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It’s News Music Friday and here’s what I’ve been listening to over the last month. Let’s dive in and see what you might like:
Thandi Ntuli and Carlos Niño - “The One (second part)”
The fantastic South African composer/pianist/vocalist Ntuli teams up with Los Angeles multi-instrumentalist Niño for an intimate, almost minimal set of songs. I’ve admired her work for years and this time around, her tempos and quiet storm approach makes this one of the best jazz records of the year. There’s lots to dive into here, but “The One (second part)” is my favorite of the bunch.
Dolly Parton - “Wrecking Ball”
The amazing Dolly Parton is back with an album full of covers/duets with the likes of Sting, Ann Wilson, Stevie Nicks and many more. While there are a couple of clunkers (the duet with Kid Rock stands out), there are some fantastic Dolly-versions of classics. Her version of “Night Moves” with Chris Stapleton and her stunning version of Purple Rain are two of my favorites. But her duet with Miley Cyrus on “Wrecking Ball” is emotional and moving.
Andre 3000 - “That Night in Hawaii When I Turned Into A Panther and Started Making These Low Register Purring Tones That I Couldn’t Control Shit Was Wild”
Andre 3000 has released a new album, but change your expectations going into listening to it. It’s a lo-fi ambient jazz album. He’s clearly set out to release music that he wants to create and listeners/charts be damned. It’s moody and spooky and kooky and a weird, wild ride. Reminds me of Pharoah Sanders mixed with some Sun Ra. It’s not for everyone, but I love the chances he’s taking on this and “That Night in Hawaii…” is a standout.
Emeli Sande - “Nothing We Can’t Handle”
I love an album full of love and that’s just what Emeli Sande has produced with her latest, How Were We To Know. Mixing the best of R&B with gospel-tinged soul, Sande’s voice is the star of the album. She can kill it with ballads, up-tempo tracks, all the while, invoking true emotion. It’s a big improvement from her previous releases that were a bit too predictable and bland. “Nothing We Can’t Handle” is empowering and builds from a quiet acoustic number to an all out assault of your emotions.
“From the End of the World” by Juliana Hatfield
On her third covers release since 2018, Juliana Hatfield delivers solid, guitar-driven cover songs from Electric Light Orchestra (ELO). Stripping the theatrical style that ELO is so famous for, Hatfield’s straight forward, guitar driven rock is her best effort yet of the cover albums. She even dug deeper into the catalog and “From the End of the World”, a deep track from 1981 is the shining star out of all the songs.
“Ophelia” by PinkPantheress
The London singer who got her start on TikTok has refined her bedroom pop sound to reflect a studier and glossier pop sound on her debut album Heaven knows. There’s still the dreaminess of her early work, but getting hooked up with an industry team has not only helped with promotion and distribution but on broadening the music, without sacrificing anything. She’s sticking with quick, short songs that reflect her origins of squeezing songs onto a social media platform. It’s cool,dreamy pop that’s easy to listen to.
Cat Power - “Just Like A Woman” and “Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat”
In 1966, Bob Dylan gave a performance at the Royal Albert Hall that went down in music history as life changing. He was enamored with rock-n-roll and when he shocked the audience that night, it changed the course of his career. Cat Power (Chan Marshall) decided to recreate this concert and it’s amazing. It’s a pretty shot for shot the same as Dylan’s concert, including going from solo acoustic halfway to a full band. I had to pick a song from each setting, right? “Just Like A Woman” is a favorite Dylan song of mine and Marshall goes straight to heart with her cover. “Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat” is a rollicking, bluesy track that is spot on and a huge crowd favorite.
Dumi Right - “Life Is What You Make It”
My friend Dumi Right is back with a killer track with help from Chubb Rock, YZ and Chuck D. The smooth groove with sweet horns is the perfect backdrop for Right’s fantastic lyrics and delivery. It’s a fantastic tribute and salute to the legends of hip-hop and with positive messages, it’s a great single to pump out of your car’s stereo system.
Chris Stapleton - “Weight Of Your World”
Chris Stapleton knows what works and he’s sticking to it on his latest album Higher. Is it as good as his previous albums? Nope, but it’s still solid country-rock music that still kicks ass. Stapleton’s strength still lies in his vocal range and soulful delivery. His storytelling on “Weight Of Your World” is my favorite on this latest release, a simple and direct love song.
Jelani Blackman - “Damage”
There’s been a lot of great rap music coming out of the UK lately and you can add Blackman’s latest, The Heart Of It, to the list. His deep voice drives the meaningful lyrics around family, breakups and coming of age as a black man in London. The music is simply there to enhance the beautiful vocals and lyrics from Blackman. I hope he makes it big over here and millions more can appreciate his songs.
Sen Morimoto - “Bad State”
I love discovering new music and Sen Morimoto is a new one to me. The Chicago artist skillfully blends jazz, rock and hip hop to create a cool, interesting sound that works on so much of his new release Diagnosis. It’s not easy to follow from song to song as Morimotto bounces from genre to genre - If I had to compare him with other artists, you could throw Beck, G Love and Jason Mraz into a blender and you'd have Morimoto. “Bad State” is a bop and I can’t wait to dig deeper into his catalog.
Semisonic - “So Amazed”
It’s been 20 years since Semisonic released a full-length album and it’s worth the wait. The band, lead by singer/songwriter Dan Wilson has put together a cool collection of folk/indie rock that embraces their 1990s rock band status while bringing fresh sounds from 2023 into the fold. Wilson writes really great songs, whether it’s for someone else or his own band and he’s done it again with melodic songs that sadly won’t get the airplay they once got back in the day.
Black Pumas - “Mrs. Postman”
The latest album from the Austin, Texas band is sweet-ass soulful rock music that moves me. It’s built off of the songs from their debut that shows not just great growth in songwriting but in musicianship and the great vocal range of lead singer Eric Burton. While I love the first single, “More Than A Love Song”, it’s “Mrs. Postman” that keeps me coming back. A tribute to the working class feels like a 70s classic that belongs with the great soul songs of that time.
The Gaslight Anthem - “Michigan, 1975”
The boys from New Jersey have grown up and matured and it’s evident in their songwriting on their latest, History Books. It combines the rock sound of their early work and the singer-songwriter style of lead singer Brian Fallon’s solo work. While the band can kick it into overdrive on rock songs like “Positive Charge” and “Little Fires”, it’s the deeper cuts that get me with this band. “Michigan, 1975” is my favorite, a gorgeous, delicate ballad.
Sampha - “Jonathan L. Seagull”
It’s been a while since we’ve had new music from the UK R&B singer and it’s well worth it - Sampha has built off of his last release and created a crazy mix of music, samples and of course his unique vocals, easily switching between rap and singing. It’s far from a straightforward record and that’s what makes it so enjoyable. You need to sink into it to really appreciate it.
The Rolling Stones - “Get Close”
The first album from the band after the death of their fantastic drummer Charlie Watts doesn’t stray from what has worked so well from the band in the past. Keith’s guitar sounds sold while Mick delivers lyrics in his usual soulful way. The lead single “Angry” is pretty killer and despite hearing it over and over, I’m not sick of it (high praise for any single). But the one that grabs me over and over again is “Get Close”. It’s gritty like their older music, even if there is too much shine throughout the production.