365 – New Music Daily

Hi. Apologies for the abbreviated format here – let’s be frank. At some point I have to catch up with this blog, and I don’t have as much time as when I was working 12 hours a week. Yeah yeah, we’ve heard that before, I know. Shut it. Who says shut it anymore? Sorry. Thanks for reading yeah yeah yeah.

Anyways, in case I need to introduce what’s happening here… I’m just going through the listens from a specific date range in August (that definitely happened in August) and giving some shortened blurbs. Maybe about 4 a post? You’ll have to do without my longform wit. Prefer this format? Let me know. I may implement something like this with longform reviews saved for those that I feel really strongly about.

Only feel like reading about music you think you might like? I get it. This post has reviews from Alice in Chains (Grunge), Moses Sumney (R&B), Roy Ayers (Soul), and Television (Alternative Rock).

Dirt – Alice in Chains (Grunge)

A bit too grungey for my taste, which is a bit surprising given how much I typically like grunge. I just feel like with this band, I’ve given them a few shots at this point, and it’s always “I’d rather listen to X for this, Y for that, etc.” And Frank, if you read this, I don’t care if the band debuted after Pearl Jam. The lead singer wants to be Eddie Vedder. I don’t make the rules.

Favorite songs: Them Bones, Sickman, Rooster

Grae – Moses Sumney (Alternative/Experimental R&B)

A very highly regarded contemporary R&B album, Grae is the latest from California artist Moses Sumney. This album is very grand for R&B, with a lot of beautiful, spacious arrangements. The replay value is pretty low, and as someone who has been wrapped up in the “pull songs from an album and put it in a playlist” culture, it doesn’t resonate as well as some other projects. I also think it’s one of those albums that requires many listens to fully understand, and thus a lot of the genius of this album is lost on me. I rarely say I may not have appreciated something for what it is, but I think that’s the case here. Also, it’s damn long, and maybe not the best album when you’re going for a 50+ mile ride.

Favorite songs: Colour, Polly, Lucky Me, Bless Me

Vibrations – Roy Ayers (Soul)

Another great artist from the amazing era of Soul music that was the 1970’s and often known from “Everybody Loves the Sunshine” Roy Ayers follows the genre’s trend of smooth, beautiful soul compositions, adding in his own smooth, laid back deliveries. And the cover of this is so, so 70’s. Good stuff.

Favorite songs: Baby I Need Your Love, The Memory, Come Out and Play, Searching, One Sweet Love to Remember, Baby You Give Me a Feeling

Marquee Moon – Television (Alternative Rock)

A precursor to a lot of Strokesian-Arctic Monkeyian etc. alternative rock sound, Television showcases the greatness of the dual guitars and sets the scene for what the alternative rock genre becomes in many years. Do I think they do this sound better than a lot of bands? Yes, but not the ones who have had decades to master it. It’s a good foundational record for the genre and one to mention to impress a 60 year old you know.

Favorite songs: See No Evil, Friction, Marquee Moon, Elevation, Prove It