Today’s Albums 1201-1300

The 1979 Gregory Isaacs album Soon Forward is perhaps his finest moment. Isaacs is joined on the LP by reggae legends Dennis Brown and Sly and Robbie. So many great tunes…Lonely Girl…Soon Forward…Black Liberation Struggle. Still sounds great!

The new album After Hours by The Weeknd was an unexpected delight. Not normally my thing, but found myself engrossed. Maybe the eighties influence. Includes singles Heartless, Blinding Lights, and In Your Eyes.

The Jimi Hendrix live album Band of Gypsys is 50 years old today! The first LP without his original group, the Jimi Hendrix Experience, was recorded on 1st January 1970 at the legendary Fillmore East. Such a talent…classic live LP.

The 1980 Genesis album Duke is 40 years old today! Includes the singles Turn It On Again, Duchess, and Misunderstanding. The band were moving from progressive towards pop with the newer line-up. The making of Phil?

The 1968 Etta James album Tell Mama was produced by Rick Hall at FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Includes the singles Security and the title track Tell Mama. Love her version of I’d Rather Go Blind. Etta at her most soulful.

The 2nd album by Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros Global A Go-Go is a celebration of the diverse London ethnicity.  Acoustic heavy, Allmusic described the LP “listening to it is like eating sushi or escargot for the first time.” Love the title track and Bhindi Bhagee.

The 1991 album Meant to Be by jazz guitarist John Scofield features no piano.  Elements of funk, fusion and hard bop Scofield draws on influences such as Ornette Coleman in this high octane and uplifting LP.

The 2nd Sinead O’Connor album I Do Not Want What I Have is 30 years old today!  A personal album about relationships, break-ups and family.  Includes the Prince written hit Nothing Compares 2 U.  Also love I Am Stretched on Your Grave.

The 1974 Tower of Power album Back to Oakland is apparently an important album for drummers to listen to.  The Bay Area R&B act are new to me, but their infectious grooves and outstanding vocals by Lenny Williams gripped me by the horn section!

After Rush drummer Neal Peart’s personal tragedies in the late 90’s new material seemed unlikely. But new LPs did appear, and in 2007 Snakes & Arrows was released to great aplomb. Superb drumming, stunning vocals, splendid work. Sad loss earlier this year!

The 1965 Wayne Shorter Blue Note album JuJu is among the American jazz saxophonist’s finest work. With McCoy Turner on Piano, the great Elvin Jones on drums, and Reggie Workman bass, gave Shorter the personnel to create a masterpiece.

The recent album True by Berlin based composer Lambert blends classical with enchanting piano. A light touch of percussion and electronic accompaniment adds mystique, as does the Sardinian mask he performs behind.

The 1966 Frank Sinatra live album Sinatra At The Sands is an outstanding example of Ol’ Blue Eyes at his best. Accompanied by Count Basie and his orchestra, Sinatra runs through his classics and cracks funnies in The Tea Break.

The 2009 album Here’s The Tender Coming by The Unthanks was Mojo’s folk album of the year. Uncut mag said: “It’s an often exquisite mixture of light and dark, instinct and artistry that honours both the power of old songs and the stoicism of the lives that shaped them.” Beautiful LP.

The monster album Déjà vu by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young is 50 years old today! Includes the hit singles Woodstock, Teach Your Children, and Our House, as well as the wonderful Helpless. What an album, what a classic. Your thoughts?

The 2012 Robert Glasper Experiment album Black Radio, released on Blue Note, was a worthy winner of a Grammy. Glasper combines jazz, hip-hop and R&B, and even covers a Bowie track, and Smells Like Teen Spirit in his own unique way.

The new stunning album by Moses Sumney called græ: Part 1, is as the title suggests the first instalment. Sumney’s incredible falsetto is something to behold. A wonderful electronic soul album. Love the vocals on the track Virile.

The 1974 Roxy Music album Country Life is often regarded as their finest moment. A critic’s favourite, the LP consistently offers the Roxy sweet-spot between art rock and pop. Love the opener The Thrill of It All and Prairie Rose. Did the LP do it for you?

The 1969 album A Rainbow in Curved Air by experimental keyboardist Terry Riley was a huge inspiration for Mike Oldfield prior to writing Tubular Bells. The LP is in three distinct section, over two pieces, incorporating electronic movements and Hindustani ragas. Hypnotising.

The 1993 debut album Undertow by Tool, recorded in the legendary Sound City Studios, was released when grunge was all the rage. Allmusic said the LP had “technical brilliance, musical complexities, and aggressive overtones.” Masterful.

The What’s In My Bag? video series by Ameoba records is a great resource for discoveries. Huey Lewis chose the Louis Armstrong LP Satch Plays Fats. Includes classics such as Honeysuckle Rose, Squeeze Me, and Ain’t Misbehavin’. Fantastic listen.

The solo debut Moses Boyd album Dark Matter is a masterful blend of genres. Q Magazine said “The result is an album designed for the feet as much as the head.” Jazz meets Afrobeat, meets Grime, meets…much more. An end of year list contender!

The 3rd Gorillaz album Plastic Beach is 10 years old today! Damon Albarn invited a who’s who of guests on the LP including Snoop Dogg, De La Soul, Bobby Womack, Lou Reed, Mick Jones, Mark E. Smith, and many more. Conceptual pop at it’s best.

The Nathaniel Rateliff album And It’s Still Alright is a great late night album, full of reflection and contemplation. Without the Nightsweats, Rateliff sings songs of loss for his producer friends Richard Swift. No killer tunes, but poignant.

The second album by The Cardigans, Life, is 25 years old today! A huge hit in Sweden and Japan, Nina Persson and gang continued their sweet poptism style. Love Hey! Get Out Of My Way and Daddy’s Car. Apparently 50 instruments were used on the LP!

The Steely Dan album Two Against Nature is 20 years old today…or only 5 if you count only leap years! The LP was their first in two decades, yet Becker and Fagen continued where they left off. Jazz rock fusion as only Steely Dan know.

The AC/DC album Stiff Upper Lip is 20 years old today! Allmusic said “each song has a riff so catchy, it feels like you’ve heard it for years.” Well that’s because you have! It’s no Highway to Hell or Back in Black but still worth a revisit.

The PJ Harvey album To Bring You My Love is 25 years old today! Polly’s first true solo LP was produced with John Parish and Flood, a collaboration that would yield much of her great work. Includes Down BY The Water. A defining moment for Polly?

The 1965 album Dialogue by jazz vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson is considered his finest achievement. Having worked with Eric Dolphy on Out to Lunch! Hutcherson was inspired and developed the complex technique exhibited on Dialogue.

The 2nd Stevie Ray Vaughan album Couldn’t Stand The Weather, released in 1984, continued the outstanding work of his debut Texas Flood. Half are covers, 2 of the 4 originals are instrumentals. Includes a great cover of Jimi Hendrix’s Voodoo Child.

The new album Half Moon Light by The Lone Bellow was produced by the National’s Aaron Dressner. Mojo described the band “It’s where Elbow and Springsteen intersect.” A return to form as the last LP didn’t resonate for me.

The 2010 record Ali & Toumani features Malian musicians Ali Farka Touré on guitar and vocals, and Toumani Diabaté on the kora. The LP is 10 years old today, and was released 4 years after Toure’s death. Beautiful record.

The 10th Autechre album Oversteps is 10 years old today! Released on Warp records, Oversteps was first available on bleep.com and the Japanese ITunes store. Drowned In Sound said “as imposing as an abandoned warehouse surrounded by nine feet of razor wire!”

The new Drive-By Truckers LP The Unraveling is a protest against the Trump regime. American Songwriter said ”a perfect storm of anger, resentment, frustration and even glimmers of hope, wrapped in the sharp, terse musical invention.” Great listen.

The debut album Maxinquaye by Tricky is 25 years old today! The low-tempo trip-hop sound saw the ex-Massive Attack rapper become a known artist in his own right. Includes the fabulous tracks Overcome, Ponderosa, Black Steel and Aftermath. Love this album.

The 1996 Wilco double-album Being There garnered greater critical acclaim and commercial success than the American alternative rock band’s debut. Allmusic said “wouldn’t sound at all out of place on Exile on Main Street”. High praise indeed.

The fourth eponymous Peter Gabriel album (also called Security in US), released in 1982, was recorded at his home in Somerset. Enhanced by Latin and African rhythms, the LP includes Shock the Monkey and live favourite Lay Your Hands on Me.

The latest Squarepusher album Be Up A Hello was recorded on his vintage 90’s kit, and his first under the moniker in 5-years. In the most part sounding like an 80’s computer game (not a bad thing) but there is one stellar slow track. Great return.

The 1985 REM album Fables of the Reconstruction was the band’s first recording outside of the US. A loosely based Southern Gothic concept album, the LP was not particularly favoured by the band or fans. Worth a revisit after 35 years?

The 3rd Elvis Costello & The Attractions album Get Happy is 40 years old today! Punchy and energetic short songs, among his best work, heavily influenced by soul, such as released by the Motown and Stax labels. Very emotive LP.

The 4th album by The Jayhawks Tomorrow The Green Grass is 25 years old today! Country-rock at its finest, great harmonies by Gary Louris and Mark Olson, rough guitar and memorable melodies. Hard to follow Hollywood Town Hall, but a splendid effort.

The new Tre Burt album Caught It From the Rye was released on John Prine’s Oh Boy Records. A label that has only signed two artists in 15 years. The Pacific Northwest singer-songwriter performs soul and folk for the modern day.

The 1975 Keith Jarrett live album The Koln Concert is a performance of legend. Show was organized by 17-year-old Vera Brandes, and held at Opera House in Cologne. Jarrett performed on a poor rehearsal piano during the show. He adapted and the result was spectacular.

The debut, and only album by The Arcs Yours, Dreamily was released in 2015. A side-project by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys, complete with a dreamy garage-rock sound. Includes the single Stay In My Corner. A true one-off?

The debut and only studio album, GI, by American punk rock band the Germs apparently cost $6,000 to produce, the early hardcore punk LP is snarling, disturbing and brutal…classic LA punk.

The 5th studio album by The Doors, Morrison Hotel, is 50 years old today! Following The Soft Parade, the band returned to their original blues-rock style. The critics welcomed the return, with tracks like Roadhouse Blues. How does the LP rate in your Doors favs?

The Lambchop album Nixon was released 20 years ago today! A critic and music press favourite. Allmusic said “a concept album about the disgraced 37th president of the United States”, and “music constructed on a grand scale that’s richly satisfying.”

The 1970 album Introspection by the British band The End never received the success the band richly deserved. The British psychedelic album was produced by The Rolling Stones Bill Wyman and now a collector’s item. I bought my copy about 25 years ago for £20…worth more now.

The 2002 album Plastic Fang by The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. Allmusic said of the LP “sounds live and abrasive, infectious and undeniable.” A guest appearance by Dr. John. Love She Said and Mean Heart. Rollicking listen.

The Fear Factory album Mechanize is 10 years old today! Original guitarist Dino Cazares returned after a 4-year absence. The LP was heavier than previous outings, and a true return to form, with most critics calling it a ‘powerful return.’

The 2003 debut album Keep On Your Mean Side by The Kills was released the same day as the 4th White Stripes, a band The Kills are often compared. Rolling Stone called the LP “a bruising disc of post-modern blues.”

The 2013 Yeah Yeah Yeahs album Mosquito saw the New York trio expand their musical horizons. Production by LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy and Dr Octagon added an extra dimension. Includes the singles Sacrilege and Despair.

The 2013 Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds album Push the Sky Away received universal acclaim. The Guardian described it “funeral-paced songs and stripped-down music that calls to mind Leonard Cohen fronting James Blake minimalism.“

The 2015 album Let The Good Times Roll by the Oklahoma rock and blues singer JD McPherson revives 50’s rock and roll, doo-wop and sounds of yesteryear. McPherson’s voice has been compared to Sam Cooke at times, a testament to quality of JD.

The 6th album by Primal Scream XTRMNTR is 20 years old today! A politically minded release, undoubtedly the trigger for a more aggressive sound. The critics loved the LP with Uncut and NME ranking at number 2 in their lists.

The debut Leftfield album Leftism is 25 years old today! Nominated for the Mercury Prize, the LP is perceived as a landmark album in dance music, and still sounds superb. The track Open Up with John Lydon is one of my all-time favourites.

The 2013 debut album 180 by the London garage indie rock Palma Violets was highly anticipated. Having appeared on the cover of NME prior to their first single release, their debut was set up to fail. Where some critics obliged, I enjoyed.

The 4th album by Hot Chip, One Life Stand, is 10 years old today! Huw Jones of Slant Magazine described the LP as “a smooth, sleek, and splendid pop record.” Nailed it. Not their best work, but an enjoyable listen.

The 2012 debut album by Southern soul-rock quartet Alabama Shakes Boys & Girls was an instant hit. Prefix Magazine said “The album encapsulates summers of falling asleep on porches, cicadas chirping periodically among the trees, shaking slightly from a passing breeze.”

The third album by the American dream pop duo Beach House, Teen Dream is 10 years old today! The LP was a critic’s favourite back in 2010. Fantastic arrangements and melodies, wonderful vocals from Victoria Legrand. Love Norway and Lover of Mine.

The 2006 eponymous album by the English folk singer Jim Moray is stretching the limit of the folk genre. The talented musician plays everything except the orchestral parts and the cover made me think of Jobriath. Enjoyable listen.