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Toro y Moi, Mahal, 2022 on Dead Oceans
Via Secretly Society, a red and white marble smoke edition of Toro y Moi’s first release on Dead Oceans. The Mattson 2 get co-billing on “Millenium.” Mahal is a Tagalog word meaning “expensive.”
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Justin Townes Earle, The Saint of Lost Causes, 2019 on New West.
Three sided LP (fourth side is an etching) of Justin Townes Earle’s last LP, released before his death in August 2020. Adam Bednarik co-produced with Earle and plays bass, with Joe V. McMahan and Paul Niehaus on guitars, Jon Radford on drums, and Cory Younts on harmonica & keys. You know more folks that’s most…
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Adele, 19, 2008 on XL Recordings / Columbia
Her massive debut album, originally released in 2008. My copy is a later reissue but I’m not sure what year it was issued. Included the hit “Chasing Pavements” as well as a cover of Bob Dylan’s “Make You Feel My Love” that many think is her own. Hard to believe how fully formed she came…
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Boston Calling 2023 Day Three: Sorry Mom, Genesis Owusu, Ali McGuirk, The Walkmen
For day three I chose to stay over at the Blue and Orange stages, where things were a bit less crowded – though I know the Blue stage was busy early with folks getting spots for King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard. I started off on the Orange Stage with Sorry Mom, a New York…
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Boston Calling 2023 Day Two: Mt. Joy, Alanis Morissette, The Lumineers
Started day two with Philadelphia’s Mt. Joy, whose album Rearrange Us I really enjoyed back in 2020. They put on a great show, incorporating some fun detours, including a shift into Grateful Dead mode: As well as Bill Withers mode: That also morphed into the Gorillaz’ Clint Eastwood (“I ain’t happy, I’m feeling glad /…
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Boston Calling 2023 Day One: Celisse, Chelsea Cutler, Dropkick Murphys, The National, Foo Fighters
Had a fantastic day for my 53rd birthday and the first day of Boston Calling 2023. Thanks to a recommendation from a cousin, I made it in early enough to start the day with Celisse. I’ll definitely be on the lookout for her debut album forthcoming. She was fantastic, and closed her set with one…
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Huey Lewis and the News, Sports, 1983 on Chrysalis
Pretty hard to ignore this LP if you were listening to the radio (or more accurately watching MTV which showed videos then) in the early 80s. I think at the time I rejected it as too pop, but I’ve come to appreciate it now. Heart of Rock & Roll, I Want a New Drug, even…
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Roberta Flack, Quiet Fire, 1971 on Atlantic
Flack’s third album, with “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” as the hit single, but also including covers of Bridge Over Troubled Water and To Love Somebody (among others). Produced by Joel Dorn. My copy is the Vinyl Me, Please reissue from 2021, with listening notes by H. Zahra Caldwell, newly cut laquers by Ryan…
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Nat Adderley, Autobiography, 1965 on Atlantic
Original 60s pressing in mono via Island Music in Vineyard Haven. This is Adderley doing all his own compositions, with support from Sam Jones, Bruno Carr, Grady Tate, Willie Bobo, Joe Zawinul (who also arranged and conducted), Ernie Royal, Don Butterfield, Benny Power, Victor Pantoja. Julian “Cannonball” Adderley wrote the sleeve notes, including: My reference…
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M. Ward, Think of Spring, 2020 on Anti-
One of my favorite recent buys. M. Ward redoes Billie Holiday’s 1958 Lady in Satin. I loved his cover of Bowie’s Let’s Dance, and these standards take well to his vocal style, perhaps especially “I’m a Fool to Want You” and “You Don’t Know What Love is.” These are all more of less voice and…
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Caroline Rose, Loner, 2018 on New West
Rose’s third full length and first on New West. On red vinyl, packaged with a fold-out poster with lyrics on the reverse. Produced by Rose and Paul Butler with guests including Dan Davine, Brett Lanier, and John Lagone. Great songwriting – Rose builds on her earlier folksy Americana here with more synth-pop elements (lots of…
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Sia, Some People Have Real Problems, 2008 on Monkey Puzzle Records
Sia’s fourth album as a solo artist, and her first on Monkey Puzzle Records. This is right around when I first heard Sia – a version of “I Go To Sleep” ( a Ray Davies song) was on the Sounds Eclectic: Covers Project release (related to the KCRW radio sho Morning Becomes Eclectic). This copy…
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Stephane Grappelli / David Grisman, Live, 1981 on Warner Brothers.
Great combo of two talented musicians: Grappelli on Violin and Grisman on Mandolin. Recorded at the Berkelee Center for the Performing Arts in Boston. Misty, Sweet Georgia Brown, and Satin Doll. My copy found at Vinyl Destination in Lowell MA
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Freddie King, My Feeling for the Blues, 1970 on Cotillion
One of the “three kings” of the blues, this is King’s second album after signing with Atlantic (Cotillion is a subsidiary) before moving to Shelter records (Leon Russell’s label). My copy is a 2021 pressing from Vinyl Me, Please, with listening notes by Andrew Winistorfer and new lacquers cut from the original types by Ryan…
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The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Are You Experienced? 1967 on Reprise
Released in the UK on Track Record but in the US on Reprise. My copy is the 2018 reissue by Music On Vinyl (who do a great job with reissues). All analog mastering from the original mono tapes. This is a must-have, with Purple Haze, Hey Joe, The Wind Cries Mary, and Manic Depression.
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Son of the Velvet Rat, Solitary Company, 2021 on Fluff & Gravy.
11th album from Georg Altziebler and Heike Binder – their third on Portland label Fluff & Gravy. My copy via VNYL curation. I was concerned at first, not knowing the band and just reacting to the name, but I really came to appreciate the record.
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Steve Earle, I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive, 2011 on New West
Earle’s 14 album, produced by T-Bone Burnett, and featuring folks like Dennis Crouch, Sara Watkins, Allison Moorer (to whom he was married a the time). Backing vocals on “This City” from Tim Robbins and horns arranged by Allen Toussaint. Album art, as on so many Earle albums, by Tony Fitzpatrick
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Living Colour, Time’s Up, 1990 on Epic
The sophomore album from Vernon Reid, Corey Glover, Muzz Skllings, and Will Calhoun, following up 1988’s Vivid with its smash hit Cult of Personality. This is really just as strong a record, though it didn’t get as much hype: Love Rears Its Ugly Head, Solace of You, and Elvis is Dead (coming just after Public…