Newer Music:

Wild Pink : A Billion Little Lights

Sometimes I seek out music that is going to challenge me and force me to wrap my mind around
something unfamiliar and maybe a bit abstract. Other days I am in the mood for accessible comfort
music that I can connect with immediately and enjoy without much expended mental effort. It might
sound like I place greater value on the former, but that’s not true. I think the ability to write a catchy,
accessible, well-crafted pop song with staying power is an extremely important and valuable skill,
especially now that Top 40 radio no longer really exists.

Wild Pink’s latest record A Billion Little Lights sounded a little too safe and vanilla on my first listens, but
I continued to find myself drawn to it, especially when I was in a state of mind where I just needed to
hear something light and easy and comforting. This record is the third of NYC-based Wild Pink’s career
and first on new label Rocky Mountain Records. Frontman John Ross has written and arranged a strong
collection of rewarding indie folk and americana songs. The instrumentation and vocals are all top
notch, especially the backing vocals of Julia Steiner of Chicago band Ratboys, who complements Ross’
lead vocals so well on several album highlights, including opener The Wind Was Like A Train and You Can
Have It Back.

Standout Tracks: The Wind Was Like A Train; You Can Have It Back; Bigger Than Christmas; The Shining
but Tropical; Amalfi; Oversharer’s Anonymous; Family Friends

Yoshinori Hayashi : Pulse of Defiance

Speaking of music that can be challenging and abstract at times, I am really enjoying the latest record
from Tokyo producer Yoshinori Hayashi. This album’s abrupt genre shifts can be a bit disorienting,
bouncing from techno to free jazz to ambient. Part of the appeal of listening to this record is anticipating
what unexpected direction Hayashi will go next, even sometimes several times within the same track!
One of my favorite electronic music releases of the year so far, I appreciate the intricate production,
unique sounds, and playful melodies.

Hayashi’s Bandcamp page includes the following quote about the artist and this latest record: “Pulse of
Defiance is the latest and most fascinating step in Hayashi’s still-blooming career—a half-decade of
fantastically quixotic output that’s established him as one of electronic music’s most fascinating aural
conjurers.”

Standout Tracks: Touch; Go With Us; Flow; Luminescence; Gallop

Nick Waterhouse : Promenade Blue

Promenade Blue is the latest album of appealing retro-sounding soul and R&B from California
songwriter and bandleader Nick Waterhouse. I really enjoy Waterhouse and his collaborators’ modern
revival take on rockabilly, doo-wap, and cool jazz. I’ve always appreciated that Nick’s origin story included a stint working at Rooky Ricardo’s Records, an unforgettable all-vinyl record shop in San Francisco that I patronize whenever I can. Recommended for anyone who enjoys the music of Leon Bridges or Charles Bradley. In fact, Waterhouse and Bridges collaborated on the fun, kitschy single Katchi from the 2016 album Never Time, which has a great album cover featuring Waterhouse playing his
guitar in front of a sexy vinyl wall backdrop.

Standout Tracks: Place Names; The Spanish Look; Promene Bleu; To Tell; Very Blue

Throwback Selections:

Mac Demarco : Salad Days

I now can’t remember what triggered my desire to revisit the brilliant catalog of Mac Demarco this
week, but I am sure glad I did. I was completely taken aback at the understated genius of his entire
discography, but especially floored by this masterpiece 2014 record Salad Days. The rare album that is
both front-to-back listenable AND filled with career-peak quality singles. To look at Demarco, you
wouldn’t be sure that he could accomplish much of anything at all; so one feels all the more sheepish
about that judgement as they are bombarded by track after track of delightful hooks, charming vocals,
insightful poetry, and skilled guitar work. I’ve seen Mac play live in both intimate venues and festivals
and the days of Mac crowd-surfing and inviting an audience member to join him on stage to play Ode to Viceroy
cannot return soon enough. An absolute national treasure.

Standout Tracks: Chamber of Reflection; Passing Out Pieces; Salad Days; Blue Boy; Let Her Go

Ralph Vaughan Williams : The Lark Ascending

I was very pleased to be able to attend the Utah Symphony in person last month. It was genuinely
moving to hear music performed live again. The highlight of the concert was the performance of The
Lark Ascending, the gorgeous violin-centric composition from British composer Vaughan Williams.
Featured soloist Madeline Adkins offered a seriously thrilling performance of this timeless piece. Serious
rewards await the listener who remains focused all the way through the last exquisite notes.

More Related Music You Should Also Check Out: Leon Bridges : Coming Home; Jon Hopkins :
Immunity; Travis Bretzer : Waxing Romantic; Richard Wagner : Siegfried Idyll