Archives

Favorite edition 2023 Year Half

[Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - Weathervanes]

Half way through the year, and I have to admit the favorite list isn’t looking too solid for the last six slots. I definitely like albums by SYML, Kelala, Eluvium and Jason Isbell. I like the first album by Everything But the Girl in 24 years, but it’s not my favorite of theirs. The remaining slots are up for grabs, although Kesha’s album has enough rawness to hold onto its spot.

Here’s how 2023 is shaping up so far:

  • SYML, The Day My Father Died: Brian Fennell has a gorgeous voice, and this album feels singular to that voice.
  • Kelela, Raven: This album needs a few listens before it burrows deep.
  • Eluvium, (whirring Marvels in) Consensus Reality: Probably the most epic album in the Eluvium discography.
  • Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Weathervanes: This could be Isbell’s best album since Southeastern. It’s raw.
  • Everything But the Girl, Fuse: Welcome back, Ben and Tracey.
  • Kesha, Gag Order: Drag them, girl.
  • Sufjan Stevens / Timo Andres / Conor Hanick, Reflections: I saw a number of reviews complaining about the fact this album is essentially modern classical music. Which, of course, is a selling point for me.
  • Danish String Quartet, Prism V: I wish the Danish had chosen a more modern Webern work in the way they had with Schnittke and Shostakovich, but it’s an impeccable pairing with Beethoven and Bach nonetheless.
  • Queens of the Stone Age, In Times New Roman…: This album actually reminds me a lot of … Like Clockwork, with which I also recently caught up.

Catalog

  • Thomas Frank, “Burn the Sails”: Thomas Frank is a productivity YouTuber, but this first foray into singing is really impressive.
  • Sudan Archives, Natural Brown Prom Queen: I overlooked this album in 2022.
  • Queens of the Stone Age, … Like Clockwork: I remember this album getting good reviews around the time it came out.
  • Luscious Jackson, Electric Honey: I reviewed this album back in 1999 but let it go for cash. I’m glad it’s back in the collection
  • Nena, ? (Fragezeichen): A number of tracks on this album served as a foundation for the multilingual album 99 Luftballons.
  • System of a Down, Toxicity: This band is pretty operatic, no?
  • Daryl Hall and John Oates, Private Eyes: There are way too many hits on this album for it not to be enjoyable.
  • Rosanne Cash, King’s Record Shop: This album holds up pretty well.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Purchase log, 2022-11-29

[Royal Wood - What Tomorrow Brings]

I catalog my music purchases on Collectorz and Discogs, but they don’t give me a sense of change over time. So I’m noting them here weekly as well.

New releases

CD
  • Royal Wood, What Tomorrow Brings
Vinyl
  • Duran Duran, FUTURE PAST (The Complete Edition)
  • Old 97s, One Last Ride: Old 97s Plays Johnny Cash

Catalog

CD
  • Boyz II Men, Cooleyhighharmony
  • Boyz II Men, II
  • Pearl Jam, Vs.
  • Pearl Jam, Yield
  • Robyn, Robyn Is Here
  • Skinny Puppy, Mind: The Perpetual Intercourse
  • System of a Down, Mezmerize
  • The Creatures, Boomerang
  • Tom Waits, Swordfishtrombones

Reissues

Vinyl
  • Duran Duran, Hammersmith Live ’82
  • Marshall Crenshaw, Marshall Crenshaw (40th Anniversary Edition)
  • Rick Springfield, “Jesse’s Girl” (40th Anniversary Edition)
  • The Dead Milkmen, Metaphysical Graffiti

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Purchase log, 2022-02-01

[Ray Chen - The Golden Age]

I catalog my music purchases on Collectorz and Discogs, but they don’t give me a sense of change over time. So I’m noting them here weekly as well.

Catalog

CD
  • Carol Nethen, A View from the Bridge
  • Caroline Shaw and So Percussion, Let the Soil Play Its Simple Part
  • Daft Punk, Human After All
  • Frederic Chopin, Etudes (Maurizo Pollini)
  • Lianne La Havas, Lianne La Havas
  • Pizzicato Five, Five By Five
  • Ray Chen, The Golden Age
  • Seawind, Seawind
  • Sarah Kirkland Snider, Mass for the Endangered
  • Stevie Wonder, Music of My Mind
  • System of a Down, Hypnotize
  • The Smiths, The Peel Sessions
  • The White Stripes, Icky Thump
  • Tristan Perich, Drift Multiply
  • Vagabon, Vagabon
  • Yola, Walk Through Fire
  • Soundtrack, Top Gun

Reissues

Vinyl
  • Enya, “May It Be”
  • PJ Harvey, Let England Shake

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,