What are you listening to Part the Third

[mikeymad]

Feast
PYJÆN
2021

https://album.link/i/1565983153

Example:

I liked this modern mix - At first I didn't get it, and what they were trying to be. But then I realized quickly that they were just playing many types of music. "Jazz influences across rock, electronica, Afrobeat, hip-hop and jazz fusion". And once I got that, I was along for a nice ride. There is a handful of vocal tracks as well. I like this sophomore outing and will be interested in how they evolve. 

[TMoney]

Vulture put out a ranking of all the U2 songs and I've been having a blast going through all these B-Sides I've never heard before.

https://www.vulture.com/article/all-218-u2-songs-ranked-from-worst-to-best.html

U2 isn't everyone's cup of tea but I love them. They are one of my favorite bands to see live or watch concert recordings from.

Edited November 4, 2022 by TMoney

[jose]

Black Label Society "grimmest hits" 

I admit I'm a big fan of the Zakk sound... I quite like that heavy Les Paul/EMG sound.

 

[HiWire]

Scritti Politti - Cupid & Psyche 85

 

Zapp

Edited November 5, 2022 by HiWire

[rod]

[mikeymad]

Abyss
Unleash The Archers
2020

https://album.link/i/1513417513

Example:

I have been sleeping on this 2020 (most recent release) from Unleash The Archers. I won't let it happen again. I missed two years without having Brittney Slayes sing to me, and being backed by one of the better technical bands out there. I will have to put this into rotation to be able to listen to their lyrics better. This is one of those albums that got caught in the pandemic with no tour to back it up and support it. God bless female metal singers. 

[Dusty Chalk]

4 hours ago, mikeymad said:

God bless female metal singers. 

I'm definitely coming around on them.  😁

I am totally enamored with the singing by Nemophila's lead singer.  Have you done a deep dive yet?  Part power metal with Van Halen harmonies; part harsh (witchy-poo, but very musical).

It's not prog, but sometimes I just want dumb old rock'n'roll that's catchy as shit.

[robm321]

Dusty, after you posted the Iron Maiden covers, I've been hooked.

I'm not sure what it is about Nemophila. I think maybe it's just that they always bring the fire and have fun doing it. The singer is just fantastic. My favorite is the drummer. Always smiling but when the music gets edgy or nasty, she gets a gritty look on her face. 

[robm321]

 

[mikeymad]

On 10/27/2022 at 10:13 AM, mikeymad said:

Another new artist to me - another strong voice.

five seconds flat
Lizzy McAlpine
2022

https://album.link/i/1604657567

Example:

I started to this listen to this a while ago, but it took me three days to get past the first song (above). It hooked me hard. Lyrics, voice, production (soundstage and close mic), and the use of silence was so well done. I had to switch from my daily listening on Bluetooth over to my AT L3000s to dig past the layers. And I was rewarded. 

Finally getting through the album and there is more of the same. I have not heard the use of pauses and silence so effectively since discovering Chris Thile and ‎Nickel Creek. There is something so captivating about bringing a song completely to a stop, makes me lean in and take notice as to what is next. So much more satisfyingly than throwing a wall of sound at me with all pots maxed. 

Needless to say this will go into heavy rotation for a while. 

And now a Tiny Desk. Happy Times

 

[Dusty Chalk]

On 11/7/2022 at 11:22 AM, robm321 said:

Dusty, after you posted the Iron Maiden covers, I've been hooked.

I'm not sure what it is about Nemophila. I think maybe it's just that they always bring the fire and have fun doing it. The singer is just fantastic. My favorite is the drummer. Always smiling but when the music gets edgy or nasty, she gets a gritty look on her face. 

And they're coming to America.  Two dates only, one on each coast.  Grrr...argh...

[robm321]

Sweet! I'm on one of the coasts. Looks like March '23

Edited November 9, 2022 by robm321

[mikeymad]

Boomtown
David & David
1986

https://album.link/i/1440640550

Example:

A little chunk of mid-80s goodness. One hit wonder? Well I am not sure it was a real hit, but Example is a good song. 

[mikeymad]

Blue Lines (2012 Mix/Master)
Massive Attack
1991 

https://album.link/i/715864097

Example:

Moving forward a few years. Now, I don't know if I ever listened to an entire Massive Attack album. I will be doing more of it from now on. It was way more diverse than I was expecting. I knew Unfinished Symphony and a few tracks from other albums. But I think my life would have been better if I would have known more about them in the 90s. I enjoyed this listen, partially because it sounded good, and also it challenged me from time to time. 

And then stupid HEOS started to play the Unleash the Archers album (above) again, without being prompted. But I am listening to Britteny sing to me while typing this and I am happy, so I cannot get too mad. 

 

[MoonShine]

Sweet memories. Reggie & Bernie @ the height of their power. The title track alone is worth the price of admission and has always been a track I use to test out new phones/buds. 

[blessingx]

Bill Frisell, Greg Tardy, Gerald Clayton, and Johnathan Blake, Four. "...a stunning 13-track meditation on loss, renewal and friendships” written mostly during lockdown. 

Ex. 

 

[mikeymad]

Recuerdos
Augustin Hadelich
2022

https://album.link/i/1636275777

Example:

A nice mix of Britten, Prokofiev and Pablo de Sarasate. Well recorded and performed. 

[mikeymad]

Mahler: Symphony No. 4 in G Major
Kathleen Battle, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Lorin Maazel
1990 [um... Nope it was 1984]

https://album.link/i/212232536

Example (w/Kathleen):

Just a very good recording and performance. Back when DDD was a big deal. I do have a preference towards the earlier Mahler.

[robm321]

Aretha Franklin - Aretha

I grew up with the usual, Respect, Natural Woman, Chain of Fools. Sadly, I associated her with tv commercials and the past her prime singer. I decided to check out her first album. I'm glad I did. 

[Dusty Chalk]

Smashing Pumpkins, Atum - Act I -- what in the actual fog is this?  Completely different songwriting style for B. Corgan & co.  Maybe his inner drama theater club member is showing itself?  Can't say as I mind -- I mean, Anna Kendrick had it.

[TMoney]

R.E.M. - Murmur

On a short list of the best debut albums in rock music, IMO. Still love this one after all these years.

[blessingx]

Weyes Blood, And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow

Ex:

[mikeymad]

^^ Sent me on a look for new music. I had not looked in a while because my queue is too full. But I found this new one:

Live At The Bon Soir
Barbra Streisand
2022

https://album.link/i/1644193183

Example:

One of several that I could have posted from this album. I really enjoyed this mostly raw performance of show tunes and standards. Hard to think of this as a 20 years old Barbara, belting out songs and giggling in-between while talking with the band.

[mikeymad]

Mirror Mirror
Eliane Elias, Chick Core, Chucho Valdés
2021

https://album.link/i/1611484601

Example:

One of Chick's last recordings, and I really like it. An elegant recording of the three of them with lovely melodies and interactions. I get the sense of them recording a set piece and playing with each other at the same time, with lots of exploration in the longer works.

 

[Dusty Chalk]

New Gaupa, Myriad

Relatively new Black Space Riders, We Have Been Here Before

Not new, but still this year, King Buffalo, Regenerator