Weekend Music Roundup

It's officially the last weekend before the holiday season begins, and the way things are going, the last weekend before most of us are locked down once again. As we gear up for that combined chaos, it's always good to find yourself some new tunes to escape with. Most of this list is newer albums, with a couple of older ones that I recently acquired. Take some time to listen to something new. Enjoy.

Gorillaz - Song Machine, Season One: The eighth album from Damon Albarn's art pop cartoon band is their first in two years. As always with a Gorillaz album, it is a series of interesting guest appearances, this time featuring such legends as Robert Smith, Beck, and Elton John. It also includes a wide range of hip-hop artists and world soul artists, all which are mixed into the electronic whirl that makes up the band's unique sound. 

Billie Eilish - Don't Smile at Me: Before she was a phenom, Billie released this phenomenal EP in 2017. In some ways, this is superior to her break-out debut...or at least, equally as compelling. A bit more laid back, a bit less electronic, this album is electropop at it's best. I think it's the honesty in her work that makes her so appealing to so many people, not to mention that she just knows how to make great music. 

 

Cut Worms - Nobody Lives Here Anymore: A few weeks back, I reviewed this Chicago indie band's "Every Once In A While" EP, which features songs from this album released in October. This is the third album, but that EP had been my first introduction to them, and I was pretty blown away. Easily one of the best albums of the year, this is timeless and wonderful, mixing Americana with indie folk rock. There isn't a bad track on here. It's these kinds of discoveries that keep me always searching.

 

Norma Tanega - Walin' My Cat Named Dog: The 1966 debut album from the California folk pop artist is one of only two albums the singer would release (the other in '71). This has become a bit of a cult classic in the past several years and was highly recommended to me by a friend who shares my tastes. It was recently re-issued following her death last year and I found it in my local shop. Most people think of protest songs when they think of '60s folk, but there was also the poppy side, and that's what this it. It's beautiful, melodic, and full of sunshine. It's the kind of album that would inspire the Dandelion - Children of Sunshine record, and the parent of bands like The Carpenters. Excellent bit of folk pop.

 

The Lemon Twigs - Songs for the General Public: The fourth album from Long Island band led by the D'Addario brothers was released at the end of the summer. This is my first encounter with the band who's debut came out five years ago. This psychedelic pop rock at it's purest. It is thick with '70s glam pop influences as reminds me of early Nazz albums. "The One," "Somebody Loving You," and "No One Holds You" and "Ashamed" are personal favorites on this retro sounding record.

 

Black Lips - Sing...in a World That's Falling Apart: Released in January, this is the latest album from Atlanta garage rockers. This album has a heavy country influence, but more like Rolling Stones country via "Exile on Main Street." As usual, they sing about characters on the fringes of society with a mix of humor and realism. "Holding Me, Holding You," "Gentleman," and "Dishonest Man" are personal favorites. As usual, a solid album if not altogether essential.