Dr. Spin's Favorite Albums of 2019

My favorite albums from 2019 - Part 2


A YouTube playlist of the artists on the list

Dr. Spin's Favorite Albums of 2019 Part 1

My favorite albums from 2019 – Part 1


Below is a playlist of all the artists included above.  Check it out!

A Magical Digression: Frank Zappa's "You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vol.2."

Review and discussion on Volume 2 of Frank Zappa’s You Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore, (1988) often referred to as The Helsinki Concert.

Relevant links:

Review of YCDTOSA vol. 1.

https://drspinsmusicalmusings.blogspot.com/2019/06/to-vault-frank-zappas-you-cant-do-that.html

Review of Roxy and Elsewhere

https://drspinsmusicalmusings.blogspot.com/2019/09/frank-zappas-roxy-elsewhere-troubling.html

Dr. Spin’s Homebase

https://drspinsmusicalmusings.blogspot.com/

Final Albums 2019: The Problem With November

Overview of several albums to close out 2019, including:

Billie Eilish -When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? (2019)

Post Malone – Hollywood’s Bleeding (2019)

James Hood – Mesmerica (2017)

Omar Souleyman – Shlon (2019)

Wild Ones- Keep It Safe (2013)

Wye Oak – Civilian (2011)

Below is a playlist that compiles all of the overview posts from 2019.  Please be forgiving of those early posts - I was still learning!

Reflection and Gesture: Imogen Heap's "Sparks"

Review and discussion on Imogen Heap's 2014 album Sparks



Relevant links: Here's a very early text-based post on its predecessor Ellipse

Van Halen's 5150: The Context of Dreams

Review and discussion of Van Halen’s 1986 album 5150.

Relevant Links:

A older post on Sammy’s more recent group Chickenfoot

Pink Floyd's "A Saucerful of Secrets": Who Could Be Writing This Song?

Review and discussion on Pink Floyd’s A Saucerful of Secrets (1968).




Relevant links:

The Claypool/Lennon Delirium post that prompted this post: An older post on Syd Barrett

Fall 2019 Album Overview Part 2: Something Old, Something New

Overview of recent listening for late Fall 2019, Including:

Iron Maiden – Powerslave (1985)

Daniel Johnston – Is And Always Was (2009)

The New Pornographers – In the Morse Code of Brake Lights (2019)

Opeth - In Cauda Venenum (2019)

M83 - DSVII (2019)

Jakub Zytecki – Nothing Lasts, Nothing’s Lost (2019)

Relevant links:

Fall 2019 Preview Part 1

Jason Falkner / Daniel Johnston

South of Reality: Claypool and Lennon's Delirious Collaboration

Background, discussion, and review on The Claypool/Lennon Delirium’s South of Reality (2019)

Relevant Links:

A very early posting on Sean Lennon’s Friendly Fire

A post on Oysterhead

Some thoughts on The Monolith of Phobos

Other favorites from 2016, including The Monolith of Phobos

Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith: Buchla and The Kid

Discussion and review on Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith’s 2017 album The Kid, as well as a little background on her instrument of choice, the Buchla synthesizer.

Links of interest:
A written review of 2016’s EARS

A little more exposition on Moog synthesizers

The Jellyfish Family Tree Part 10: Falkner and Johnston at the Mohawk

A anecdote that looks at Jason Falkner’s I’m OK, You’re OK (2007) and Daniel Johnson’s Is And Always Was (2019) along the way.

Relevant links:

Part 2: Spilt Milk at Lunch

Part 4: Falkner Knocks Me Down

Part 7: Falkner’s Mercurial Fortunes

Frank Zappa's Roxy & Elsewhere: Troubling Fills in the Air

Discussion on Frank Zappa’s 1974 album Roxy & Elsewhere, as well as some speculation on its influence.

Fall 2019 Preview: Light on Dark Corners

Discussion and previews on a few albums that have been in rotation:

Angelo Badalamenti and David Lynch - Twin Peaks: Season 2 Soundtrack and More (2019)

The Knells – The Knells (2013)

Herbie Hancock – Thrust (1974)

Sevish – Harmony Hacker (2017)

Bombay Groovy – Odysee (2019)

Tool – Fear Innoculum (2019)

Relevant Links:

Twin Peaks Then and Now: Autonomy and Association

The Knells: Earthen Riffs, Celestial Voices

Escaping the Undertow: Tool’s Lateralus

Holly Herndon's PROTO: Anxiety and Ecstasy

Review and discussion of Holly Herdon’s 2019 release PROTO.



Copyright restrictions required me to mute the song examples in this post.  Links to the songs are as follows:






There is, unfortunately, no readily available clip of Evening Shades (Live Training), but I would encourage you to seek it out - it might hold the key to the whole album.

Escaping the Undertow: Tool's "Lateralus"

Discussion and review of Tool’s 2001 album Lateralus

I discovered this album during the summer vacation that inspired this post

I consider this to be 2001’s Album of the Year

C418's "Excursions": Playing a Different Game

Review and discussion of Excursions by C418 (2018).

Sugarbomb's "Bully:" Pick On Someone Else

Review and discussion of Sugarbomb’s 2001 release Bully

This was a 2003 top ten album (in retrospect)

Keep an eye out for a review of Bully’s "sister" album Tsar.

Summer II Overview ep.2: Everyone Out of the Pool!

More previews of Summer listening, including

The Flaming Lips – The King’s Mouth: Music and Songs (2019)

Astronoid – Astronoid (2019)

Ulver – The Assassination of Julius Caeser (2017)

The Bombay Royale – You Me Bullets Love (2012)

Julie Licata – resound/unsound (2019)

black midi – Schlagenheim (2019)

Relevant Links

Astronoid’s Air: The Craft of Dream-Thrash

Math Rock Part One: Rumah Sakit and Don Caballero

Seabuckthorn's Crossing: What is Timbre?

Review and discussion on Seabuckthorn’s 2019 release, Crossing, framed by a special deep dive into the acoustic phenomenon of timbre.

Seabuckthorn's Turns was my 2017 Album of the Year.

The Jellyfish Family Tree Part 9: Puffy Ami Yumi, Where's Andy?

After several years, I have picked up this series where I left off, with some speculation of the role that Andy Sturmer played on Puffy Ami Yumi's Nice (2003).




To go back for a refresher, the first post is here.
The previous entry is here.

Each post is linked to the next.

Summer II Overview ep.1: In the Wake of Father's Day

Preview of upcoming listening, including:

Frank Zappa – You Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore vol.2 (1988)

Khruangbin – The Universe Smiles Upon You (2015)

The Raconteurs – Help Us Stranger (2019)

Crumb – Jinx (2019)

Lost Crowns – Every Night Something Happens (2019)

Seabuckthorn – Crossing (2019)

Relevant links:

A quick guide to Brendan Benson

Seabuckthorn’s Turns

You're Not Alone: Partying with Andrew W.K.

Review and discussion over Andrew W.K.'s 2018 release You're Not Alone.



This was a 2018 top 10 album.

To The Vault! Frank Zappa's "You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vol.1."

Review and discussion on the Frank Zappa's You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 1," released in 1988.

The Knells: Earthen Riffs, Celestial Voices

Review and discussion on The Knells sophomore release, Knells II (2017).


This was a 2018 Top 20 Album.

Observing the Police Part 5: Synchronicity

Review and discussion on Synchronicity (1985) by the Police

Part 5 in a 5 part series.

 

Summer Preview 2019

Previews and discussion on current and upcoming listening for Summer 2019:

Hama – Houmeissa (2019)

Ex Hex – It’s Real (2019)

Ela Orleans – Movies for Ears (2019)

Bob Dylan – Blood on the Tracks (1975)

Weyes Blood – Titanic Rising (2019)

Holly Herndon – PROTO (2019)

Links:

Hama’s Houmeissa and Afroretrofuturism(?)

The Agrarian Radiohead: Midlake's Trials of Van Occupanther

A review and discussion on Midlake's 2006 album The Trials of Van Occupanther

Observing the Police Part 4: Ghost in the Machine

Review and discussion on Ghost in the Machine (1981) by the Police.

Part 4 of a 5 part series.

Weezer's Pinkerton: A Star Wars Story

Review and discussion on Weezer’s Pinkerton (1996), as well as a little Star Wars speculation.

Relevant past posts:

Everything Awakens: Parenting and Weezer’s Issues

Sharp Turns and Bright Colors: A Weezer Retrospective

Hama's Houmeissa and Afroretrofuturism(?)

Review and discussion of Hama’s African synthwave album Houmeissa (2019)

Sahel Sounds Website

Observing the Police Part 4: Zenyatta Mondatta

A review and discussion on Zenyatta Mondatta (1980) by The Police. Part 3 of a 5 part series

Talk Talk's "Laughing Stock:" Improvisations in the Dark

Review and discussion on Talk Talk’s 1991 album “Laughing Stock.”

Links to full videos by Ricco Buitink

Myrrhman

Taphead

Spring Overview: New Music 2019

Preview of New Music for Spring 2019

Ludwig Gorranson – Black Panther OST (2018)

Telekinesis – Effluxion (2019)

The Claypool Lennon Delirium – South of Reality (2019)

Steve Reich – The Four Sections (1990)

Yves Tumor – Safe in the Hands of Love (2018)

Devin Townsend – Empath (2019)

The Complex Retrofuturism of Traditional Synthesizer Music

Review and Discussion of Traditional Synthesizer Music by Venetian Snares (2016).

Links mentioned:

2018 Best of

S U R V I V E review

UPDATE:  My response to my own challenge.

Instagram

dr_spins_prescriptions

Facebook

Observing The Police Part 2: Reggatta de Blanc

Review and discussion of The Police's sophomore release, Reggatta de Blanc (1979).

Frank Sinatra and Count Basie Live at the Sands

Discussing Sinatra and Basie's 1966 live collaboration

Observing the Police Part 1: Outlandos d'Amour

A review and discussion on The Police's 1978 debut Outlandos d'Amour

Low's Double Negative: Paintings on a Veil

A review of Low’s Double Negative (2018)

Also a preview of Telekinesis’ Effluxion (2019)





A couple of links I mention:

2015’s Top Ten

2018’s Top Ten

Põhja Konn and the Problem of Translation

A review of Põhja Konn’s self- titled 2018 album.




Plus previews of

Black Panther OST (2018) and The Claypool Lennon Delirium’s South of Reality (2019)

Some links mentioned in the post:

2019 Preview Episode 3

The Lennon Claypool Delirium and Homelessness

Genesis' "Abacab:" Good Phil/Bad Phil

My take on the follow-up to Duke, 1981's Abacab.


 

Astronoid's "Air:" The Craft of Dream-Thrash

Review of Air by Astronoid (2016)

Several mentions of Mew in the post.  Follow this link to the wayback machine.

George Clanton's Slide, Floral Shoppe, and What is Vaporwave?

In this episode:

George Clanton - Slide (2018)
Macintonsh Plus - Floral Shoppe (2011)

Special thanks to John Thompson for his graphic design contributions!

2018 Album of the Year - Soup's "Remedies"

A video review of my 2018 Album of the Year, Remedies by Soup.

Anything else from last year you want to hear about?  Sound off!

Dr. Spin's 2019 Preview - Episode 5

Previewed in this episode:

Kapil Seshasayee– The Sacred Bore (2018)

Phoenix – Ti Amo (2017)

Alan Silvestri – Avengers: Infinity War OST (2018)

Talk Talk – Laughing Stock (1991)

Evership – Evership (2016)

Images for Ascension Day clip by Paul Dinning and Thu Trang Pham Tran

Dr. Spin's 2019 Preview Ep. 4

In this episode: My Brightest Diamond - A Million and One (2018) Kraftwerk - Computer World (1981) Georgia Anne Muldrow - Overload (2018) Phil Lanzon - If You Think I'm Crazy? (2017) Frank Sinatra and Count Basie - Sinatra at the Sands (1966)

Dr. Spin's 2019 Preview - Episode 3

Covered in this episode:
Ponja Konn (2016) Dawes - Passwords (2018) Nebulon - Sigma Rubicon VII (2018) John Zorn - Cobra: Game Pieces v. 2 (2002) Frank Zappa - You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore V. 1 (1988)

Dr. Spin's 2019 Preview Episode 2

I made some progress with the second episode.  It may be perhaps a touch too long, but I am examining the strengths and weaknesses of the medium as I go.  Enjoy!

Something New for 2019 - My First Video

So, I did something.

I have been thinking for a while about adding a video component to the blog and, to make a long story short, I gave it a try.  Below is the first attempt.  I am not widely sharing this one, as it has some pretty significant problems (not the least of which was some unforeseen rendering problems with the album art graphics).  It is an important document of my progress, however, so if you stumble across it or back into it from another post, please forgive its shortcomings.

The process, however, has me excited about the potentials in the medium.  I am already looking forward to the next episode.

Unsure of What Day It Is, Full of Cheese: 2018 Honorable Mentions

The posting that accompanied the 2018 top ten was more anecdotal than is usual for year-end postings. Narratives that surround these postings are traditionally reflective, with one eye looking at
the past year and the other looking forward to the potentials ahead. There is a subtext in that post, however, that serves as a microcosm for what I would like to address in 2019.

I recounted how my kid's nutritional standards have slowly eroded over the past five years, but I refrained from admitting that these looser standards stretch into my personal nutritional choices.  Not too long ago, I was in the best shape of my life and was balancing my personal interests, my family, and my career in an unprecedented way. The profound and rapid changes that I have endured since them however, has necessitated changes in that precarious balance that I have not been able to correct.  Despite having a great year at school so far and really enjoying my family's growth, I am not playing music for myself in any form, nor is my fitness where I would like for it to be, nor am I in the dojo as much as I would like to be. 

I hope that in the coming year I can find ways to regain that equilibrium. I am trying to let go of the idea that it will look exactly like it did then, but devoting energy into figuring out what it could like to feel as good about my personal musicianship and fitness as I do about my career and family is unarguably a worthwhile path forward.

Below I have included a few albums that I really wanted to get into 2018's top 20, but just got edged out for one reason or another. Still, they are generally compelling enough to deserve mention.

Soen - Lakaia: I showed up for the Tool references, but the melodic overlap with Opeth’s more progressive tendencies got me to stay. Lakaia has been gaining momentum on a slow simmer since this summer, but didn’t quite crack the top 20.

Tangerine Dream - Zeit: This album was in no way what I expected, but as a prototypical pre-synth ambient album it continued to pique my curiosity for the better part of 2018. It unfortunately suffered the fate of having no appropriate venue - too atmospheric for the car, but too sinister for late nights in the house.

Big Big Train - Folklore: A very good progressive rock album that just barely got edged out due to a couple of lyrically goofy moments. This album was followed by several other positively reviewed releases that might warrant further investigation.

Alcest - Kodama: Described as “black metal” inspired by Miyazaki, Kodama ended up confounding my expectations. While there are a few extreme moments on the album, these are carefully placed for musical effect, resulting in a largely melodic and engaging experience.

Boards of Canada - Music Has the Right to Children: Yes, I am very late in the game to this classic album of 90s electronica. Well worth it, and a difficult decision to leave it off the final 2018 list.

Field Music - Open Here: The first inconsistent album from Field Music that I have encountered. It has some of the best songs and grandest orchestrations in their oeuvre, but also some less inspired moments that are more apparent due to the greatness of the stronger material.