr. Joseph is a bit mopey and a bit loverboy and he’s got a medium to soft funk arrangement serving as a basket for his big juicy feelings.  I’m sure he’s an awesome person; it’s just that I want to hit him in the back of head with a shovel.  Not a killing blow mind you.  I’m opposed to this level of feelings sharing.  He’s gonna find you inside?  He’s getting a bit too syrupy for my taste as the song unwinds.  Now this is just my opinion and I’m a mentally troubled person — we all know this as soon as you click open me blog. ‘Life is like a golden curtain, you just keep me waiting’.  Something to think about that’s for sure.

@@@ The War on Drugs: Holding On (Atlantic, 2017)  Imma gonna extend my listening as this is what is called good times.  I’ve heard of the War on Drugs — not the business created by Uncle Sam but the band.  We have in front of us a nice friendly indie bouncer with a slightly ragged vocalist.  A little Dylan vibe to the singing.  The question here is whether in the time of the Trump people want a bouncer or if they want some empathetic sour shit?  Myself, the latter, I want my reality straight.  Somebody get this drummer a drum fill!  This tune reminds me of some old Tom Petty straight rock but with a little bit of synth action the kids today love so much.  I’m bothered most by the tinkly percussion which irrationally irks me.  It’s too cute.

YTD recordings listened to: 350
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 199
Not good music: 136

Buys: 5
Honorable Mentions: 2

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, 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, Jungle Fire, Sandoz, Power Trip, Reverend Payton, J.I.D., Oddisee, Forro in the Dark, RAM, Oumou Sangare, Fiver, Dona Onete, Succumb Succumb

Music for 6/7/17!!! Nick Hakim, Bad Breeding, Yo Gotti

@@@ Nick Hakim: Green Twins (ATO, 2017).  Some faded Beach Boys indie off this week’s CFUV playlist email.  After a mellow intro he brings in some medium funky beats with a tad of space organ and the continued sedate vocal trip.  The second tune brings in a pair of super reverbed guitars pulling some single line melodies.  Hakim is working an earnest r&b vibe.  Hakim’s strength is his arranging skills and singing but I fear he gets a bit lost in his sounds and there could be more mess and more soul.

@@@ Bad Breeding: Divide (Iron Lung, 2017)  Some sizzly and skanky hardcore whip frenzy off this week’s CFUV playlist email.  It sounds like somebody running down the street spinning diapers full of shit that sprays passers by.  Atypical guitar playing and fart ass bass sound — I really appreciate this mess, it’s not halfway.  These guys got it going on punk rawk style yo.

@@@ Yo Gotti & Mike Will I Make It: Gotti Made it (Gotti Made it, 2017)  Some gangsta flavored rap off the Apple Music hip hop.  This first tune is a boasta — he’s got a hand in a lot of shit.  It sounds like he might be in the drug dealing business and it appears he has owned firearms for a while now.  The beats and bass are wicked if you’re up for some drug dealing glamorization lyrics and some gunshot samples.  Oh, and a generous helping of anti-women sauce.  Just sayin.

YTD recordings listened to: 346
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 198
Not good music: 133

Buys: 5
Honorable Mentions: 2

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, 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, Jungle Fire, Sandoz, Power Trip, Reverend Payton, J.I.D., Oddisee, Forro in the Dark, RAM, Oumou Sangare, Fiver, Dona Onete, Succumb Succumb

Music for 5/18/17!!! Radiation Flowers, Girlpool, Hayride Casualties

@@@ Radiation Flowers: Radiation Flowers (Sundown Sound, 2017) Some Paint it Black era Rolling Stones style rock that I got to off the CFUV weekly playlist email.  With a  smooth female singer on the mic they also swirl a little Bangles vibe into the Proceedings.  Part jam band, part trippy sound circus let’s peep more.  I’ve checked out pieces of the first four songs and the first tune is the best and the others are more standard indie rock with other sub-genre flourishes.  A little trippy, a little fuzzy which was an e.e. cummings poem.

@@@ Girlpool: Power Plant (Anti-, 2017)  I’ve hesitated to check out this record as my inbox has been repeatedly violated by their publicist and I don’t really appreciate it.  This first tune has a California pop/indie feel to it — Byrds’ guitar sound, indie vocal stylings.  If you don’t dig the vocals this album is not going to work for you.  They’re sort of dreamy if not a tad flat and the indie rock arrangements are pretty standard.  Sections of quiet then sections of crunchy guitars (another e.e. cummings poem!)  This is retro indie trip I don’t personally need to take but if you want some it’s here for you.  I say have a red bull and gimme some energy.

@@@ Hayride Casualties: The Catskills Ain’t for Sale (Self-released, 2017)  A hippie rock protest single I got to via a music publicist email.  It’s not full hippie rock which I appreciate — it has some quirk to it.  The singer is good, the lyrics are interesting and the arrangement is much more engaging that your usual protest rock music.  I appreciate that.

http://hayridecasualties.bandcamp.com/track/the-catskills-aint-for-sale

YTD recordings listened to: 305
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 178
Not good music: 119

Buys: 5
Honorable Mentions: 2

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, 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, Jungle Fire, Sandoz, Power Trip, Reverend Payton, J.I.D., Oddisee, Forro in the Dark, RAM

Music for 5/13/17!!! R5, The National, Bryson Tiller

@@@ R5: New Addictions EP (Hollywood, 2017)  A shiny, white trash updated disco EP out of the Apple new music section.  The music is mad bouncy and the lyrics were written by a third grader.  Jesus, I feel stupid just for clicking play.  This second tune, Red Velvet, is most likely an ode to pussy lips.  Man, when I hear shit like this I miss Prince even harder.

@@@ The National: The System Sleeps in Total Darkness (4AD, 2017)  A single off an upcoming full length that I got to via the Apple Music best of the week.  The main problem here is the singer — he’s just, how do I say, a wee bit with his head in his rump?  That’s what I’m hearing, this is no David Bowie Heroes tune.  Whenever the word God appears in a mainstream rock tune, it’s usually gonna be not fun and not very meaningful.  Not that God isn’t fun, I hear Jesus loves a good time.

@@@ Bryson Tiller: Something Tells Me (RCA, 2017)  Also a single off an upcoming full length hip hop record.  It’s a nice thick arrangement, modern with tasteful synth sounds — no cloud bullshit but nicely processed sounds and beats.  His lyrics are pretty standard and he’s got an intentionally slack sound.  He’s Drake-y for sure.  Personally I wish Drake would find another hobby besides watered down dancehall horny, lil pecker hip hop.  I mention that here because this music is so clearly in response to the Drake juggernaut.

YTD recordings listened to: 294
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 172
Not good music: 115

Buys: 5
Honorable Mentions: 2

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, 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, Jungle Fire, Sandoz, Power Trip, Reverend Payton, J.I.D., Oddisee, Forro in the Dark

Music for 5/12/17!!! Miley Cyrus, Elf Power

@@@ Miley Cyrus: Malibu (RCA/Sony, 2017)  Miley Cyrus, who has been glued to a stripper pole and a broccoli cigarette has reinvented herself back into a mature, adult alternative pop star.  You know what?  Miley needs some money for gas for her Lamborghini!  This song is boring boring boring.  She’s standing on the beach in Malibu holding hands with some doofus and Jesus what a waste.  She wants to swim away with the fish — go ahead Miley, I won’t miss you!  The sky is blue in Malibu, next to you in Malibu.  God, kill me or kill her and I want to live.  I couldn’t finish the tune, it’s awful.

@@@ Elf Power: Twitching in time (Orange Time, 2017)  Some downer indie off this week’s All Music notable release email.  The second tune is a piano track with the same singer — wow, this dude is a downer.  I’m not against downers, wait that was the third tune, and this second tune is nerd rocking.  It’s still somewhat staid but that’s the flow here.  Lovers of funk should not linger long here.  The fourth tune is a kinda country tune with medium quirk so I would expect the rest of the record to jump around within various rock/indie subgenres.

YTD recordings listened to: 291
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 171
Not good music: 113

Buys: 5
Honorable Mentions: 2

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, 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, Jungle Fire, Sandoz, Power Trip, Reverend Payton, J.I.D., Oddisee, Forro in the Dark