PINE CONE JUICE

 CURRENT ROTATION QUICK TAKES
AUGUST 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. 

Here are some August releases that I checked out. Cheers!

Jack White / No Name

Admittedly, I’ve drunk deeply from the Jack White Kool-Aid (in all of his incarnations - White Stripes, solo work, The Raconteurs, Dead Weather, etc.). It seems impossible to try and deny that the dude is anything but the dedicated heir to the Jimmy Pager riff-king crown. More than that - you can actually feel the love, passion, humor, & joy he shares through his music. It is infectious and utterly convincing. This latest (surprise!) solo release is loose and perfectly in-touch with the stripped-down foundations of The White Stripes - in all the best ways. It is a spot-on end-of-summer release, and I can’t stop cranking it. I could almost list every track as a standout, but… Standout Tracks: “Old Scratch Blues”, “It’s Rough On Rats (If You’re Asking)”, “Archbishop Harold Holmes” & “What’s The Rumpus?” - Huge Thumbs Up / Grade A.

Glass Animals / I Love You So Fucking Much

This English band is categorized as ‘Alternative’ in Apple Music, but I don’t find anything even close to Alternative in their sound. I find them infinitely more in-line with the sort of commercial-level pop of Harry Styles. Unlike Harry Styles or bands like COIN or Foster The People, I found no discernible character to Glass Animals’ sound - no individuality or unique qualities. Worse, the entirety of the album carried a very blurry sameness that never once allowed me to get through the album without checking-out. All of this added up to a collection that hardly worked for me on any level. Standout Track: “A Tear In Space (Airlock)” - This one gets a Thumbs Down / Grade of D.

Clairo / Charm

Score another recommendation point for June, my daughter! Clairo is one of their favorites, and though I have been aware of her output (& have even taken my daughter to see her live twice!), I haven't been fully converted thus far. While Clairo’s two previous albums were fine, I always fell short in feeling like she ever established a defined sound - instead, creating an effective-enough collage of a range of influences. That has changed with this new collection. Dramatically so. Though the overall quality of the songs is certainly excellent, it is the stellar contributions of Producer Leon Michels (and his assembled grouping of excellent musicians) that really add the touch Clairo’s songs needed to feel fully explored. There is a breezy and exceptionally mature feel throughout - not unlike the iconic 70s releases by Carole King and Linda Ronstadt. Charms indeed. Standout Tracks: “Thank You” & “Add Up My Love” - This gets an easy Thumbs Up / Grade of a solid A.

Deep Purple / =1

Here’s the good news - closing in on turning 80, the 3 members from the band’s late 60s/early 70s heyday (Ian Gillan, Roger Glover & Ian Paice) sound in fine form. Additionally, the even-keeled collaboration of iconic Producer Bob Ezrin levels a collection that certainly stays far from tarnishing the reputation of this legendary act. That said, the departure of Steve Morse on guitar and the general paint-by-numbers song quality/arrangements doesn't quite check all the boxes. My suggestion, listen to my recommended ‘Standout Tracks’ and then crank some classic Deep Purple. I promise you won’t miss a beat. Standout Tracks: “Portable Door” & “Lazy Sod” - Slight Thumbs Down / Grade of C-. 

Summer Salt / Electrolytes

I found this pleasant enough collection of Twee Pop. The seven tracks stroll in and do their job admirably - moving on before outstaying its very economical twenty-one minutes. As an almost perfect summer-listening bookend to the full-volume experience that the new Jack White provides, you could do much worse than this album for an intimate evening cocktails with friends soundtrack. This collection is sure to generally appeal to fans of Belle & Sebastian - of which I most definitely am. The only slight addendum is that there isn’t a ton of ‘new sounds/ideas’ within - but that didn’t stop me from getting pulled along in positive ways. Standout Tracks: “Poolside” & “Hand In Hand” - Thumbs Up / Grade of C+.

Cults / To The Ghosts

I really liked this album. To me, Cults always come across as what I’d imagine Lesley Gore sounding like if she was a 30-something hipster. That is, a 60s-girl group pop sensibility melded with modern cool. The duo's 5th album combines all the qualities that make the band such an appealing listening choice - clever melodic hooks, a hazily inviting atmospheric production wash, & Madeline Follin’s alluringly winning vocals. Moreover, though the album offers plenty of cohesion (it would even be a fair criticism to say a ‘sameness’ from track to track exists) their ultimate effect ends up working in a comforting hypnotic kind of way. Standout Tracks: “Onions” & “Knots” - Thumbs Up / Grade of a solid B.

Wand / Vertico

(With very few exceptions) had this album not featured breaks between the tracks, it would’ve played out as an extremely redundant, one-note concept. Actually, even with breaks between tracks, it still kind of played out that way. I would’ve scored at least a few points had the group swung for the fences just a bit, but as it is, it barely felt like the band cared at all. This is what happens when indie cool goes terribly, terribly wrong. - Thumbs Down / Grade of a D.

The Smashing Pumpkins / Aghori Mhori Mei

After the sprawling 33 tracks and 2 & ½ hours that was the last Pumpkins’ album, ATUM, this new collection feels succinctly & tightly honed. While I could certainly commiserate with any Pumpkins fans who bemoaned the ‘lost in the wilderness’ era the band has navigated, this album feels like a triumphant return. The reunited, original-member line-up of Billy Corgan, James Iha & Jimmy Chamberlin (after a few ‘return’ albums that, despite earnest attempt, failed to completely gel in satisfying ways) are clearly in a finely-tuned groove and I felt the tracks each shine with a collective focus that gave me everything I expect (& want) in a Pumpkins release. Plenty of undeniable muscle, fantastic production & enough layered variety (I especially appreciated the ‘progressive’ touches employed throughout) to keep things interesting. Standout Tracks: “Pentagrams”, “Who Goes There”, & “Murnau”  - Definite Thumbs Up / Grade of A-.