This means albums I was able get through! Numerous others…not so much; I’m not going to force myself to listen if I don’t hear anything I like. Here are the 10 best.
1. Hollie Cook – Twice
I like Hollie’s voice just fine, she coos, she floats, she levitates; and the songwriting is very good (and sometimes excellent) but the secret ingredient here is the production, which is very tasteful, and has a secret weapon- 70’s-style flourishes of horns & strings. Masterful, from start to finish!
2. Eno • Hyde - Someday World
This is Brian Eno & Karl Hyde. An ambitious album, 9 tracks bursting-full with ideas, both musically & lyrically. Eno’s vocals are relaxed and direct. The horns are precise, tasteful & drive things along. A very rewarding listen, and sounds great at high volume (I bought the vinyl!) Several songs with dogs in them, which is always a plus.
3. AC/DC - Rock Or Bust
The sad story here is Malcolm Young’s departure from the band, due to effects of dementia. Doesn't that make you feel old? But that has nothing to do with the album, which is solid, start to finish. Brian’s vocals are wonderful. Something I can’t really put my finger on: it just sounds right. Must be the production. And true to the classic LPs, it’s only 35 minutes long, and I love that; after the advent of CDs, too many artists thought releases had to be 78 minutes long.
4. Wilko Johnson & Roger Daltrey - Going Back Home
Wilko’s been fighting cancer for a couple years now, so any release is a treasure; apparently Roger Daltrey agrees,and I think they make a great team here. I like the arrangements, and Roger’s voice is in fine fettle.
5. St. Vincent - St. Vincent
I thought her 2012 collaboration with David Byrne was awful, so I approached this solo effort with great trepidation. But I think this is a consistent, integrated & rewarding effort; the textures contribute to the whole, rather than just existing for the sake of making weird noises. Ambitious, certainly, but disciplined, too,which makes all the difference.
6. Jack Bruce - Silver Rails
Jack died in 2014, but I was already listening to this album- I went into it with such low expectations, I mean, Jack Bruce, really, but it’s honest & tasteful, and… I mean, maybe this is faint praise, but… nothing ruins it! It’s… just fine!
7. Ginger Baker - Why
Ginger’s a cranky old man, and he does what he wants. This is a jazz album, with a boatload of drumming attached. Very listenable- again, nothing ruins it. If you want to listen to some boppin’-along jazz, you could do worse.
8. Sharon Van Etten - Are We There
I like Sharon’s voice; laconic and tasteful. Her songwriting seems to improve each new release. If Daughter’s Elena Tonra is too morose for you, Sharon is a little more dynamic & upbeat. I said a little.
9. Sinéad O'Connor - I'm Not Bossy, I'm the Boss
Not a bad effort, but pales in comparison to the last one, 2012’s “How About I Be Me (And You Be You)”, which was nicely pared down instrumentally. The arrangements on this one seems lusher to me; unnecessarily so.
10. Reverend Horton Heat – Rev
Not bad… by-the-numbers surf-punk psychobilly. Play it at a party, no one will leave.
Honorable Mention:
Beck - Morning Phase. I wanted to like this, I really did. Listened to it twice, gave up. But plenty of smart people love this album! They say it’s Sea Change, Part 2. But I never cared for Sea Change either, so maybe that’s the problem.
Bryan Ferry – Avonmore. Listened to it once, sounded fine. Will re-visit.
Lucinda Williams - Where The Spirit Meets The Bone. Listened to it once, sounded fine. Will re-visit.
Neil Young – Storytone. It’s probably fine, listened to a song or two, but it just came out.
The War On Drugs - Lost In The Dream. Lots of smart people love this album! I guess I need more time, probably somethingrewarding in the somewhere.
Artists with new albums… that I couldn't get through:
Camper Van Beethoven – El Camino Real
Chrissie Hynde – Stockholm
Dean Wareham – Dean Wareham
Jack White – Lazaretto
Johnny Winter – Step Back
Marianne Faithfull – Give My Love To London
Neil Young - A Letter Home
The New Basement Tapes – Lost on the River
She & Him – Classics
Strawbs – Prognostic
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – Hypnotic Eye
The Vaselines – V For Vaselines
