|
Post by Kapitan on Jun 26, 2020 12:26:47 GMT
jk in particular may be interested to know there is a new Zappa release today: The Mothers 1970, a 4-disc, 70-track (all unreleased) album of material from that short-lived version of the band including FZ, Aynsley Dunbar on drums, Jeff Simmons on bass, Ian Underwood on keyboards, woodwinds and guitar, George Duke on keyboards, and Flo & Eddie on vocals.
A dozen of the songs are from the studio, including a mix of "Sharleena" done by the young engineer assisting them at Trident Studios in London, Roy Thomas Baker.
|
|
|
Post by Kapitan on Jun 26, 2020 15:47:54 GMT
A few other good albums were released today. One is from one of my favorite bands (whose singles I've linked before), Haim. (Sorry, can't do the all-caps stylizing. I just can't.) Here is the opening track from Women in Music Pt III, "Los Angeles." Not usually a fan of pop-ska (or ska in general), but this one is pleasant.
(Also I'm a little dense, but I hadn't noticed before: the cover is actually pretty funny. All-female rock band surrounded by sausages.)
|
|
|
Post by B.E. on Jun 27, 2020 20:58:10 GMT
Speaking of women in music, I came across this cover of "It Ain't Me Babe" by the MonaLisa Twins today. The video was released yesterday to promote their new album (info in the YouTube description and at the end of the video). Anyway, I enjoyed it enough this morning to listen to it again just now. Thought some of you might enjoy it. The performance is very strong and little touches like the "hard" ending are fun. As for the song, I've always been a huge fan. Phrases like "your own chosen speed" and lines like "someone who will die for you an' more" . I love this side of Dylan (and I know there's plenty more of it!). All things considered, it's a somewhat gentle put-down song for Bob, mostly due to his delivery, particularly in the verses, but also lyrically (e.g. "go lightly", etc). The MonaLisa Twin's version is less somber, more joyful/fun. Give it a go.
|
|
|
Post by Kapitan on Jun 27, 2020 21:16:00 GMT
Thanks, B.E., I loved that! I've never heard of the MonaLisa Twins before, but I'm a huge fan of harmony throughout songs like that (as opposed to just in spots, or in background "ooohs" and such ... not that I don't love those, too). Their voices are really nice, they blend well, and it's a great song, of course.
The only thing I'd have changed--and I'm sure they REALLY want my advice!--is to have them play different parts on guitar, even just using different voicings for the same chords, just to give it a little more depth rather than basically playing the same thing throughout. But that's a nitpick I actually feel like a jerk for mentioning, considering I think it's a great performance. I'm going to check out more from them.
|
|
|
Post by Kapitan on Jun 30, 2020 14:25:36 GMT
Sufjan Stevens announced a new album due to be released in September, The Ascension. His career has run the gamut from folk-based indie darling to eclectic, highly orchestrated bigger indie darling, to annoying semi-prog "tired of song format" artiste, to New Age soundscaper.
What will this one be? Well, the lead single set to be released on Friday, "America," is reportedly 12 minutes long. So, uh, that's ... something.
|
|
|
Post by Kapitan on Jul 9, 2020 13:30:50 GMT
Another pre-album single from the Lemon Twigs, "Live In Favor of Tomorrow." Like "The One" from a few months ago, it's almost like something out of a power pop musical. Melody, jangling guitars, cool changes. And nice little agile bass parts (like around :25-:30 for an example).
|
|
|
Post by Kapitan on Jul 16, 2020 23:04:34 GMT
My Morning Jacket isn't a band I've necessarily liked much aside from the odd track here or there. But I am enjoying their new album, The Waterfall II.
This song, "Climbing the Ladder," for some reason reminds me of late Beatles, like a slicker version of something that could have been on Let It Be (especially in terms of the guitar part that serves as intro).
And this one, "Still Thinkin," reminds me of a cross between a McCartney tune and something Brian Wilson might have done circa '67, the kind of refrain (begins 1:12) I could imagine him going on with for an hour or two.
Don't get me wrong, the songs REMIND me of those artists, but I'm not saying this is a Beatles or Beach Boys level album. I'm just saying I've enjoyed it, and some songs remind me in spots of those artists.
|
|
bellbottoms
Pacific Coast Highway
Posts: 727
Likes: 201
|
Post by bellbottoms on Jul 17, 2020 18:44:31 GMT
So Donnie Vie has contributed a song to the new Enuff Z'nuff album, and I rather like it.
|
|
|
Post by Kapitan on Jul 24, 2020 12:24:56 GMT
While I don't think she's anyone's favorite around here (myself included), I thought the new release from Taylor Swift was an interesting happening.
She announced a new surprise album, folklore, Thursday and it dropped this morning. It immediately caught my attention when the announcement said she had worked with the Dessner brothers from The National and Justin Vernon of Bon Iver: these are indie folk-tinged-rockers (with orchestrations and electronics), not the pop stars she has been working with since her big switch from country to pop. To me, not just that she would work with some new people but make a point of it in the (relatively brief) surprise announcement was notable.
Why?
Swift has done three or four full-on pop albums now, having begun in country (or country pop): Red was nearly full pop, and then came 1989, Reputation, and last year's Lover. The thing is, the past couple weren't very good. Swift is a pretty good songwriter and musician by pop-star standards, but seemed to have done the past couple albums based on market research, focus groups, streaming data. I wrote at the time that Lover looked and sounded more like commercials than songs. I wasn't alone either: the music press that used to fawn over her had similar things to say. It was frustrating seeing a young, talented country-pop songwriter trying to show she was an au courant New York hip-hop-influenced pop scenester. It wasn't a great imitation, partly because it was so obviously an imitation.
I haven't listened to the new album in full, but I have sampled a few songs. It is a far more organic presentation. It's still precious--I don't think Swift can ever get away from that--but it doesn't seem quite so studied. And better, it is a return to real songs, to melodies, that go beyond a jingle's simplicity.
It's good to see Swift continue to evolve, and especially in this direction. And to cut her some slack, she was hugely successful through the "pure pop" period I just criticized ... not to mention barely an adult, obviously eager to flex her muscles, spread her wings, or whatever cliche you prefer. I actually think she has a great album in her, and am hopeful that as an adult, she'll get it out into the world.
Edit: corrected my previous misspelling of the Dessners' surname.
|
|
|
Post by kds on Jul 24, 2020 12:29:11 GMT
I think right now is the perfect time for the Taylor Swift album.
Since they say lack of taste is a possible symptom of COVID, streaming and sales numbers would provide a good gauge for an infection rate.
(I was kind of hoping to use that joke on a new Imagine Dragons or 21 Pilots album).
|
|
|
Post by Kapitan on Jul 28, 2020 12:54:12 GMT
Hey, there has been announced a contender for the "Worst Album I Can Imagine" Award!
Lana Del Rey has announced she will be releasing "an audiobook of poems" titled Violets bent backwards over grass. Yes, a spoken-word album. (It will also feature music by producer Jack Antonoff.) The most overrated, pretentious hack in modern music history goes all-in with poetry? Kill me.
Sweet lord, somehow this story got worse: while this was released today in audiobook format, according to a Pitchfork story, it's only the first of two poetry albums she's releasing this year. Yes, you can still line up to buy behind the iron gates - insights from an institution.
I'd rather listen to Metal Machine Music on loop into one ear and Justin Bieber's greatest hits on loop into the other.
|
|
|
Post by Kapitan on Aug 11, 2020 13:44:58 GMT
I've been enjoying this new pre-album single release from Dawes's upcoming album. Pretty acoustic-and-voice song.
|
|
|
Post by B.E. on Aug 14, 2020 5:15:39 GMT
It didn't do much else for me, but I really liked the lines in bold. Especially the first set.
That’s when my girlfriend told me “There’s a baby on the way And I need to know you’re gonna go to bat.” Well, I never put off ’til tomorrow the things I shoulda done today No, I’ve always waited way longer than that
Life became a series of birthdays, cars, and pets Just anything to look forward to I don’t talk about mistakes. I don’t talk about regrets At this point, I’m not sure what good it would do
|
|
|
Post by Kapitan on Aug 14, 2020 19:41:29 GMT
Forgive me if this is common knowledge across other boards, but I didn't realize it until today.
Sylvie Simmons, a music journalist who used to be a regular poster over at the blueboard, has apparently become a musician. What's more, her new album is among the featured new releases at allmusic.com!
I think that's pretty cool. I don't know if she is still posting anywhere or if (as I said) everyone else knows this. But I didn't. Good for her.
|
|
|
Post by kds on Aug 17, 2020 19:41:22 GMT
|
|