Bunch of Nonsense
Music, Books and Life in the SpiritArchive for January, 2020
Best Music 2019
1. We Speak Luniwaz: The Music Of Joe Zawinul by Scott Kinsey
This is probably not on a lot of year end “best of” lists, but it should be. This is an outrageously daring enterprise, taking on Weather Report tunes, some of the greatest music of the 20th century IMHO, by some of the greatest musicians of all-time (by everyone’s opinion) Joe Zawinul, Wayne Shorter and Jaco Pastorius to name just three. All you have to have to A+++ musicians playing and arranging at an astronomically high level and I’m please to say they do just that. Clearly Scott Kinsey has studied the master Zawinul and replicates his sound and tone and style perfectly, same with saxophonist Steve Tavaglione which matching Shorter is likewise a herculean task. Bassist Hadrien Feraud captures a combo of Jaco and late Weather Report bassist Victor Bailey which is not a bad thing at all. But the bottom line: this record cooks! The choice of tunes was at first surprising, but they basically won me over as they just kill these tracks. Everything here works with just the right amount of honoring the original and adding something new to them, even the rap on Cucumber Slumber works. Dare I say that a couple of these versions (Port Of Entry, Fast City, Victims of the Groove) may actually be improvements over the originals! What? It’s nice that people are remembering the great band which was Weather Report, IMO the greatest jazz-rock-world music band of all-time. For fans of Weather Report, Zawinul Syndicate. Best Song: “Running the Dara Down.”
2. In The Shape Of A Storm by Damien Jurado
Damien Jurado has made so many great albums that getting a new one is like being visited by an old friend. This is by far his most stripped down, just him and a guitar for the most part and apparently was recorded in two hours. This is a somber record that deals with typical Jurado subjects like death, love, the meaning of life and passing of time. This is so intimate and sparse it feels like he is talking, no whispering, just to you. All of these themes and thoughts come weaving in like Damien is making a dark powerful tapestry that won’t be soon forgotten, dare I say when a lot of today’s “great” music is long forgotten. Best Song: “Lincoln.”
3. Life by Parallel Stereo
Soul-Junk singer guitarist Glen Galloway made this record in his own studio between other people’s recording dates and anyone familiar with his background in bands like Soul-Junk (avant-garde Rap) Octagrape (avant-garde rock) and Sumatraban (rock trio) would not have been prepared for this recording! This is actually a lush warm beautiful melodic record with wonderful layers of vocals and thick solid arrangements, but it is, like all of his recordings, full of passion for God! This is a sold-out Christ-focused wonderful, dare I say deep worship album. The lyrics here are beautiful and have spoke to me like few records ever have. This album is a wonderful respite from all of the angst, sorrow and striving after the empty things that fills so much art and music today. Why these songs aren’t being sung in churches all over the world is a mystery to me and a crime. Best Song: “Sun.”
4. Super Doppler by Super Doppler
This Norfolk Virginia band just nails great pop-rock tunes, (with a whisper of 70s California country) and that’s all there is to it, tune after tune they just keep coming. One song after another that sound like they could have been played on top-40 radio in 1973, maybe not the deepest songs in the world, but everything fits like a glove. Everyone plays great, knows their place in the song which makes the songs work. There is great vocals throughout with several different lead singers and “just right” background vocals. What’s not to like? Best Song: “Love Instead.”
5. Spread The Feeling by Pernice Brothers
After waiting nine years, we Pernice Brother fans were finally rewarded with some new music. I’m happy to report that this album picks up where Joe and boys left off in 2010. Byrds inspired songs abound, not everything here works, but the highlights here are worth the price of admission. Best Song: “Mint Condition.”
Single Tracks
1. This Boat by Innocence Mission
2. Harvest Fair by Summer Salt
3. Love is Everywhere (Beware) by Wilco
4. Neurology by JustMakeMeCry
5. Friends by Mr. Husband
6. Father Mountain by Calexico & Iron & Wine
7. Alegria by Cloudchord
8. No Quit by Michael Nau
9. Life’s Better by La Billy
10. Phantoms by Computer Science
11. There Won’t Be Trouble by Computer Science
12. Yard Gnomes by Max Gowan
13. Pearls by Computer Science
14. Poster Child by David Mead
15. Time Waits Patient by Max Gowan
16. Just Matter of Time Until I Cringe by Th Read the rest of this entry »
Bunch of Nonsense 