Pardon all the scare quotes. These as just some song groupings I discovered and dug over the last 12 months, give or take.
Whack World – Tierra Whack (2018)
My big thing lately is getting away from repetition, and this piece does that of necessity — each song is only a minute long. Thematically, stylistically, it covers an incredible amount of ground in its total runtime of 15 minutes. Also, I’m not sure the music should be separated from its accompanying video, which accentuates its careful crafting and sense of humor.
General Dome – Buke and Gase (2013)
Between the relentless stomping and unconventional plucking it’s almost possible to lose track of the hugely expressive and sneakily high-ranging voice tying it all together.
A State of Wonder – Glenn Gould (1955, 1981)
I eventually developed a strong preference between these two recordings of Johann Sebastain Bach’s Goldberg Variations. But having the chance to contrast two such different interpretations of the same compositions by the same superhuman performer is a rare treat.
A Good Thing Lost – The Poppy Family (1968-1973)
A magnificent voice backed up by ingenious pop craftsmanship. These songs ought to be part of the groovy pantheon, but I’d never gotten a whiff of any of them until this year.
For Certain Because – The Hollies (1966)
Delightful Britpop with just enough psychedelic spice, and fantastic two- and three-part harmonies.
Splendor and Misery – Clipping (2016)
The story of the sole survivor of an uprising on an interstellar slave ship. Glitchy beats created by, among other things, a dot-matrix printer like my grandmother had circa 1992. The album title is a reference to an unfinished Samuel R. Delany novel, one song references Ursula K. LeGuinn. How can I resist?
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