Jack Shears is back with another magnificent record of dancing pop fun. Last Man Dancing nails the height of disco in the mid to late 1970s perfectly. Juxtaposed with this are all the usual nods to Elton John, clearly a hero of Shears.
Here is the title track...
New Zealand's own Jonathan Bree has a new record out called Pre-Code Hollywood. Of his solo stuff, it's easily his best and it's comforting to see that the baroque pop of the new wave era is still going strong. Bree handles this style with aplomb and continues to inspire me to dig out my makeup and old goth outfits!
Here is the title track...
The sun-soaked sounds of Brookly's own Beach Fossils are this week's choice for album of the week. Bunny is the outfit's fourth long player and its jangly guitars and echo-y vocals are just perfect for summer listening.
You can practically feel the sun and wind in your hair with the top down...
The blue eyed soul of Simply Red holds a special place in my heart. The Manchester band's first record (Picture Book) came out my freshmen year in college, just a couple of weeks after I moved to Minneapolis. It echoed out of every dorm room up and down Middlebrook Hall. Every record since that time has been magic, SOUL magic.
Their latest is called Time and continues their tradition of tapping in to that which makes us human.
Toronto's own Cowboy Junkies are still going strong as they approach their 40th anniversary as a band in just a couple of years. Their latest is Such Ferocious Beauty and it honestly lives up to its title. This record is gorgeous from start to finish in all of its ten tracks.
Witness!
With summer officially arriving on Wednesday, it's time for my choice for Album of the Summer. This year, the honor goes to The Foo Fighters. Their new record is called But Here We Are and it's easily their best album since Wasting Light. The power pop hooks are so completely intoxicating that I found myself openly weeping at how perfect they were.
Example:
The beauty of Arlo Parks is truly a treasuer for the world. Her latest record is called My Soft Machine and it's a cornucopia of pop, soul, synth, and psychedelia. The London native continue to amaze me with her craft and artistry.
Listening to each track makes one hear the care she puts in to every detail...
My students (mostly Hmong Americans) got me into K Pop a few years ago and I still find myself digging the sound. The two releases I've been into lately are (G)I-Dle's I Feel EP and Enypen's Dark Blook EP.
The (G)I-Dle's EP has a slinky, soul feel to it that reminds me a lot of Motown. Check it out...
Many amazing things come from my second favorite city on the planet and Califone is one of them. The Chicago outfit has a fab new record out called Villagers and I highly recommend it for heavy rotation in your life. It has their usual boundary-stretching sound with the added bonus of some soul and acoustic pastorals.
Here is the opening track...
The god-like genius that is Noel Gallagher has just released his latest record and it somehow manages to be incredibly dark and uplifting at the same time. Council Skies truly is a dour affair. Example...
Paul Simon is a true gift to the universe and his latest record, Seven Psalms, is a big reminder why and how. It's a beautiful testament to his songwriting ability as well as his gifts with a simple acoustic guitar. Simon says the ideas for each of the seven pieces (which form one whole movement to be listened to in one sitting) came to him in a series of dreams.
Divine inspiration?
London's Yes is still going strong in their seventh decade of making fine, fine art rock. Their latest is called Mirror To The Sky and it is stellar in a massive cosmic journey sort of way.
The current lineup of Jon Davison (vocals), Steve Howe (guitars), Billy Sherwood (bass), Geoff Downes (keyboards), and Jay Schellen (drums) hit the mark perfectly with that signature Yes sound with even some "Asia-ish" stuff thrown in.
Here is the opening track...
Sleep Token are quite the force of nature these days with their third album of emo metal just dropping. Take Me Back To Eden is a deep, power dive into a fairly dark pool of emotion.Yet somehow I feel happy when I listen to it. These London lads have down well.
Opening track...
