★★★★★ = Classic, essential listening
What’s it sound like?
Modern pop / R&B. Has a soulful well traveled hip vibe to it that incorporates elements of 80s synth funk.
Thoughts
Why a 5? This album was there for me in the hottest loneliest summer. It inspires hope fear and honesty. I’ll love it til I die.
Dev hynes you rock, thanks for this one.
More Info
https://www.discogs.com/Blood-Orange-Freetown-Sound/release/9001208
Listen!
Youtube
Spotify
★★★☆☆ = Good!
Nathaniel Merriweather,Lovage,Mike Patton,Jennifer Charles – Music To Make Love To Your Old Lady By
What’s it sound like?
The songs feature Dan The Automator’s signature hip hop with vocals from Mike Patton and Jennifer Charles (elysian fields) singing satirical love songs.
Thoughts
A curiosity from Dan the automator more than anything. It’s always a treat hearing his production, and I’m a Mike Patton fan, so even if the result is uneven it was worth hearing.
More Info
https://www.discogs.com/Nathaniel-Merriweather-Presents-Lovage-Avec-Michael-Patton-Jennifer-Charles-Music-To-Make-Love-To-Yo/release/129229
Listen!
Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzzBvjFnMfE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQECbvT0Yb4
Spotify
★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening
What’s it sound like?
Precious trio that creates spacious but intimate indie rock
Thoughts
An incredible debut album for modern indie. Its very sparse but incredibly effective, somehow they’re able to sound both as expansive as a desert landscape and intimate as a dark cozy room.
A technically basic album, the dual vocals of Romy and Oliver are hard not to love. Jamie xx has proven himself to be a master of texture and there’s a certain atmosphere that’s captured well here. By letting single notes hang and drift or adding some bits of wobbly bass he creates a distinct and fresh sound.
This album stands the test of time and has left an impression on indie rock.
More Info
https://www.discogs.com/The-XX-XX/release/2546873
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Spotify
★★★☆☆ = Good!
What’s it sound like?
Multi-instrument female fronted alt-pop
Thoughts
An impressive debut with varied instrumentation creating layers of textures that draws from the best of female alt-pop. The core is a dual harmony with an almost sprite like quality, Tegan and Sara kinda. There’s a darkness here akin to Grimes earlier stuffand bjork’s ethereal quality.
The maturity of the songwriting is what I find most impressive as these songs build and morph in a measured way.
The album starts to wander in the second half but this is a must for fans of modern female alt-pop. The future looks exceedingly bright for this duo.
More Info
https://www.discogs.com/Lets-Eat-Grandma-I-Gemini/release/8678515
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Youtube
Spotify
★★★★★ = Classic, essential listening
What’s it sound like?
Singer songwriter with pop sensibility and a strong backing band
Thoughts
An all around masterpiece: compositionally, lyrically, sonically. I like the mastering as the sparse instrumentation is brought forward in the mix, creating a distinct texture as if you could reach out and feel each of the instruments.
Her lyrics are pure poetry, singing relatable vulnerabilities in a confident and experienced way. She’s Fiona as she’s always been: fierce, intense and bursting with feeling.
Not a bad track on here, this is ‘singer songwriter’ at a master level.
More Info
https://www.discogs.com/Fiona-Apple-The-Idler-Wheel-Is-Wiser-Than-The-Driver-Of-The-Screw-And-Whipping-Cords-Will-Serve-You-/release/3673207
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Spotify
⭐⭐⭐
A great record and one hell of a debut album. Tracey Thorn’s lyrics are wise beyond her years, singing all too relatable tales of heartbreak and troubled relationships. The bossa nova instrumentation is distinct, I can’t say I’ve heard much else like this 30+ years later.
More Info:
https://www.discogs.com/Everything-But-The-Girl-Eden/release/372059
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Spotify:
Youtube:
⭐⭐⭐
Super clean vaporwave inspired electro. Side one is good, side two drags.
More Info:
https://www.discogs.com/Greeen-Linez-Things-That-Fade/release/3786835
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Spotify:
Youtube: