I’ve been all over the place with what I’ve been listening to the past couple of months. I think some of this has come about because of year end lists such as the kind that Bandcamp releases, as well as being on the hunt for new music. Below you’ll find a selection of what I’ve been listening to going back to the end of November.
Wilco / Loose Fur
Jeff Tweedy has been a part of a number of bands that I’ve enjoyed over the years. I found myself going through a few of the early Wilco albums (specifically Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and Summerteeth), which then inspired me to track jump through some of Loose Fur.
Nothing hooks me like Wilco’s earlier releases. There is such a creative quality to the period of time that encaspulated the release of Summerteeth and Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. There was so much great music that they created. These albums feel unified around a theme, or some unspoken story, that the earlier albums, while coming close, seemed to lack. The word play, the unique use of musical instruments and musical genre’s, the tone…it’s all there for me.
TV on the Radio
I revisited the whole TV On the Radio discography, especially my favorite, “Return to Cookie Mountain“. Erin introduced me to TOTR back in 2015 while we were traipsing around the Oregon coast. I was immediately inspired and drawn into their music. There is so much energy and feeling packed into their songs, it often gives me musical goosebumps to this day – even after having heard these songs countless times. Sadly they haven’t released an album in some time – I hope they do again.
Particular favorite below: Province. This song moves me every time I hear it. Only recently did I learn that Bowie provided some backing vocals to the track.
The lyrics are beautiful – pure poetry:
Suddenly, all your history’s ablaze
Try to breathe, as the world disintegrates
Just like autumn leaves, we’re in for change
Holding tenderly to what remains
And all your memories, are as precious as gold
And all the honey, and the fire which you’ve stole
Have you running through all your red-cheeked days
Shaking loose these souls, from their sacred hiding space
Hold your heart courageously
As we walk into this dark place
Stand steadfast erect and see
That love is the province of the brave
Pushed under this expanse of bursting stars
Let this burning brightly illuminate the where we are
In this hollow that lovers’ voices occupy
Let it follow that we let it free, let it fly
Breaking open the walls of this cage
Intoxicated, Oh so amazed
Much like falcons tumbling from the heights at play
Conjoined, talons engaged
Hold these hearts courageously
As we walk into this dark place
Stand steadfast beside me and see
That love is the province of the brave
Tears for Fears
A bit of a nostalgia trip and a bit of an education: I noticed that Tears for Fears was promoting a new single. After checking it out I ventured back to their classic album “Songs from the Big Chair“. I realized that while I knew some of this album and its successor I wasn’t aware of much else they had created. So I dug through their discography and was surprised by the variety of music they have made over the years. I was particularly surprised to find how political some of it was, as well as how infused with “world music” flavors. One new and one flashback below:
Andrew Bird
I’m sure there will be a proper Andrew Bird post at some point as the man’s music has a huge place in my heart. But this is just a short note about one album, and that’s his Christmas album.
Personally I hate Christmas music. It’s revolting.
That being said I do have a place in my heart for Vince Guaraldi’s “A Charlie Brown Christmas“. Previously, this was about the only thing I could listen to, on occasion, during the holiday’s. Well, now I have room for Andrew Birds, “Hark“. Yes, it’s a Christmas album, but it has the right mood and take, and is not filled with the usual Christmas standards and other holiday dreck. It’s actually a good album and something I listened to a few times during the holidays.
Rosali
New artist for me. Came across Rosali on Bandcamp and found myself listening to her album “No Medium” a number of times. This is fairly mellow music (rock/country/folk), with a bit of a Amee Mann flavor. I have no idea about the rest of the discography but found this album a nice, casual listen.
Arooj Aftab
According to Bandcamp, Arooj Aftab is a Pakistani composer based in Brooklyn. Her album “Vulture Prince” had been promoted a number of times on Bandcamp since its release. Enough times that I took notice. I listened to this album earlier in the year and then forgot about it in all the bustle and shuffle of daily life, but came back to it when it popped up on Bandcamps albums of the year recommendations. These are delicate, somewhat melancholy and meditative tracks. I found them calming, especially toward the end of a stressful workday.
Author and Punisher
How this musician has been around since at least 2005 and I never once heard of him or came across his music is beyond me. I’ve been through the discography numerous times in the past two months, lost in the industrial, droning whip and thrash of this music. Good, dark, end of the world tunes.
King Woman
Stumbled upon King Woman and have been listening to "Celestial Blues again and again over the past two months. Finally picked it up a few days ago. I like the drama of this album, and the way it ebbs and flows, with songs starting out slow and contemplative, and then building to screaming crescendos. There is a nice fuzz and drone to it as well.
Author: Jason Jacobs
Jason Jacobs is an artist, project manager, and frontend web designer living and working in Boise, Idaho. Beyond work he spends his time with family, as well as reading, writing articles for Uhmm, and working on his art. All words and opinions, etc., are his and do not reflect the positions or beliefs of anyone other than himself.