CURRENT ROTATION QUICK TAKES
SEPTEMBER 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 defined by a Grade. Explore further as you care to.
Here are some September releases that I checked out. Cheers!
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds / Wild God
Some albums strike in such a way that finding words to describe the experience seems impossible. This is made worse when there is a self-imposed focus on delivering a brief, summary review. Spoiler Alert: This impassioned collection of mournful optimism will absolutely earn a spot in my 2024 Top Ten list - qualifying it for deeper exploration. In the meantime, the most succinct way I can put it in this space is that this collection is an epic stunner. Both musically and lyrically, every moment is sublime and infinitely moving. Cave's loss of two children in 10 years makes an impact at every turn - but is never overwhelmed by a resolute search for meaning or relief from grief. This is an album to listen to again and again - appreciating and benefiting from one of the finest modern songwriters/performers. Standout Tracks: “Joy” & “Song Of The Lake” - Thumbs Up and a Grade of A+.
Some albums strike in such a way that finding words to describe the experience seems impossible. This is made worse when there is a self-imposed focus on delivering a brief, summary review. Spoiler Alert: This impassioned collection of mournful optimism will absolutely earn a spot in my 2024 Top Ten list - qualifying it for deeper exploration. In the meantime, the most succinct way I can put it in this space is that this collection is an epic stunner. Both musically and lyrically, every moment is sublime and infinitely moving. Cave's loss of two children in 10 years makes an impact at every turn - but is never overwhelmed by a resolute search for meaning or relief from grief. This is an album to listen to again and again - appreciating and benefiting from one of the finest modern songwriters/performers. Standout Tracks: “Joy” & “Song Of The Lake” - Thumbs Up and a Grade of A+.
Ellen Reid / Big Majestic
Ellen Reid is a composer of artistic instrumentals. It would be easy enough (and forgivable) to categorize her latest collection as modern classical. However, I feel inclined to not give in so easily as the hybrid of sounds defies immediate labeling. Sure, she strikes an impressive balance between being compellingly hypnotic (quite literally, perfect accompaniment to meditative breathing) and engagingly atmospheric in cinematographic ways, but with each listen (and I was always inspired to return for more) I was completely taken by the musical journey I was compelled to travel. For the first time in one of these QUICK TAKE album reviews I will not pick any ‘Standout Tracks’ as I felt the entire album worked so well together that to highlight certain numbers would be working against the idea Reid seems to be after. Thumbs Up and a Grade of a strong B.
Zeal & Ardor / GRIEFEllen Reid is a composer of artistic instrumentals. It would be easy enough (and forgivable) to categorize her latest collection as modern classical. However, I feel inclined to not give in so easily as the hybrid of sounds defies immediate labeling. Sure, she strikes an impressive balance between being compellingly hypnotic (quite literally, perfect accompaniment to meditative breathing) and engagingly atmospheric in cinematographic ways, but with each listen (and I was always inspired to return for more) I was completely taken by the musical journey I was compelled to travel. For the first time in one of these QUICK TAKE album reviews I will not pick any ‘Standout Tracks’ as I felt the entire album worked so well together that to highlight certain numbers would be working against the idea Reid seems to be after. Thumbs Up and a Grade of a strong B.
The Swiss artist Manuel Gagnuex (working as Z&A) caught my attention big time with his self-titled 2022 album - just barely missing out on making my personal Top Ten for that year. What stuck me about that collection was the skillful mix of sounds and approaches. In other words, expectations were high for this latest release. Recording for the first time with a full band, Zeal & Ardor has delivered an album that caught me at a good time as there hadn’t been much ‘heavy’ music to catch my attention so far this year. True to what I had positively experienced on the last album, this one is packed with variety - metal, prog, electronic flourishes, and more contemplative mood musings all coexist in truly engaging ways. As he did on the last album, he employs call & response foundations found in traditional gospel music - twisted and reworked to adapt to the modern sounds employed - really fascinating stuff. All of this is to say that there is a lot going on and yeah, this is more commercial than previously released Zeal & Ardor - but I found myself ready to commit and my fondness of the album grew with each listen. Standout Tracks: “Disease” “Thrill” & “To My Ilk” - Thumbs Up and a Grade of a solid B.
Cassandra Jenkins / My Light, My Destroyer
There is a comfortable familiarity with this collection that happens quite easily. On this, her fourth solo album, Jenkins won me over with her purposeful pacing and commitment to confident delivery. The sound is not a wholly original version of female singer/songwriter dream pop, but it strikes many points that stun with abundant craftsmanship and clear quality. Standout Tracks: “Clams Casino” & “Only One” - Thumbs Up and Grade of B-.
There is a comfortable familiarity with this collection that happens quite easily. On this, her fourth solo album, Jenkins won me over with her purposeful pacing and commitment to confident delivery. The sound is not a wholly original version of female singer/songwriter dream pop, but it strikes many points that stun with abundant craftsmanship and clear quality. Standout Tracks: “Clams Casino” & “Only One” - Thumbs Up and Grade of B-.
Darvid Thor / In The Space You Carry
I entered completely blind on this one - only discovering later that this second solo album by Thor was recorded by himself alone. It sounds like it. But it also works - given the right mindset. I will admit that it didn’t start off on immediate strong footing, but there was obviously enough there to pull me back in for repeat listens. The songs are OK - that is, they don’t overwhelm, but they also don’t slip away. What ended up serving as the glue that earned this album my admiration is the precisely unbalanced arrangements, instrumentation & production. This is quality baroque pop and the attention to small sound touches throughout (happy accidents or not) is what caught my attention the most each time I listened. Definitely worth the time and closer inspection. Standout Tracks: “Archway” & “Oh My” - Thumbs Up and a Grade of C+.
I entered completely blind on this one - only discovering later that this second solo album by Thor was recorded by himself alone. It sounds like it. But it also works - given the right mindset. I will admit that it didn’t start off on immediate strong footing, but there was obviously enough there to pull me back in for repeat listens. The songs are OK - that is, they don’t overwhelm, but they also don’t slip away. What ended up serving as the glue that earned this album my admiration is the precisely unbalanced arrangements, instrumentation & production. This is quality baroque pop and the attention to small sound touches throughout (happy accidents or not) is what caught my attention the most each time I listened. Definitely worth the time and closer inspection. Standout Tracks: “Archway” & “Oh My” - Thumbs Up and a Grade of C+.
Psychic Temple / Doggie Paddlin’ Thru The Cosmic Consciousness
More than once as I was carried along by the alluring musical lazy river that is this album, I was reminded of the same immaculately stoned acoustic-driven music Pink Floyd released for the period that bridged their early 60s psychedelic freak-outs and 70s iconic masterpieces. Similarly, the songs found here walk lines of indulgent mellowness side-by-side with joyful acoustic rockers. To me, mellow wins the day and I would have been happy if that had occupied the entirety of the collection. Just the same, this album worked for me at just about every turn - and, better yet, its positive attributes became more pronounced with every additional listen. A real unexpected winner. Standout Tracks: “Hold On (It’s All Rite)” & “Fields of Grass/9 Is The End (It’s Over)” - Thumbs Up and a Grade of a strong B.
More than once as I was carried along by the alluring musical lazy river that is this album, I was reminded of the same immaculately stoned acoustic-driven music Pink Floyd released for the period that bridged their early 60s psychedelic freak-outs and 70s iconic masterpieces. Similarly, the songs found here walk lines of indulgent mellowness side-by-side with joyful acoustic rockers. To me, mellow wins the day and I would have been happy if that had occupied the entirety of the collection. Just the same, this album worked for me at just about every turn - and, better yet, its positive attributes became more pronounced with every additional listen. A real unexpected winner. Standout Tracks: “Hold On (It’s All Rite)” & “Fields of Grass/9 Is The End (It’s Over)” - Thumbs Up and a Grade of a strong B.
Eminem / The Death Of Slim Shady
Admittedly, Eminem came onto the rap scene a bit after I had stopped following the genre as closely. The heyday of 80s hip-hop up through Dr. Dre’s The Chronic had provided me with just about all I needed and I was happy to lean heavily on those golden years. I can recognize Eminem’s talent as an MC and certainly can appreciate his brand, but I just never could fully buy-in. On his latest I found he seemed to miss making a connection at every turn. The old-act of the battle between his two internal personalities Marshall Mathers vs Slim Shady feels completely played-out. Worse, it spills over as juvenile and out-of-step. Stupid thoughts are blamed on the other character - with no real ownership. Lame. Talent wasted up and down - and at an hour & a half, clear signs of being surrounded by a ‘yes’ crew with no eye on self-editing. Big miss. Thumbs Down and a Grade of D.
Admittedly, Eminem came onto the rap scene a bit after I had stopped following the genre as closely. The heyday of 80s hip-hop up through Dr. Dre’s The Chronic had provided me with just about all I needed and I was happy to lean heavily on those golden years. I can recognize Eminem’s talent as an MC and certainly can appreciate his brand, but I just never could fully buy-in. On his latest I found he seemed to miss making a connection at every turn. The old-act of the battle between his two internal personalities Marshall Mathers vs Slim Shady feels completely played-out. Worse, it spills over as juvenile and out-of-step. Stupid thoughts are blamed on the other character - with no real ownership. Lame. Talent wasted up and down - and at an hour & a half, clear signs of being surrounded by a ‘yes’ crew with no eye on self-editing. Big miss. Thumbs Down and a Grade of D.
Jon Anderson & The Band Geeks / True
What a nice surprise this collection was. Beyond the basic nostalgic connection I have with some artists who were favorites of mine when I was younger and discovering a range of music, I try to keep up with new releases those artists are involved in - even if I know they have passed their prime. As the voice (and songwriter/lyricist) of Yes - one of my early high school go-tos - I have always enjoyed knowing Anderson was still performing despite a range of health issues. At 79, he not only sounds in extremely fine form throughout this collection, but there is a palpable inclusion of joy and purpose in the music - which pulls from and is guided by equal parts Yes' 70s heyday and rock/pop muscle from their 80s 'comeback'. Of course, nothing on this album is quite as successful or on point as those iconic compass marks, but I found the collection - and, most importantly, the spirit behind it - to be a fun listen and completely worthy of Anderson’s place as one of the truly unique voices of prog music. Standout Tracks: “Shine On” & “Once Upon A Dream” - Thumbs Up and a Grade of C+.
What a nice surprise this collection was. Beyond the basic nostalgic connection I have with some artists who were favorites of mine when I was younger and discovering a range of music, I try to keep up with new releases those artists are involved in - even if I know they have passed their prime. As the voice (and songwriter/lyricist) of Yes - one of my early high school go-tos - I have always enjoyed knowing Anderson was still performing despite a range of health issues. At 79, he not only sounds in extremely fine form throughout this collection, but there is a palpable inclusion of joy and purpose in the music - which pulls from and is guided by equal parts Yes' 70s heyday and rock/pop muscle from their 80s 'comeback'. Of course, nothing on this album is quite as successful or on point as those iconic compass marks, but I found the collection - and, most importantly, the spirit behind it - to be a fun listen and completely worthy of Anderson’s place as one of the truly unique voices of prog music. Standout Tracks: “Shine On” & “Once Upon A Dream” - Thumbs Up and a Grade of C+.
