Weekend Music Roundup

As summer begins to wind down, I figured it was about time to do a list that featured some of the recent albums that I've been listening to that capture that late summer vibe, you know, that time of year when as a teen, your freedom was dwindling which meant you lazed around more than ever exploring the word through new perceptions. These albums are all right for that kind of exploration. Enjoy.

The Blank Tapes - Super Bloom EP: The new EP from Cali neo-psych artist Matt Adams is my first exposure though he's been around for over a decade and makes music that is right in my wheelhouse. This album consists of six meandering songs that feel sun-drenched and hazy, reminding me of many other psychedelic pop artists like Psychic Ills. A wonderful lazy summer album, with my favorites being "Get Yourself Down," "Exotica," and the title track. 

Stonefield - Bent: This is the fourth album from the all-female heavy psych band from down under.  This has that heavy eerie sound that we've come to expect from a heavy psych band these days. The grinding guitar work is what really struck me about this album, and Amy's vocals (it's always nice to hear a female voice in rock). There's definitely some prog rock elements on here that set it apart from a lot of other psych albums. "Sleep," "Dead Alive," and "Shutdown" are my personal favorites. 

Yes - Close to the Edge: Released in 1972, this is the prog band's fifth album and regarded by most to be their best. Consisting of only three tracks, one on Side A and two on Side B, this is a true prog album with complex changes in tempo and progressions. This is one of those albums that musicians adore because of the sheer dedication that must have gone into constructing it. A legendary example of the genre that should be included in any prog fan's catalog.  

Return to Forever - No Mystery: This is the fifth album from the NYC jazz funk band, released in 1975. The fusion of jazz and funk created a genre all its own in the 70s, one that brought magic of jazz to a new crowd. Purists have often shunned the fusion genres, but when done right, as this is, it's the creation of something new. Chick Corea is a legendary keyboard player, and he dominates the structure of this record, keeping it from straying too far away from the jazz roots.  This is the kind of album that should be heard in its entirety to capture the intended mood. That said, "Excerpt from the First Movement of Heavy Metal," "Celebration Suite Part II," and the lush title track are standouts.

Inspectah Deck - Chamber No9: It's been nine years since we've had a solo record from the Wu member, though he's done a bunch of stuff under the Czarface team. As with other Wu returns in the past half decade, the boys have found their demons again and continue to put out old school hardcore, that kind of hip-hop that I grew up on and crave. Tight beats, tough rhymes, and lots of attitude. This is another great addition to the Wu Saga.

Erskine Hawkins - One Night Stand with Erskine Hawkins: Recorded live from Blue Room in the Hotel Lincoln, New York in 1946, this features the trumpeter at the height of his skills. This is full of post-war excitement and you can hear it in the audience. The world was new and the future was bright, and Erskine fed that feeling with joyous noise. Another wonderful swing jazz record found on the cheap.