Tag: 2020s
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Suzanne Vega, Flying With Angels, 2025 on Cooking Vinyl
Vega’s tenth studio album and her first of new material since 2014. Bob Dylan gets cowriting credit on “Chambermaid” as a kind of alternate version of “I Want You.” “Speaker’s Corner” is a great song as well: I have a newfound sympathy For the madman in the square Who rants and raves his rhetoric Into…
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The Lone Bellow, Half Moon Light: Second Phase, 2021 on Dualtone
This EP followed 2020’s Half Moon Light with two alternate versions (“Good Times” and “Count Me In” plus four additional tracks recorded during those sessions. (Dualtone calls it “an addendum”). My copy—direct from Magnolia Record Club—is what I think is the only edition, on “Black and Bone Swirled Marble” vinyl.
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Bill Evans, Live at Ronnie Scott’s, 2020 on Resonance
Recorded back in July of 1968, this is Evans with Eddie Gomez and Jack DeJohnette at London’s landmark Ronnie Scott’s club. Resonance Records itself is part of the non-profit Rising Jazz Stars Foundation. The trio in this form had a month long residency in 1968 at the club. The recording here was made by DeJohnette…
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José González, Local Valley, 2021 on Imperial
José González’s fourth studio album, released in 2021 on Imperial/Mute (in the US). Recorded and produced in Studio Koltrast in Sweden. Cover art by Hannele Fernström. My copy—from the merch table at a José González gig in Beverly—is the green vinyl “Indie Exclusive” limited edition.
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Destroyer, Labyrinthitis, 2022 on Merge Records
Dan Behar and co’s 13th studio album with John Collins, Joshua Wells, David Carsell, Nicolas Bragg, Ted Bois, and JP Carter. Was number 30 on Pitchfork’s 50 Best of 2022. My copy is the Vinyl Me Please edition on gray vinyl with black spatter.
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Bob Dylan, Shadow Kingdom, 2023 on Columbia / Legacy
This is Dylan’s 40th (!!) studio album and is also technically a soundtrack to Alma Har’el’s film of the same name: Shadow Kingdom: The Early Songs of Bob Dylan Great album whether you are a Dylan die-hard and life long fan (as I am) or just discovering him. My copy—via Academy Records in NYC—is a…
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The Replacements, The Pleasure’s All Yours: Pleased to Meet Me Outtakes & Alternates, 2021 on Sire
Released as part of Record Store Day 2021, these are outtakes and alternate versions of songs from Pleased To Meet Me released on vinyl for the first time. Some (most?) of these tracks have been released elsewhere: the expanded CD edition of Pleased To Meet Me or the All for Nothing / Nothing for All…
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Lucinda Williams, Stories from a Rock N Roll Heart, 2023 on Highway 20 Records
Lucinda Williams just keeps putting out great music, including this 15th studio LP of original material (alongside the jukebox series of cover albums). She’s joined by Bruce Springsteen and Patty Scialfa on two tracks and Tommy Stinson, Angel Olsen and Margo Price on one each (among other guests). My copy—via Academy Records in NYC—is the…
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Amanda Shires, Take It Like a Man, 2022 on ATO Records
Eighth solo LP from Amanda Shires, recorded at RCA Studio B in Nashville. I’m cautious not to read any songwriter too literally or autobiographically, but it is hard not to (now) read this as foreshadowing her divorce from Jason Isbell, making it part of a group of records about the dissolution of their marriage. Guests…
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Neil Young, Crazy Horse, Barn, 2021 on Reprise
Young’s first post-covid album, recorded in an old (1870s?) barn in Colorado with Nils Lofgren, Billy Talbot, and Ralph Molina. I like the way it is credited and titled – just three nouns: Neil Young, Crazy Horse, Barn. I love Neil Young and really enjoyed new music from him with Crazy Horse, even if this…
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Keb’ Mo’, Good to Be . . . , 2022 on Rounder
Fifteenth studio album from Keb’ Mo’ whose career I’ve followed for a long time, since his self-titled debut (as Keb’ Mo’) in 1994. He’s joined by Darius Rucker, Old Crow Medicine Show, and Kristin Chenoweth (yes, that Kristin Chenoweth) on specific tracks. Nominated for a Grammy for best Americana album in 2023. I was super…
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Dr. John, Things Happen That Way, 2022 on Rounder
Dr. John’s final studio LP, posthumously released by Rounder after he passed in 2019. Guest appearances by Aaron Neville (“End of the Line”), Willie Nelson (“Gimme That Old Time Religion”), and Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real (“I Walk on Guilded Splinters”). Great covers here: Willie Nelson’s “Funny How Time Slips Away,” Hank Williams…
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Sarah Jarosz, Polaroid Lovers, 2024 on Rounder Records
Seventh studio album from Jarosz (who is also part of I’m With Her), produced by Daniel Tashian and recorded at Sound Emporium in Nashville TN. Tashian, Natalie Hemby, Ruston Kelly and others share co-writing credits on different tracks. My copy—direct from Rounder Records’ Store—is a Memphis Record Pressing issue on “purple translucent marble” vinyl.
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Indigo Girls, Look Long, 2020 on Rounder Records
15th album from Amy Ray and Emily Saliers, with guests including Lucy Wainwright Roche, Lucy Jules, and producer John Reynolds. Recorded at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios in Bath and Reynolds’ own New Aer Studios in Kilburn. Loved seeing the Lilith Fair documentary Building a Mystery and the role Indigo Girls seemed to play in…
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Black Pumas, Chronicles of a Diamond, 2023 on ATO
Sophomore album from Black Pumas – following up the giant success of their self-titled debut in 2019 with “Colors” which was a bit inescapable (and brilliant). Doesn’t get as much attention as the debut – the dreaded sophomore slump – but I think it is every bit as good an album. My copy, via Barnes…
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Sturgill Simpson, The Ballad of Dood & Juanita, 2021 on High Top Mountain Records
The seventh studio album from Sturgill Simpson with guest Willie Nelson on “Juanita.” A concept album set in Kentucky during the Civil War, this may be the last album under his own name. I just love Simpson’s approach to music and composition as well as the whole band here, which includes: Sierra Hull, Stuart Duncan,…
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Sir Douglas Quintet, Texas Tornado Live, 2023 on Liberation Hall
Recorded Sept 1971 at the Troubadour in LA, but released in 2023 as part of Record Store Day. The Sir Douglas Quintet, led by Doug Sahm, out of San Antonio TX via San Francisco CA. Great collection including probably their best known song “She’s About a Mover” and “Dynamite Woman.” My copy via a private…
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The James Hunter Six, Nick of Time, 2020 on Daptone
James Hunter puts out records under his own name and as leader of the James Hunter Six, as well as his first band Howlin’ Wilf and the Vee-Jays. Consistent with being on Daptone, it’s a roots/revival R&B Soul sound – his breakout People Gonna Talk came out in 2006 on Rounder. I got a chance…