YTD recordings listened to: 482
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 270
Not good music:186
Buys: 14 (not all 2012 releases)
Possibles: Glenn Hansard, Ebo Taylor, Le Super Borgou De Parakou, Left Lane Cruiser/James Leg, Cedric Pescia: John Cage Sonatas, Chatham County Line, Dennis Bovell, Seluah, Donnie and Joe Emerson, Rodrigo Amado (2010), Zani Diabate
@@@ Zani Diabate: Tientalaw (Sterns Music, 2012) The last recording by Malian griot guitarist Zani Diabate who died in 2011. A musical formula that relies on extensive layering Diabate’s music is a thick bubbling stew of sounds that pop out and settle back. The background vocals serve to push the whole machine along as it bounces back and forth between the male lead vocalist to the chorus.. You can really trip out on this record on headphones, could be a best of year disc though I have to listen all the way through to verify that feeling.
Nothing on the TubeOYou.
@@@ Henry Threadgill: Tomorrow Sunny/The Revelry, SPP (Pi, 2012). I want to love this record as I’m a pretty big Henry Threadgill fan, but I don’t. I like it a bunch, but it sounds very dry and almost clinical and that keeps me from getting deep inside the playing. That said, the playing is strong and I give it a B+.
@@@ Fergus and Geronimo: Funky was the State of Affairs (Harldy Art, 2012) Another on the slideshow of new releases on AllMusic.com. Sort of a Devo/Gang of Four guitars/bass/drums uptempo blend with a dash of Minutemen/Meat Puppets. The record is some sort of concept record with little skits between the short tunes. Skits are for comedy shows not records, in my opinion. I like the tightness of the band, but the squareness of it is not pure awesomeness for me.
@@@ Family of the Year: Loma Vista (Nettwerk, 2012). Found these guys Big sing a long indie arena rock right out of the gate with the first tune The Stairs. We move out of the indie rock neighborhood and more into the mainstream pop rock area with Diversity. Some Bon Jovi whoa ohs and a lot of layered vocals with big shiny vocals. They’re sporting a big fat updated California pop sound if that’s what you’re into.
@@@ Apache Dropout: Bubblegum Graveyard (Trouble in Mind, 2012) A quirky British garage rock sound, although I thought I spied that these guys were from Indiana. Could be wrong on that. Think of a crook tooth fish and chips version of the Ramones with a dash of Captain Beefheart without the insanely complicated arrangments. I like it all right, I’m not a huge fan of garage rock but it’s pretty well done garage.
Something from a year ago, not the current record
