Album in the Crosshairs: Annabel (lee) — “Live Covers”; Further Out Recordings (2023)

Fiercely creative musicians like Sheila Ellis and Richard E — collectively known as Annabel (lee) — will always grab my attention. And the group’s ability to show the world another unfamiliar property of their musical superpowers with every release made me ask a near-rhetorical question a few months ago: “What’s next?” Live Covers, the duo’s […]

To Lil Yachty and It Starts Here

This piece is not an album review, but some dap for people who dare to surprise. I’m sharing these words with the assumption that you’re serious about sharing Let’s Start Here with the universe. Do it; if it feels good. And while feeling good, you may still think you’re not completely heard. That’s your cue […]

It’s the Day After Christmas — And You Still Need to Get Patsy Moore’s “Winter Wonderland” Song

I think you should get all of her Holiday releases … I just remembered that Patsy Moore releases annual Christmas music when she recently shared one in a social media update. I don’t feel great about that since I call myself a fan. Released about 11 years ago, “Winter Wonderland” (Volume I) is part of […]

Aural Dive: Dreamscape 2023; “No Words”

Do some vinyl digging to explore the early days of Chicago House. You’ll find many synth-forward tracks with Euro Disco on the edges. This is the flavor I picked up after today’s listen to Dreamscape — an artist active during the 90s — who is back with “No Words” from a forthcoming album. Given the number […]

Aural Dive: “Lebron Jordan” by Division X

“I keep ten steps away from whatever the radio is doing,” says Division X lyricist North. The group’s latest single release, “Lebron Jordan” from their War Drum Symphony album, delivers on that declaration. Hard beats, scratching(?), matching but clearly understood lyrics, and a dose of metaphors are hard to find in today’s commercial rap music […]

An Album or Two in My Head (0065)

SAOUL TWATEAU 2022 SELF-RELEASED To my American friends — consider how most of you were recently asked, multiple times, to choose between a woman’s womb and the price of bacon in Walmart, while others remain willing to convince themselves that a bulky football legend wearing a post-domestic-violence court suit and possible brain damage can be […]

Album in the Crosshairs: Saoul — Paint the World | 2021 | Self-Released

A lovely place to begin, if you’ve been waiting for 17 months to restart the party … Hey, don’t fret We’re gonna make you sweat Don’t forget The funk’s within you, the funk’s within you — “Splash”, performed by Saoul I call Paint the World the must-listen sequel to SuCcumb, Saoul’s previous album. Where SuCcumb […]

Playlists: DJ Jamal Dixon gives 2020 the middle finger and enjoys the productive year we all hope to see

And he won’t stop … DJ, producer and Nylon Recordings artist Jamal Dixon is having a busy year. “F**k 2020 and this pandemic” is his personal anthem, I guess. He just dropped a torrid club mix set for the Beats in Space (BIS) radio show, curated a very New York City playlist for the mad-trendy […]

Celebrate women and listen to ‘Misa Justa’ — a beautiful, 39-minute symphonic poem set to Jazz, Classical and liturgy

A Jazz mass, composed by Eduardo Gutierrez del Barrio; lyrics by Patsy Moore; vocal solos by Dianne Reeves; conducted by William Henry Curry; and performed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic. After several listens, I remain bewitched by “Misa Justa”, or “Just Mass” — a spiritual harmonic and poetical review of women and their parallel roles […]

The 1865 is realer than most of your fave Punk bands right now — and they’re performing live tomorrow at Lincoln Center

and The Don’t Tread on We! album remains ‘essential’ … Birthright Punk Rock is never apologetic, nor written for digital real estate. It speaks truth to discomfort. Yes, and to power. It’s the kind of music that can make you lose social media friends, if done right. Which means The 1865’s debut album, Don’t Tread […]