I think I listened to so much music that I didn’t give myself enough time to absorb it all. I also spent too much time with some records at the expense of others. The ones nearer the top are just the ones I listened to the most, though there are many I’m sure would move up in time. Whatever…
Buy New or Used via Amazon Rent via iTunes [?]1.Lankum – False Lankum
Been listening to them for a few years and I'm happy to see they are getting some worldwide recognition. Traditional Irish folk tunes given the drone treatment, with Radie Peat's voice being a big draw.
Buy New or Used via Amazon Rent via iTunes [?]2.The Bug Club – Rare Birds: Hour of Song
Double low-fi-ish punk lp, with echoes of Television Personalities, The Buzzcocks, The Clean, The Kinks…well, some of those bands do belong under the same umbrella. Dunno if the spoken word segments are needed, but they are short enough not to bother me.
Buy New or Used via Amazon Rent via iTunes [?]3. Jaimie Branch – Fly or Die Fly or Die Fly or Die ((world war))
Saw her play with Joe McPhee a few years ago and was impressed. Then listening to her own stuff got me fully on board. R.I.P. 4. Freezing Hands-Empty The Tank. My number one last year. First of several Power Pop records on this list, I’m betting. I probably said this last year, but a little Beach Boys, Kinks, Big Star, Not nearly well known enough. I could say that for a bunch here, I know.
Buy New or Used via Amazon Rent via iTunes [?]5. Melenas – Ahora
This one took me a few listens. I wasn’t initially fond of their move away from guitars to more electronic danceable atmospheric tunes, but a few more listens and it laid eggs in my brain.
Buy New or Used via Amazon Rent via iTunes [?]6. Wedding Present – 24 Songs
A collection of singles released in 2022, but compiled in 2023. Some of their best tunes since Saturnalia, from 1996. Not they made bad records since then, but some of these tunes are especially great.
Buy New or Used via Amazon Rent via iTunes [?]7. Death Valley Girls – Islands In The Sky
Psych-garage, lot's of reverb, organ, chants and magic. Great live, too.
Buy New or Used via Amazon Rent via iTunes [?]8. Oxbow – Loves Holiday
They’ve been around since the late 80’s and I’ve always heard the name but never gave them a listen; that changes a few LPs ago. This is their most accessible LP, so it might be a good starter; some of their other mutant soul can be pretty daunting. They even did a record with Peter Brötzmann.
Buy New or Used via Amazon Rent via iTunes [?]9. The Clientele – I Am Not There Anymore
Another band that’s been around for years. I always liked what I heard, but everything clicks with this one. Some Baroque pop, with some Zombies, Love, occasional electronics and vocals that sometimes remind me of Justin Hayward.
Buy New or Used via Amazon Rent via iTunes [?]10. Lucidvox – That’s What Remained
Guess I’m overdosing on folk/drone this year. This one comes from Russia. Now if someone would just start a folk drone power pop band.
11. Invisible Hands – The Big Minute
12. Reverend Kristin Michael Hayter – Saved!
13. The Reds, Pinks & Purples – The Town That Cursed Your Name
14. ØXN – Cym
15. Sparklehorse – Bird Machine
16. Invisible Hands – The Big Minute
17. The Ex-Bats – Song Machine
18. Skull Practitioners – Negative Stars
19. Wreckless Eric – Leisureland
20. John Francis Flynn – Look Over The Wall, See The Sky
And some of the rest…
V/A – Ballads of Seduction, Fertility and Ritual Slaughter. A tribute to the film The Wicker Man, with Meg Baird, Alan Bishop and more.
La Baracande – La Baracande
Wadada Leo Smith and Orange Wave Electric – Free Illuminations
Movie Movie – Storyboards
Lonnie Holley – Oh Me, Oh My
Sparks – The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte
Califone – Villagers
Rough Kids – The Black, White & Grey
Glyders – Maria’s Hunt
Night Beats – Rajan
Anders Parker – The Black Flight
Duncan Reid – And It’s Goodbye From Him
Barbara Manning – Charm Of Yesterday
W.I.T.C.H – ZANGO
Graham Day and the Gaolors – Reflections In The Glass
Allyson Callery and Mother Bear – Witch’s Hand
Yo La Tengo – This Stupid World
Nobro – Set Your Pussy Free
Sloppy Heads – Sometimes Just One Second
P.J. Harvey – I Inside The Old World Dying
The Wind Ups – Happy Like This
Galactapus – The Rainbows Of Wrong
Pere Ubu – Trouble On Big Beat Street
…I can go on forever. I didn’t catch up on archival stuff.
Great gigs-
Bush Tetras -Tubby’s Anniversary concert in Kingston, NY
Jon Langford / Bonnie Prince Billy -Jo’s Pub, NY
Robyn Hitchcock with band – Bowery Ballroom, NY
Yo La Tengo / Lambchop / Andy Shernoff – Bowery Ballroom NY
Joe McPhee – Lace Mill in Kingston, NY
Ex-Hex / Shana Falana – Colony, Woodstock, NY
The Bobby Lees – Colony Woodstock, NY
Sun Ra Arkestra – Opus 40
W.I.T.C.H. / Death Valley Girls / Abraxas – No Fun, Troy, NY
Bob Mould – Lark Hall-Albany, NY
Oh, I just remembered some other… nevermind.