PINE CONE JUICE

CURRENT ROTATION QUICK TAKES
OCTOBER 2024 

INTRO:
I'm a music junkie - plain and simple. I love keeping up with what old favorites are up to just as much as I enjoy exploring artists new to me. The idea of these CURRENT ROTATION QUICK TAKES posts is to share brief thoughts I have on the newly released albums I've listened to. 

Enjoy!

Coldplay / Moon Music

This one took some work to get through. I am a fan of Coldplay’s heyday (their first three albums released between 2000-2005), and even managed to find worthy flashpot-moments of songs on albums up through 2019’s Everyday Life. However, more than not, what I’ve waded through since 2005 is a gathering of predictably uplifting adult-contemporary. But boy have they outdone themselves in all of the worst ways on this latest collection. It is truly hard to say much that is positive at all. Nothing but anthemic soft-rock/pop that seems to be far more focused on easily-consumed commercialism than anything even slightly resembling their more committed artistic statements. Sure, it all ‘sounds’ like Coldplay - but it sort of dissolves into a less-interesting version of their former selves. Even more cringe-worthy is that it really feels like they made a Hallmark list of tried & true heartstring topics and worked their way through. Perfect song for a wedding first dance? “Feelslikeimfallinginlove” - Check! World peace anthem? “We Pray” - Check! Perseverance lift? “Iaam” - Check! You get the idea. Every sentiment is more saccharine-sweet than the last. Lowest blow, not a single one is truly convincing. Thumbs Down and a Grade of D.

Nala Sinephro / Endlessness

With some music, I love to be kept guessing and appreciate the adventure of not knowing what is around the next corner. On her second album, Caribbean/Belgian composer Sinephro has created the first jazz album in some time to so strikingly grab my attention. I would be hard-pressed to label this collection with a definitive, all-encompassing genre tag. Jazz fusion, atmospheric ambient, electronic/synth soundscaping, art-film soundtrack. They all work! A continuous 45-minutes of adventurous music - I discovered this album to work on lots of levels, not the least of which was an enveloping guide helping to navigate this hypnotic and alluring musical topography. Thumbs Up and a Grade of A.

Lizzie McAlpine / Older (and Wiser) 

This is another artist that hit my radar through my daughter, June. We actually saw McAlpine open for Dodie at a small theater in Orlando and, armed only with an acoustic guitar, she did an admirable job of holding the audience’s attention. This album, her 3rd full length release, definitely exhibits a growth in songwriting and confidence in musical identity. This is most certainly a collection of lovelorn songs - and with that comes a quiet intensity - but this provides plenty of opportunities for McAlpine to shine light on her talents as an intimate storyteller. Additionally, the album is significantly bolstered by some extremely spot-on musical arrangements. Feeling down on a cloudy day, you could do much worse than reaching for this as a companion. Standout Tracks: “All Falls Down”, “Drunk, Running” & “Broken Glass” - Thumbs Up and a Grade of B-.

Ginger Root / Shinbangumi

Almost immediately, this 5th Ginger Root album (the mastermind solo project of Cameron Lew) reminded me of Sparks in all that best way. Like Sparks, this is music that is joyful, intentionally silly & campy, humorous with tongue firmly in cheek & begging NOT to be taken too seriously - while also maintaining a demand to surrender to the enjoyment of it all. The sounds supporting these clever and fun tracks are all over the place, but never fail to summon a cohesive glue. In fact, the patchwork effect of melding & crafting the end product is highly admirable. There is a playful liveliness that harkens the inside of a cartoonish video game or the soundtrack to one of those wildly colorful Japanese game shows. I’m sure this won’t work for everyone - and I would agree that it requires a positive mood - but if you can let down your ‘too cool for school’ shield, this album is sure to win you over. Standout Tracks: “No Problems” & “There Was A Time” - Thumbs Up and a Grade of a convinced B.

Wunderhorse / Midas

Who says you have to reinvent the wheel to have a decent time? One thing that will never get old to me is committed-to guitar rock that sounds like it was born in a garage or tight rehearsal space. On the UK quartet’s sophomore release (produced by Arcade Fire/The National Producer, Craig Silvey), the band leans in and pushes their new ten tracks with a we’re-here-to-deliver confidence. I can concede that this isn’t ground-breaking music, but it lands just enough above a ‘meh flatline’ to receive modest attention. Even the tracks to threaten to derail (“Silver” & “Cathedrals”) are countered by enough that keep things afloat - especially the more ‘artsy’ numbers (like “Emily” & “July”) that aren’t afraid to take their time in delivering the goods. Standout Tracks: “Midas” & “Aeroplane” - Thumbs Up and a Grade of a passable C.

Milton Nascimento and Esperanza Spalding / Milton + esperanza

I was first exposed to the music of this Brazilian artist through his’97 release Nascimento - though I don’t recall how it originally hit my radar. I’m not 100% how this recent collaboration album with five-time Grammy winner, American musician/vocalist Spalding caught my attention (perhaps a positive NPR write-up?), but I jumped in just the same. At 81, Nascimento (who hasn’t released any music in almost 10 years) seems happy to serve as inspiration & collaborator to Spadling’s arranging/production work. The album is a mix of originals from both artists and covers - some of which work (Michael Jackson’s “Earth Song” and the dedicated re-working of Wayne Shorter’s “When You Dream”) and some that don’t (“A Day In The Life”). But mostly, the collection feels like a ‘fly on the wall’ mixtape of musical sketches - worthy of a pass-through, but maybe not a permanent add to one’s musical library. Standout Tracks: “Cais”, “Outubro” & “Um Vento Passou” (featuring Paul Simon) - a respectful Thumbs Up and a Grade of C.

Nada Surf / Moon Mirror

By the time October hits, most of you are settling into proper fall. In south Florida, we are hoping that we can officially call it the end of summer. And nothing hits better this time of year than a perfect End-Of-Summer soundtrack. Look no further. On their 10th studio album, the NY quartet continues to deliver the same clever rock/pop that was displayed in ‘96 through their Ric Ocasek Produced debut. This is smart, well-crafted bursts of the sort of quality orchestrated rock that has its foundational roots in the blueprints of Cheap Trick and the modern flourishes of ‘90s contemporaries like Guster and Death Cab For Cutie. Music that feels familiar and earnestly alluring at the same time. Even if you live somewhere that has a nip in the air, roll the windows down and turn this one up! Standout Tracks: “In Front Of Me Now”, “Losing” & “Second Skin” - Thumbs Up and a Grade of a solid A.

Julie / My Anti-Aircraft Friend

I’m always apt to tip my hat to any new act that feeds from the trough of grunge bands that were originally inspired by noise outfits like Sonic Youth. On their debut, LA outfit Julie seems especially focused to emulate the latter. So much so that I was instinctively tempted to turn off their album and dial up the source material. This collection seems to have its heart in the right place, but I was too often distracted and left wanting to hurry things along. Standout Track: “Clairbourne Practice” - Thumbs Down and a Grade of C-.

Trentemøller / Dreamweaver

This was an interesting and (mostly) understated modern collection of dreamy dark-wave. It lands somewhere between Siouxsie & The Banshees and a David Lynch movie soundtrack. With vocals provided by Icelandic artist Dísa, Danish songwriter/musician/producer Anders Trentemøller has convincingly created a hazy shroud of sound that pays equal homage to this genre’s creators, while also presenting a defined stance of its own. This isn’t beach BBQ music, but would certainly hit the right place given the right mood and setting. I’d suggest low lighting, a candle or two & some red wine. Standout Tracks: “A Different Light” & “Dreamweaver” - Thumbs Up and a Grade of B-.

Suki Waterhouse / Memoir of a Sparklemuffin

I’d rarely let something like an album title shake me, but I have to say - right away Waterhouse had an uphill battle. I knew nothing about this model/actress/accessory designer/singer/songwriter - but once learning of her various outlet avenues, you do wonder if any of the above might reveal a bit of thinning-out as far as true talent goes. Listening to this album I think I know the answer. On the surface, it is all very paint-by-numbers pop with a moody alt-lean, but what really sinks things isn’t that you can play a drinking game naming the more talented female performers Waterhouse wishes she was. The real problem is that her predictable take on the genre comes across as recycled lifting instead of respectful inspiration. Standout Track: “Supersad” - Thumbs Down and a Grade of C-.