Another calendar year disappears, while me, still the guy trying to restore my vinyl collection, the one which I lost a few years back during an hurricane, bought only a minimal amount of new music. With that said, this year I’ll make it simple, with minimal verbiage, I submit the following…
The word of the year is Silence. If I’m being honest about what I listened to the most, it was nothing, literally silence. Most nights ended with me, my noise cancelling headphones, and my thoughts. I found the quiet to be quite musical. Of course, I heard a handful of strong records reflected below, but this newfound muted music has led me to explore ambient and minimalism, hence the bonus lists. Enjoy! Rock and the like 1. Frog – Grog One of the most unique records I’ve heard in a long time. Difficult to lock them down to one genre,…
Dear POOPsters: Time to POOP. For the 36th consecutive year, we POmpous and OPinionated rut-stuck regulars have re-convened to share the fruits of our music habits. In all 21 have weighed in and tilted at internet windmills this year. Even a few prodigal POOPsters have returned to the fold. That’s pretty encouraging given all that’s happened in America this past year; at least our Right To Choose music remains intact even if little else does. After fifteen separate ballots in the House of POOPresentatives, we have finally reached a consensus. I’ve once again employed the time-honored tabulation system, utilizing the…
I haven’t heard that much new music this year. Maybe I’m old. Or I don’t have Spotify or Sirius. Or that I just listen to records. Perhaps that’s redundant. — — Wet Leg, Fontaines DC, The Beths, Pup, Frightened Rabbit, Horsegirl, The 1975, Destroyer, Wilco, Alvvays …
Fix’s Media Diet 2022 — Arctic Monkeys, Binker & Moses, caroline, Fontaines DC, Horace Andy, Lucrecia Dalt, Midnight Oil, Nilüfer Yanya, Wet Leg, Wilco
When Mark reached out a few weeks with his annual reminder I thought to myself, hmmm, do I have it in me again? Then I realized how much I enjoy the process and how I always go in with such a negative attitude. Well, not this year. I am going to appreciate the opportunity to hear so much great new music and share with the world. So, thanks Mark for keeping the torch alive today and hopefully for another 25 years. — —
Wilco, Superchunk, Elvis Costello, Built To Spill,Father John Misty, Alex G, Perfume Genius, Tomberlin, The Smile, Big Thief,
Best Albums for 2022 – Dan Wilmer, Jersey City, NJ – This List Goes to Eleven – — Wet Leg — Spoon — Spiritualized — Sierra Ferrell — Panda Bear & Sonic Boom — Afghan Whigs — Arcade Fire — UVTV — Better Oblivion Community Center — Elvis Costello — Wilco
Wow – in the 25 years I have been participating in the POOP, this might be the least interesting list of releases. Truth be told, I spent the majority of the year moving back and forth from jazz to classical. More interested in background music than foreground, I guess. Nonetheless, the draw to put down my opinions on paper are too strong to quit now. With that, let’s see what I can eke out from what I’ve heard this year. Buy New or Used via Amazon Rent via iTunes [?] 1. Brittany Howard – Jaime A real eclectic collection…
Dear POOPster:
So . . . there seems to be some agreement that 2016 could have been a tad better. If I may speak for many of you here, fuck you 2016, fuck you for so many reasons. As we approach the end of the world as we know it, we will have to find strength in the little things, as trivial as they might seem right now. And what could be more trivial than the 30th Annual(!) POOPlist.
Where do I begin? Like so many of us, it all changed on Election Night 2016. As I sat and watched the deterioration of our home, I was thinking about how I truly live in a bubble in New York, and the confirmation of ignorance from the rest of our country was devastating. I’m trying to be hopeful, but with every office appointment, it keeps getting worse. Just like Seth Meyers said, “we gave him his chance.” Can’t really say I heard a lot of music that inspired me this year as well. Drumming up the strength to talk about…
Fuc# Fuc* Fuc* Fuc! Fuc@ Fuc& Fuc^ Fuc% Fuc*… Some good music this year, I’m sure. And then November. I listened to more Blue Note, ESP, and 90’s guitar rock than anything new this year. I expect, and desperately hope that next year produces some much needed art and protest. I’ve got the flu and don’t really feel like doing this right now so if you don’t agree with my choices, please consider them alternative facts. 1. David Bowie – Blackstar 2. Wilco – Schmilco 3. Nels Cline – Lovers 4. The Weakerthans – Reconstruction Site (reissue) 5. Dinosaur jr….
2016 blah blah blah. Gotta stay positive. Bunch of white dudes playing guitars listed below. Whatever. I wrote like 750 words on the Samson album – it came out two weeks before the election and really hit me hard in the aftermath – but I think it was more therapeutic than anything. Here’s to the future. John K Samson – Winter Wheat Beach Slang – A Loud Bash Of Teenage Feelings The I Don’t Cares – Wild Stab The Posies – Solid States Parquet Courts – Human Performance Bob Mould – Patch The Sky Drive By Truckers – American Band…
2015 just might become known as the year to beat when it comes to unbridled stupidity in America. But more alarming than that, I fear that with good ol’ American gumption, the coming election year will no doubt leave it behind in the dust. Recently I learned that the oft paraphrased H.L. Mencken quote, the one about how no one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people, actually had an even more apropos follow-up sentence: “Nor has anyone ever lost public office thereby.” But while the American political system as we know it is currently circling the drain, we the POmpous and OPinionated have responded in the best manner we know. While some of those who would be President prattle on in their assholier-than-thou vitriol, 25 POOPsters have found 10 or 25 or so causes for which to campaign, with civil discourse and free of all squirmishes (thanks, Sarah P!). Feel the POOP.
Courtney Barnett | Ryan Adams | Craig Finn | Twenty One Pilots | Yo La Tengo | Sturgill Simpson | Wilco | Sufjan Stevens | Jason Isbell | Alabama Shakes | Roger Lion |
Last Minute “favorite” releases of 2015. I am old, and spent most of 2016 listening to Taylor Swift’s “1989” – that is until Ryan Adams released his version of “1989”. Life is good. Anyway, in no particular order, a list of records I enjoyed over the last 12 months.
Brothers and sisters, we survived another year on this planet. The best thing I can say about 2015 is that it is behind us. No looking back from here – blue skies ahead.
Kendrick Lamar, Courtney Barnett, Beach Slang, Hop Along, Waxahatchee, Vince Staples, Wilco, Julien Baker, Jamie xx, Father John Misty
Ahmad Jamal – Bob Dylan – Courtney Barnett – Don Cherry – Eilen Jewell – Enrico Pieranuzi Trio – Minus 5 – Sonny Rollins – Wilco – Florence & The Machine
Courtney Barnett – Deerhunter – Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment – Hamilton OBC – Lin-Manuel Miranda – Sleater-Kinney – Speedy Ortiz – Sufjan Stevens – The World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid To Die – Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Wilco
Where does the time go? I thought I just finished writing the 2013 list, and here I am again. POOP and taxes – the only 2 things I can count on to start the New Year off right. And the similarities don’t end there – they are both painful to get out but once I receive something back in the mail, all the pain becomes worth it. Thankfully, the % of money Mark requires is substantially less than my accountant. Anyway, here’s last year’s notables, as I see it: