RYAN ADAMS – Wednesdays
I’m not going to talk about the sexual misconduct allegations even though I’m pretty sure they will make this guy’s comeback a mission impossible, especially since one of the accusers is the latest hip music media darling. I’ll just talk about the music and it’s decent, not great, mostly low-key and semi-acoustic. The rockers (e.g. “Birmingham”) are the best tracks here, but they’re few and far between. (7)
CALEXICO – Seasonal Shift
Holiday album, but a rather cheesy one and most likely the weakest recording of their career. (6)
NICK CAVE & NICHOLAS LENS – Litanies
Belgian composer Lens specializes in operas, and this Music Greek has a special relationship with him. During lockdown he called up his buddy Nick Cave and asked him to write a libretto, hired whichever classical musician also happened to be stuck in Brussels to record the work, and this is it. (8)
CCR HEADCLEANER – Street Riffs
Noisy Neanderthal riffs is all you need, really. (8)
CLUTCH – The Weathermaker Vault Series, Vol. I
A series of digital-only releases of covers and re-recordings of Clutch classics now compiled and collected for CD and vinyl. Fans will appreciate. (8)
CHRIS CORNELL – No One Sings Like You Anymore
Posthumous covers album with Cornell not only singing, but also performing all the instruments. Some of the originals have been big hits, others you’ve never heard of, but Cornell transforms all of them into something uniquely his own. (8)
ERIC HILTON – The Impossible Silence
Second solo album this year from 1/2 of Thievery Corporation, this sounds more like Thievery Corporation than the previous one and it’s a pretty decent smooth electronica/chillout record. (7)
MARK LANEGAN – Dark Mark Does Christmas 2020
Xmas album takes a few tracks off a 2012 tour-only EP and adds some new recordings. Mostly covers, a couple of originals, Alain Johannes and Greg Dulli are on it too, doesn’t sound very festive but it’s Lanegan, what did you expect. I’d never realized that Roky Erickson’s “Burn The Flames” is a Xmas song, thanks Mark. (7)
BRENDAN PERRY – Songs Of Disenchantment: Music From The Greek Underground
Dead Can Dance guy records an album of Rebetika. I am not impressed. (6)
SCOUR – Black (EP)
Fancy some Phil Anselmo-led black metal? (7)
STURGILL SIMPSON – Cuttin’ Grass Vol. 2 (Cowboy Arms Sessions)
Yet another bonkers album where Simpson reinterprets his own catalog in a bluegrass style. (7)
TAYLOR SWIFT – Evermore
“Folklore Vol. 2”. (8)
THE WHITE STRIPES – Greatest Hits
It’s no exaggeration to say that this is probably the greatest rock band of the 00’s, and of course “Seven Nation Army” will forever be remembered as an Anthem For The Ages like “Smells Like Teen Spirit”, “Whole Lotta Love” and “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”. This compilation is not chronologically sequenced but more like a live show would be, and this works fine. Time to rediscover! (10)
VARIOUS – Girls Go Power Pop!
A superb follow-up to 2019’s compilation “Come On Let’s Go!”, this one focuses on the ladies. Runaways, Go-Go’s, Scandal, Juliana Hatfield, Muffs, Pretenders, Bangles, Pandoras, and a whole bunch of should’ve beens are included here and even if defining some of these groups as “power pop” is quite a stretch, this is very enjoyable listening. (9)
VARIOUS – Late Night Tales: Khruangbin
We’ve discussed the “Late Night Tales” artist-curated compilation series here before, and the new instalment by Khruangbin is among the most eclectic ones featuring an obscure after-hours ethno-disco mix of artists from South Korea, Pakistan, Nigeria etc. (8)
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