Tag: 2020s
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Shame, Food for Worms, 2023 on Dead Oceans
My membership in Secretly Society actually introduced me to shame, a post-punk band from the UK (who style their name in lower case). This was their third LP for Dead Oceans, recorded at Assault and Battery studios in London, and produced by Flood. My copy in red/blue split vinyl via Secretly Society where it was…
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Sylvan Esso, No Rules Sandy, 2022 on Loma Vista / Psychic Hotline
My copy is the VMP limited, numbered edition on orange vinyl, pressed at Memphis Record Pressing. There’s a partially opaque slipcover through which you can see the tracklist with “No Rules Sandy” on the slipcover fitting into the ( ) on the printed cover. Amelia Meath and Nicholas Sanborn perform as Sylvan Esso, out of…
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Bonny Light Horseman, Rolling Golden Holy, 2022 on 37d03d
The sophomore album from Anaïs Mitchell, Eric D. Johnson, and Josh Kaufman, joined here by Mike Lewis, and JT Bates. (Does this make BLH technically a supergroup, given all those three do outside this trio?) My copy via Secretly Society – this was the December 2022 release
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Echo and the Bunnymen, B-Sides and Live (2001-2005), 2022 on Demon Records
Released digitally in 2007 by Cooking Vinyl, but reissued on vinyl by Demon Records for Record Store Day 2022, on clear vinyl. A number of songs from Live at Reading Festival 2005, a remix of “Rescue,” and some acoustic versions. Great pressing and package. My copy via the discount rack at Newbury Comics in the…
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Taj Mahal & Ry Cooder , Get On Board: The Songs of Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, 2022 on Nonesuch
How could you possibly go wrong with Taj Mahal and Ry Cooder together? Joachim Cooder joins on drums and bass. Produced by Ry Cooder; recorded, mixed and mastered by Martin Pradler. Gets its name (and inspiration) from Smithsonian Folkways FA2028: “Get On Board: Negro Folksongs By The Folkmasters” – which you can still get as…
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Sharon Van Etten, We’ve Been Going About This All Wrong, 2022 on Jagjaguwar
Van Etten’s sixth full length and fourth on Jagjaguwar, this was one of my favorite albums of 2022. Van Etten produced along with Daniel Knowles, with musicians Devin Hoff (bass), Jorge Baibi (drums), and Charley Damski (keys) joining on most tracks (along with a few others). My copy via Newbury Comics in the Natick Mall
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Various Artists, Bills & Aches & Blues, 2021 on 4AD
Compilation 4AD issued in celebration of their 40th anniversary. It’s a bit hit-and-miss, as such collections often are – for some reason the two Breeder’s tracks (Tune-Yards take on “Cannonball” and Big Thief’s take on “Off You”) stand out to me as does Tkay Maidza’s take on The Pixies’ “Where is My Mind?.” My copy…
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Cat Power, Covers, 2022 on Domino
Chan Marshall’s third album of covers. Like the previous two, it includes a re-recording of one of her own – the song “Hate” covered here as “Unhate.” Favorites for me include The Replacements’ “Here Comes a Regular,” Nico’s “These Days.” and Kitty Wells’ “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels.” My copy is the…
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Golden Gate Groove: The Sound of Philadelphia Live in San Francisco 1973, 2021 on Philadelphia International Records
There’s a complicated set of dates here – recorded in 1973 and released originally in 2012 on CD by Philadelphia International Records and Legacy (Sony’s label for reissues), but then released for the first time on vinyl for Record Store Day 2021. The performers are MFSB, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, The Three Degrees,…
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Lucinda Williams, Southern Soul: From Memphis to Muscle Shoals & More, 2021 on Highway 20
This is volume 2 in Lu’s Jukebox In Studio Concert Series – six episodes recorded at Ponte Vedra Concert Hall in Florida as a benefit to venues who could sell streaming tickets through their own sites via Mandolin. The second episode of “Lu’s Jukebox” will take place on Thursday, November 12, 2020 with “Southern Soul:…
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Sorcha Richardson, Hot Fuss, 2022 on Turntable Kitchen
Another full album cover from the folks at Turntable Kitchen. This one has Irish singer/songwriter Sorcha Richardson taking on The Killers’ 2004 Hot Fuss. It’s an unexpected approach but it really works – Mr. Brightside, All These Things That I’ve Done, Glamorous Indie Rock & Roll – all sound great in a new treatment. Alex…
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Ella Fitzgerald, Ella at the Hollywood Bowl: The Irving Berlin Songbook, 2022 on Verve
Recorded in August 1958, but not released until 2022, this concert followed the release of the Ella Fitzgerald Sings The Irving Berlin Songbook LP. The concert was conducted and arranged by Paul Weston, who had played the same role in the LP. There’s an animated video for Puttin’ on the Ritz, one of the songs…
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Magnolia Record Club Presents Spotify Singles Vol. 2, 2022
Second volume in the series – see Magnolia Record Club Presents Spotify Singles for the first volume. Manufactured and distributed by Dualtone, but labelled only as Magnolia Record Club. This one includes: It’s a great collection – mostly from the Spotify studios. Likely digitally recorded though they don’t say, but sounds great.
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Billy Strings, Renewal, 2021 on Rounder
I first heard of Billy Strings because he started showing up in YouTube recommended videos next to lots of other performers I follow – sometimes actually duetting with them, other times just at the same festivals or similar stages. Seems like the classic word-of-mouth artist, making it by spending his time on the festival circuit,…
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Dawes, Misadventures of Doomscroller, 2022 on Rounder
I’m a huge fan of Dawes going back to Nothing is Wrong in 2011 and look forward to everything they put out. (They’re also playing the Cabot Theater in December). There’s more long-form instrumental work here – two tracks clocking in at 9 minutes plus. Those longer, proggier songs may be to distract you from…
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Lilli Lewis, Americana, 2021 Self-Released
Feels oddly appropriate to post this one the week of Thanksgiving – Lilli Lewis’ Americana, which is as much an assertion as title – claiming the right to her music as Americana: When Lewis was featured in the Americana Music Association’s virtual “Black Equity in Americana: A Conversation” live-stream, she stated: “Black artists and black…
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American Aquarium, Lamentations, 2020 on New West
How could you not love a band that takes its name from “I am trying to break your heart”? BJ Barham’s writing here is based on the book of Lamentations in the Bible, transposed to modern American life. My copy is a limited edition colored vinyl (gold with silver & red marble) that New West…
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Los Lobos, Native Sons, 2021 on New West
This is a three sided LP, with an etching on the fourth side. Los Lobos, proud Angelenos, covering songs by other Los Angeles bands, including folks like Stephen Stills, Jackson Browne, and the Beach Boys, but also Lalo Guerrero, Thee Midnighters, and Percy Mayfield. The band sounds great as ever, and I love hearing their…