What are you listening to? August 2025

[Zeeba Neighba]

Now:
Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp a Butterfly (2015)

Next:
Public Enemy - It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (1988)

Acclaimed #17 and #18 albums

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Public Enemy - Black Sky Over The Projects: Apartment 2025 (2025)

 

[Unsomnambulist]

The Warlocks - The Manic Excessive Sounds Of (2025)

The Manic Excessive Sounds Of, by The Warlocks

8 track album

thewarlocks.bandcamp.com

 

[Ojai Sam]

Bette McLaurin - The Masquerade Is Over (rec. 1951-59, Official comp. 1989)



Vinyl Spin of the Day.

 

[Ojai Sam]

Bruce Springsteen - The Rising (2002)

Another cool recent trade from Music Boomerang. I don't recall hearing this one before now even though it appeared more than 20 years ago. My copy of The Rising bears a sticker reminding me that it was Bruce's first studio album with The E Street Band since Born In The U.S.A. It's not quite at that level but a very fine record nevertheless, anthemic in a more subdued way. Wiki relates that:

Springsteen felt compelled to record The Rising when, in the aftermath of the attacks on September 11, 2001, a stranger in an adjacent vehicle rolled down his window and said: "we need you now".

on the Sam-O-Meter.

 

[axolotl]

Brad Mehldau Trio ~ Day is Done (2005)



Beautificent. Per axometer,

 

[Ojai Sam]

The Axometer never lies.

Everything But The Girl - Acoustic (1992)

Another flisten courtesy of MusicBoomerang. The Spin "Alternative Record Guide" really liked this album and so do I. Sounds a lot like Simon & Garfunkel would have if they had been a guy and a gal. Their music may seem understated on first impression, but the quiet power of their surprising Elvis Costello and Bruce Springsteen covers won me over.

Out of curiosity, I also checked Christgau, expecting a snide review. To my surprise, he confessed to major error in overlooking the considerable vocal talents of Tracey Thorn and put EBTG in his "For Further Study" section.

on the Sam-O-Meter.

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Now:
Arcade Fire - Funeral (2004)

Next:
Patti Smith - Horses (1975)

Acclaimed Music's #24 and #25 - love them both!

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Now:
Miles Davis - Kind of Blue (1959)

Next:
Prince - Sign Of the Times (1987)

Acclaimed Music #29 and #30

 

[Ojai Sam]

Blondie - Autoamerican (1980)

Vinyl Spin of the Day.

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Jimi Hendrix - Electric Ladyland (1968)

Acclaimed #31

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Hum - You'd Prefer An Astronaut (1995)

 

[axolotl]

Hum - You'd Prefer An Astronaut (1995)

I remember Hum. I should listen to this again.

RYM comment in part:

Although god DAMN I WISH i mean SHEESH yeah I like it. Thumbs up. Weird. Good. Strange. Hot. Cooool. Important and timeless.

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Helms Alee - Night Terror (2008)

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Radiohead - Kid A (2000)

Acclaimed #35

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Hexvessel - When We Are Death (2016)

 

[axolotl]

Sunshone Still ~ Two Crossed Stars (2023)

Two Crossed Stars, by Sunshone Still

10 track album

sunshonestill.bandcamp.com

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Osees - Abomination Revealed At Last (2025)

 

[axolotl]

Tigran Hamasyan ~ For Gyumri (2016) [EP]

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Stevie Wonder - Songs in the Key of Life (1976)

Acclaimed Music #45