I am working up to a full Smokey Robinson review (sneak peek: I like it), but I am giving the honor to Dr. John because any time you’re recording an album of songs made famous by one Louis Armstrong is the time you have the album of the week. The Cash album? I’ve only heard two tracks but the Steve Earle one is killer. Midge Ure????
A toss up between FKA Twigs and Sinead O’Conor and I am gonna go with FKA Twigs because my gut is by the time I get round to reviewing them, Sinead is gonna win. Having said that, the more I listen to FKAT the more mesmerized I am… Steve Aoki? Could be good.. The Gaslight Anthem? Not a chance in hell.
A little on the dog days of summer, right? Spider bags was a disappointment, not a disaster but not their best work, Peter and Mike are dilettantes, The Murder City Devils a little too fussy for my taste. I guess spoon by default.
Sure, you think it is either Petty or Lewis for album of the week but I’ve heard em both and they both are, not terrible, but certainly not great. So I’m gonna put my money on Eric Clapton and his JJ Cale covers album. Is that a mistake? I will have to live with it.
While I was a little disappointed by La Roux’s performance at Governors Ball, I never believed for an instant she was no bigger than “Bulletproof” and the songs I’ve heard off Trouble In Paradise have remained uniformly excellent. Plus, what? You expected Yes to be my pick of the week?
I was soooo disappointed when I saw Weird Al on stage a couple of years ago because man was I up for it and the bastard went cheap on my ass and instead of putting on a huge extravaganza was very Poconos in 1954. Still, he gets the call of the wild this week!
My feeling about Sia is something like, there isn’t an EDM track her tender, lush but very powerful voice can’t make better but without the dressing, her songs aren’t as strong as they need to be. But I could be wrong and so she gets the album of the week (round one). Industrial dance isn’t my scene but “Last Tangle In Paris” is the album title of the year.
Here we go, Independence day weekend, the worst week of new releases this side of New year, has nothing much going on. I like the new Robin Thicke album I guess but naming his album for his ex-wife? It is all kinda nauseating (though maybe good business?) . Seether? Trey Songz? Magic!? On to the next week.
I am most excited for Marsha Ambrosius because I loved her last one so much (and she was fabulous live) so that’s my top pick, though A Sunny Day In Glasgow, Ed Sheeran, Move To Pain (just because Telefon Tel Aviv are such a great band), Phish because they record in the studio so rarely (though I bet it’s not on Spotify) and, ahem, Ed Sheeran.
A huge week, the debut album by Big Freedia, a really great disco guy whose 2012 “Booty-Whop” and current “Explode” are just so much fun, Cerebral Balzy are a blast live, everything I’ve heard off Lana’s Ultra Violence has been first rate, and J Lo better come up with the goods, but the week belongs to soul brother # 1 Sam Smith’s eagerly anticipated debut album.
Sure, you thought it was gonna be Jack White (who I am seeing at Govs Ball today) but no, I’ve heard the new one many times and I think it is solid but not Blunderbuss, it lacks focus and it doesn’t have enough great songs. But Chrissie? Three songs in and I love em all and did you see her with the Roots the other day? Pretty excellent, right? Otherwise, I really wanna hear the Hot Chip cat and I am wondering about Ice T. First Aid Kit? O.A.R.?
I don’t dislike Fucked Up by any stretch of the lexicon, but I am not the fan everybody else is and I kinda wanted to go with Bob Mould but… I dunno, I don’t love Bob as much as I might either. What else? Ethan Johns is Laura Marling’s buddy so gets a shout out as such. New 50 cent? I wasn’t crazy about the single. Echo? Meh…
This is Sam Smith’s week, we only live in it. Undoubtedly, In The Lonely Hour is the album to beat. If only for the first single, “Stay With Me”, this is a major (first!) release by a great singer. Othersie, I am listening to the new Sharon Von Etten as we speak and like it don’t love it, really liked the Robyn EP, and am looking forward to Christian rocker Crowder, anti-Christs EYEHATEGOOD and Mariah Carey who lives somewhere between the two.
Yes, I know, I haven’t been crazy about the Conor Oberst songs I’ve heard off Upside Down Mountain and I do remember giving Coldplay an almost positive review once upon a time this week, but Conor has a history (Wide Awake was my fave album of the 00s) and I really believe once you get deep inside the album it will all make sense.
Did you read the Rolling Stone Black Keys review? “In every other way, that turmoil is a giant step into the best, most consistently gripping album the Keys have ever made.” I’ve heard one song and it stank so please excuse me while I sneer up my sleeves. I am gonna go with either Blondie -though it includes that EP from last year with Gossip which I liked I didn’t love. As for Dolly Parton, her last albu was killer so maybe it’s more a toss up.
I am really excited about all this though specifically, I enjoyed the first Eno Hyde song “Daddy’s Car” and the second release “The Satellite” almost as much. Plus, it isn’t Eno’s fault everybody wants him to produce them. He’s not like T. Bone begging for the business.
After the dreadful Everyday Robots, I am loath to give props to any 1990s icon without hearing it first but the first single “Longer Than You’ve Been Alive” is so great, I gotta feeling this is Rhett Miller and the rest of Old 97’s return to greatness..
The Pains etc would get a lot further with me if they were either better or had a shorter name and Sebastian Bach? Keb Mo? Kelis? Eels? I am in wait and seek mode. Which leaves me with UK folkies To Kill A King, mostly because Cannibals With Cutlery is a great name for an album
I am going to go with Jason DeRulo even though I wasn’t thrilled by his performance at Jingle Ball because whatever you want to say about him being a pop manufacturer, he is a hit machine and a good one.
Hands down, this is Thievery Corporation’s week to lose. I saw em open for Massive Attack at the Beacon a couple of years ago and can state without fear of contradiction that they were awesome. The new single isn’t all that, but take it from me the album should.
I am excited for the new Hold Steady and always to hear from Barry Manilow. From what I’ve heard of Shakira I can’t claim to be thrilled at the concept of her newbie but I could be wrong. Yokyo Police Club? Sure, let’s rock. And to top it off Grieves all important sophomore effort and a great lost Johnny Cash album.
Let’s forget about Skrillex since I’m far from convinced even if you are certain, and let’s look a little further and study a whole lotta bands with important follow ups: The War On Drugs, The Pretty Reckless, the very buzzy and brilliant Coathangers (even if I wasn’t thrilled by em on stage), TBS, newcomers Perfect Pussy and let’s rest on The Both because it is the new Aimee Mann album and Ted Leo might not be in HER league but he is still in a league.
Not much going on this week, unless the thought of a new Elbow album excites you in unusual ways, it sure doesn’t me. Or Metronomy, who should be fired if only for the crap band name, or a Young Money compilation except if our friend the lovely and popular Chanel West Coast is on it.
Everything we’ve heard from Beck’s Morning Phase (his self professed follow up to Sea Change) have been excellent; there is nothing to choose between “Wave”, “Waking Light” and “Blue Moon”, they are first rate return to forms. Otherwise, Schoolboy Q, St. Vincent, Neneh Cherry, maybe Wild Beasts.
This is so slow that Stephen Malkmus, who I haven’t much cared for since Wowee Zowee and whose Pavement reunion a couple of years ago was a huge disappointment, is my pick of the week. I’ve streamed it and apparently moving to Berlin hasn’t changed a damn thing.
Fall For Your Type – Jamie Foxx Be With You – David Banner and 9th Wonder Drunk On Christmas –
I Can’t Make It Another Day (feat Lenny Kravitz) - Michael Jackson Dear Candy – Ryan Adams Love Letter –
No Mercy (Album) – T.I. Take Your Time (Do It Right) – The S.O.S. Band A Little Respect (HMI Redux)
Rock Your Body – The Black Eyed Peas Crazy Beautiful Life – Ke$ha Feel Good (Feat Faith Evans) – Eric
34 Number One Hits – Alan Jackson My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy – Kanye West Rose Window – Kevin Greenspon
Loud Album – Rihanna Liv Tonight – Nelly and Keri Hilson Turn Around (5,4,3,2,1) - Flo Rida Taboo – Don
Man On The Moon, Vol II – Kid Cudi The Lady Killer – Cee Lo Green London Sessions – LCD
Sleazy – Ke$ha Tragic Girl – Weezer Roman’s Revenge (feat Eminem) – Nicki Minaj It’s OK – Cee Lo I
We R Who We R – Ke$ha Monster – Kanye West Mr. Rager – Kid Cudi I Won’t Let Go
Mean – Taylor Swift Tonight – Sugarland When Love Is Dying – Leon Russell And Elton John Keep Me –
I Don’t Care (feat Brad Paisley) – Darius Rucker Back To December – Taylor Swift Futile Devices – Sufjan Stevens
Runaway – Kanye West Watching The Wheels – John Lennon Just Like Starting Over – John Lennon How – Ozzy
What’s Wrong With them – Lil Wayne And Nicki Minaj Walk With Me – Neil Young River Runs Deep –
Out Of Goodbyes – Maroon 5 and Lady Antebellum Ghost Of You – Selena Gomez and the Scene My Friend
Sex Karma (feat Solange Knowles) – Of Montreal Only The Young – Brandon Flowers Hot Mess – Chromeo Trap Talk
Rockin My Life Away – Jerry Lee Lewis Tell Her I Said So – James Hollywood – Michael Buble Include
