Topic: The Music Thread

It’s near the end of the year so I’ve been trying to work out my favourite albums of the year. It’s been a hard one actually because I didn’t really enjoy a lot of the ‘best’ albums this year! I can’t really separate my top 3 so I’ll probably just list them and then the other two in the top 5.

The North Water (Original Score) - Tim Hecker
Sometimes I Might Be Introvert - Little Simz
Promises - Floating Points and Pharoah Sanders

4. To See the Next Part of the Dream - Parannoul
5. Mercurial World - Magdalena Bay

At least it was a decent year for individual songs, but again probably worse than the last few years for me!

1. Like I Used To - Sharon Van Etten and Angel Olsen
2. You Lose! - Magdalena Bay
3. Well Rested - Kero Kero Bonito
4. A Bottle of Rum - Xiu Xiu and Liz Harris
5. Hazard Duty Pay! - JPEGMAFIA

@nessisonett The Floating Points album sounded like it should have been a slam dunk for me to love but I just find it so monotonous and feel the London Symphony Orchestra as just way under-utilised.

It didn’t help that the vinyl record was delayed by like 6 months and then didn’t even come with a download code anyway so I had to buy it digitally again too..

The death of download codes with vinyl records was a very weird thing to suddenly happen this year too as I think that was the case with about two thirds of my record purchases.

@TheBrandedSwordsman so I did finally sit down to listen but could only listen to the first one, Birds of Fire. The other is blocked in my country for some reason. Anyways, Birds of Fire is amazing. I truly enjoyed it. I’m quite struck by the sheer variety on display. Guitars, drums, keys, even strings, all over the spectrum of style and genre. There are too many brilliant little parts to call out, suffice it to say it was a rather enjoyable 40 minute cacophony of musical bliss. Thanks!

@Jimmer-jammer Good, I'm glad you enjoyed it, shame to hear that The Hot Spot was blocked in your country but you might be able to find different videos for that album that are not, on Youtube. Birds of Fire, is, as you say an amazing album, John McLaughlin, the guitarist also worked on a shred-fest of an album called Love, Devotion, Surrender with Carlos Santana so that might be worth your time as well.

@Th3solution I noted that Alfa Mist wasn't your usual style. Is this more up your alley then? Let me know what you think.

@nessisonett What do you reckon of John Coltrane's 'First Meditations' Sorry if I've asked you before.

@TheBrandedSwordsman Listened to it tonight and I’d say it’s a mid-tier Trane album. Not my favourite, not my least favourite. Parts sound just a little flat in my opinion. Consequences is fantastic though, it really feels like the quartet is letting go! Even still, I think I just prefer the original Meditations. That recording has a little more urgency.

Elsewhere, I’ve been listening to all sorts of random stuff. My dissertation revolves around a musical password system I’m developing for senior citizens therefore I’m having to throw myself into 50s - 70s music in order to find the most earwormy nostalgic stuff for that age group. Has to be pretty varied too in order to include as many demographics as possible. I’ve at least got a newfound appreciation for early rocksteady and reggae though!

In terms of less forced listening, a pretty eclectic bunch. Here’s a couple of tracks that stood out though!

@Kidfried Yep, I watched the Small Axe movies when they aired and they were all great but Lovers’ Rock was probably my favourite too!

@Kidfried I think so yeah. They’re all quite different but are a certain level of quality. The one with John Boyega was really fantastic.

I still can’t believe The KLF were real. And were a big deal.

@nessisonett And don't forget their side project The Time Lords!

I really only the legend of the band rather than their music such as how they made their exit from the business and their infamous performance to open The Brits in 1992 (with a slight reworking of their track...)

@Jimmer-jammer Here is a classic of jazz fusion for you now, in it's entirety, let me know what you think when you have 1 hr 45 to dedicate to it, or you can listen in multiple sessions, it's a double album!

@TheBrandedSwordsman awesome, thanks! I will do that. I just listened to Birds of Fire again a couple of days ago. I really like that album. I don’t know if I’ve ever recommended them or not, but have you heard of The Tragically Hip? They are absolute legends here in Canada so I never think to recommend them but it occurred to me that perhaps they’re not as well known in other parts. Gord is truly an incredible lyricist. Hard to pick a favourite but here’s one, from their excellent release, ‘Fully Completely’.

Fontaines D.C. have a promisingly brilliant single out now. They’ve always been alright but not quite there yet but yeah, the darker sound they’ve gone for is very very promising. It’s like a mix of The Cure, Doolittle era Pixies and then that whole wave of post-punk-revival-revival going round at the minute.

@Jimmer-jammer I liked it, but I'm not really listening to rock n' roll these days, if you have any jazz to recommend I'll always keep an ear open for it. You may enjoy Iggy Pop's show on 6Music - you can find it online as well, think I've recommended it to you before, as he plays a lot of rock, but yeah, still interesting music, so thanks for the recommendation. Do you ever find yourself exploring jazz on your own or is it mainly my recommendations that turn you on to it? just asking out of curiosity.

@TheBrandedSwordsman mainly your recommendations to be honest. Haven’t stepped outside my comfort zone much as of late as I haven’t been listening to a whole lot of music. Been on a big podcast binge for a few months.