Album: Self Titled
Quick Thoughts: I first tripped up on Kae Tempest a few years back, and thought his approach to music felt more like slam poetry than truly rap music. Since then, he's gone through a transition and brings a new album that puts his experience front and center, often dabbling more in the drill direction than even regular rap. It's really a step up for the artist, and this became a fast favorite of the recent few weeks because of how honest and forthright it is. Make some time for this one.
Songs of Note: "I Stand on the Line," "Statue in the Square," "Breathe," "Diagnoses"
Album: Lovers Always Win
Quick Thoughts: I did not know the Sun Kings before this week, and their approach as a sort of calypso-ska hybrid (calypska?) really piqued my interest from the start. It straddles the line between familiar and unique, and it's rare - "Hall of Mirrors" is a fast favorite, and "B Sides and Rarities" is a gorgeous opener, but there's just so much to love here that I'm perhaps more excited to back to this than any other release this week.
Songs of Note: "B Sides and Rarities," "Hall of Mirrors," "7 Uncles," "Heat of the Night," "Hardman," "March of the Giant Weeds"
Album: Word on the Street
Quick Thoughts: Elle Bavara was also a new one for me this week, and it's another act that defies classification in all the best ways. It's got a prog-R&B feel to it in so many ways, and sits left-of-center enough to break through the noise, whether talking about cults or about food. It's a mandatory listen if only because it's unlike anything else this week, but I suspect you'll fall as hard for this as I did.
Songs of Note: "Carmelized Onions (You Bet!)," "Justice Complice," "BBQ All-Dressed," "Hitler, Satan & Associates LLP," "Operating Thetan: Unknown"
Album: GOODNIGHT HYPNOPOMP
Quick Thoughts: Yet another new listen, but I would put this more out there as if Penelope Scott was added as a member of 100 Gecs. It's chaotically addictive, with so many fun unexpected twists and turns that I was kind of left surprised by the whole thing. Especially given that it feels like the hyperpop moment has passed (or peaked with brat), this makes me believe there is life yet to be breathed into the genre. Give this a listen.
Songs of Note: "My Diorama," "Paper Dolls," "Fukouna Girl"
Album: Only Frozen Sky Anyway
Quick Thoughts: Finally, we have new music from a legend, and it feels as essential and pure as anything else he's put out. Richman, who is now in his mid-70s, blew my mind when I saw him play in Worcester 20-odd years ago, and that he's still making new music that sounds so great and fits into everything he's tried to do over the years? I don't know. It just works for me. If you have never listened to Richman before, don't start here - there are countless records and compilations you should catch up on first. But after you do that, you'll realize how well this fits in with all the rest.
Songs of Note: "I Was Just a Piece of Frozen Sky Anyway," "But We May Try Weird Stuff," "That Older Girl," "O Guitar"
Of note:
* JooLs - Violent Delights (Solid post-punk - don't miss "97%.")
* Blanco Teta - La debacle de las divas (Great Argentinian punk.)
* Hush - Minor Rebellion
* The Reds, Pinks and Purples - The Past is a Garden I Never Fed
* Rival Consoles - Landscape from Memory
* Rival Consoles - Mindseye
* Jesse Welles - Pilgrim
* Dropkick Murphys - For the People
* Black Balloons - Black Balloons
* Client_03 - Testbed Assembly
* Attawalpa - Experience
* Tucker Zimmernman - Music by River Words by Ear
* The Flashbulb - Papillon
* BIG SPECIAL - NATIONAL AVERAGE.
* Chad Crouch - Oak Island Rain Soundwalk
EPs:
* Text Chunk - Trance One / Testmode Entry * Faithless, Nathan Ball, and Amelia Fox - Champion Sound: Side 2 Phone Number * Amy Dabbs - Rhythms * Nilufer Yanya - Dancing Shoes * Q the Trumpet - When I Love * Tanner Adell - Don't Pet (Sampler) Live albums/Compilations/Reissues:
* Cerrone - Disco Symphony * Ben Folds - Ben Folds Live with The National Symphony Orchestra
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