2023 tunes for our times

For anyone new to Tunes, the songs I pick each year are never ranked. Welcome aboard. Tunes is meant to be an eclectic mix of new music, some you know, some you don’t. Some you will love, some not as much. As the expression goes, all the world’s a stage.

Tunes features new music released during the year. And while I limit one track per artist, a few manage to sneak back into the mix, on colabs. This year, The Bamboos, Brad Mehldau, Thundercat, Jeff Tweedy (solo and as a member of Wilco), Unknown Mortal Orchestra and White Denim managed ‘encore’ appearances. Bravo!

It was a great year for music... but I say that every year. My year-end Spotify ‘Wrapped’ told me I listened to 4,749 musical artists in 2023. I played 10,939 songs, across 217 genres. My total playing time was 100,360 minutes... just under 70 days nonstop. I managed to rank inside the top 1% of Spotify listeners worldwide. And that was just the music I played on Spotify.

It’s humbling to learn I missed a decade of amazing music. I stumbled on Zamrock (Zambian rock) this year via a new release, Zambo, from the band WITCH. They formed in Zambia’s post-independence heyday, the early 1970s. Their music defines ‘get up and dance’ inspiration. There is a 2019 documentary about the band and era I highly recommend. It’s called We Intend To Cause Havoc (WITCH).

I’ve loved listening to Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker since their early releases. Boygenius, a collaborative effort, raises the ‘power band’ bar for all. “Not Strong Enough” is on this year’s playlist. They make astonishing music, as a band and independent musicians. If you don’t yet know them, you should!

There were some retro releases this year I feel an urgent need to spotlight. A24, an incredible independent film company, restored in partnership with Talking Heads, what I believe is the ultimate live concert film, Stop Making Sense. It was directed by Jonathan Demme, released in 1984. “Once In A Lifetime” made it onto this year’s playlist. See this movie!

Sparks is an LA based band formed by brothers Ron and Russell Mael. I recall hearing them played quite a bit as a kid growing up in London. They re-defined eclectic synth-based pop-rock. “Nothing Is As Good As They Say It is” made it onto this year’s playlist. A song for our times. For more background on the band check out the 2021documentary The Sparks Brothers.

If I had to pick two theme songs this year I would include The Heavy’s “Got To Believe”. It’s a tune I took solace in, found inspiration from and boogied to on repeat. It’s a slow build with a brilliant burn. Also, BAILEN’s “Call It Like It Is”. Words to live by, with a wicked beat.

Sufjan Stevens’ “Will Anybody Ever Love Me Again?” warmed my heart. It’s on the album Javelin. Stevens dedicated it to his partner Evans Richardson, who passed away in April. “He was one of those rare and beautiful ones you find only once in a lifetime—precious, impeccable, and absolutely exceptional in every way.” We should each be gifted such love.

Nickel Creek’s “Holding Pattern” resonated introspectively. It seemed a fitting last song (is there ever a last song?) to add to the playlist I started as covid began to shut the world down in early 2020. I’ve added to it ever since. It’s called Brighter Tomorrow and I included a link for anyone interested.

André Lauren Benjamin gets a spotlight this year. André 3000 is one-half of the seminal hip hop duo Outkast! Big Boi, his partner in crime. You know Outkast! “Hey Ya!”.

André 3000 released his first solo studio album this year... but not what the rap world was expecting. It’s a woodwind based ambient album, New Blue Sun. It takes inspiration from artists including Alice Coltrane, Brian Eno, Steve Reich and Pharoah Sanders.

“I Swear, I Really Wanted to Make A ’Rap’ Album But This is Literally The Way The Wind Blew Me This Time” is on this year’s playlist. Clocking in at 12 minutes and 20 seconds, it’s the longest tune to make Billboard’s Hot 100 Chart, not to mention a Tunes playlist.

There’s a trippy-tune by Folk Implosion, “Natural One”, not to be missed. For the counter-culture crew it was originally written for the 1985 film Kids, directed by Larry Clarke. Somewhat ironically, “Natural One” was dropped from the final film cut for a Beastie Boys track.

Half-sisters Norah Jones and Anoushka Shankar made the playlist this year with an inspired tune “Traces of You”. The two share Ravi Shankar as their father, composer and sitarist extraordinaire. His compositions and sitar mastery are magical.

I have my 2024 Tunes (so far) Spotify playlist up and running, so you can see what cycles on-and-off as the year progresses. The profile name on Spotify is: tunes4ourtimes. There’s a link on the website as well.

Please let me know of new music I’m missing. You can find me at: tunes4ourtimes@gmail.com. Happy listening!

There is always incredible new music being made... you just have to stop, look for it and listen. rcm

“We all do ‘do, re, mi’… you’ve got to find the other notes yourself.” Louis Armstrong

2022 tunes for our times

My year-end Spotify ‘Wrapped’ told me I listened to 4,510 musical artists in 2022. I heard 192 unique music genres.  My total play time was 92,254 minutes... more than 98% of other listeners in the US. I did like the ‘title’ they awarded me: Adventurer... a seeker of sound. I plan to lean into sound seeker.

For those new to Tunes, the songs I select each year aren’t ranked.  It’s meant to be an eclectic mix of new music, some you know, some you don’t. Some you will love, some you won’t. I always think as I pull this list together that if you like most of it, I’ve succeeded in pushing the boundaries of musical exploration.

While I rarely list a favorite, “Stronger Together” by the Bayou City Comeback Chorus (BCCC) hit home. At its essence, BCCC are a Houston based social justice music collective. The music is infused with psychedelic funk, jazz and gospel.  “Stronger Together” is a song I keep going back to for inspiration.

We’re wrapping up year three of living with covid, as it continues its transition to endemic. Music got a little brighter again this year as we each, in our own way, decided to embrace a more normal way of living life. Seeing New York City begin to lift itself back up is heartwarming. It’s been home for almost 30 years.

I fell in love with the Linda Lindas when I saw a 2021 video of a song they wrote and performed at the LA Public Library, “Racist, Sexist Boy”. They released their first album Growing Up in 2022.  “Magic” is on that album and made it to this year’s playlist.  They’re empowering.

Markets threw a few good old fashioned temper tantrums as central banks continue to fight to arrest still too high inflation. Anyone nostalgic for the 1970s got an education on what inflation feels like. Nostalgia is so wistful... it allows you to grey out the parts of the past that weren’t as much fun in the moment as they seem to have been with hindsight.

Adia Victoria’s “Ain’t Killed Me Yet” along with Trampled by Turtles’ “It’s So Hard to Hold On” and Panda Bear’s “Edge of the Edge” each made reasonable thematic reference points for 2022 market volatility. So did Brian Jackson’s “All Talk” and Steve Gunn’s “Protection”.

Joss Stone’s “No Regrets” and Jessie Ware’s “Free Yourself” are divinely infused with 1980s dance fun.  Bump them back-to-back, followed by King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard’s “Hate Dancin” for toe-tapping pleasure. They’re infectious.

One of my best finds this year was Hollie Cook. She released her first album in 2011 and I shamefully admit I only discovered her this past year. She describes her sound as “tropical pop”. It’s so much more. Cook’s album Happy Hour was one I played far too much this summer. The ‘fun fact’ I learned about Hollie Cook? Her father is Paul Cook, drummer for the Sex Pistols.

ESG (Emerald, Sapphire and Gold) is a legendary post-punk and funk band from the South Bronx that has influenced everything from funk and dance music to hip-hop over the decades they’ve recorded. They have a new album coming out along with a documentary. Both are entitled “Are You Serious?”… “The Jam” makes this year’s playlist.  If you don’t know ESG, you should.

SAULT and Phoebe Bridgers are artists you also need to know.  SAULT’s “Fight for Love” and Bridgers’ “Sidelines” each made it onto this year’s playlist.  Heartbreakingly honest music you will have on repeat. I’m going to add Arlo Parks “Softy” and Aoife O’Donovan’s “Sister Starling” into the mix of standout artists with 2022 releases not to be missed.

I’ve been doing Tunes in one form or another since the late 1980s. I think that hit home this year as I listened to some of the music I’ve mentioned. I can hear the influence of prior decades in this year’s Tunes... it sneaks into the music reinvented. The beauty of art is building on what came before, to create what comes next. What could be more inspiring?

I have my 2023 Tunes (so far) Spotify playlist up and running, so you can see what cycles on-and-off as the year ahead progresses.  The profile name on Spotify is: tunes4ourtimes. 

Please let me know of new music I’m missing.  You can find me at: tunes4ourtimes@gmail.com.  Happy listening!   

There is always incredible new music being made... you just have to stop, look for it and listen.

“We all do ‘do, re, mi’… you’ve got to find the other notes yourself.”  Louis Armstrong

2021 tunes for our times

This year was one that managed to land me in a much better place at year’s end than start. Spotify’s “Wrapped” review told me my ‘audio aura’ was happy and intense. That seems a reasonable way of also framing my life force. It’s funny how that works.

I listened to over 1,200 hours of music on Spotify. I should mention (or better said, admit) that while I play a lot of music on Spotify, I subscribe to several music streaming services. So, when I say music is always playing in the background, I mean it.

I’m uncertain how Spotify categorizes music genres, but I played the equivalent of 248 of their classifications. I managed to broaden my scope of artists this past year, listening to over 4,200 musicians or groups. That’s a good year of music listening!

Akira Kosemura’s “Spiral” was my most played song. He is a Japanese composer I sought solace from in 2021. As you work your way through this year’s Tunes, best of luck reconciling the majesty of that piece of music with the intensity of songs from Dry Cleaning, Throttle Elevator Music, shame, IDLES and slowthai. Balance is beauty.

The variety of music I listen to always pulls itself together into an eclectic but cohesive mix that hopefully captures the art of living. I’ve always looked to music as a soundtrack to help score every day. Happy and intense. Contemplative and resting. In each moment.

The Beatles regularly creep into my music listening. George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass marked its 50thanniversary in November of 2020.  I found myself going back to play it enough this past year that George made it into the top five musicians I listened to. All Things Must Pass was released after The Beatles break up. I forgot how exceptional an album it is. 

When I was growing up in London, I worked at Panzer’s Delicatessen. I once delivered groceries to the McCartney’s home in St. John’s Wood. When we first moved to London, we lived in the block of flats right across the street from Abbey Road Studios. The zebra crossing down the street from the studios – featured on the cover of Abbey Road – was a regular street crossing. 

I’m surprised by anyone that doesn’t recognize the influence The Beatles had on the evolution of music. It’s easy to listen to new music and not appreciate the origin and inspirations that came before. The Beatles were transformative, they kept pushing music in new directions.

I would say the same about Bob Dylan, David Bowie, Talking Heads, Nirvana, Gil Scott-Heron, Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso, Prince, Marvin Gaye, Sly & The Family Stone, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, The Bad Plus, Moby, Kanye West and Frank Ocean. Is that a comprehensive list? Not a chance, but I can only imagine the engaged debate and discussions I’ve just started!

If you’re a fan and haven’t seen Peter Jackson’s three-part documentary Get Back – on the making of the album Let It Be and effectively the end of The Beatles – I highly recommend it.  It was fascinating to watch and better understand a very particular moment in time, the band’s creative process and the energy behind what eventually pulls them apart.

Paul McCartney made it onto this year’s Tunes with a re-work of “The Kiss of Venus” with Dominic Fike. McCartney did a remix of songs from McCartney III in collaboration with other musicians in 2021, McCartney III Imagined. There is something about that song. It was on last year’s playlist from the original solo project. Back-to-back song showings is a first for me.

2021 saw an astonishing start to the year with a wave of fabulous new music released. My sense is that we were all ready to embrace the transition from pandemic to endemic. Creators unleashed a torrent of talented new work held back to re-engage with a world re-opening.

There are several songs in this year’s Tunes that were included in deluxe album re-issues that contained tracks cut from the original release. Also, collab projects and remixed work of prior songs. Tame Impala’s “No Choice” and Waxahatchee’s “Fruits of My Labor” are standouts. “Fruits of My Labor” is a cover of a Lucinda Williams song. Jeff Tweedy’s reimagining of Roky Erickson’s “For You (I’d Do Anything)” is simply striking.

Habibi is an Arabic word that loosely translates to my love, or my dear. It’s also the name of a Brooklyn based band that took me a decade to discover. They blend Motown-like harmony with garage rock and psychedelic influences. Middle Eastern melody and word structure play a part in helping to shape their vibe. It is poetically harmonic fun.

Marianne Faithfull released She Walks in Beauty in tribute to the great Romantic poets. She partners with the musician and composer Warren Ellis, who is also a member of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. Ellis crafts a subtle ambient backdrop for Faithfull to recite eleven of her favorite Romantic era poems. It is exquisitely crafted.

A few ‘shout outs’ to some of the more creative band names I discovered this past year. At the top of my list stands Psychedelic Porn Crumpets. I’ll leave you to your own interpretation. Personal Space, Dry Cleaning, deep tan, Tele Novella, Heartless Bastards and Throttle Elevator Music are standout band names as well. Happy listening!

My Spotify 2022 Tunes (so far) playlist is up and running, so you can see what cycles on-and-off as music is released throughout the year ahead. Please let me know about new music I’m missing. You can find me at: tunes4ourtimes@gmail.com. 

There is always incredible new music being made... you just have to look for it and listen. 

“We all do ‘do, re, mi’…you’ve got to find the other notes yourself.” Louis Armstrong

2020 tunes for our times

My year-end Spotify ‘wrap up’ told me that I listened to 3,507 musical artists in 2020, 1,549 of them new to me. I also apparently listened to 817 music genres, 238 new ones. That seems to be some very specific music categorization.  

I’ll settle for what struck me as a little ‘good news’ from 2020... I listened to a lot of great music.

Brad Mehldau is one of my favorite artists.  In June he released the album Suite: April 2020. It’s meant as a personal portrait of how he felt confronting the pandemic as it hit. It’s a wonderfully haunting album, a reflection of many of the emotions I found myself feeling throughout the year.

Mehldau’s Suite: April 2020 is an album I continue to go back and listen to frequently.  The song “remembering before all this” is the song Spotify tells me I listened to most in 2020.  It’s on this year’s playlist. If you haven’t heard it, start there. I wholeheartedly recommend spending time with the entire Mehldau Suite release.  

I hope history looks back on 2020 as far more than a year of pandemic. That is truly saying something. I’d like to have it reflected on as a year we honestly and openly recognized structural racism.  Also, the unsustainable wealth, health, education and diversity divisions we continue to see around us.

I’d like to believe 2020 is a year we came together to do something foundational to begin to promote lasting change. These aren’t issues to have moderate views on.

I had several repeat artists that released music this year as well as appeared in a ‘guest appearance’ role on someone else’s recording. John Prine, Waxahatchee, Brad Mehldau, Jeff Parker, Tame Impala and This Is The Kit each get a mention.

John Prine appears on his last original song recording “I remember everything.” It was released two months after Prine passed away this year, suffering complications from COVID-19.  

Prine also appears with Kurt Vile on a rendition of “How Lucky.” There are several posthumous releases that made it onto this year’s playlist. I’ll mention a few.

“Got To Be Tough” from Toots and the Maytals is one.  Frederick "Toots" Hibbert was the lead singer and songwriter of Toots and the Maytals, a legendary Jamaican reggae band.  Toots passed away in September. 

Singer-songwriter Daniel Johnston has two songs on this year’s Tunes.  The first is a recording of “Life in Vain” by Built To Spill.  My favorite, however, is Kid Indigo and In My Car’s take on “Like a Monkey in a Zoo” – a perfect response to living at work, I mean working from home.

Chicago 2017 is a live Daniel Johnston album from Chicago’s Vic Theatre, recorded in October of 2017.  It would prove to be Johnston’s last tour.  He was backed, amongst others, by Jeff Tweedy.  Johnston passed away in September of 2019.

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings are featured in a rousing rendition of Dusty Springfield’s “Little by Little.”  It comes from a compilation of covers: Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Rendition Was In), released in late October.  

In my heart, Jones and the Dap-Kings remain The Baddest Band In The Land. Jones passed away from cancer in 2016.

Makaya McCraven released an artful reinvention of an album I hold in extremely high regard, Gil Scott-Heron’s final release: “I’m New Here”. It was released in 2010.

McCraven reinterprets Scott-Heron on “We’re New Again” with samples and improvised backing by jazz talents including Jeff Parker. It’s an artful reimagination of a classic. Listen to the original, followed by McCraven’s reworking.

Laura Marling released “Alexandra” a rejoinder to Sharon Robinson and Leonard Cohen’s song “Alexandra Leaving.” Robinson shared song writing credits with Cohen on the album Ten New Songs, where “Alexandra Leaving” appeared.  It’s an inspired album well worth revisiting.

The Magnetic Fields released a song that waggishly pokes fun at lawmakers, regardless of political leaning.  “The Day the Politicians Died” reimagines a world where the political class suddenly ceases to be.  “Even their own mothers/Their own husbands and wives/Said, now all men are brothers/Let's get on with our lives.”

Pink Martini went in a different direction in response to 2020, with their lighthearted ditty “The Lemonade Song.” It’s well worth a smile-filled listen.  

The Rolling Stones went back into the studio early in the pandemic to rewrite and record a new song, “Living In a Ghost Town.” It’s their experiential take on the pandemic.

There were several artists that revisited older songs that could as easily have been written in 2020. It was that kind of year.

The Dirty Projectors’ take on John Lennon’s “Isolation” was one.  So was Lianne La Havas’ brilliant rendition of Radiohead’s “Weird Fishes” from her self-titled third album – another track I find myself going back to listen to repeatedly.  

La Havas also dopped an EP, Live at the Roundhouse, in December.  It features five tracks from a concert she did from the Roundhouse in London, recorded without an audience in July. I was fortunate to have livestreamed that concert. It was remarkable. She is an astonishing talent.

Phoebe Bridgers’ “Garden Song” is one of the most beautiful songs I listened to in 2020.  “Wildfires” by SAULT is one of the most poignantly unswerving.  Bananagun’s “People Talk Too Much” had a bite to it that I hope isn’t lost behind its fun-filled vibe. Jeff Tweedy’s “Guess Again” is pure love.

My Spotify 2021 Tunes (so far) playlist is up and running, so you can see what cycles on-and-off as new music is released throughout the year ahead. Happy listening!

Please let me know of new tunes I may be missing. You can find me at: tunes4ourtimes@gmail.com. 

Celebrate the resilience of humanity. Each of us has a role to play in bringing about change.

There is always incredible music being made... you just have to stop, look for it and listen. 

“We all do ‘do, re, mi’…  you’ve got to find the other notes yourself.”   Louis Armstrong

2019 tunes for our times

I continue to hold to the “house rule” that no artist can have more than one song on any year’s playlist.  However, an individual artist can appear as a single act and again as part of a band or as a featured singer on someone else’s release.  Solange carries that honor this year. Her song “Dreams” is a standout, as is her appearance on Flying Lotus’ track “Land of Honey”.  

John Prine makes a double appearance of sorts.  This year he recorded “My Old Kentucky Home, Goodnight”.  It’s a moving track and album.  I also included the Rainbow Girls take of Prine’s “Angel from Montgomery”.  It’s an affecting rendition.  Like Mavis Staples he remains remarkably prolific.  Mavis Staples makes it onto Tunes this year with “Anytime”.  Whenever Mavis cuts a new record, you have to listen.  Anywhere, anyway, anytime.  

Not only did I include the track “L.A. Freeway” from Steve Earle this year, but his son Justin Townes Earle’s song “Ain’t Got No Money” also made Tunes.  I spent a week in L.A. with my son last spring.  It was magical... with the exception of the freeways.  Apologies to Angelenos.  

A posthumous release by Townes Van Zandt is on this year’s playlist, “All I Need”.  Van Zandt is a bit of a cult figure in what I will wrap broadly under the umbrella of alternative country.  Townes never really broke through, though managed to befriend and inspire Steve Earle early in his career.  Earle’s tribute album “Townes” is well worth searching out.  And yes, Justin is named after Van Zandt.  Quite a musical trifecta.

This was a year for posthumous releases by Leonard Cohen, Harry Nilsson, Prince and Miles Davis.  I’m sure there are others I’ve missed.  Aside from Van Zandt, Miles Davis has the only other posthumous release that made it with the track “Rubberband”. Rubberband, the album, was originally recorded by Davis in 1985 and shelved by his label. Warner Brothers rehired the production team and went to work on a “new” 2019 release. 

My favorite line about the revisited Rubberband came from Randy Hall, who was involved in the first recording and the reboot.  "Miles never went backward.  He... wanted something he could have on the radio – he wanted a street record.  So, we did it and it got scrapped, and now they come back to us and they want to remix it. Remember, in 1985 drum machines sounded kind of dinky. So, to bring it into the present, we changed some sounds and some textures... but these are still the songs we recorded with him while he was there".  

2019 was a year teeming with fun-filled band names.  Music always drives what’s included in Tunes but I have to admit that an occasional tie can go to the band with the most creative name.  Snarky Puppy.  Cherry Pickles.  Tacocat.  Gurr.  Super Natural Psycho.  GoGo Penguin.  Florist.  Grim Streaker.  Laundry Day.  Allah-Las.  Spirit Family Reunion.  Trampled by Turtles.  They each appear on this year’s playlist.

A few songs that were strong contenders early in 2019 dropped off the playlist in the final few months of the year.  Lizzo’s “Juice” went onto the playlist and made it halfway through the year.  Billie Eilish’s “bad guy” did as well.  Both tunes were fresh and inventive when I first heard them.  They began to wear on me with each additional listen and were eventually cut.  Apologies.

My favorite song of the year?  “The Time for Peace is Now” by Fantastic Shadows.  I can’t think of a better way to lean into the decade ahead for inspiration.  A close second is slowthai’s “Doorman” – John Lydon look out.  Seriously.  

My favorite song titles are divided between Stephen Malkmus’ “Rushing the Acid Frat”, Kyle Craft’s “2 Ugly 4 New York” and Lucy Dacus’ “I Don’t Wanna be Funny Anymore”.  Cherry Pickles’ “Elvis Exorcist” is up there as well. 

One of the most beautiful songs I heard was Bon Iver’s “U (Man Like)”.  A close second, Sufjan Steven’s “Love Yourself”.  My favorite album?  Tyler, The Creator’s IGOR.  The most infectious song?  Rudy Willingham’s “Pool Party”.  I dare you to dis it. 

The most heartrending song?  Nick Cave and The Bad Seed’s “Bright Horses”.  I am in awe not only of Cave’s talent but emotional strength.  In particular, given the passing of his son Arthur in 2015.  In “Ghosteen” Cave continues to process his loss.

Brittany Howard broke away from the Alabama Shakes with a debut solo project, Jaime.  I remember seeing her at the Newport Folk Festival several years ago with the Shakes.  She has grown as an artist and force of nature.  Jaime is well worth the listen.

Tweedy rocks... so, does Wilco!  Wilco’s “Love Is Everywhere (Beware)” is on this year’s Tunes.  It’s a notable song and album.  

I was fortunate to see Jeff Tweedy at Town Hall in New York with my son in 2019. Tweedy was touring for his solo album Warmer – a follow-up to 2018’s Warm.  If you haven’t heard either, you should.  I was trying to prod what I thought was too mellow a crowd into clapping along.  From center stage I got a shout out: “the lone clapper... a f#cking pioneer”.  I’m honored to wear that badge.  Clap On!

As always, I’ve tried to keep to a reasonably broad mix of new music on this year’s Tunes.  There is hopefully a little something for everyone.  Happy listening!

I will run a 2020 Tunes (so far) playlist on Spotify so you can see what cycles on and off as new music is released throughout the year.  Click the link above and play along.  

Please heckle back with new music I’m missing.  You can find me at: tunes4ourtimes@gmail.com.

There is always incredible music being made... you just have to stop, look for it, and listen.  

“We all do ‘do, re, mi’…  you’ve got to find the other notes yourself.” Louis Armstrong

2018 Tunes for Our Times

We continue to honor the “house rule” that no artist should have more than one song on any year’s playlist.  An individual artist can appear, however, as a single act and again as part of a band or as back-up singer.  Lucy Dacus carries the honor this year. Her affecting song “Addictions” juxtaposes brilliantly with “Bite the Hand” where she appears alongside Julien Baker and Phoebe Bridgers, under the banner boygenius.

I mentioned last year that St. Vincent (Annie Clark) was the one act that almost got me to amend the “one song only” rule. Last year’s album “Masseduction” is formidable.  If you missed it, go back and find it, then pair listening to it with its re-recording, on this year’s “MassEducation” – where St. Vincent is accompanied only by piano. “Slow Disco” makes an appearance on this year’s playlist in its piano only rendition. It’s masterfully delivered.

Geopolitics, diversity, racial and economic equality rightfully remain central themes driving impassioned new music.  If I had to pick the song (and video) that moved me most this year, it was Childish Gambino’s “This Is America.” 

Under the guise of fun, David Byrne’s “Everybody’s Coming to My House” takes top prize.  I was lucky to see him at Kings Theatre in Brooklyn last September.  It was one of the best shows I’ve ever seen.  Shopping’s “The Hype” and Public Practice’s “Foundation” are each, in their own way, a celebration of Byrne and the Talking Heads, circa “Remain in Light.”  Both songs appear on this year’s playlist.  Burning down the house....

Ty Segall’s remake of the Hot Chocolate 1978 classic “Every 1’s a Winner” is high energy and filled with retro-vibe.  Flo Rida’s “Sweet Sensation” is pure unadulterated ear-candy! Janelle Monae’s homage to Prince – “Make Me Feel” – is absolutely sublime.  And for fun, play back-to-back Okkervil River’s “Don’t Move Back to LA” and Starcrawler’s “I Love LA.”  Somewhere in between lies the truth.  Just like St. Vincent’s “Los Ageless” and “New York.”  Also, must hears.

A classic has durability and persistence.   This year’s playlist includes Bettye LaVette’s rendition of “It Ain’t Me Babe” from her new album of Bob Dylan classics, “Things Have Changed.”  It’s a powerful LP.  So is “More Blood, More Tracks.”  It’s the 14th installment from Bob Dylan’s Bootleg Series.  “More Blood...” is a compilation of tracks recorded in late 1974, just ahead of the release of Dylan’s classic 1975 album, “Blood on the Tracks.” 

Marianne Faithfull had a new record in 2018, with “In My Own Particular Way” a standout track.  Frank Ocean’s re-invention of “Moon River” was a masterful take on a classic. So was Cat Power’s (Chan Marshall) take on “What the World Needs Now.”  Love, sweet love…. 

Hip-hop crept into this year’s playlist in several flavors, where the samples and layering of musical textures continue to electrify.  Reaching back to look ahead.  If there is a genre that seems capable of capturing current cultural times, hip-hop has center stage.  

A$AP Rocky’s play on Tame Impala’s “Why Won’t You Make Up Your Mind?” stands out.  The fact that the song was co-produced by Danger Mouse only adds to its audio fidelity. Travis Scott’s “BUTTERFLY EFFECT” can’t be missed.  The production and artistry that drive “ASTROWORLD” are remarkable.

Haruomi Hosono wrote the soundtrack to the fabulous 2018 Japanese indie-film “Shoplifters” by director Hirokazu Kore-eda.  Please make time to see this movie.  “Harry” Hosono began his career in the 1960’s, writing and recording Japanese psychedelic rock.  From there he went on to repeat musical re-invention, bridging ambient, electronic and pop music.  I found him through the Seattle based record label Light in The Attic Records.  If you don’t know Light in The Attic Records, you should get to know them.

Tweedy rocks!  Jeff Tweedy released a solo album this year, “WARM.”  From his work with Uncle Tupelo and Wilco, to the 2014 release of “Sukierae” under the moniker Tweedy (with his son Spencer), Jeff Tweedy continues to write what defines alternative country rock music.  For the true fan, he managed to publish a memoir in 2018: “Let’s Go (So We Can Get Back).” It is well worth the read.   

I’ve tried yet again to keep a reasonably broad mix of new music on this year’s Tunes.  There is hopefully a little something for everyone.  Happy listening....

We we will again run a 2019 Tunes (so far) playlist on Spotify so you can see what cycles on and off as new music is released throughout 2019.  Heckle back with any great new music we miss.  You can reach us at: tunes4ourtimes@gmail.com.

There is always great new music being made... you just have to look for it, stop, and listen. 

“We all do ‘do, re, mi’…  you’ve got to find the other notes yourself.” Louis Armstrong

2017 Tunes for Our Times

2017 was a great year for new music.  Yes, I say that (almost) every year.  Standout albums include those by: St. Vincent, Mavis Staples, Rhiannon Giddens, Kendrick Lamar, Big Thief and Frank Ocean.  Each has something featured on this year’s playlist.  Sharon Jones posthumously made this year’s playlist with “Matter of Time” – a remarkable song from her last album with the Dap-Kings, “Soul of a Woman.”

This year has repeat appearances by Jeff Tweedy and Mavis Staples.  Tweedy features on Staples’ song “Ain’t no doubt about it” and on “Via Chicago” – from his incredible album “Together at Last.”  Mavis Staples also features on Arcade Fire’s “I Give You Power” – a powerful song, for a tumultuous time. I will add Billy Bragg’s “Full English Brexit” as a song to pause and charily reflect on… juxtapose it with Benjamin Booker’s haunting cry “Believe.”

I’ve continued to honor “house rules” that no artist should have more than one song on any year’s playlist.  Featuring on someone else’s song counts as a “guest appearance” – not as having two of your own songs included.  That said, while I included St. Vincent’s “Los Ageless” on this year’s playlist, up until the very last minute her song “New York” was also included.   Both are formidable songs from an astonishing new album by Annie Clark.  St. Vincent is the act that almost got me to amend Tunes’ “one song only” rule.

Robert Plant’s “The May queen” made this year’s playlist… as a casual salute to Led Zeppelin and days past. Plant’s look-back song reference: “if there’s a bustle in your hedgerow, don’t be alarmed now, it’s just a spring clean for the May queen.”  And it makes me wonder….

The real ghost of “Zeppelin-past” however, sprang to life – wails and all – in Greta Van Fleet’s single: “Highway tune.”  It’s too good to simply be trumpeted-up as a tribute ditty… Led Zep and the 1970s are creeping back into music’s biosphere.  Last year, SOAK’s version of “Immigrant Song” made the Tunes playlist.  Go back and re-listen to it.  Ah-ah, ah! 

Stephin Merritt (The Magnetic Fields) released ”50 Song Memoir” … writing a song to commemorate each of the 50 years he has celebrated life.  “You can never go back to New York” made this year’s playlist.  A five-disc set of 50 songs is quite an extraordinary way to celebrate a milestone birthday.  For those interested in more from Merritt, The Magnetic Fields’ 1999 release “69 Love Songs” stands out for its depth, scope and accomplishment.

The songbook suffered important losses in 2017, including: Tom Petty, Walter Becker, Gregg Allman, Fats Domino, Chuck Berry, Charles Bradley, Johnny Hallyday, J. Geils, Maggie Roche, and Lonnie Brooks.

I’ve tried (again) to keep a reasonably broad mix of new music on this year’s Tunes.  There is hopefully a little something for everyone.  In breadth, the musicians run from: Tyler, The Creator and N.E.R.D, to Caetano Veloso, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Sufjan Stevens and Deer Tick.  Bob Dylan’s rendition of “Once upon a time” is incredible.  So are Chris Thile and Brad Mehldau in their delivery of Elliott Smith’s “Independence Day.”

As an assemblage of unadulterated fun… there are tracks this year by: Them Vibes, Portugal. The Man, King Garbage, Stone Foundation, Cornershop, Thundercat, Systema Solar, and N.E.R.D (no-one ever really dies) to help keep the fun-loving groove on.  Voilà! Voilà!

For simple beauty… be sure to listen to the pieces included by: Antoine Dufour, Akira Kosemura, and Agnes Obel.  Also, highly recommended: Brian Eno’s stunning work “Reflection.”  It’s perfect accompaniment to winter’s chill. It’s a piece of music I find myself returning to repeatedly.  “Reflection” didn’t make the playlist because of its length; coming in at a little over one hour of inspired music.  Don’t miss it.

As mentioned at the start of this note… we will again run a 2018 Tunes (so far) playlist on Spotify so you can see what cycles on and off as new music is released throughout 2018.  Heckle back with any great new music we miss.  You can reach us at: tunes4ourtimes@gmail.com.

There is always great new music being made...  you just have to look for it, stop, and listen.  Happy listening…

“We all do ‘do, re, mi’…  you’ve got to find the other notes yourself.”  Louis Armstrong

2016 Tunes for Our Times

2016 was a laudable year for music.  We saw artistic reinvention, song reinterpretation and dazzling repetition. To borrow from Ornette Coleman… “You don’t have to worry about being a number one, number two, or number three.  Numbers don’t have anything to do with placement.  Numbers only have something to do with repetition.”  We might argue a little about placement, but never about inspired repetition.  

The songbook suffered some weighty losses in 2016, including: David Bowie, Leonard Cohen, Sharon Jones, Leon Russell, Phife Dawg, Paul Kantner, Sir George Martin, and Buckwheat Zydeco.  Bowie’s Station to Station tour at Empire Pool Wembley was my first concert and it opened with images from the film “Un Chien Andalou” by Buñel and Dali – a razor blade cutting into an eyeball.  I’ve never seen an opening act that could quite top that.  

Bowie’s Blackstar and Leonard Cohen’s You Want It Darker were two favorite albums from 2016.  Cohen’s prophetic lyrics “you want it darker, we kill the flame” spoke almost too directly to the loss of each artist. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds’ Skeleton Tree also hit hard, released after the death of Cave’s son.  It’s an articulate reflection on love and grief.  Each of these album picks is for and from the heart.  

Other 2016 album standouts include: Frank Ocean’s Blonde, PJ Harvey’s The Hope Six Demolition Project, Childish Gambino’s Awaken, My Love! and Akira Kosemura’s One Day – Kosemura’s album is simply striking.  Angel Olsen’s My Woman rocked – the line “shut up kiss me” never sounded more authentic.

On the reinvention-meets-repetition front, A Tribe Called Quest had a profound impact again on music. The band reminded the world old skool rocks and is always current.  Childish Gambino’s album Awaken, My Love! draws its inspiration from 1970s R&B, soul and funk.  Reinvention, reinterpretation and repetition.  

Gambino’s song on this year’s playlist “Redbone” draws influence from Bootsy Collins’ “I’d Rather Be with You.”  Funkadelic indeed!  Bootsy played bass for Funkadelic as well as Parliament before forming Bootsy’s Rubber Band and recording “I’d Rather Be with You.” And to bring it full circle, Bootsy released that song the same year Bowie toured for Station to Station.  “Time may change me, but I can’t trace time.” We can't trace time.

On the reinterpretation front, there are several classic songs that made this year’s playlist via artful reinvention.  One standout is Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings recording of the Allman Bothers’ classic “Midnight Rider” – though the lyrics “Lord I’m comin’ home to you” posthumously sing bitter sweet.  

Phosphorescent and Jenny Lewis recorded a version of “Sugaree” that came out in a tribute album to the Grateful Dead: Day of the Dead.  It’s a 59-song album that was pulled together by Aaron and Bryce Dessner of The National – they managed to bring new meaning to Deadhead.

Our favorite reinterpretations go to Murder of Crows for their rendition of the Talking Heads “Sycho Killa” and SOAK’s take on a Zeppelin classic.  You can almost picture Murder of Crows up on stage at CBGBs. SOAK’s version of “Immigrant Song” is spectacularly unnerving.  Ah-ah, ah!

On the repetition front – under the guise of “if it works, don’t muck with it” – there was great music put out by bands that manage to evolve yet repeat making consistently brilliant music.  We’ve included this year tracks by Tame Impala, Radiohead, Wilco, and Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros.  

Under the category of unadulterated fun, there are tracks from Benji Hughes, Animal Collective, Mayer Hawthorne and Brett Dennen – “Stand Up For It” indeed.  Father John Misty even got a retro-rocker included this year with “Real Love Baby.”  

As always, happy listening….

“Act the way you’d like to be and soon you’ll be the way you act.”  Leonard Cohen

2015 Tunes for Our Times

Each year we find ourselves saying what a great year it was for new music.  Woody Allen said something to the effect that success in life is basically about showing up.  We think there is a little more to it than that, but we might argue the same could be said for finding new music – you just need to go out, look for it, and listen. We’ve done the first two bits for you.  

This year’s Tunes is as eclectic as ever.  We found several musical undercurrents from last year that traversed into 2015.  Retro-pop held in well, as did certain psychedelic undertones to a lot of the rock we found ourselves listening to.  We couldn’t resist the blend of the two in a song like “Rock and Roll is Cold” by Matthew E. White.  Ty Segall is in the mix this year for good measure, as is Moon Duo. 

Allen Stone, Blood Orange and Leon Bridges each found a retro-pop and vintage R&B blend that were nothing less than inspired.  For pure throwback 1970s-styled pop, Jeff Lynne released an ELO record that brought instant karma, smiles and a little dancing.
 
There is nothing retro about the Staples family.  Both Pops and Mavis Staples made it separately onto this year’s playlist – each had a new album.  There is retro and there is timeless.  The Staples go into the category of timeless. 

Bob Dylan goes in the timeless category as well.  We managed to see him last November (2014) in New York, at The Beacon.  He was about to release “Shadows in the Night”. “Stay With Me” is included on this year’s playlist.  Dylan closed the show with that song the night we saw him.  Don’t whine about the ripened voice, he’s a legend.  "Highway 51 Revisited" turned 50 in 2015.  So did "Bringing It All Back Home", the album where Dylan went electric.  He followed up "Highway 51 Revisited" with "Blonde on Blonde", in early 1966.  The three albums were released in a little more than a 14-month period.  Go back and listen to each.

1970s-styled folk held its own this year, with some stunning sounds from the likes of Ryley Walker who channeled a blend of Nick Drake and John Martyn. Mac Demarco channeled his inner Harry Nilsson for good measure.  Both made great records.  

New-alt-indie-folk seems an unnecessary mouthful, and a made-up music category, but it’s a big bucket we found ourselves going back to dip into repeatedly. Releases from Sufjan Stevens, Laura Marling, Sharon Van Etten, Beirut and Calexico were all rock solid.  I will throw Father John Misty in there for good measure. Ezra Furman was simple assorted fun.

Punk lives on with new releases from Wire, Tenement and Beach Slang.  A track from each made this year’s playlist.  Wolf Alice was over-hyped as the return of grunge.  They are much more than that.  Wilco released “Star Wars” – an album where they decided to simply rock. Thank you Yoda.  So did Diamond Rugs, which features John McCauley and Robbie Crowell of Deer Tick.  What great rock and roll.  Rock and roll isn’t cold after all.   

We generally stay away from including covers in Tunes but this year we couldn’t help ourselves – and we didn’t hold back.  Seth Avett and Jessica Lea Mayfield recorded an album of Elliott Smith songs that was mesmerizing.  We included “Fond Farewell” but everything on that album is incredible.  Iron & Wine and Ben Bridwell released an album of covers as well. We chose Talking Heads’ “This Must Be The Place (Naïve Melody)”.  

Perhaps the strangest cover came from Ryan Adams, who re-recorded Taylor Swift’s 1989 album.  It works.  Really. We also included Yo La Tengo’s cover of “Friday I’m In Love”.  Indeed. Shovels & Rope released an album of jukebox favorites.  We included “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding.” Which itself was made famous as a cover by Elvis Costello of a Nick Lowe tune.

There is some Americana as always on this year’s Tunes.  We included tracks by Spirit Family Reunion, Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear (yes, it’s his mama), and Patty Griffin.  Steve Earle is transcendental.  He made another great record with the Dukes.  We included “Go Go Boots Are Back”. 

Favorite albums this year included releases from Kurt Vile, Tame Impala and Jose Gonzalez. Natalie Merchant re-recorded Tigerlily to celebrate its 20-year anniversary.  It’s enduring.  Brad Mehldau released an 8-LP set of solo-live performances, from the past 10-years. The composer Max Richter released a sample from perhaps one of the more interesting projects we’ve seen in a very long time: “Sleep”. The full recording will be released in 2016 and is an 8-hour album dedicated to the sleep cycle.  Richter called it “an invitation to dream.”

We never pick a favorite song, that’s up to you. We hope you find things you haven’t heard before and enjoy on this year’s mix. It’s a brave new world each and every day, filled with wonderful new music for those willing to go out, look for it, and listen.

Follow our website (www.tunes4ourtimes.com), Spotify (tunes4ourtimes) and even on "the" Facebook (tunes for our times), as we pull together the 2016 edition of Tunes. While vinyl and cassettes are back, CDs are quietly fading away. At some point, we’re going to simply go digital with Tunes, via the “inter-webs” – social media and all of that.   

Happy listening…

2014 Tunes for Our Times

Coming into November, we had about 300 songs on our “2014 Tunes (so far)” playlist posted on Spotify.  It was time to cull the year’s curated songs down to 100.  And then, the world just seemed to accelerate into January.  We pulled it together through the holidays and made it just in time to welcome the New Year with another look back at great music.  Falling back in order to celebrate, reflect and spring forward yet again. 

As we pulled together some of our favorite artists and songs from 2014, we had a few observations about this year’s list.  First, it’s a little more pop oriented than it has been in quite a while.  I think that reflects a world in transition and a little more chaos.  Pop is safe -- it’s warm and cuddly, just when you need it to be.  That is especially the case when you blend in a little soul, as Curtis Harding, Sam Smith and Hozier each showed with the richness of their singing.

Pop songs by Future Islands, Caribou, Generationals, Cazzette and Norway’s Todd Terje managed to channel a post-pop dance vibe (and a little ELO) that can’t help but have you toe taping.  King Tuff added a little Matthew Sweet to the pop retro vibe.  D’Angelo and the Vanguard bridged Sly Stone, Prince and Marvin Gaye into something entirely fresh, yet familiar.  Funk, R&B, Psych and Soul.  They snuck the release out in December, so procrastination paid off, allowing us to include Ain’t That Easy on this year’s list.

The flip side to the pop tilt this year is that for what we pulled into the playlist from rock, retro was also the underlying feel. It’s an interesting observation about the state of the world we live in and how people like to reflect on where we’ve been before deciding where we want to go next.  That says a lot about 2014 in general. 

Ought’s Habit channeled the Velvets to a degree that gave us a few goose bumps.  So did Ultimate Painting and Parquet Floors. Were they warm and cuddly tunes?  Not so much; just great music.  As was EMA’s So Blonde, Angel Olsen’s Hi-Five, Jessica Lea Mayfield’s No Fun and Royal Blood’s Figure It Out (where we’re convinced that the White Stripes can be heard growling in the background).  St. Vincent and Ava Luna found a thread and beat that would make Talking Heads and the Tom Tom Club proud.  Music can be derivative and additive to a bigger sound, all at the same time. 

There was some exceptional jazz released in 2014.  Standouts that made the final cut include Vijay Iyer, Jim Black Trio, and Fred Hersch.  Kris Bowers, Joshua Redman, Dylan Howe, Matthew Shipp, Bill Frisell and Tony Allen had incredible albums out that somehow slipped off our final 100-song cut.  For the jazz fans out there, if you missed any of these releases, they are each worth tracking down.

Americana (in a Newport Folk sort of way) was alive and well in 2014.  Nickel Creek was back, playing the mandolin, fiddle and guitar with a vengeance.  Conor Oberst, Justin Townes Earl, Shovels & Rope, Esme Patterson, Pete Molinari, Mac Demarco, Old Crow Medicine Show and Shakey Graves each made this year’s playlist.  So did Natalie Merchant – who sounds brilliant.  Hurray for The Riff Raff’s The Body Electric stood out for questioning a culture of violence.  It was NPR’s political folk song of the year.

Having sprinted into the New Year with our 100-songs and artists to listen to from 2014 (and there was so much additional great music to hear) we’re going to slow it down a bit as we enter 2015.  Like last year, we will do our best to keep a “2015 Tunes (so far)” playlist building throughout the year on Spotify for those of you that want to hear what we are cycling through in new music.

Was there an overarching theme song appropriate for 2014?  The optimistic song would be Ages and Ages: Divisionary (Do the Right Thing). Every Age by Jose Gonzalez stands out as another choice, as does Chris Staples’ Dark Side of the Moon (“…a song about people who obsess about hidden messages or meanings”).

But in thinking it through, we’re looking ahead and listening to Leonard Cohen’s Slow as the inspirational song to start off our 2015 collection: “I’m slowing down the tune, I’ve never liked it fast; With you it’s got to go, With me it’s got to last…”.  

Here is to another rousing year of incredible new music to discover.

Happy listening...

2013 Update: Ready, Steady, Go!

2014 is already off to a racing start with incredible new releases from Mogwai, Warpaint, I Break Horses, Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks, not to mention Alcest and Damien Jurado – and it’s only January.

We’ve started to curate a 2014 Tunes (so far)  playlist on Spotify so you can play along as songs get added, deleted and re-shuffled back onto the list as the year goes on.  You can find the link on our homepage. Please let us know what we are missing as new music gets released this year.  For those following on Spotify (“tunes4ourtimes”) there is a more expansive “listening to now” playlist to dig into as well.

We’ve added a “wished we hadn’t missed” playlist on Spotify for music that caught our attention after we moved into the New Year and had already released 2013 Tunes.  It’s always good to go back and revisit what might otherwise have made last year’s playlist.  There is brilliant music by Múm, The Wave Pictures, Timothy Bloom, Adam Green & Binki Shapiro, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Rosanne Cash, Besides Daniel, George Ezra, Jake Bugg and John Newman – any of which might easily have made last year’s cut, had we found them earlier.  

There was an unbelievable multi-disc release called “Purple Snow: Forecasting the Minneapolis Sound” from 2013 that shouldn’t be missed either.  It covers early-to-mid 1970s R&B and Funk from the Twin Cities that managed to stand on its own and inspire some of the regional talent that came out of Minneapolis as the 1970s gave way to more synth-inspired 1980s funk.

Happy listening.  Ready, Steady, Go!

2013 Tunes for Our Times

we somehow managed to get what was originally an analogue tunes production turned into a digital flying machine – social media and everything.  simple is the essence to strive for in life and simple is never easy. 

so simple it is and here we are, still global, but with an infinitely expansive group of old and new friends to share music, art and life’s musings with.  how the world quickly changes – and yet somehow, it doesn’t.

tunes started +25 years ago with an annual hand printed newsletter and cassette.  tower records was still in business and our regular haunting ground for music browsing (today it’s other music and rough trade). 

we generally found ourselves at tower late on a friday or saturday night – which inevitably led to overspending.  what could be better than a live show, buying new music (on vinyl), and then off for more late night fun.  what’s more inspiring than something you’re passionate about?  music continues to fall into that list of  life’s passions.

music by definition reflects societal change and friction. it builds upon what came before.  but when it’s done really well, it builds on the past to reinvent.   you can still do a lot with three guitar chords and a drum beat.

we went into december 2013, with about 200 tracks from individual artists that made it through multiple culling debates to get to a final 2013 tunes playlist.  getting that list down to 150 songs was a real challenge.  getting those 150 songs down to 100 this year proved almost impossible. 

it’s an incredible period for new music and real artistry – indie wins and like the digital flying machine we’ve just launched with this website and related social media, technology is making it easier to find and hear amazing new music.

we had some interesting discussions about who seemed to influence quite a bit of the music that made it onto this year’s tunes for our times.  maybe we were just listening for it, but the simple elegance and sophistication of lou reed’s poetry and music shined through, again and again. as we said before, simple isn’t easy.

new music on this year’s playlist from cass mccombs, courtney barnett, kurt vile, swearin’ and even ty segall have traces of reed that can’t be missed.  and yet each song is its own thing.  influenced by but uniquely individual and evolved.  to borrow a phrase: ch-ch-ch-ch-changes… .

there are some lyrics from nicki bluhm’s “little too late” (on this year’s playlist) that seem a good footing to reflect from as we look into 2014 and on losing the simple inspiration from someone like lou reed…

it’s not how you swim, it’s how you hold your breath

it’s not about playing fair in this life

it’s more about cheating death

if you don’t like getting old

well you’ll hate the other choice i’m told

cause it’s a little too late to die young

we hope to have a great deal of fun discovering astonishing new music and artists together this year.  Ready, Steady, Go!