Offhand Remarks:

1. Do you enjoy beautiful trances? These days, I do, and I don’t really like substances to help, because I’m old and fall asleep–which defeats the point. Musically, you’ll be hard pressed to find hypnosis as euphonic as Jeff Parker’s new album on Eremite or Patricia Brennan’s on Pyroclastic. They sustain like a mutha and they are never boring. Proceed.
2. The number of additions to this list may be a record for a month. Most are available on Bandcamp, today is Friday, and you know what to do.
3. I am sure I have mentioned Rod Taylor’s Brazil Beat blog here before, but I may have to send him a holiday gift, so many gifts has he led me to. Two cases in point: one, it is Joyce Moreno’s year–she has a lovely, dancing, swinging new album out at 74 and a number of reissues that may convince you (as she, with Rod’s help, has me) that she’s one of the greatest Brazilian singers of the last 60-odd years; two, check out Bruno Berle’s moody, eccentric, and brilliant new album, as well as an older one by Lula Cortes and Ze Ramalho that Berle’s album reminded Rod of, Solar Paebiru–I love Berle’s album so much that I did that old-school blind-dive and bought a hard copy of the latter. Woah. Weird and gorgeous.
4. If an artist has released 100 albums, that merits a sampling if one isn’t familiar with the artist. Satoko Fujii’s One Hundred Dreams is just that–an exciting, out-there record of imaginative piano combo sounds that will leave you hoping for Album 101.
5. Adeem the Artist’s second album is red-hot-off-the-presses and surpasses his excellent debut. It is surely the best autobiographical blue-collar Americana release by a non-binary singer-songwriter…ever. And also yet.
6. That damned SAULT crew! Just when I think (at least for myself) I’ve “cracked the code” and weaned myself off their mystique, they drop a bunch of LPs and EPs that are all pretty fair. I listed my two favorites here–one of which I immediately burned to CD for one of my favorite students this year with whom I’ve had two great spiritual conversations. But as a result of that sticky mystique, I’m still not sure they are the two best.
7. The excellent Pitchfork critic Sasha Geffen, author of the very-worthwhile Glitter Up The Dark, recently Zoomed with three-count-’em-three separate classes of mine (they’d just finished her book on assignment). He was terrific and very down to earth–more so than my students expected a critic to be–and I told them to be sure to watch for her work on the ‘fork. His first review after our visit (in fact, I think it went up on the day he spoke with us) was of a new work by a band I’d never heard of, Special Interest. Endure JOLTED me–musically and lyrically–and testifies to Geffen’s sharp ear, eye, and mind.
8. I have a weakness for Little Rock and Memphis. But I think in spite of that my judgement is sound on this list. A stunning number of powerful, varied, and interesting records have been released by LR’s Mahakala Records just this year; Little Rock’s Kari Faux is far from faux, and Memphis’ GloRilla has just become my favorite woman-wildin’-out MC. She is very, very Memphian.
9. I’ve had a very stubborn Springsteen block since those two records he released at the same time–it’s so stubborn it even prevents me from enjoying his older work like I used to. My wife has a mild crush on both him and Obama, so I ceded to listening to their Renegades podcast (I can admire them both, but that title’s a bit off the mark–unless they were trying to be self-effacing). I rolled my eyes when I learned his new album was soul covers (too easy and safe, I thought, plus the choice of material didn’t meet Cramps/Ray Condo standards, plus so many invitations to strain). Just listened to it this morning for old times’ sake on a long walk…and found it sweet. Nicole will like it, too.
10. Several cyber-acquaintances of mine are really writing well on Substack. When I read their work, I wanna just fold it up here–that’s how much I enjoy it. If you like this blog, please try out Christian Iszchak’s “An Acute Case” (every Friday–good idea, ’cause that’s a great day to pay musicians!), Brad Luen’s always incisive and witty “Semipop Life,”, and Steve Pick’s “Steve Pick’s Writing Place.” Then stay there and only come back here if you need to–those guys actually write.

RELEASES OF NEWLY-MADE MUSIC

(New additions to the list are bolded.)

1. Rosalia: MOTOMAMI (Columbia)
2. Willie Nelson: A Beautiful Time (Sony)
3. Beyoncé: Renaissance (Parkwood Entertainment)
4. Tanya Tagaq: Tongues (Six Shooter) 
5. Ricky Ford: The Wailing Sounds of Ricky Ford—Paul’s Scene (Whaling City Sounds)
6. Stro Elliot & James Brown: Black & Loud—James Brown Reimagined (Polydor)
7. 75 Dollar Bill: Social Music at Troost, Volume 3–Other People’s Music (Black Editions Group)
8. Tommy Womack: I Thought I Was Fine (Schoolkids Records)
9. Jeff Parker ETA IVTet: Mondays at the Enfield Tennis Academy (Eremite)
10. Wadada Leo Smith: The Emerald Duets (TUM)
11. Wet Leg: Wet Leg (Domino)
12. Anitta: Versions of Me (Deluxe) (Warner)
13. Ka: Languish Arts (Iron Works)
14. Sudan Archives: Natural Brown Prom Queen (Stones Throw)
15. Lady Wray: Piece of Me (Big Crown)
16. Harry Styles: Harry’s House (Columbia)
17. Sun Ra Arkestra (featuring Marshall Allen): Living Sky (Strut / Omni Sound)
18. Bob Vylan: Bob Vylan Presents The Price of Life (Ghost Theatre)
19. Horace Andy: Midnight Rocker (On-U Sound)
20. Amanda Shires: Take It Like a Man (ATO)
21. Mary Gauthier: Dark Enough to See the Stars (Thirty Tigers)
22. Patricia Brennan: More Touch (Pyroclastic)
23. black midi: Hellfire (Rough Trade)
24. Heroes Are Gang Leaders: LeAutoRoiGraphy (577 Records)
25. The Mountain Goats: Bleed Out (Merge)
26. ensemble 0: Music Nuvulosa (Sub Rosa)
27. Gogol Bordello: Solidaritine (Das Grand Kapital)
28. Steve Lacy: Gemini Rights (RCA)
29. Superchunk: Wild Loneliness (Merge)
30. Gonora Sounds: Hard Times Never Kill (Phantom Limb)
31. Ches Smith: Interpret It Well (Pyroclastic)
32. The Ogun Meji Duo: Freedom Suite (self-released)
33. SAULT: Untitled (God) (self-released)
34. SAULT: Today & Tomorrow (self-released)
35. Phelimuncasi: Ama Gogela (Nyege Nyege Tapes)
36. Dawn Richard & Spencer Zahn: Pigments (Merge)
37. 700 Bliss: Nothing to Declare (Hyperdub)
38. Bruno Berle: No Reino Dos Afetos (Far Out)
39. The Chats: Get Fucked (Cooking Vinyl)
40. Jinx Lennon: Pet Rent (Septic Tiger)
41. Freakons: Freakons (Fluff & Gravy)
42. Jeong Lim Yang: Zodiac Suite—Reassured (Fresh Sound)
43. Etran de L’Air: Agadez (Sahel Sounds)
44. Homeboy Sandman: I Can’t Sell These (self-released)
45. Bitchin’ Bajas: Bajascillators (Drag City)
46. Horsegirl: “Billy” / “History Lesson, Part II” (Matador)
47. Mark Lomax Trio: Plays Mingus (CFG Multimedia)
48. Florian Arbenz: Conversation #5—Elemental; Conversations #6 and 7
49. Moor Mother: Jazz Codes (Anti-)
50. Buck 65: King of Drums (4320739 Records DK)
51. Mdou Moctar: Niger EP Volume 1 (Matador)
52. ifsonever: ifsonever (Jazz & Milk)
53. Various Artists: Lespri Ka—New Directions in Gwoka Music from Guadeloupe (Time Capsule Sounds) 
54. Satoko Fujii: One Hundred Dreams (Libra)
55. Mark Lomax II: Prismatic Refractions, Volume I (self-released)
56. Special Interest: Endure (Rough Trade)
57. James Brandon Lewis: MSM Molecular Systematic Music—Live (Intakt)
58. Kari Faux: Lowkey Superstar (Don Giovanni)
59. Adeem the Artist: White Trash Revelry (self-released)
60. Miranda Lambert: Palomino (Vanner)
61. Backxwash: HIS HAPPINESS SHALL COME FIRST EVEN THOUGH WE ARE SUFFERING (Ugly Hag / self-released)
62. Daniel Villareal: Panama ’77 (International Anthem)
63. Kehlani: blue water road (TSNMI/Atlantic)
64. Elaine Elias: Quietude (Candid)
65. Dr. John: Things Happen That Way (Rounder)
66. Horace Andy: Midnight Scorchers (On-U Sound)
67. Ka: Woeful Studies (Iron Works)
68. Wild Up: Julius Eastman, Volume 2—Joy Boy (New Amsterdam)
69. Lucrecia Dalt: Ay! (RVNG International)
70. GloRilla: Anyways, Life’s Great (CMG/Interscope)
71. Amber Mark:Three Dimensions Deep (PMR / Interscope) 
72. Morgan Wade: Reckless (Deluxe) (Ladylike) 
73. Zoh Amba: O, Sun (Tzadik)
74. Jussi Reijonen: Three Seconds I Kolme Toista (Challenge Records International)
75. Ran Blake: Driftwoods (Tompkins Square)
76. Whit Dickey: Root Perspectives (Tao Forms)
77. Billy Woods: Aethiopes (Backwoodz Studios)
78. Ishmael Reed: The Hands of Grace (Reading Group)
79. Dan Ex Machina: All is Ours, Nothing is Theirs (self-released)
80. Anna von Hausswoolff: Live at Montreaux Jazz Festival (Southern Lord) 
81. Felipe Salles: Tiyo’s Songs of Life (Tapestry)
82. Steve Lehman: Xaybu—The Unseen(Pi Recordings)
83. Tom Zé: Lingua Brasiliera (Selo Sesc)
84. Joyce Moreno: Brasilieras Cancoes (Biscoito Fino)
85. M.I.A.: Mata (Island)
86. Taylor Swift: Midnights (non-expanded) (Republic)
87. Nancy Mounir: Nozhet El Nofous (Terrorbird)
88. Rick Rosato: Homage (self-released)
89. The Beths: Expert in a Dying Field (Carpark)
90. Alvvays: Blue Rev (Polyvinyl / Transgressive)
91. Oumou Sangare: Timbuktu (World Circuit Limited)
92. Various Artists: Hidden Waters—Strange and Sublime Sounds from Rio de Janiero (Sounds and Colours)
93. SeaJun Kwon: Micro Nap (Endectomorph Music)
94. Gilla Band: Most Normal (Rough Trade)
95. Dry Cleaning: Stumpwork (4AD)
96. Brian Eno: FOREVERANDEVERNOMORE (Verve / UMC)
97. Nduduzo Makhathini: In the Spirit of Ntu (Universal)
98. Gard Nilssen Acoustic Unity:Elastic Wave (ECM)
99. Miguel Zeñon: Musica de las Americas (Miel Music)
100. Isaiah Collier & The Chosen Few: Lift Every Voice (Division 81 Records)
101. Tyshawn Sorey: The Off-Off Broadway Guide to Synergism (Pi)
102. Priscilla Block: Welcome to the Block Party (InDent)
103. The Comet is Coming: Hyper-Dimensional Expansion Beam (Impulse)
104. Serengeti: Kaleidoscope III (Audiocon)
105. Kendrick Lamar: Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers (pgLang/Top Dawg Entertainment/Aftermath/Interscope)
106. Makaya McCraven: In These Times (International Anthem)
107. Charm Taylor: She Is The Future (Sinking City)
108. OGJB: Ode to O (TUM) (Note: Band name – O = Oliver Lake, G = Graham Haynes, J = Joe Fonda, B = Barry Altschul / Title – O = Ornette) 
109. Andrew Cyrille, William Parker, and Enrico Rava: Two Blues for Cecil (TUM) 
110. Luke Stewart’s Silt Trio: The Bottom (Cuneiform) 
111. Tyler Mitchell: Dancing Shadows (featuring Marshall Allen) (Mahakala Music)
112. Crow Billiken (aka R.A.P. Ferreira): If I don’t have red I use blue (self-released)
113. Dopolarians: Blues for Alvin Fielder—Live at Crosstown Arts, Memphis (Mahakala Music)
114. The Paranoid Style: For Executive Meeting(Bar/None)
115. Carl Stone: Wat Dong Moon Lek (Unseen Worlds)
116. Joy Guidry:Radical Acceptance (Whited Sepulchre)
117. Tasche de la Rocha: Tasche de la Rocha & The Psychedelic Roses (Sinking City)
118. Meridian Brothers and El Grupo & Renacimiento (Ansonia)
119. Avram Fefer Quartet: Juba Lee (Clean Feed)
120. Marxist Love Disco Ensemble: MLDE(Mr. Bongo)
121. Jeffrey Lewis: When That Really Old Cat Dies (self-released)
122. Mitski: Laurel Hell (Dead Oceans)
123. Jockstrap: Jockstrap (Rough Trade)
124. Breath of Air: Breath of Air (Burning Ambulance Music)
125. Immanuel Wilkins: The 7th Hand (Blue Note) 
126. David Murray Brave New World Trio: Seriana Promethea (Intakt)
127. Fulu Miziki: Ngbaka (EP)
128. David Virelles: Nuna (Pi / El Tivoli)
129. Javon Jackson & Nikki Giovanni: The Gospel According to Nikki Giovanni (Solid Jackson) 
130. Leikeli47: Shape Up (Hardcover/RCA)
131. Witchcraft Books: Volume 1—The Sundisk (Iapetus Records)
132. Hurray for The Riff Raff: Life on Earth (Nonesuch)
133. Qasim Naqvi/Wadada Leo Smith/Andrew Cyrille: Two Centuries (Red Hook)
134. Rokia Koné and Jacknife Lee: Bamanan (3DFamily)
135. Tomas Fujiwara: Triple Double (Firehouse 12)
136. DJ Black Low: Uwami (Awesome Tapes from Africa)
137. Ibibio Sound Machine:Electricity (Merge)
138. Zoh Amba: O Life, O Light, Volume 1(577 Records)
139. Burton/McPherson Trio: The Summit Rock Session at Seneca Village (Giant Step Arts)
140. Kahil El’Zabar Quartet: A Time for Healing (Spirit Muse)
141. Pastor Champion: I Just Want to Be a Good Man (Luaka Bop)
142. Nduduzo Makhathini: In the Spirit of Ntu (Blue Note)
143. Pusha T: It’s Almost Dry (G.O.O.D. Music/Def Jam)
144. Elza Soares: Elza Ao Vivo No Municipal (Deck)
145. Nilufer Yanya: Painless (ATO)
146. Open Mike Eagle: a tape called component system with the auto reverse (Auto Reverse)
147. Chad Fowler/Ivo Perelman/Zoh Amba/Matthew Shipp/William Parker/Steve Hirsch: Alien Skin (Mahakala Music)
148. Tommy McLain: I Ran Down Every Dream (Yep Roc)
149. Satoko Fujii and Joe Fonda: Thread of Light (Fundacja Słuchaj)
150. Charli XCX: Crash (Atlantic)
151. Pete Malinverni: On the Town—Pete Malinverni Plays Leonard Bernstein (Planet Arts) 
152. JID: The Forever Story (Dreamville)
153. Dedicated Men of Zion: The Devil Don’t Like It (Bible & Tire)
154. Tyshawn Sorey Trio: Mesmerism (Pi Recordings)
155. Dezron Douglas: Atalaya (International Anthem)
156. Space Afrika: Honest Labour (Dais)
157. Charlotte Adigery & Bolis Pupul: Topical Dancer (DeeWee)
158. Earl Sweatshirt: Sick! (Tan Cressida / Warner) 
159. Big Thief: Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You (4AD)
160. Ashley McBryde: Presents…Lindeville (Warner Nashville)
161. Jeff Arnal and Curt Cloninger: Drum Major Instinct (Mahakala Music)
162. Tee Grizzley: Half Tee Half Beast (self-released)
163. Natsuki Tamura: Summer Tree (Libra)
164. Ghais Guevara: There Will Be No Super-Slave (self-released)
165. Bruce Springsteen: Only the Strong Survive (Columbia)
166. Manel Fortia: Despertar (Segell Microscopi/Altafonte)
167. Ray Wylie Hubbard: Co-Starring Too (Big Machine)
168. Various Artists: if you fart make it sound good (WA Records)
169. Marta Sanchez: SAAM (Spanish American Art Museum) (Whirlwind)
170. Sonnyjim & The Purist: White Girl Wasted (Duape)
171. Earthgang: Ghetto Gods (Dreamville/Interscope)
172. Mavis Staples & Levon Helm: Carry Me Home (Anti-)
173. Panda Bear & Sonic Boom: Reset (Domino)
174. Blue Reality Quartet: Ella’s Island (Mahakala Music)
175. Sarah Ruth and Monte Espina: quatro estaciones (Full Spectrum)

ARCHIVAL DIGS

1. Los Golden Boys: Cumbia de Juventud (Mississippi Records)
2. Albert Ayler: Revelations—The Complete ORTF 1970 Fondation Maeght Recordings (Elemental)
3. Cecil Taylor:The Complete Legendary Live Return Concert at the Town Hall (Oblivion)
4. Tommy Womack: 30 Years Shot to Hell! An Anthology (Schoolkids Records)
5. Various Artists: Lovers Rock—The Soulful Sound of Romantic Reggae (Trojan)
6. Albert Ayler: La Cave Live 1966 (Ezz-Thetics) 
7. Various Artists: Cumbia Sabrosa—Tropical Sound System Bangers From The Discos Fuentes Vaults 1961-1981 (Rocafort Records)
8. Freestyle Fellowship: To Whom It May Concern….
9. Biluka y Los Canibales: Leaf-Playing in Quito (1960-1965) (Honest Jon’s)
10. Various Artists: OZ DAYS LIVE ’72​-​’73 Kichijoji–The 50th Anniversary Collection (featuring Les Rallizes Dénudés)  (Temporal Drift)
11. Various Artists: A Chat About the Beauty of the Moon at Night–Hawaiian Steel Guitar Masters 1913-1921 (Magnificent Sounds)
12. The Rolling Stones: Live at the El Mocambo (Interscope)
13. Son House: Forever on My Mind (Easy Eye Sound)
14. Lavender Country: Blackberry Rose and Other Songs & Sorrows (Don Giovanni)
15. Mal Waldron: Searching in Grenoble—The 1978 Solo Piano Concert (Tompkins Square)
16. Horace Tapscott Quintet: The Quintet (Mr. Bongo)
17. Horace Tapscott Quintet: Legacies for Our Grandchildren (Dark Tree)
18. Dickie Landry & Lawrence Weiner: Having Been Built on Sand (Unseen Worlds)
19. Various Artists: The D-Vine Spirituals—Sacred Soul (Bible & Tire)
20. Kabaka International Guitar Band: Kabaka International Guitar Band (Palenque Records)
21. The Pyramids: AOMAWA—The 1970s Recordings (Strut)
22. Hermeto Pascoal: Hermeto (Far Out Recordings)
23. Sun Ra: Sun Ra Arkestra Meets Salah Ragab in Egypt (Strut)
24. Asha Puthi: The Essential Asha Puthi (Mr. Bongo)
25. Malik’s Emerging Force Art Trio: Time and Condition (moved-by-sound)
26. Volta Jazz: Air Volta (Numero)
27. Blondie: Against the Odds—1974-1982 (3-CD Rarities Version) (UMe / Numero Group)
28. Joyce Moreno: Natureza (Far Out Recordings)
29. Various Artists: From Lion Mountain—Traditional Music of Yeha, Ethiopia (Dust-to-Digital)
30. Charles Stepney: Step-on-Step(International Anthem)
31. Ronnie Boykins: The Will Come is Now (ESP-Disk)
32. John Ondolo: Hypnotic Guitar of John Ondolo (Mississippi Records)
33. Luciano Luciani y sus Mulatos: Mulata, vamos a la Salsa (Vampisoul)
34. Cecil Taylor: Respiration (Fundacja Stuchaj)
35. Norma Tanega: Studio and Demo Recordings, 1964-1971 (Anthology)
36. Irma Thomas: New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 1976 (Good Time)
37. Afrika Negra: Antologia, Volume 1 (Bongo Joe)
38. Various Artists: Summer of Soul (Legacy)
39. The Heartbreakers: LAMF—The ’77 Found Mixes (Jungle)
40. Various Artists: Let’s Stamp—1950s Folk Dance Recordings from Bulgarian and Yugoslavian 78 Discs (Canary Recordings)