2017 albums

JAMC album leaked. that new single i hated at first has really grown on me btw 6music have been hammering it and i quite like it now.

new kasabian track is weak

so phil elverum from the microphones/mount eerie's wife died last summer and he has just released his new album which is this years skeleton tree/carrie and lowell. fuck.

new jamc is loads better than i was expecting. it has the odd dudd but overall very good.

Old Kasabian tracks are weak too.

That Bastien Keb album is sounding really sweet. The title is also the greatest date ever so kudos to him for that.

On the first listen I thought the JAMC started really strongly but there were some horrible songs in the last half, with predictably a decent closing song. Better than I thought but I always say that about reformed bands like I expect absolute garbage from them, probably should dial up my expectations as its like reformed bands get a free pass to put out fairly average music and get praised for it.

Some stuff I've been enjoying a lot:

Ibibio Sound Machine - Uyai

I remember not being too fussed about their first LP but this is really floating my boat. Sounds like if James Murphy & Fela Kuti made an 80s electro-funk album together. There's a few weaker tracks on there but the highlights are absolute killer.

Jeremy Pelt - Make Noise!

Post-bop Jazz record, doesn't do anything to reinvent the wheel but it has some wonderful playing throughout & is strong start to finish. Really dig it.

Damaged Bug - Bunker Funk

I *think* this is the singer from Thee Oh See's side project, if not then there's some sort of Oh Sees connection. This is a completely different beast to that band though. This is more of a neo-psych meets Krautrock type of deal. The drums are pure Can. Songs are experimental, yet catchy as fuck. Really cool stuff.

Conor Oberst - Salutations

His careers always been a bit hit or miss for me though I loved last years stripped down record. This I originally thought was going to be just that album with a full band, though instead it's 17 songs of which about 40% of are brand new. It's usually hard (at least I find) to enjoy a song then hear new versions & accept them, but I really dig the arrangements on the Ruminations tracks. It isn't as if they sound drastically different, though he's done enough to flesh them out & make them interesting, plus I really like the production on this. Reminds me of Ryan Adams Gold for some reason, probably because it's far too long! But after one listen I thought it was excellent & I'll probably come back to this in future more than I would ruminations. Excellent record.

I'll give that Idles LP another go but on first listen I thought it was fucking dogshit. I've no idea how old this band are, nor what they look like but I'm picturing fake rebellion from some middle class hipsters with daft beards who should know better. Musically boring & lyrically not interesting enough to make it worthwhile, I'll stick with Sleaford Mods I think.

Bastien Keb I'm enjoying, though I'm not sure I like it as much as his last record. I'm still exploring it though. My initial thoughts are that I'm not overly keen on the vocal style nor the raps/poetry - I think it'd work a lot better as a purely instrumental record.


TY Segall has a new 2 track single/EP thing out that I'd imagine will be worth a listen.

That Ibibio Sound Machine album is cracking.

i'll take that post mahoney.

you liking ibibio means thats another band on the latitude lineup you like so hopefully you'll still come. also i'm glad you rate the new conor oberst as not yet listened to it myself. loved the one from last year but likewise thought this was just different versions of that - glad to hear there's some new stuff too. upset you don't like idles as i've become obsessed with it but given the rest of the post i'll accept that

the new drake 'playlist' that dropped today is actually lovely. after that overlong bore of a last album i kind of thought he was done, but he corrals a lot of different scenes in effectively and the results are pretty gorgeous.

I'm not having Drake at all, just something about his voice and that production style, just really grates on me. I've tried a few times, but never got past a couple of songs.

yeah there is certainly a barrier to cross with him his production style varies a lot and he networks well, so is pretty adept at weaving in influences and has a great ear for a melody. i can understand when people can't get past the voice though. he is also powerfully uncool.

John Dwyer is basically both Thee Oh Sees and Damaged Bug, writes everything and that. This is the third Bug record and not feeling it at all, felt long and boooring. Specially considering he releases at least two records per year.

Completely didzagree

Been enjoying Skyway Man - Seen Comin' From A Mighty Eye
this morning.  Not sure where exy take their write-ups from but they said this about it:

"Musically, the twisted but melodic tunes encompass a variety of sounds, including but not limited to colorful psychedelic rock, lighter Beatles-styled pop, and a skewed Nilsson/Donovan chamber style that, even with multi-tracked instrumentation, including creative use of horns and string arrangements, stays frothy and generally bubbly"

It sounds pretty lovely to my ears.

That sounds good- i'll have that.

I have fallen absolutely head over heels in love with the new Laura Marling album. Best thing i've heard this year and for me it's even better than Once I Was An Eagle.

pleasant surprise to see the charlatans announcing a new album for may today. the last one is possible my favourite thing theyve ever released so hopefully they'll continue on a good run.

like titch, the new laura marling has really hooked me in now. i said earlier i thought it was as good as anything she's done and i think now i can confidently say this is my favourite album she's ever put out. can't wait to see her live next week.