The final episode covering a six-week series of new music, including: Slift - Ilion (2024) Autechre - LP5 (1998) Ison - Inner-Space (2019) The Adventures of Jet - Muscle (2003)
From the Pharmacy of Dr. Spin
Music I Like and Why I Like It
Saturday, March 9, 2024
2024 Album Showdown Results: Tier 1, Week 3
Caroline Rose - The Art of Forgetting VS. Anekdoten - Gravity
Anekdoten - Gravity
The Art of Forgetting is a respectable indie-rock album, with several great songs and a solid concept. Anekdoten is a bit of a hometown favorite, though, and even though Gravity may not be considered by most to be the apex of their output, it's still an incredibly evocative album.
Toe - For Long Tomorrow VS. Low - Things We Lost In The Fire
Toe - For Long Tomorrow
I hold both of these albums in high regard, for sure. This incarnation of Low, however, is an early prototype of the band that won 2022 Album of the Year, giving some room for Toe’s tasteful virtuosity to capture my attention.
Andre 3000 - New Blue Sun VS. Birth - Born
Andre 3000 - New Blue Sun
A controversial choice, for sure, especially given my prog-rock pedigree and the fact that New Blue Sun is not without flaw. I am fascinated by Andre 3000’s current direction, however, and actually think the album is pretty good at what it sets out to do.
Jaga Jazzist - Pyramid VS. The Night Terrors - Pavor Nocturnus
Jaga Jazzist - Pyramid
This was actually a significant upset, as I have been repeatedly enthralled with the oddball (but functional) theremin/organ/drums instrumentation of Pavor Nocturnus. When compared directly with the expanded instrumental palette and compositional adventurousness of Pyramid, however, the limitations of that instrumentation became apparent.
Viewer’s Choice Results
Caroline Rose - The Art of Forgetting VS. Anekdoten - Gravity
Anekdoten - Gravity
Toe - For Long Tomorrow VS. Low - Things We Lost In The Fire
Toe - For Long Tomorrow
Andre 3000 - New Blue Sun VS. Birth - Born
Birth - Born
Jaga Jazzist - Pyramid VS. The Night Terrors - Pavor Nocturnus
Jaga Jazzist - Pyramid
Wednesday, February 28, 2024
2024 Album Showdown Results: Tier 1, Week 2
boygenius - the record VS. Oki - Tonkori in the Moonlight
boygenius - the record
While the boygenius album is impressively written and performed, I wouldn’t suggest sleeping on the Oki album. Its biggest issue is consistency, which is a by-product of its status as a curated compilation of his independently released albums. Its more traditional moments feel a bit shallow, but a full album of the more psychedelic moments would resonate a bit more clearly. As it is, it lacks cohesion, where the record is a very clear, holistic statement.
Nick Hakim - Cometa VS. Naoki Sato - Godzilla Minus One OST
Naoki Sato - Godzilla Minus One OST
Cometa is another one that grew on me, but it couldn’t overtake Sato’s soundtrack. Godzilla Minus One does have moments of ambient wandering. It's more attention-grabbing moments, however, really resonated with me.
Black Pumas - Chronicles of a Diamond VS. Ora the Molecule - Human Safari
Black Pumas - Chronicles of a Diamond
This one wins the tricky showdown of the week award, mainly because both albums are consistently good, but also have minor flaws. I could make a very compelling argument for Human Safari’s clear melodic strengths, but the Black Puma’s production has just the right balance of clarity and grit, not to mention some infectious hooks delivering positive vibes. Need more of that these days, I think.
Death’s Dynamic Shroud - Transcendence Bot VS. Anteloper - Pink Dolphins
Death’s Dynamic Shroud - Transcendence Bot
I am becoming a diehard advocate of the clear musicality and creativity of Death’s Dynamic Shroud. The shades of Bitches Brew that underpin the first half of Pink Dolphins, however, very well could have caused a big upset here. The second half, however, loses clarity, allowing Death’s Dynamic Shroud to continue its ascendency.
Viewer’s Choice Results
boygenius - the record VS. Oki - Tonkori in the Moonlight
Oki - Tonkori in the Moonlight
Nick Hakim - Cometa VS. Naoki Sato - Godzilla Minus One OST
Nick Hakim - Cometa
Black Pumas - Chronicles of a Diamond VS. Ora the Molecule - Human Safari
Black Pumas - Chronicles of a Diamond
Death’s Dynamic Shroud - Transcendence Bot VS. Anteloper - Pink Dolphins
Death’s Dynamic Shroud - Transcendence Bot
Sunday, February 25, 2024
2023 Album Showdown Results: Tier 1, Week 1
Peter Gabriel - i/o (Dark Side Mix) VS. Maria BC - Spike Fields
Peter Gabriel - i/o (Dark Side Mix)
Although not without flaw, Gabriel’s most recent work stands up incredibly well against the output of his peers and far above the standard of most contemporary work. As interesting and conceptually engaging as Spike Fields is, i/o (Dark Side Mix) is the clear winner here.
Tigran Hamasyan - StandArt VS. Altin Gun - Ask
Tigran Hamasyan - StandArt
Every week has a showdown that is particularly troublesome, and for this round, this is the one. Giving it to Hamasyan is a bit of an upset, because going in, Altin Gun’s exotic, psychedelic jams appeals to a very distinct niche in my listening. However, it's been a while since I was genuinely drawn to an album of jazz standards, and Hamasyan’s creativity won out upon related listens.
K Frimpong w/ Vis-a-Vis - K. Frimpong w/ Vis-a-Vis VS. Young Fathers - Heavy Heavy
K. Frimpong w/ Vis-a-Vis - K. Frompong w/ Vis-a-Vis
Another tough one, to be honest, but classic West African High Life is also a style in which I have some subjective interest. Young Fathers has slowly gained some ground with me, but not quite enough to win out here.
Mo Troper - Trooper Sings Brion VS. Billy Woods and Kenny Segal - Maps
Mo Troper - Trooper Sing Brion
Troper Sings Brion is another one that’s going to be tricky to knock out. Brion’s wry wit and emotive chord choices wear well under Troper’s quirky renderings. Any Other Way is my current favorite anthem.
Viewer’s Choice Results
Peter Gabriel - i/o (Dark Side Mix) VS. Maria BC - Spike Fields
Peter Gabriel - i/o (Dark Side Mix)
Tigran Hamasyan - StandArt VS. Altin Gun - Ask
Tigran Hamasyan - StandArt
K Frimpong w/ Vis-a-Vis - K. Frimpong w/ Vis-a-Vis VS. Young Fathers - Heavy Heavy
Young Fathers - Heavy Heavy
Mo Troper - Trooper Sings Brion VS. Billy Woods and Kenny Segal - Maps
Mo Troper - Trooper Sings Brion
Wednesday, February 21, 2024
2024 Album Preview Series: Tier 1, Part 11 of 12
Home stretch on this deluge of fresh listening, including music from:
The Smile - Wall of Eyes (2023) Brian Eno w/ Daniel Lanois and Roger Eno - Apollo: Atmospheres and Soundtracks (1983) Subsignal - A Poetry of Rain (2023) Zombi - Surface to Air (2006)Thursday, February 15, 2024
2024 Album Preview Series - Part 10 of 12: The All-Japan Episode
This episode features artists from Japan, including:
88Kasyo Junrei - ◯△☐ (2012) The Yoshida Brothers - Hishou (2006) Naoki Sato - Godzilla Minus One OST (2023) Oki - Tonkori in the Moonlight (2022)Saturday, February 10, 2024
2024 Album Preview Series: Tier 1 - Part 9 of 12
Loving all the new suggestions? I got more love to give...
Black Pumas - Chronicles of a Diamond (2023) Ora the Molecule - Human Safari (2021) Tigran Hamasyan - StandArt (2022) Anteloper - Pink Dolphins (2022)