CURRENT ROTATION QUICK TAKES
MAY 2024
INTRO:
Who has the time? It has been said a thousand times before, but the convenience of infinite accessibility that music subscription services provide is often countered with an overwhelming sense of ‘where to begin?’ syndrome. Beyond a few trusted online sources, I am lucky to have some close buddies with great ears who keep me posted on new music - especially that which might not be on my regular radar.
In a humble effort to pay-it-forward (and keep it simple), I will monthly post CURRENT ROTATION QUICK TAKES - a handful of albums that I have recently checked out - complete with brief thoughts and an ultimate Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down. Explore further as you care to. Cheers!
Pearl Jam / Dark Matter
Some acts will always get a biased positive reaction from me - that is, one built on decades of love & trust in their artistry. Pearl Jam is certainly an example of the first order. Now, this doesn’t necessarily mean I give them a ‘can’t do any wrong, license to kill’, but I go in listening to any new music they release with high expectations. With their first new music in four years (& their 12th studio album), the band hits with an urgency that feels equal parts adventurous foraging & well-deserved reflection. This is a ferocious & thoroughly thoughtful album of first-rate American rock, and I absolutely love it! Standout Tracks: “Wreckage” & “Running” - Big Thumbs Up.
Pet Shop Boys / Loneliness
As unexpected or out of character as it may always seem to those who don’t know all the various side-streets of my musical interests, I have such a deep love, respect & connection with the majority of the PSB’s impressive discography. While this new collection doesn’t stray far from the expected, it delivers excellence through perfectly-built symphonic pop. Here’s what I’ll offer - if you are a fan of PSB’s lush orchestrated-synth masterpieces, this will be a listening experience that brings great pleasure. I’m not sure it will change any minds if this particular sound isn’t your cup of tea, but I absolutely feel it is a fine representation of the sophisticated sound the group has been a pioneer of for four decades. Standout Tracks: “Feel” & “A New Bohemia” - Thumbs Up.
Kings of Leon / Can We Please Have Fun?
The ninth studio album by the sibling project from Nashville starts off on fairly firm ground. The one-two combo of the collection’s first two songs present tight arrangements and interesting enough performances. Unfortunately, the rollercoaster of styles and diminishing song-quality that follows make for a bumpy ride. This isn’t a complete mess of an album, but the general lack of cohesion left me feeling no call to return or dig any deeper. Standout Track: “Rainbow Ball” - Thumbs Down.
Black Keys / Ohio Players
Without being able to exactly tell you why, I have kept Black Keys at an uncommitted arms length since their debut back in 2002. So color me surprised when I discovered that the duo had morphed their sound to a crafted alt-pop hybrid that reminded me much more of easily-consumable ‘60s pop (& I mean that in the best way) than the thin Delta-blues influenced snarl I associated with their early releases. There is plenty of musical aesthetic that aligns with Beck - which makes sense as the duo toured with him & features him as a performer & co-writer on this album (Oasis’ Noel Gallagher also collaborates). This is not really a rock record at all, but it won me over with its earnestness. And while not perfect (the tracks that feature raps - “Candy & Her Friends” & “Paper Crown” fall especially flat), any shortcomings barely tarnish the generally enjoyable landing place. It’s a fun collection that goes down in all kinds of convincing ways. Standout Track: “Don’t Let Me Go” - Thumbs Up.
Charles Lloyd / The Sky Will Still Be There Tomorrow
I’m embarrassed to admit that I knew nothing about Lloyd before reading an article focusing on him on NPR. Given that the saxophonist/flutist has been part of over fifty recordings and has worked with artists like Bill Frisell & Lucinda Willaims (that I do know well), it is even more surprising. After giving this excellent album several listens, this is a mistake that I will work hard to correct. The first thing that connected me immediately with this collection was the meditative nature of the numbers. That said, at 15 tracks (& an hour and a half of music) there is a lot to unpack. I found my listens to be completely worthwhile and I have made a strong commitment to continue returning for more opportunities to appreciate this consummate artist. Standout Track: “Booker’s Garden” - Thumbs Up.
Aaron West & The Roaring Twenties / In Lieu Of Flowers
On the solo debut by the former Wonder Years frontman, boilerplate emo-rock is barely disguised in a mildly more palatable setting. Upfront, I just don’t care for West’s vocal style - all angst over emotion. Add to that, I felt that the songs blurred and melded together in unmemorable ways. Even the musical trappings that do work (added horns, steel guitar, strings) only offer a side dish of unconvincing help. Standout Track: “I’m An Albatross” - Thumbs Down.
