There is a 'dead time' for new music. It usually lasts from the second week of December to the second week of January.
During this time I try to catch up on what I missed from the the previous year. And with all the year-end list inundating the inter-webz, this 'missed music' is pretty much dropped on to my lap.
I'd be a fool to not take advantage of it.
So, here's a small summary of some shit I missed from 2016.
Dr. Dog - Abandoned Mansion (Album): Hold on to your jorts. Did you know Dr. Dog released an album last year? No, not Psychedelic Swamp: they released another one. It's called Abandoned Mansion and I think it's better than Swamp. I think it sounds like a *true* Dr. Dog album.....whatever that means. Lazy, rough, harmonies-gallore and corduroys. 'Ladada' is the track that initially grabbed me by the fun bag. Check this out; it will light those corduroys on fire.
Majical Cloudz - Downtown (Song): Disclaimer: I did listen to the Majical Cloudz album once or thrice, but I didn't let myself fall in love with it because Del recommended it, and Del's a piece of shit. BUT I binged watched The OA over the holidays (aka Christmas for the angry people) and 'Downtown' played during a super intense and surreal scene. That scene changed this song for me; now I can't listen to it without a lump in my throat.
Avett Brothers - No Hard Feelings (Song): I'd be lying if I told you that I know much about Avett Brothers. Sure, I don't live in a hole......I know who they are. I just never made it a point to listen to their music. BUT HOLY castrated BALLZ on a slight over-weight steer: this song is refreshing lemonade being drunk on your front porch on a warm summer evening.
Oh Pep! - Stadium Cake (Album): Our photographer, Tif, sent me this album last week and I've been fucking hooked ever since. It reminds me of Lady Lamb, but with the maturity of Fiona Apple. What tickled my balloon knot the most are the high number of great moments on the album. Stadium Cake is something that needs to be listened to in it's entirety. So my instructions are to block some time before you dive in. *Chicago, Oh Pep! will be at the Park West on 2.20.17.
Childish Gambino - Baby Boy (Song): I'm not sure it's my fault for not writing about this in 2016 or Childish Gambino's fault for releasing the album so late in the year. All that I'll say is: to my knowledge...nobody has ever made the harpsichord setting on a keyboard sound this damn sexy. WoooWeeee. This must've been how Mozart played at the late night parties when the elites started stripping off their corests and began licking champaign off of each other.
Jim James - Here In Spirit (Song): I have a contentious relationship with Jim James. I get upset when he writes something that doesn't sound enough like his (or MMJ's) old shit. AND then when he actually does put out a song that feeds my nostalgia I think to myself: "eeeeeeehhhhh, I want to hear him do something different." He just can't can't seem to meet the high expectations I have for him in my head. SO, I decided to be reactive with his new album. Rather than seeking it out, I'd wait for one of his songs to come to me. And THAT song eventually did. It's ironically called 'Here In Spirit.'