I’ve been digging into some new music this month. And by new music, I mean there’s also a bunch of stuff from a few years ago, and some of that is incredibly generous with the word “few”.
Here’s what I’ve been listening to.
Lonely Magic—Rebecca Sugar
Rebecca Sugar is the creator of Stephen Universe, and before that, a writer and storyboard artist for Adventure Time. They wrote a lot of the music on both shows, and now they’re doing albums unconnected with TV. And you know what? They’re great! I heard them on The Best Show and decided to check out their latest album, Lonely Magic. It is musically varied, and Rebecca’s voice has a lovely, intimate quality. Highly recommend if you like either shows music, or just lovely, solid songs.
Endless—Magic Sword
I really like Magic Sword. 80s dance synth that takes you on a journey? What’s not to like. I own most of their releases digitally, but Endless slipped past me for some reason. It’s fun!
Stiff Upper Lip—AC/DC
This is one of those in the “generous ‘few’” category. When I listen to AC/DC, it’s usually the Bon Scott era. I have a soft spot for this Brian Johnson album, though. I remember when it came out, in the year 2000, when I was more intentionally finding music for the first time. It’s got the elder Young’s producing again for the first time since the Bon Scott era, so it has a similar feel. Mean, swaggering guitar riffs. It’s been a good “move your ass” album to kick my pants in the morning.
Possession—Ty Segall
Ty Segall puts out an album a year at this point, but the quantity doesn’t soften the quality. If you like California psyche rock, he’s great. If you don’t like California psyche rock, he’s still great, but you won’t like him. So it goes. Either way, I’m in Possession of the album. God, I really didn’t like that joke. I am, however, keeping it in.
Saturn Return—Parlour Magic
I bought their previous album when I saw them live earlier this year, but had Saturn Return on my want list since then, for some reason. It’s a good album! Heartfelt psychedelic New York synth pop. It’ll spackle your house.
Rubber Band Man—The Spinners
This song that everyone knows? The lyrics are essnetially stream of conciousness. This further supports my theory that if you have great poetry in your lyrics, that’s great, but all you need is for them to sound good sonically. The voice is an instrument. Yeah yeah yeah, uhh, yeah.
KID A MNESIA—Radiohead
In celebration of KID A’s 25th anniversary, I bought the collected KID A, Amnesiac, and outtakes collection from a few years ago. I was too unhip to get it when it came out, either physically or intellectually, and it took a while to sink in, but wow, what an incredible album. Hot take, right? Anyway, that got me rolling, and I ended up listening to all the Radiohead albums. They are also great.
And now, some pointless two word descriptions of all the Radiohead albums.
- Pablo Honey: Blue Grunge
- The Bends: Warm Fuzz
- OK Computer: Wrenching Beep
- OKNOTOK: Curious Thunk
- KID A: Super Undertone
- Amnesiac: Calamitous Taste
- Kid Amnesiae:
- Hail to the Thief: Ragged Burn
- In Rainbows: Soothing Misery
- The King of Limbs: Spiraled Pinch
- A Moon Shaped Pool: Symphonic Stare
Jaimie Branch—Fly or Die Fly or Die Fly or Die (World War)
I heard about Jaimie Branch I think from an Aquarium Drunkard post (now paywalled), as well as her tragic death, about two years ago. I let her last album, Fly or Die Fly or Die Fly or Die (World War), sit on my Bandcamp want list for that whole time, until I finally got off my ass and bought it this week. Man, was I depriving myself. Killer jazz trumpet that goes. You know how jazz can be derivative to the point of boring, and having enough musical swerves to be sonically grating? This is the opposite: original, interesting, and moving. Go listen.
clipping.—Dead Sky Channel Plus
Another group I heard on The Best Show, and immediately bought their album. I opted for their latest, Dead Sky Channel Plus, which is an expanded version of Dead Sky Channel. They described themselves as picking up explosive experimentalism where The Bomb Squad left off. That really tracks. The flows are tight, political, and breakneck fast. The beats are noisy, urgent, propulsive. I couldn’t stop listening.