What Are You Listening To? June 2018

[lpfreak1170]

I like it but the vocals are kind of awkward in spots.

Thanks. I'll give it a spin soon.

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Fuck Buttons - Slow Focus (2013)

 

[JazzyRandy]

Michael Brecker - Michael Brecker (1987)

 

[JazzyRandy]

Greg Osby - Inner Circle (2002)

 

[JazzyRandy]

Antonio Hart - It's All Good (1996)

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Vic Chesnutt - Ghetto Bells (2005)

 

[lpfreak1170]

Matthew Sweet - Tomorrow's Daughter (2018)

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Here Lies Man - You Will Know Nothing (2018)



Terraasymmetry writes:

Engulfed in the well lit landscape of a healthy neo-psych and heavy psych revival in stoner music culture of late, Here Lies Man offer a phytocannabinoid friendly connection between irreverent rock styles introduced by the United Kingdom and Nigeria in the early 1970’s. This Los Angeles, California based project was conceived with a simple goal of combining the raw, bluesy existential lament of Black Sabbath with the electric tribal funk of afrobeat. Afrobeat began in the late 60’s in Nigeria thanks to Fela Kuli who steered a combination of funk, jazz, and the traditional rhythms of the southwestern people of Nigeria and Benin, the Yoruba. Even if you don’t aspire to dig into afrobeat know that it began as musical fusion of celebration and inspired for decades after as music of protest. For over thirty years Kuli was the undisputed king of the genre until his death; Around that time (1997) the Antibalas collective formed in Brooklyn, New York and have been seen as the premier act by many since. Here Lies Man is a brilliant shard from members/ex-members of that collective.

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Fuzz - II (2015)

 

[Unsomnambulist]

The Space Merchants - Kiss The Dirt (2018)



Can I like a group if the music is good, despite the appallingly bad name? I'm about to find out.

Edit: the music is pretty good (and well produced), so the name doesn't bother me as much.

 

[axolotl]

Well, can you?

********asteriskline********** <-- {we don't need to do this any longer - correct?}

Strength in Numbers ~ The Telluride Sessions (1989)

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Harry Nilsson - Nilsson Greatest Hits

 

[JazzyRandy]

Kadhja Bonet - Childqueen (2018)

7.7 / 10
Arranged, performed, produced, and mixed by Bonet alone, Childqueen is a labor of willful independence. “Joy” takes full advantage of this autonomy, spinning chunks of frenzied violin, peppy flute, and guitar plucks into a yawning expanse. Even as she sings of lost joy, Bonet’s voice feels unyoked, floating in and out of the foreground. “...,” another near-instrumental, uses flute trills and stabs of bright synths to build to a blissful flicker. “La-lala-la-la,” Bonet sings absentmindedly. Shrouded in her own sounds, she luxuriates in quiet contentment.

I listened to this twice in the past two days, but I can't tell how much I like it. The music is good enough, not great, but good enough. However, the voice doesn't always make its way to the forefront. I can't tell if the voice was placed far back in the mix, or if Bonet purposefully sung this way. The result makes it hard for me to follow and form an opinion on the voice/lyrics.

 

[JazzyRandy]

Sade - Love Deluxe (1992)

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

The Turtles - The Turtles Present the Battle of the Bands (1968)

 

[JazzyRandy]

Ted Nash - Sidewalk Meeting (2001)

Unusual grouping, with Nash on (clarinet, tenor sax, or bass clarinet) a trumbone/tuba player, an accordion, a violin, and drums. I hadn't listened to this in a long time, but it's a catchy album. It features some originals and some covers of songs by Monk, Debussy, and Ellington. Gypsy Klezmer Jazz, at its most goodness.

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Well, can you?

Afirmativo.

 

[Old Uncle Toe]

The Harder They Come (Soundtrack - various artists) - (1972)

This week have been listening to a number of albums from 1973 (a pretty damn good year IMO), and turned to this one today after seeing it listed as one of the important albums of 1973. Forgot until I posted that it was actually released 1972 - undaunted I'm listening anyway. Clearly it was on the list because it gained steam in '73. Plus it's a comp anyway of songs from even way back in 1967. Plus, I just wanna listen to it

Addendum: man, I just love "Many Rivers to Cross" by Jimmy Cliff - so tremendous and he belts it out. Haven't seen Jimmy on the Acclaimed Music list yet but he's gotta have some numbers to come

I love that album. Many Rivers is a treat indeed. I have a personal affection for Rivers of Babylon too.

 

[Old Uncle Toe]

I've been on a Rory Block binge. This is one that really clicked for me.

Rory Block - Avalon - A Tribute to Mississippi John Hurt

 

[Old Uncle Toe]

But just tonight, I've been on a Tedeschi Trucks Band binge. So...



and this gem of an EP