@@@ A Tribe Called Red: Halluci Nation (Radicalized Records, 2016). Native American electronic music combined with indigenous chanting and hand drumming that I got to via the CFUV radio station out in Vancouver. The second track is a pretty hot mash of gangsta hip hop and native chanting. I’m about 5 tunes in and the arrangements are super hot — these guys put mainstream electro folks to shame with their funkiness and creativity. The lyrics are a bit hit and miss. I don’t love the spoken word piece and some of the lyrics distract from the music which is unfortunate. There are guest vocalists and poets on almost every tune so the vibe varies greatly due to that. I love what these guys do and I’m gonna swing back on this record when I have time. I’m guessing there will be a handful of stuff which I love and other tracks less so.
@@@ Dog, Paper, Submarine: Trouble on Earth (Small Bear, 2016). Alt-mainstream rock from Sweden that I got to via the label that put this record out. There’s plenty of slack and weirdness that contrasts nicely with the Foo Fighters rock formula. The second tune has more of a quirky Brit rock kind of feel so this may be a record of various rock styles united by the vocals which are kinda strange and endearing. I would listen to more but the Bandcamp interface (aka the gooey) went sideways and the song list for the record disappeard. Poor me.
@@@ Bruno Mars: 24K (Warner, 2016). Ah, the grand male bimbo of mainstream pop music, Bruno Mars! The question regarding a new Bruno Mars tune is whose music will he victimize for his bank account this time around. It’s looking like Gap band era disco that he bit for this track. The synth hook sounds almost note for note. There’s not much to say here because what do you say about airhead party music? This is why the Chinese are winning, do they get down to such filth? Oh, just joking playa!
@@@ Norah Jones: Day Breaks (Blue Note, 2016). I just had a morning cappucino so now is the best time to check Queen of the Snoozypants, Norah Jones. With help from jazz heavyweights like Wayne Shorter and Lonnie Smith, the question is will that keep me awake? I almost made it to the end of the first track before clicking fast forward, let’s peep a little more and then I gotta lie down. She’s got a line in this second song ‘good things are happening but they’re happening slow’ — sing it sister! Oh, that’s the third tune, Flipside, let’s go back to the second tune. The second tune is called Tragedy and it’s mellow and laidback. I can’t take it anymore.
YTD recordings listened to: 796
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 447
Not good music: 298
Buys: 15
Honorable Mentions: 12
Possibles: Chris McGregor, Dave Arner Trio, Zomby, Retox, Defeater, Jonwayne, Okkyung Lee, The Ballantynes, Slidhr, The Chewers, Toxic Holocaust, Susie Iberra/Roberto Rodriguez, Lenguas Largas, The Coral, T.O.M.B., Fofoulah, Lozen, Erase Errata, Mastery, Leviathan, Hartley C. White, Weed, Cold Water, Janelle Monae, Luther Dickinson, Destruction Unit, Graeme Barrett, Fast Asleep, Goldlink, Cavanaugh, Gentleman Surfer, Satoko Fuji, Mystic Braves, Divanhana, Unrestrained, Moken, Systema Solar, Brian Eno, Juan Atkins, Drone, Lantern, Twin Peaks, Djelimady Tounkara, Miramar, The Oh Sees, Denny Zeitlin, MILF, Joe Sticky, Unfun, De La Soul, Carl Sagan’s Skate Shoes, Neurosis, Magrudergrind, Gorguts, Solange
The Cross Pollinator 