Newer Music:
Sufjan Stevens and Angelo De Augustine : A Beginner’s Mind
People who know me well know that my appreciation for Sufjan Stevens knows no limit. Sufjan is a brilliant songwriter and his delicate, vulnerable voice affects me like few others. He continues his remarkably prolific pandemic period by releasing a new record in partnership with singer-songwriter label mate Angelo De Augustine. Stevens and De Augustine reportedly recorded these songs in an upstate New York cabin, taking inspiration for each song from movies they were watching each day. For those who might be interested, the list of movies that inspired each song can be found on Wikipedia or on the Asthmatic Kitty label Instagram page. Whatever the source of inspiration, there is no denying that A Beginner’s Mind is another truly inspired collection of first-rate indie chamber pop music that I will surely be spinning for years to come as part of my regular Sufjan rotation.
Standout Tracks: Back to Oz; Lady Macbeth In Chains; Reach Out; Olympus; This Is (The Thing);
Molly Burch : Romantic Images
One of the most promising new female singer-songwriters of the indie musicsphere of the past few years is Molly Burch from the reliable Brooklyn indie music label Captured Tracks. Originally from California, Burch relocated to the Austin music scene after studying jazz vocal performance in college. Romantic Images is already her fourth record on Captured Tracks and is notable for her excellent collaborations with Jack Tatum (AKA Wild Nothing) on sweet-sounding retro pop gem lead single and album highlight Emotion; and with Alaina and Patrick from the indie band Tennis, who produced the record and co-wrote standout tracks Took a Minute and Games. Burch perhaps showcases her notable vocal talents best on second advance single Heart of Gold. Bonus points to Molly for her fun Christmas album she released a couple years ago.
Standout Tracks: Emotion (featuring Wild Nothing); Heart of Gold; Control; Took a Minute; Games
Throwback Selections:
Nirvana : Nevermind
On the 30th anniversary of its release, it is nearly impossible to adequately comprehend and appreciate the massive impact this record had on the pop monoculture that still existed in the 90s. However, I implore you to try to focus and listen to this record like it is the first time you are hearing it. Listen to it like all you’ve been listening to lately is hair metal, Boyz II Men, Color Me Badd, and Michael Bolton. Force yourself to really reckon with the concept of encountering In Bloom for the first time at high volume in the fall of 1991. Has there ever been a record so powerful, so punk rock, and so poppy at the same time? It is so easy, of course, to take for granted the existence of all-time great records like Nevermind. Do yourself a favor and make the effort to try to hear it again for the first time. Yes, I pre-ordered the Super Deluxe Edition 180 gram 8LP (!) Vinyl Box Set set for release next May.
Standout Tracks: In Bloom; Lithium; Stay Away; Breed; Smells Like Teen Spirit
Primal Scream : Screamadelica
Released the same day as Nevermind, Screamadelica is the career-defining breakout record from genre-hopping Scottish indie legends Primal Scream. The album that won the inaugural Mercury Music Prize, Screamadelica is an equal parts Manchester acid house rave classic and exceptional blues and soul record. A fortuitous run-in with legendary DJ Andrew Weatherall lead to monstrous advance single Loaded—the song Lorde copied shamelessly for her new album’s mediocre lead single Solar Power. Album opener and classic single Movin’ On Up is a prime example of Primal Scream melding disparate styles, instrumentation, and vocals to create timeless pop music. Tracks 2 thru 4 on the record immediately transport the listener to an imagined early 90s Manchester club scene. On Damaged, Gillespie and bandmates deliver one the best Rolling Stones songs that Jagger and bandmates never wrote.
Standout Tracks: Loaded; Slip Inside this House; Don’t Fight It, Feel It; Movin’ On Up; Damaged
More Related Music You Should Also Check Out: Wild Nothing : Gemini; Tennis : Small Sound EP; Color Me Badd : C.M.B.; Spacemen 3 : Taking Drugs To Make Music To Take Drugs To
