Monday, April 27, 2015

Music Week

Music: Current count 24889 [24855] rated (+34), 404 [408] unrated (-4).

Another very frustrating week, leaving me very little to say here. The two A- compilations are marginal, but scratched particular itches. The Cleveland comp should be even better with the missing Pere Ubu and Rocket From the Tombs cuts restored (the latter was "Life Stinks," which later appeared on Pere Ubu's The Modern Dance -- a good candidate for my all-time top ten). Soul Jazz generally has excellent booklets, but I haven't seen this one. The three previous Next Stop Soweto comps got various shades of B+. They nibble around the edges of South African pop, but what made the difference here wasn't better songs so much as a trashier, more amusing (and more upbeat) vibe.

Lots of Christgauvians will go for the Low Cut Connie (see Jason Gubbels) but I fear that no one I know will like the Mowgli's. First thing I read about them talked about Beach Boys-Byrds L.A. pop, but they're closer in spirit and feel to the Fifth Dimension -- stuff that I thought was hopelessly square back in the day, but gives me hope today. Best jazz record this week is probably Kirk Knuffke (again, see Gubbels; also for the Mavis Staples EP, which has a couple of the week's best songs). Or maybe Ben Goldberg -- in both cases I'm working off Rhapsody, while letting my own queue of promo CDs age a bit.

I ordered a copy of Michaelangelo Matos' new book, The Underground Is Massive: How Electronic Dance Music Conquered America, expected to arrive on its release date, tomorrow. I don't have much time to read about music these days, but this is one combination of author and subject I couldn't miss.

New records rated this week:

  • Alabama Shakes: Sound & Color (2015, ATO): [r]: B+(*)
  • Juan Pablo Balcazar: Reversible (2013 [2015], Fresh Sound New Talent): [r]: B+(**)
  • Pat Bianchi Trio: A Higher Standard (2015, 21-H): [cd]: B+(*)
  • Nicki Bluhm & the Gramblers: Loved Wild Lost (2015, Little Sur): [r]: B+(**)
  • Michael Dees: The Dream I Dreamed (2014 [2015], Jazzed Media): [cd]: B+(***)
  • Hugo Fernandez: Cosmogram (2014 [2015], Origin): [cd]: B+(**)
  • Ben Goldberg: Orphic Machine (2015, BAG): [r]: B+(***)
  • José James: Yesterday I Had the Blues: The Music of Billie Holiday (2015, Blue Note): [r]: B+(*)
  • Kirk Knuffke: Arms & Hands (2015, Royal Potato Family): [r]: B+(***)
  • Low Cut Connie: Hi Honey (2015, Ardent Music/Contender): [r]: A-
  • Harold Mabern: Afro Blue (2015, Smoke Sessions): [r]: B
  • Donny McCaslin: Fast Future (2014 [2015], Greenleaf Music): [r]: B+(*)
  • Marcus Miller: Afrodeezia (2015, Blue Note): [r]: B+(*)
  • The Mowgli's: Kids in Love (2015, Republic): [r]: A-
  • Peach Kelli Pop: Peach Kelli Pop III (2015, Burger, EP): [r]: B+(*)
  • Pascal Niggenkemper: Look With Thine Ears: Solo (2014 [2015], Clean Feed): [cd]: B+(**)
  • Mario Pavone: Blue Dialect (2014 [2015], Clean Feed): [cd]: B+(***)
  • Gloria Reuben: Perchance to Dream (2014 [2015], MCG Jazz): [cd]: B+(**)
  • Eve Risser: Des Pas Sur La Neige (2013 [2015], Clean Feed): [cd]: B
  • Mavis Staples: Your Good Fortune (2015, Anti, EP): [r]: B+(***)
  • Sult: Svimmelhed (2014, Humbler/Conrad Sound): [cd]: B+(**)
  • Boubacar Traoré: Mbalimaou (2014 [2015], Lusafrica): [r]: B+(**)
  • Daniel Weltlinger: Koblenz (2012-13 [2015], Rectify): [cd]: B+(**)
  • Ben Williams: Coming of Age (2014 [2015], Concord Jazz): [r]: B-
  • Young Fathers: White Men Are Black Men Too (2015, Big Dada): [r]: B+(*)

Recent reissues, compilations, and vault discoveries rated this week:

  • Next Stop Soweto, Vol. 4: Zulu Rock, Afro-Disco and Mbaqanga 1975-1985 (1975-85 [2015], Strut): [r]: A-
  • Punk 45: Burn Rubber City, Burn! Akron, Ohio: Punk and the Decline of the Mid West 1975-80 (1975-80 [2015], Soul Jazz): [r]: B+(***)
  • Punk 45: Extermination Nights in the Sixth City: Cleveland, Ohio: Punk and the Decline of the Mid-West 1975-82 (1975-82 [2015], Soul Jazz): [r]: A-

Old records rated this week:

  • Ben Goldberg: Eight Phrases for Jefferson Rubin (1996 [1998], Victo): [r]: B+(**)
  • Paul Motian: The Story of Maryam (1983 [1984], Soul Note): [r]: B+(**)
  • Paul Motian Quintet: Jack of Clubs (1984 [1985], Soul Note): [r]: B+(**)

Unpacking: Found in the mail last week:

  • Randy Brecker/Bobby Shew/Jan Hasenöhrl: Trumpet Summit Prague (Summit): May 12
  • Cuir: Chez Ackenbush (Fou)
  • Marilyn Crispell/Gerry Hemingway: Table of Changes (Intakt)
  • Dave Douglas: High Risk (Greenleaf Music): June 23
  • Claire Ritter: Soho Solo (Zoning): May 26
  • Harvie S/Sheryl Bailey: Plucky Strum (Whaling City Sound)
  • Katharina Weber/Fred Frith/Fredy Studer: It Rolls (Intakt)

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