Shakey Graves - And The War Came - 2014

Folky, country, indie.

I picked Shakey Graves because I am obsessed with the single, Tomorrow, and was shocked to see it was not listed as part of an album. I also love the album cover on the single, so was intrigued to explore more.

Right out of the gates I loved this the sound. Folky, country, indie, sultry. But every song brought a new sound, a new vibe, and new story. I was on my toes to find out more as each song progressed.

I can listen to the guitar picking and humming in Only Son all day.

The intro on Dearly Departed immediately drew me in. Between the clapping and guitar, I didn’t want it to end. So creative and fun.

Perfect Parts was also so fun with this mysterious drum beat. He opens with this low hum and revisits that hum after the first verse. Makes the whole part a strong transition into the next part of the story. Man I love his voice too. There were some part where you can feel him singing from his gut. I’m not doing a great job describing it but I really loved listening to this one.

Really loved the artistry and variety on this album. Ashamed that it took me this long to explore more of his work. Better late than never. He really ran the gamut on all subjects to write about, too. This was the exact kind of feeling I was hoping for in going through this exercise. To discover a new artist that I can fall in love with his/her music and creative work.

This was my favorite album to listen to all month long. I’m so glad I did not give up and always made an effort to get caught up. So satisfied with this month and this selection.

Brian Fallon - Local Honey - 2020

I really have no idea how this made it on here. I have no idea who Brian Fallon is and searched all my text messages to find if anyone suggested it to me.

This is a quaint, folky album. I loved the coffeeshop quality that each song brought. I’ll be adding some of these songs to my wake up playlist. Feels like I need a few more songs to add there to fluff it up. I wasn’t really struck by any strong emotional connection to any particular song, but it was all still enjoyable.

This album feels like something I will revisit in another period of my life in the future and find a stronger connection to it when I’m in a different state of mind.

I think I’m just annoyed I can’t find out how or why I added this artist to the list.

Chris Stapleton - Traveller - 2015

Okay my original post got deleted and I’m really annoyed about it. Need to remember what I wrote.

first country album

I think this was the first modern country album I actually went out of my way to listen to fully, and intently.

I’ve never really exposed myself to country music, just the pop stuff that comes across the radio every now and then. I have this one playlist on Spotify called “tolerable” country music so maybe that’ll explain a bit more. Tennessee Whiskey is my favorite songs on that playlist so I had to hear what the rest of the album had to offer.

Overall, this was exactly what I’d expect from a country album, but in a really good surprising way. A great mix of alcohol, heartbreak, falling in love, risk taking and the effort of life. Lots of beauty in the simplicity.

My biggest love was his voice. He really knows how to sing and knows exactly what notes flatter his voice. I wish I could swim in the waves of every riff he sang. They were so smooth and effortless, it is so beautiful.

The raspiness in his voice was so beautifully exemplified in Whiskey and You and I loved how it was such a harsh part of such a sweet, soft song with the guitar.

Fire Away had me think of an orchard I went to last fall in upstate NY. It had picnic tables out on a meadow by the bar, string lights outlining the seating area and mini bonfires separating the tables by party. I imagined this song playing in the background, and a couple getting up to slow dance in the corner. That’s kind of how I epitomize country love songs: a couple just enjoying the sweet simple pleasures of life and each other.

I really loved the intro and guitar to Parachute. Gave me a little taste of bluegrass.

Again, this album was exactly what I expected. There were few songs that blended together and sounded too similar to me, but that’s okay. I like knowing what to expect sometimes, when I’m in the mood for something calming and inherently enjoyable. This album definitely accomplishes that. Looking forward to relistening and diving into his newer albums.

Prince - Purple Rain - 1983

This album was the epitome of an 80s record, in my opinion. There were so pretty iconic tracks that are so strongly associated to this decade in my head. Shit my mom would force us to suffer through in the car.

There were some sporadic moments of yelling or exclamation that really made me cringe.

I think overall, I gave it a chance, got through it, but won’t be returning any time soon.

David Bowie - Aladdin Sane - 1973

I remember exactly where I was when I found out who David Bowie was. It was 2016, I was in an art class in Jersey City, surrounded by real artists, and he had just passed away.

I was so embarrassed, stunned that I had never even heard his name, as were the older, more mature artists who were explaining him to me in that class. I probably seemed so young and naive in that moment. To be fair, I was. He was such an icon, and I was totally missing out. Or at least they made it seem like I was.

I started noticing him around everywhere; there were several murals of him around town and I’d notice his name and records in all the shops I’d be in. But I never listened to the music.

Okay, so I picked this album because the art on the cover was the mural that stands out the most to me. I see it every time I go back to Jersey City/Hoboken, so it really just epitomizes what David Bowie signifies to me my whole experience living in JC.

Listening to this album was kind of tough to get through the first time around. I was beyond tired and had no energy to get through it. So I shut it down after feeling burnt out on the second song.

Coming back to it a few days later, I’m really trying to locate the pieces I like. I genuinely was trying to figure out if the music was iconic or if he as a human was just iconic. I believe there is a significant difference, although many people would argue they coexist to each other (with life in general, not necessarily specifically to Bowie. I haven’t really read up on him at all.)

Panic in Detroit had these drums that absolutely drew me in. The shaker layered in was great but I think the electric guitar over this kind of clashed. Regardless I like how it came together.

When I released to the song Aladdin Sane, I still hated it. I hated the repetition of the guitar track and the impromptu piano just felt like nails on a chalk board.

I kind of got bored and wanted to skip this album entirely but I had to see it through.

There were very clear pop rock sounds here. I could have mistaken Let’s Spend The Night Together for something from Grease. I was very confused. Maybe that’s just what the 70s sounded like though. I dunno.

I probably won’t be diving into any more of his music, but at least I’ve checked it off my list.

Paul Simon - Graceland - 1986

Last albums suggested by Alex.

I couldn’t get behind this album. All of its components make sense to me, and are quite significant in effort. But as a whole, I couldn’t relate or connect. The accordion sound, the instrumental breaks. Classic pop album I wish I loved.

I think honestly there’s just something that doesn’t click in my head when classic music is happy music. My brain just doesn’t work that way.

LCD Soundsystem - This is Happening - 2010

Another recommendation from Alex. I was hyped about this one because Aman had me listen to Dance Yrself Clean last year (or was it 2019?) back in the good old days when we in the office together and I would DJ the afternoon too loudly so frequently that we would get in trouble with our office neighbors for partying too hard.

Anyway.

There were some obvious hits on this and the ones I enjoyed the most (outside of Dance Yrself Clean) were Drunk and Home. There was one song I really hated, Pow Pow and the vocals in One Touch. There were parts of I Can Change that I LOVED but also HATED.

Let’s start with the stuff I loved.

I loved the snare sound that led every song. I loved that the drums signaled a transition in the song. I loved the electronica beats, when I typically would cringe and skip to the next song. I think the bass brought a level of depth that helped me blend all the beats together.

I loved that there was balance in each song throughout, some were be heavier on guitar and drum like All I Want, and others would be heavier on the electronic songs. But all were intertwined at some point.

I was listening to this song while driving through the city, but this is the type of music I want to hear blasted in the boom boom room where I can just forget where I am and who I am and dance my ass off. I miss those places.

The things I hated. I hated the guitar electronic autotune sound in Somebody’s Calling Me. I hated the robotic, 80s disco techno sound in One Touch. I really cringed it reminded me of an old song that I hate but I can’t name. If it comes back to me, I’ll edit this post and write it in.

Anyway, there were enough strong, indulging moments here to earn a second shot. Looking forward to listening to this again but skipping through the parts I disliked :)

mewithoutYou - It’s All Crazy! It’s all False! It’s All A Dream! Its Alright - 2009

I picked this band because Hayley Williams & Paramore are obsessed with them. I needed to find out why. I picked this album because the album title / art looked the most interesting.

There’s one Paramore song that the lead singer of this band is featured in and that song is kind of intimidating, so I was expecting this slight aggressive screamo sound.

I was wrong.

First off, all the songs were written in third person. It kind of made me think that some music is non-fiction and some are fiction. This felt like a fiction album. That’s the first thing I noticed.

They had a much softer, rhythmic, rock sound. There was a lot of variety in each song, and some standout instrumentals that I really appreciated. There’s a part in "Goodbye, I!” where the vocals drop, the guitar and drums continue through the bridge and then pick up tempo as the vocals start up again. That kind of stuff was sprinkled throughout the album which made it fun to listen for.

Going back to the fiction/non fiction thing… I think another bit that adds to this is because the leader singer isn’t quite singing, he’s sort of talking but not quite rapping. But it’s not monotone. You can hear the effort as he brings in different emotion into different songs. So interesting and rouge and odd.

I think I missed the general concept on this album, but I’ll blame that mostly on me for needing to play catch up on this challenge lol.

I might have to dive into their greatest hits to decide if I actually like it. I just did a quick read about them on their bios and websites. Sounds like all their albums/ music changes as time goes on because they’re more a experimental band. Cool. I guess its nice to know there are bands out there willing to shift their song, develop a new tone for all the music they put out there.

The Strokes - Room on Fire - 2003

I’ve always loved The Strokes singles, distantly but enthusiastically. I’ve heard tremendous praise of their live shows and hold pure envy towards those who talk about it because I never had experienced them live myself. (Depressing plug: I miss all concerts and live music *cries*)

Anyway, this album was no surprise to me. Their sound is so distinct with the slight muffled vocals and the heavy guitar riffs. I loved every song but sort of because every song mushed into one for me. In this case, that wasn’t a bad thing, because it’s all so good.

Makes me wants to blast this music in the middle of Central Park and dance in the sun. This is happy music to me.

Little Hag - Whatever Happened to Avery Jane? - 2020

Suggested by Dave!

I knew this artist was going to be some underground, local unknown band, which is what Dave loves to discover. So I’m glad to say she met that expectation. I shamefully fall for music ads and explore artists that are suggested to us in hopes of finding good music that no one one else is paying attention. Proudly, I think we have a good list of those bands by now.

Little Hag can be added to that list. She covers all the bases: alt, emo sound; sad girl, fuck you lyrics, and this general “I’m doing me” attitude. I think that’s the jersey girl in her. :)

There was some variety across the songs in the album, but I’d be excited to see what she puts out there next. You can tell she’s good, but needs to be a bit more refined and/or technical growth. Otherwise, pretty impressed.

Common - Be - 2005

First of a few recommendations from Alex.

Writing this in my notes on my phone so I can finally catch up to my dates. Fast tracking through the next frew albums.

Immediately sunk into the jazz r&b mood here.

First thing that struck me were the instrumentals and tracks. I feel like they really bring the stories to life without overtaking the entire song. This is where tap and story telling come to life and resonate with me. My mind follows the rhythm and flow and and I hear the message more clearly.  

Second that I loved was his voice. So soothing so refined and collected. It gives me confidence this entire album captured his whole soul.

Last but certainly not least were the stories and overall theme. How overwhelming the love for black culture and the power of creating this album to exemplify life in the US. I almost forgot this was released in 2005 because it is so relevant to today still. 

The struggle and resilience, the doubt and the confidence, the disbelief and the faith, I loved the overall honesty in this album. The ugliness and beauty of life captured in 11 songs. 

Tyler, The Creator - Cherry Bomb - 2015

This was my least favorite listen so far.

The song Cherry Bomb literally felt like my speakers were blowing out. It hurt to listen.

I got through the whole album but didn’t enjoy it. :T

Megan Thee Stallion - Good News - 2020

This isn’t music I would typically have or go to play while I’m sitting around in my apartment. But, I was glad to pick up on some of these bad ass lines.

• “I’m talking AMSR, let me hear you chew it”

• “I’m a boss, I can buy the same thing my man bought”

• “If I wasn’t such a player, probably be somebody’s wife”

• “I'm lookin' for a thug who ain't scared of the pussy with a gangster lean” (SZA sings this, and it sounds so pretty)

• “I best not ever catch you talkin' shit if your bank account still attached to your mom's.”

• “My mama prayin' for me she better pray for whoever in my way”

• “Now how many besties done upped and left me? Who claimed they my dawg and just my pet peeves ”

I’m so glad I didn’t skip through this like I normally would have. I got to Don’t Rock Me To Sleep and loves the contrast in this one from the rest of the album. First of all, she’s not rapping, she was singing. Second, the music had this amazing 80s synth beat that made the whole song stand out like a fluke song across the rest of the bad ass, dance twerking music. The hook was sooooo catchy.

The song Outsider followed the next song with this really beautiful piano line all throughout. It gave me this R&B vibe that is almost lost underneath the beat track, but it comes through and it makes the song feel nostalgic. Loved it.

I can’t look over Savage and Body and pretend it didn’t make me want to go to a club or bar and drink til 4pm. Really made me miss precovid days…

P!nk - Beautiful Trauma.

My love and best friend Justin suggested this one.

I haven’t listened to P!nk in years but this album reminded me of all the things I adored about her while growing up. She still has that badass, gritty attitude that contrasts her sweet, melodic powerful voice.

There’s something about her voice that carries such difficult stories so gracefully. She built her own identity, not quite rock, not quite pop, not quite girlie, not quite goth. I’d like to think she’s just singing and belting what is true to her.

There were a couple of songs I really wanted to skip through because I can’t listen to the heavy pop beats and over complicated producing. But I can listen to the piano led, clean sounds all day.

Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken and We Lost It were those that I could listen over again but sort of sound the same. I think I just really like sad girl music right now lol.

Allman Brothers - Eat A Peach - 1972

Okay I’m nearly a week behind on this challenge but I am determined!

I knew I wanted to add an Allman Brothers album because my friend Dan Toppo, and one of the best guitarists I know, worships this band. I had to find out what all the fuss was about. I picked Eat A Peach specifically because the album was featured at a trivia night I went to in Jersey City back in 2016 so it just jumped out at me.

ANYWAY back to the album review.

Their sound is exactly the vibe you picture in the background of an All-America country movie in the background of a chevy driving down a dirt road. Just the ultimate jam sesh. Ironically, I made the mistake of not listening to this album while I went out on my first road trip in the car I just got. I was driving alone and needed music to sing along to, and this album was not gonna be it. But, if I were ever to go out on a road trip across the country, I would definitely throw this on, take a nap in the passenger’s seat and enjoy the ride.

I can definitely see why Dan loves this band. The guitarist has incredible solos and the mountain jam live exemplifies each individual instrument. That’s what I love about musicians. When you’re good, you’re good. When you’re good, you can play with others and just jam out and feel the music. I love that.

I think my favorite was Little Martha. Just beautiful guitar picking. Simple, sweet, clear, hitting every note without skipping a beat. I could fall asleep to this on repeat. This acoustic guitar picking is my favorite sound. It feels like home and feels comforting like a warm summer afternoon.

Real Estate - The Main Thing - 2020

Genevieve and Coach Case recommended Real Estate! I’ve already heard their first album, so was really excited to give this new one a go.

So my thing with new music is that I have to be in the right mindset or mood to really get into it. For example, I really hated the new Tame Impala album the first time I listened to it, especially the single. But after a few months, when the weather got nicer, and the sun shined a bit warmer, I needed something to jam to and I loved it.

So came into Real Estate with that little piece of self-awareness. I was looking forward to sitting down, unwinding, putting this album on in the background as I mindlessly scrolled through Instagram or LinkedIn.

But I couldn’t turn my mind off and there was no way I could ignore the music, but not the way you think.

There’s something very monotonous that irks me about their whole sound. I feel like they’ve got all the components of music I would like: interest synth, cool guitar riffs, chill beats and drums. But nothing resonates with me. I feel nothing listening to the music and hear no emotion in his voice. That’s it. Maybe his voice just doesn’t speak to me. There’s no variety in his voice.

Maybe I need to reevaluate when is best to listen to this album. I really wanted to give them another shot but maybe I just don’t like their sound and that’s fine too.

Tracy Chapman - New Beginning - 1995

I need to preface this post that I sort of half listened to this album. I think I put so much effort into the Stormzy listen that I was ready to move onto something else tonight. But I’m trying to get back on schedule!

I owe it to you, Tracy, to do better. So I’ll write this now and then come back tomorrow or later this week to relisten.

Listening to this in the background, I really enjoyed her voice. I’ve always been allured by her unique folky raspy voice. I’ve never listened to this album but Give Me One Reason is legit one of my favorite so I felt like a fraud for not knowing the whole album.

Love the guitar in Remember the Tinman, but also got lost in something else because it was in the background.

I think my initial favorite song was New Beginning. I loved the intro with this sweet rhythm layered under this annoying buzzing noise. Just catchy.

Anyway I’m lazy and tired now.

Stormzy - Heavy Is The Head - 2019

I was SO excited to listen to this that I forgot to do it yesterday! Lol :(

I listened to this album a bit different from the other albums because I really wanted to follow along with the lyrics and my little ears can’t keep up without reading the words. Sooooo I sat here googling the lyrics and followed along lol.

The emotional songs with sweet chorus singing and melodic notes like Crown and One Second caught ear as usual. I will always love and appreciate a moment of acknowledging the come up and the struggle and how one overcomes that. It resonates. I find so much beauty if the fact that they can sing and rap and create music about their effort. Woooof. The interlude with Yebba!!! OMG I love. So sweet and simple but so powerful and full of life. Their voices melt together so naturally. Also, Yebba is such a MOOD. You feel every note she sings. If you haven’t listened to her yet, PLEASE do yourself a favor and search for her SoFar Sounds performance.

I loved loved every sample and every track that he raps over. I wish I knew more British slang and had more of a cultural understanding of some of his references but regardless, I loved this album so much.

Pop Boy really made me miss going out and dancing my ass off. I felt like music I should be listening to at a random night out in the city, when I’m out too late from happy hour after work but have no regard for what tomorrow’s hangover will bring. That beat had me kicking my leg out and dancing a bit in my living room.

Superheroes stood out to me because I’ve heard it on a playlist. The playlist was put together by my colleagues during the UK Black History Month. This playlist brought in all the different emotions of being black in the 21st century. The struggle and hope the ambition and the reality the fight the pain. This song in particular hits me because it highlights the pride and the future. The fight is worth it. The effort is worth it. Believe in yourself for yourself, for your family, for your history, for your legacy. It’s really beautiful.

Really enjoyed this album, all the different melodies and beats mixed in with a variety of stories and references. Truly something beautiful. Excited to dig deeper into the grime scene.

Sampha - Process - 2017

Absolutely OBSESSEd with his voice and tone. Sampha has such a beautiful, unique, raspy, emotional, bright and soulful voice. He first caught my ear on Drake’s Too Much. Then I heard him again on Solange’s “Don’t Touch My Hair” which was first introduced to me through a colleague’s “Back to Black” playlist, I was hooked.

The same week I heard Sampha’s voice on that playlist, Netflix launched a tv version of my favorite music podcast “Song Exploder”. They interviewed Alicia Keys on her song which featured Sampha and it all felt sort of serendipitous.

Songs like Kora Sings and Reverse Faults were a strong departure from the songs I am used to hearing Sampha featured in. There’s a certain level of doubt I carry when I listen to a full album by an artist that only I’m used to hear as features. (I.e. it took me a long time to fall in long with Jhene Aiko’s music because she was such a strong feature voice. I wasn’t immediately taken away by her own music because I wasn’t convinced her voice could carry a whole song; let alone a whole album.) I think they have this garage meets blues vibe that’s so unique to him.

Blood on Me had such an intriguing piano measure in the chorus. The whole song was fast paced and invoked anxiety and fear and then the chorus chimes in with the piano notes swinging back and forth. Then those notes came back in the bridge but he was singing the notes staccato. Man, it was so catchy.

My two favorite, inevitably, were the soft tone, emotional “No One Knows Me” and “What Shouldn’t I Be?”. Just pure vocals and piano. Really enjoyed those a lot.

Loved this so much. I want to dive into the music he’s produced and/or written as collabs with other artists too.

Solange - A Seat At The Table - 2016

I’m a day late here. Knowing I had two of these to listen / write, I started early listening to this album. I fell asleep twice while trying to get through the album. I don’t know why it wasn’t clicking for me.

There is a lot of depth in her lyrics and the stories she’s telling in the album. There are obvious themes around being Black and what that experience is like today. For that, I love the album and I love that it’s titled A Seat At The Table.

I chose to include this on my list because I knew it was a highly regarded album that everyone said “I have to listen to!!!” but never got around it.

While it’s not entirely relatable for me, obviously because I’m not black, I still find appreciation for Black artists telling their stories, most especially artists. Some people learn through books, others through pain. For me, I’m learning through music. So I’m thankful for the opportunity to learn through these songs.

On the other hand, I wasn’t entirely a fan of how repetitive some of the lyrics were in many songs. It was kind of a struggle to get through the entire album without wanted to skip to the next song, because I felt like the songs weren’t progressing very much, but I think that’s just me.

Overall, I love the message the album and lyrics were sending. Not exactly a fan of any individual song, but as a whole, it’s a powerful record.