Tag Archives: 2007

The Crusaders – Gold

by ·

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

Sounds like?

jazzy funk rock

Moods

Don't usually like best of's but this is a fantastic 2-disc set

Thoughts

hard to go wrong with the crusaders and this is a great collection. Lots of funk and jazz flavors but they feel very much a rock band especially on disc 2, I'm guessing the band changed directions. I tend to prefer looser styles but it's hard to deny this band.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/The-Crusaders-Gold/release/5971189

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The Crusaders – Gold

Description: Album Review of The Crusaders – Gold


Rating: 4 out of 5

 

Stars – In Our Bedroom After The War

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

dramatic art pop

Moods

A theatrical guilty pleasure

Thoughts

Musically it varies from synth pop to theatrical show songs, piano ballad on 'Barricade' is a standout example. The dual harmonies of Torquil and Amy are beautiful and delivered with a poetic sincerity. Lyrical scenes are painted vividly with an erudite literary astuteness.

These earlier Stars albums strike a guilty pleasure chord for me. I'm not typically into lyrics like these – grandiose, overly romantic, so straightforward – but something here works well. When I'm in the mood for that type of thing nothing satisfies like Stars does.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Stars-In-Our-Bedroom-After-The-War/release/3986030

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzSUIxYQI2E

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-K05oBku10

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5qx_ZMY7tU

Spotify


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Stars – In Our Bedroom After The War

Description: Album Review of Stars – In Our Bedroom After The War


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Magik Markers – Boss

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

Desert spooky kind of spoken word folk with tense instrumentation

Moods

Enlightenment

Thoughts

Enjoyable, reminds me of Sonic youth a bit. The aggressiveness and slight angularity is something I probably would've liked when I was younger but not something I'm as attracted to now, definitely reaching for chiller songs overall.

I like her spoken word lyrics. She's got a kind of all knowing confidence that works really well, it's hard to imagine these songs succeeding without her.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Magik-Markers-Boss/release/8170173

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwmUKg5Sp3Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUu60J19xpU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lA2cV-s8W84

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrYS9FW73EA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmYEZJ9r8VI

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Magik Markers – Boss

Description: Album Review of Magik Markers – Boss


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Oliver Nelson – The Blues And The Abstract Truth

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

Post-bop

Moods

Cooking with oli

Thoughts

Damn fine post-bop from damn fine players.

Album opener 'Stolen Moments' is a fantastic track, Yearnin is another good one. Bill Evans is on this but his solos feel a little subdued. However the brass features some fine playing from both Hubbard and Dolphy. The whole thing jives together nicely, recommended for post-bop fans.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Oliver-Nelson-The-Blues-And-The-Abstract-Truth/release/1567084

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44DfWE0gatQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlkkQiZ-gV4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2jqUl27ogY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tNZ6AG0xWc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8yiZvdXJlk

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Oliver Nelson – The Blues And The Abstract Truth

Description: Album Review of Oliver Nelson – The Blues And The Abstract Truth


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Kalabrese – Rumpelzirkus

by ·

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

Sounds like?

Personal fun and funky electro (I guess discogs calls this left field electro?)

Moods

An electro record with feeling.

Thoughts

Reminds me of a slightly off kilter Lumio who shares the carefree fun quality of Koze. That description might sound cliche (and there's for sure a certain cliche cheesiness on these tracks) but there's a love and curiosity of life that's very alive in this music.

These tracks run long allowing you to get into the groove. I appreciate the songwriting, tracks are layered and evolve with a natural ebb and flow.

He’s become my goto artist for Friday late night working sessions in the lab.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Kalabrese-Rumpelzirkus/release/977370

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Kalabrese – Rumpelzirkus

Description: Album Review of Kalabrese – Rumpelzirkus


Rating: 4 out of 5

 

Pole – Steingarten

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?
Dub influenced German minimal with angular noise

Moods
Womping to the beat

Thoughts

First few tracks have this cartoonish womp to them that took away from the sleekness I typically want out of minimal house. On a closer listen it’s really an incorporation of dub, almost like dub meets German minimal. Tracks are layered with lots of subtleties although on the surface things may seem straightforward. Something about this album stuck with me before I revisited it a second time.

Later tracks improve, Dusseldorf is a keeper and I like the distortion and noise that’s present on most of the record but really utilized effectively on the final tracks.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Pole-Steingarten/release/2807191

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Pole – Steingarten

Description: Album Review of Pole – Steingarten


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Chloé – The Waiting Room

by ·

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?
Dark diy electro with rock instrumentation

Moods
Can’t remember

Thoughts
A pretty OK uneven record. I like the longer rock numbers like it’s Sunday and brashov. Other tracks felt drawn out and not very strong.

I’ll credit her with creating a distinct character here. Feels raw and soulful; elements often missing from electro.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Chlo%C3%A9-The-Waiting-Room/release/1077374

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Chloé – The Waiting Room

Description: Album Review of Chloé – The Waiting Room


Rating: 2 out of 5

 

Bill Callahan – Woke On A Whaleheart

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

What’s it sound like?
Folksy rock. Chilled out, just being bill.

Thoughts
This is the 2nd album I’ve heard of his and I’m thoroughly impressed. The music strikes a great balance between classic freewheeling folk rock and modern indie. He’s got a great voice, deep and sure, and is sharing heartfelt but interpretive and relatable lyrics.

Not a bad song on it, very accessible.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Bill-Callahan-Woke-On-A-Whaleheart/release/975091

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Bill Callahan – Woke On A Whaleheart

Description: Album Review of Bill Callahan – Woke On A Whaleheart


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Fridge – The Sun

by ·

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I approached this album as if it were a Four Tet side project but he’s not the focus here. Instead it’s a highly accessible album of superbly written, tight post-rock. The drums are way up in the mix and I like that aspect of rhythm here. Jeffers is a good drummer, nothing revolutionary but he’s got a playful approach and switches up the lines constantly. It’s relatively bare bones otherwise which is surprising considering four tets knack for layering.

An enjoyable listen for fans of post rock or an excellent starting place for those unfamiliar with the genre.

More Info:

https://www.discogs.com/Fridge-The-Sun/release/1007916

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Quasimode – Oneself-LIKENESS

by ·

⭐⭐⭐

Relentless percussion and piano give this album a steady forward momentum, reminds me of samba. This is a jazz album though structurally it feels like pop. Solos don’t off much or showcase the character of the players, seems the emphasis is on precision rather than exploration.

Track highlights include Skeleton coast and feeling green which feature hip hop like drumming.

More Info:

https://www.discogs.com/Quasimode-Oneself-LIKENESS/release/4158791

Listen!

Spotify:

Youtube:

#VALUE!