Duncan Clark Poop 2019



Buy THE RAILS- Cancel The Sun New or Used via Amazon    Buy New or Used via Amazon    Rent via iTunes [?]
1. THE RAILS- Cancel The Sun: They truly come into their own on this album. The songs are more assured but with a familiar back humor. They write and sing very well with each other and the albums just rocks more than their earlier albums.

Buy FONTAINES D. C.- Dogrel New or Used via Amazon    Buy New or Used via Amazon    Rent via iTunes [?]
2. FONTAINES D. C.- Dogrel: I started hearing about this band back in 2018. Not the best recorded album but proof that punks not dead yet.

Buy LE VENT DU NORD- Territoires New or Used via Amazon    Buy New or Used via Amazon    Rent via iTunes [?]
3. LE VENT DU NORD- Territoires: Terrific Québécoise band that has deservedly earned a reputation as a fearsome force live. This studio album captures that ferocity. One of the best shows I saw last year.

Buy LANKUM- The Livelong Day New or Used via Amazon    Buy New or Used via Amazon    Rent via iTunes [?]
4. LANKUM- The Livelong Day: Bands like Lankum and The Gloaming have met the challenge of dealing with well known traditional material by deconstructing the songs and presenting them in extended arrangements in a new light.

Buy KARINE POLWART- Scottish Songbook New or Used via Amazon    Buy New or Used via Amazon    Rent via iTunes [?]
5. KARINE POLWART- Scottish Songbook: All covers albums are usually the artistic equivalent of treading water. This is an exception to that rule. Polwart is a Scottish folk artist. Rather than presenting a songbook steeped in traditional ballads, she sings the songs of her youth from bands such as Big Country and Blue Nile.

Buy THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS- In the Morse Code of Brake Light New or Used via Amazon    Buy New or Used via Amazon    Rent via iTunes [?]
6. THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS- In the Morse Code of Brake Lights: Some of the best collective pop sensibilities around. “Falling Down the Stairs of Your Smile” is the perfect pop song.

Buy VAMPIRE WEEKEND- Father of the Bride New or Used via Amazon    Buy New or Used via Amazon    Rent via iTunes [ener noreferrer”>?]
7. VAMPIRE WEEKEND- Father of the Bride: Insanely catchy song craft.

Buy GARY CLARK JR.- This Land New or Used via Amazon    Buy New or Used via Amazon    Rent via iTunes [?]
8. GARY CLARK JR.- This Land: The angry title track is one of the best political songs of the year.

Buy THE RACONTEURS- Help Us Stranger New or Used via Amazon    Buy New or Used via Amazon    Rent via iTunes [?]
9. THE RACONTEURS- Help Us Stranger: By far my favorite of Jack White’s various projects due in no small part of Brendan Benson’s contributions to the band.

Buy JUNE TABOR & OYSTERBAND- Fire & Fleet New or Used via Oysterband    Buy New or Used via Amazon
10. JUNE TABOR & OYSTERBAND- Fire & Fleet: An all too infrequent collaboration that brings out the best in both artists. This collection of studio outtakes and live cuts that accompanied a recent tour will have to suffice for the moment.

11. SKIPINNISH- Steer By the Stars: With Runrig closing up shop, Skye’s finest is sounding more polished and anthemic than ever.
12. THE BANGLES, THREE O’CLOCK, DREAM SYNDICATE & RAIN PARADE- 3×4: I love the concept and execution. It made me pull out all my old vinyl albums from the bands for a fresh listen almost 40 years later.
13. THE BLACK KEYS- Let’s Rock: They just pick up where they left off 5 years ago.
14. JOE JACKSON- Fool: Jackson played more than half of this album when I saw him in concert in 2018 and was very attuned to what was going on in the US & the UK. I can imagine what he’s written since.
15. BOB MOULD- Sunshine Rock: Moves to Germany and makes his most accessible records in years full of hope and happiness. Had to be the move.
16. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN- Western Stars: Broadly cinematic in its vision and execution yet connecting on a very personal level.
17. PEAT & DIESEL- Uptown Fank: The Scottish Isles equivalent of a power trio- drums, electric guitar and a loud accordion with punk songs about partying on the beaches, food and sheep. Especially the sheep. Reportedly a killer live act.
18. TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND- Signs: Strong collection of songs but capturing the energy of the band live in the studio has been a challenge.
19. MDOU MOCTAR- Ilana: The Creator: The guitar plays such a large part in Tuareg music that it was only a matter of time before a hot shot guitar slinger arrived.
20. JESSE MALIN- Sunset Kids: He loses a little bit of his edge under Lucinda’s production but songs like Shane and Strangers & Thieves stand out any way.
21. BUDDY & JULIE MILLER- Breakdown on 20th Ave South: An all too rare album from two people who helped define Americana music from the beginning.
22. LITTLE STEVEN & THE DISCIPLES OF SOUL- Summer of Sorcery: Van Zandt knows and can write 60s based rock and soul as well as anyone and has a great band. Still can’t help feeling that this is basically a side project.
23. WHO- Who: Still trying digest this one. Its been a good number of years since I’ve been impressed by anything the group did but “All This Music Must Fade” caught my attention and I’ve been giving the rest repeated listens.
24. THE ANDERSON COUNCIL- Worlds> <Collide: Strong psychedelic 60s Brit pop band from NJ.
25. THE WALKER ROADERS- The Walker Roaders: A celtic band who members come from the Pogues, the Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly. With pedigree like that, you can’t possibly go wrong.

REISSUES

1. WOODSTOCK- Back to the Garden- The Definitive 50th Anniversary Archive: Where you can now relive the magic of that weekend minute by minute but with the improved culinary, sanitation and sleeping accommodations to which you’ve become accustomed over the past 50 years.
2. RICHARD THOMPSON- Across a Crowded Room Live at Barrymore’s 1985: RT had one of the all time great back up bands in the 80s, one that I saw often.
3. BOB DYLAN- Travelin’ Thru featuring Johnny Cash: The highlight here is the session with Cash. Not many people- then or now- can stand on equal footing with Dylan. It’s probably as close as you will ever get to hearing Dylan with his guard down.
4. THE BEATLES- Abbey Road Anniversary Edition: Not quite as many revelations as the Sgt. Pepper or White Album box sets but still quite remarkable.
5. FLEETWOOD MAC- Before The Beginning 1968-1970: The Green/Kirwan version of Mac was my favorite. The 12 minute version of The Green Manalishi is worth the price of admission alone.

Duncan Clark