Afghan Whigs – Gentlemen – Elektra, 1993.
🪨🫧 📝 ⚖️:
Slightly Grungy Rock from Cincinnati. “The name The Afghan Whigs was coined by Curley “as a play on the Black Republicans” – wiki. “Gentlemen” was the song for me that drew me to this album. It was filled with some nice swirling, grungy sounding guitars and lyrically was filled with odes to breaking up. Greg Dulli has some rather honest, masculine lyrics (as in the first verse of “Be Sweet”) which exposed some hypocrisy in my early 20’s sexual self. The lyrics felt unapologetic and open, but also revealing some perspectives of young people drinking and dating, and the confusions that pervaded those moments. His voice, the voices on the album generally, are often out of tune and straining to nail the melodies. On “Gentlemen” around 2 minutes in I actually like that off-ness, in other areas his voice wears on me. Ultimately the album is holding up well, and bringing back memories – particularly of my first apartment, living alone, in the Jamaica Way in Jamaica Plain.
Weird way to begin this project, probably haven’t listened to this in over 30 years.
Overall = 6.2 (10) I listened to this album end to end, frequently, when it was released and thus it captures a certain time and place for me. Nursing myself through break ups and trying to redefine who you were now, after. I appreciate Dulli’s honest lyrics, but his voice struggles through many of these songs and not in a “great, I love it!” scream-y Punk way. I picked “My Curse” sung by Marcy Mays from Scrawl because she really brings it! Get it!
Nathan Abshire & His Pine Grove Boys – French Blues – Arhoolie, 1972 (Rec.1949).
🇺🇸📣🦐🪗🎗️⌛️ 🪩⚖️:
I haven’t listened much to this album, I purchased it because I collect Classic Zydeco/Cajun Music and Arhoolie recordings generally. It is a reissue of some really early material, which is important historically, but the sound quality is challenging. It sounds really muddy, which kind of works with the style of music, but some of the instrumental parts are lost in the mix. “Pine Grove Boogie” is the track because of that opening Holler! And for being a part and the genre blend (mixing a Boogie with Cajun music) which was prevalent in early recordings. Those hollers are a feature of Cajun music, I think its primarily a call to the dance floor. This very much good time dance music. Added “Pine Grove Blues #2” to the playlist just for the Pedal Steel Guitar work (another instrument crush I have & an unidentified musician. Oooh mystery!!).
Overall = 7.9 (10) – Great, historical Cajun Music here. The sound quality will deter some folks, but if you are interested in this music I’d call it essential. Get it!
Mildred Anderson – No More in Life – Bluesville/Original Blues Classics, 1960.
🇺🇸📣🏙️ 🗣️🫀🎷🫂:
I was definitely drawn to the title & title song and then the Blues organ combo featuring Ellington great Al Sears solidified the attraction.
And this album sort of fits some old songs and styles into a fresh environment and ends up sounding sort of like Organ Combo Jump Blues. I’m here for it, well played and moody. Hot Tenor solos throughout! I hoped that “No More in Life” the song would be as cool as it’s title, but I’m more into the grooving, bouncy tunes. I chose “Everybody’s Got Someone But Me”
Overall = 5.7 (10) – Nice but nothing terribly exciting, or unexpected, here. At least a point just for some fine Al Sears solos! Get it!
Serge Blenner – La Dimension prochaine – Lifestyle, 1986.
🌌⚡️🔌 ⌘🇫🇷🇩🇪:
European Electronic Music from the 80’s. This album has surrealistic cover art, which drew me right to it and then I stayed for the electronics. It’s cool, the synth sounds occasionally remind me of Twin Peaks theme music. The compositions are a little too much in an 80’s Pop vein, perhaps the creativity is found more in the sound design. He uses lots of clickee type percussion sounds in a way that I enjoy. “Micro.reve” for the synth bass.
Overall = 5.5 (10) – Not something I go back to frequently, but cool and brings you back to a place in time (the future in the 80’s). Get it!
John Andrew Ross – Comin’ Up Shouting! Gospel Music and Spirituals – Revels, 1997.
🇺🇸📣🌳🗣️⛪️👜:
This was an Amazon purchase, again for the cover. I misfiled it under John Ross’ middle name (thus it appears early in the alphabetical for this project). My secondary purchasing impulse was the Boston factor, growing up in Boston, aside from having a friend whose Dad was a prominent religious figure, I was oblivious to any Black Sacred Music in the area. I do collect non-Pop Gospel (tho give me Anthony Hamilton all day!) music generally and this hit that interest as well. The collection of music is very enjoyable, though the recording isn’t the best. It is not very audible beyond the lead voice and full ensemble. Song choice is “Nobody’s Fault But Mine”
Overall = 5.9 (10) – If you are looking for Gospel Choir music that is relatively traditional I recommend. Get it!
Althea & Donna – Uptown Top Ranking – Virgin, 1978.
🇯🇲🌎🫧 :
I picked this up at Mostly Books for some credit swap and the pulls were the cover image and 70’s Reggae generally. I hadn’t heard of them before. The title song was a surprise hit and the ladies didn’t have much experience, or material, to build on that success. It’s a great band, with Sly Dunbar playing drums, and the vibe is fun, but Althea & Donna are more enthusiastic participants than commanding performers. “Uptown Top Ranking” is the jam.
Overall = 5.2 (10) – Fun record. Compared to other Reggae masterpieces in the 70’s it won’t get played much, but it’s a solid listen to throw on when the right mood hits.
Luther Allison – Bad News is Coming – Motown, 1972.
🏙️ 🔌🎸 🌳 ⚖️ 𖫪🏋🏽:
A recent acquisition, totally based on the intensity of the cover art. I was uninterested in Luther Allison because I thought I heard some 80’s recordings which had that stiff, too Rock-influenced groove and was too repetitive in its simplicity. Electric Blues can lose a lot of it’s raw emotion if it is held in the wrong hands. But the cover didn’t let me down, the guitar is sparse and nasty, a feature of the music not “the” feature. The band plays a variety of rhythmic styles cleanly and his voice is harsh and scratchy. It makes for an exciting blend. A Slow Blues proves it! “Bad News is Coming” in the mix.
Overall = 7.7 (10) – Hot tracks, good times! Get it!
Rahim Alhaj (Oud & String Quintet) – Letters From Iraq – Smithsonian Folkways, 2017.
🍏🌾 🇮🇶 📣🔮⎄:
I pretty much collect any Smithsonian/Folkways which I find, but I am mostly interested in older recordings. I also enjoy Oud, and it is featured well here as are Alhaj’s modern composition with traditional roots. That said this doesn’t really catch any fire, though I am appreciative that it was created and preserved. My issues are based on the music meeting the page for the string ensemble, possibly becoming too controlled in that process. I bet in concert I would enjoy it more. “Letter #6 – Unspoken Words”.
Overall = 5.1 (10) – Pretty, but not essential, I have other recordings of this nature that I will recommend later. Get it! * A day later, I think I’m good on this recording and letting it go…
Mulatu Astatke – Mulatu of Ethiopia – Strut/Worthy, 1972.
🌍🎺⑉🇪🇹🎗️⚖️𖫪 ⚙︎🪄:
A classic recording by an important Ethiopian artist. Africa is enormous and diverse, its music and African Jazz generally can appear in a wide variety of impressions. I think Ethio-Jazz gets less of a profile compared to South African Jazz and other locations in Africa, but this is a seminal recording of African Jazz by a primary catalyst of the style. However the recording was made in New York and, frustratingly, has scant information about the musician participants. Mulatu is still active and we have a newer recording for review in a few weeks. “Mulatu” I love when song writers name songs after themselves.
Overall = 8.1 (10) Love this album! Groovy and I’m particularly interested in the Wah Wah Guitar blended with vibraphone. Unique timbre. Get It!
Juan Almeida – Fantasia– Mr. Bongo, 2024. (Rec. Late 70’s)
🌎🫧📣🔮🇨🇺 ⎄🫂🎧 ⌘⚖️📀 𖫪 🎗️🎹 🧀 👁️:
A pretty obscure reissue by Mr. Bongo. I’ll try anything from Mr. Bongo, they have tasty connoisseurs curating their releases and rereleases. This is the same Juan Almeida Bosque, the Cuban revolutionary & politician, whom was also a composer of a considerable collection of compositions. The Weird Collab icon, 🫂, is for the unusual pairing of composer and politician in one individual, not as in two performers. This is surprisingly orchestral with plenty of layers of synths, percussion and sparse Funky grooves. It mostly reads as an atmospheric piano feature, but the sonic language feels very inspired by film music. There are layers of sweeping orchestral strings, brief bursts of vocal choir, pure Disco strings, electric bass and guitar all weaved together in an unusual pattern that nonetheless sequences naturally. I do feel a lead voice feels absent, that the playing here is accompanying something that is not there. Not necessarily a bad feeling. “Te Canta Mi Tambor”
Overall = 8.3 (10) – This is a pretty amazing recording. Unusual for its time, with really modern ideas of composition and recording. I rate it higher for its importance, rather than how frequently I’ll actually listen to it. A recording most people should hear, but maybe missing something that makes you cherish it. Get it!
The Daytonians – Let Jesus Work It Out – Everland/Church Door Records, 1977.
🇺🇸🔮🗣️⛪️ ✊🏿🗣️ 🆑🎗️⚖️ 👁️🗨️ 🔭:
Rare find and Gospel Banger here. It has moments of being very traditional, though fresh and vibrantly played, and several songs sound like Al Green performing Gospel in his hit R&B style – which I don’t think was his approach when he did start recording Gospel albums. So this is welcome and I’m here for it. The title track for listening.
Overall = 8.5 (10) – This a great album and a good one for a Gospel gateway recording. Get it!
Guilherme Arantes – Guilherme Arantes – Som Livre, 1976.
🇧🇷🌎🫧🗣️⎄:
Some Brazilian Soft Rock fluttering towards the 80’s. Good production and though I don’t understand the lyrics I bet they are pretty light weight. It’s got a Brazilian Air Supply feeling, which there is perhaps a place for. “Antes da Chuva Chegar”
Overall = 4.5 (10) – Light weight, but listener friendly. Get It!
Found Sounds 