An Album (Or Two) In My Head 0067

You’re looking at three albums this week, instead of two. The Leyla McCalla and Matthew Shipp albums were obvious choices for me, but Hannah Jadagu has kept me curious about what’s next for her … Breaking the Thermometer Leyla McCalla2022Anti Records I’m drawn to the deep-dish Americana Folk, enriched by three distinct ingredients that redefine the […]

Album in the Crosshairs: Saoul — Popsicle | 2023 | Phreakyamind Inc

Saoul’s Popsicle may be one of the most sobering groovalicious parties in your ear this summer — a satisfying album in the face of “cookie-cutter” celeb culture and politico worship that have packaged themselves to become a new phallic north star for unicultural market appeal. Had enough of unhealthy celeb admiration, and public debates about […]

Scene & Heard: Jenny Hates Techno

Some of you have been waiting for this: a modern Punk band that doesn’t sound like a 90s Pop doppelganger. Welcome to Jenny Hates Techno. I really appreciate the pairing of band members John M. Ellison on guitar and “Boo” Dixon on bass. They probably listened to the same bands you and I did growing […]

An Album (Or Two) In My Head 0066

Evenings at the Village Gate: John Coltrane With Eric DolphyJohn Coltrane2023Impulse Records Call this document the Book of Coltrane III, recorded in the summer of 1961, just predating his quintet’s now-iconic Live at the Village Vanguard releases. This means we are treated to the stellar nebula of Coltrane’s new genesis — a revelation, if you […]

Lizzo Blitz

Hmph. That lawsuit … The latest news about Lizzo ain’t surprised me — until I read the weight-shaming part. And then you could see the mushroom cloud over my skull. I was like — no lie — “Holy Deckard-in-the-director’s cut … ” And then I laughed at her Replicant azz. I became serious after that. […]

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 […]