Monday, July 9, 2018

Music Week

Music: current count 29939 [29896] rated (+43), 342 [348] unrated (-6).

New video card arrived today, but I figured I should post this before I risked installation. No guarantee it will fix my screen problem, and no guarantee it won't wreck everything.

High rated count this week. Got off to a fast start last Monday as I was collecting data on mid-year best-of lists, and checking out things I had missed. Probably also helped in that more than a few of them turned out to be EPs (or "mini-albums"). Only one of those albums made this week's A-list (Seun Kuti's), but I was pleasantly surprised by Shawn Mendes, and at least understand the interest in the Carters' Everything Is Love and Against All Logic's 2012-2017. Meanwhile, after something of a drought, three good jazz albums -- one from my queue, the other two from Bandcamp. (Actually, pretty sure Again is also on Bandcamp.)

The computer problem has kept me from doing much updating of the mid-year aggregate, but Janelle Monae managed to slip ahead of Kacey Musgraves for the top spot. I haven't factored Robert Christgau's grades in yet, but doing so would help (among the top 25): Monae (A-), Cardi B (A), Courtney Barnett (A-), Black Panther (A), Superchunk (A), Superorganism (A-), and Parquet Courts (A). My grades are listed in the file, but also not counted. I have those same records at B+(***) or above, plus Kali Uchis at A- and Saba at B+(***). Latter was hard to find a streaming source for, and I'm not sure how well I heard it.

New records rated this week:

  • A.A.L. (Against All Logic): 2012-2017 (2012-17 [2018], Other People): [r]: B+(***)
  • Amen Dunes: Freedom (2018, Sacred Bones): [r]: B+(*)
  • Tucker Antell: Grime Scene (2017 [2018], OA2): [cd]: B+(**)
  • Arctic Monkeys: Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino (2018, Domino): [r]: C+
  • John Bailey: In Real Time (2017 [2018], Summit): [cd]: B+(**)
  • Big Heart Machine: Big Heart Machine (2017 [2018], self-released): [cd]: B
  • Binker and Moses: Alive in the East? (2017 [2018], Gearbox): [bc]: A-
  • Leon Bridges: Good Thing (2018, Columbia): [r]: B+(*)
  • Jarod Bufe: New Spaces (2017 [2018], OA2): [cd]: B+(***)
  • Burna Boy: Outside (2018, Atlantic): [r]: B+(*)
  • Camila Cabello: Camila (2018, Syco/Epic): [r]: B+(**)
  • The Carters: Everything Is Love (2018, Parkwood/Roc Nation): [r]: B+(***)
  • Neko Case: Hell-On (2018, Anti-): [r]: B+(*)
  • Brent Cobb: Providence Canyon (2018, Low Country Sound/Elektra): [r]: B+(**)
  • Tomasz Dabrowski Ad Hoc: Ninjazz (2018, ForTune): [bc]: B+(*)
  • Grouper: Grid of Points (2018, Kranky, EP): [r]: B
  • Haley Heynderickx: I Need to Start a Garden (2018, Mama Bird): [r]: B+(**)
  • Juice WRLD: Goodbye & Good Riddance (2018, self-released): [r]: B+(*)
  • Kids See Ghosts [Kanye West/Kid Cudi]: Kids See Ghosts (2018, GOOD/Def Jam, EP): [r]: B+(*)
  • Seun Kuti & Egypt 80: Black Times (2018, Strut): [r]: A-
  • Jeremy Ledbetter Trio: Got a Light? (2018, Alma): [cd]: B
  • Peggy Lee: Echo Painting (2017 [2018], Songlines): [bc]: B
  • Joachim Mencel Quintet: Artisena (2015 [2018], ForTune): [bc]: B+(*)
  • Shawn Mendes: Shawn Mendes (2018, Island): [r]: B+(***)
  • Migos: Culture II (2018, Quality Control/Motown/Capitol, 2CD): [r]: B+(**)
  • Adam O'Farrill's Stranger Days: El Maquech (2018, Biophilia): [r]: B+(*)
  • Old Crow Medicine Show: Volunteer (2018, Columbia Nashville): [r]: B+(*)
  • Oneohtrix Point Never: Age Of (2018, Warp): [r]: B+(*)
  • Charles Pillow Large Ensemble: Electric Miles (2017 [2018], MAMA): [cd]: B
  • Pocket Aces: Cull the Heard (2016 [2018], Creative Nation Music): [cd]: B+(**)
  • Post Malone: Beerbongs & Bentleys (2018, Republic): [r]: B+(**)
  • John Raymond & Real Feels: Joy Ride (2018, Sunnyside): [r]: B+(**)
  • Royce Da 5'9": Book of Ryan (2018, EOne): [r]: B+(*)
  • Shame: Songs of Praise (2018, Dead Oceans): [r]: B
  • Sibarg Ensemble: Cipher (2016 [2018], self-released): [cd]: B+(**)
  • Snail Mail: Lush (2018, Matador): [r]: B+(*)
  • SOB X RBE: Gangin (2018, Empire): [r]: B
  • Jason Stein's Locksmith Isidore: After Caroline (2017 [2018], Northern Spy): [bc]: A-
  • Sunflower Bean: Twentytwo in Blue (2018, Mom + Pop): [r]: B+(*)
  • Toronto Jazz Orchestra: 20 (2017 [2018], self-released): [cd]: B+(*)
  • Turnstile: Time & Space (2018, Roadrunner): [r]: B+(*)
  • Verve Jazz Ensemble: Connect the Dots (2018, Lightgroove Media): [cd]: B
  • Kobie Watkins Grouptet: Movement (2017 [2018], Origin): [cd]: B+(**)
  • The Weeknd: My Dear Melancholy (2018, XO/Republic, EP): [r]: B+(*)
  • Years & Years: Palo Santo (2018, Polydor): [r]: B

Old music rated this week:

  • Binker and Moses: Dem Ones (2014 [2015], Gearbox): [bc]: B+(***)
  • Binker and Moses: Journey to the Mountain of Forever (2016 [2017], Gearbox, 2CD): [bc]: B+(**)

Unpacking: Found in the mail last week:

  • Jennifer Lee: My Shining Hour (SBE): August 10
  • Lonnie McFadden: Live at the Green Lady Lounge (Jazz Daddy)

Ask a question, or send a comment.