2019

https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/98875dd7-e64d-4971-83b4-2450793d6817

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2JM2JLTKo4BZyJrJHu4ntU

Here is my list of favorite releases from 2019. There was surely more music that I enjoyed this year, but I limited the list to 15 tracks to match the format of this blog. Some of these selections represent full albums while some favorites are just the single tracks. One of the musical techniques that I am most drawn to is the use of repetition, which is a prevalent feature in many of the songs chosen for this list.


1. I Know You See Me - Kassa Overall, J Hoard, Melanie Charles

Kassa Overall is a drummer/MC/songwriter/producer/artist from Seattle and based in NYC. He is one of my favorite drummers. He brings a potent, genuine style to his playing. This track is one of his first releases after being signed to Gilles Peterson's label Brownswood Recordings. It incorporates his drumming, MC, and production skills to create a flowing, collage-like sound. 

2. Goat Head - Brittany Howard

Brittany Howard's solo release "Jaime" was one of my favorite albums of the year. This track in particular drew me, first because of the sample-like instrumental looping that starts the song. It features the impenetrable drumming of Nate Smith under a sparse keyboard line. Howard then enters with heavy lyrics about the intolerance that she and her family faced growing up in Alabama with a white mom and black dad and the identities that people try to force on her for being mixed. The lyrical delivery switches between repeating phrases, holding on one note, and an almost spoken word approach. This switching up of delivery creates a conversational vibe. It also helps convey the emotions of the story. 

3. GIOVANNI - Jamila Woods

LEGACY!LEGACY! by Jamila Woods was another of my favorite albums of the year. The dense, drum heavy instrumentals on this album complement Jamila's smooth, soprano voice. Although her voice has that quality, the lyrics are powerful and assertive. 

4. Basement Jack - Steve Lacy

Steve Lacy is the guitar player for the band The Internet. Lacy's songwriting on Apollo XXI is skillfully simple and has a similarly playful quality to that of the The Internet but is a little more airy. 

5. Babouche - Jidenna, Goldlink

I like this song because it slaps. The beat accomplishes a deep groove using just a snare, hi hat, and sub kick. Everything else on the beat is color. Additionally the koto sample reminds me of a sample approach that I have used in the past, but this song does it better. Jidenna's flow fits right into the pocket. Goldlink's delivery sounds kind of like Kendrick on this track, but it fits well. 

6. Statute of Limitations - 2 Chainz

Rap Or Go To The League is one of the albums I listened to the most this year. I like that 2 Chainz is one of the older rappers who is still current and collaborating with younger artists. His flow is simple and he expresses a lot with a little. 

7. Fire Is Coming (feat. David Lynch) - Flying Lotus

The newest Flying Lotus album, Flamagra, features dense chords over bouncy funk grooves. Thundercat is a prominent feature throughout. The first half of the track "Fire Is Coming", is just David Lynch telling a feverish, Lynchian story accompanied by sound effects. At the end of the story the beat comes in HEAVY.

8. Thinking (Live Sesh) - Louis Cole

In 2012 I saw Austin Peralta play at the Del Monte Speakeasy in Venice, CA. It was the first time I had seen or heard of Louis Cole, who was playing drums that night. I talked to him after the show and asked him what other gigs he plays. He said he didn't really play out that much. Now he's one the most well known modern instrumentalists within the jazz/funk world, playing with and writing songs for Thundercat, leading the electro-funk band Knower, being featured on the Snarky Puppy family dinner video series, etc. Recently he has been arranging his songs for a large ensemble. The orchestration of his funk songs, like this one, are fat, funky, and feel good. 

9. Stop The Tape - Emmavie

I found out about Emmavie from the Fresh Selects Bandcamp page. Her album Honeymoon from this year is soulful and groovy, using largely electronic instrumentals. The electronic sound gives the songs a vaguely retro feel but the album still sounds fresh. I have been having fun playing along to this track, with it's groove switching between an almost DnB style, a slow RnB vibe, and a 3 over 4 polyrhythmic vamp. 

10. Tarhatazed - Mdou Moctar

I had the privilege of opening for Mdou Moctar in 2018 with the band Beyond Captain Orca. His band rocks out hard over Saharan rhythms. Moctar is heavily influenced by Jimi Hendrix. His album from this year, Ilana (The Creator), is heady and beautiful. The band really goes for it on this song and Moctar lets loose on guitar. 

11. Highwomen - The Highwomen

This group took a good, classic country song and made it really good. The original song featuring Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson, told the fictional stories of adventurers and laborers who died during their work, but whose spirits live on. Highwomen, sung by Brandi Carlisle, Natalie Hemby, Yola, Amanda Shires, and Maren Morris, uses the same format but tells the stories of women throughout history who were killed for defying the roles that their societies imposed on them. I get the chills every time I listen to it. Although I love the original tune, this update is a lot more meaningful. 

12. Can't Believe The Way We Flow - James Blake

Assume Form, by James Blake was another one of my favorite albums this year. The murky, moody production and reverb-heavy vocals create a uniquely beautiful statement. Blake's music can't really be categorized. He incorporates techniques from different musical traditions, but the end product is his own. 

13. Not - Big Thief

The beauty of this song is that it never resolves lyrically or musically. When you think the song may be about to resolve, it just keeps building, creating more tension. 

14. Due West - Kelsey Lu

Due West is a beautiful pop song about leaving to pursue one's dreams.  The lyrics on the chorus fall across the bar line pushing the song forward.


 15. Bass Attack Bap - Georgia Anne Muldrow

Georgia Anne Muldrow is one of my favorite producers of all time. She has one of the dopest feels and her arrangements are always new and interesting. She has a style rooted in old school, 90's neo-soul and hip hop but it always feels fresh as well. This track combines a fat bass line with an expansive piano chord vamp and slapping drums.


 bonus:

16. Trail Mix - Terrace Martin, Buddy, Rose Gold

Terrace Martin is one of my favorite artists. Known for producing Kendrick's To Pimp A Butterfly album, he also plays alto saxophone and vocoder with Herbie Hancock and is producing Hancock's next album. In addition to those big projects, he has been releasing soul music side projects and collaborations for the past few years. Highlights include "Velvet Portraits" and "The Pollyseeds". This year he has been releasing a string of singles including this one. It's a simple song that creates a vibe more than anything else. Terrace is great at creating vibes.

#29

https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/6d864805-5dc4-4c33-9936-f585f3ecb8ba

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3joVpGSi2Qh1CUwWVfwLHT

playlist:

1. Delta Lady - Leon Russell

2. Around The World In A Day - Prince

3. NVR - Select Level

4. Trail Mix - Terrace Martin, Buddy, Rose Gold

5. Dusted 'N' Disgusted - E-40, 2pac, Mac Mall, Spice 1

6. Blizzard (Gusty Winds Graceful Mix) - Damu The Fudgemunk, & Roc Marciano

7. Basement Jack - Steve Lacy

8. Hang On To Your Love - Sade

9. Disco Bhangra - Prakash Band

10. Little Japan - Los Lobos

11. Today - Talk Talk

12. The Calvary Cross - Richard Thompson, Linda Thompson

13. She Moved Through The Fair - Van Morrison, The Chieftains

14. Carrickfergus - Van Morrison, The Chieftains

15. The Swimming Song - Loudon Wainwright, III






 

#28

https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/d6961963-09d3-4105-84af-1d2020066202

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0LQbzJmTHxgSJSjlbtJxLS

playlist:

1. Salvages - The Bad Plus

2. Goat Head - Brittany Howard

3. Stand By Me - Ry Cooder

4. Tenderness On The Block - Warren Zevon

5. Temporarily Blind - Built To Spill

6. Harvest Moon - Neil Young 

7. Oshún - Daymé Arocena

8. As Your Are - Taylor Mcferrin, Elena Pinderhughes

9. Atlantic Black - Makaya McCraven

10. Slyish (Running Away Cover) - DJ Harrison

11. Be Nice - Thees Handz, Murs, The Grouch

12. Get Nice - Dex Amora

13. Dolphy - Crystal Beth

14. Nerve - Anna Wise

15. In Case You Forgot - Robert Glasper

#27

https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/ce0a43a8-d9f6-4286-817b-e3629ec1193e

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6RkowujyVUT8MJvBhMI5cj 

playlist:

1. Wanna Be A Baller - Lil' Troy

2. BlkSknn - Control

3. Days Of Our Lives - G Perico

4. Thinking(Live Sesh) - Louis Cole

5. Superstar - Fat Pat

6. Friends We Know - Fat Pat

7. Best Life - Danny Brown

8. I'm Feeling Love - Raphael Saadiq

9. One Blood, One Cuzz - Snoop Dogg, BattleCat

10. Burning Up - The James Blood Ulmer Blues Experience

11. Boo'd Up - Ella Mai

12. All I Own - Terrace Martin

13. Stained Glass Fresh Frozen - Julien Dyne, Mara Tk

14. Every Tub - Count Basie

15. A Long Time Ago - Yusef Lateef

#26

https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/1a52a9c0-3bde-4002-af0b-59e28f258e89

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5xSrB6bU7YegnI8QQh4dKJ

Playlist:

1. Gwadloup - Edmony Krater

2. Cross River - Butcher Brown

3. Carl Maria Von Weber - Perera Elsewhere

4. Tihilele - Les Filles de Illighadad

5. Don't Unplug My Body - Daymé Arocena

6. Anna - Mdou Moctar

7. Takamba - Mdou Moctar

8. Babouche - Jidenna, GoldLink

9. 'Bout A Lotta Thangs - Trick Daddy

10. Smoke Out - Trick Daddy

11. Hope I Don't Go Back - E-40

12. Mirror Memory - Teebs

13. Down In The Streets - Barrett Martin Group, Wayne Horvitz

14. Crazy Ride - Clinton Fearon

15. Fell Runner - Take It Back


 

#25

https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/3a62635d-d4fc-49e0-8048-ea71927cc678

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0Tn0gsMA7rvM9SRYXhq0QK

playlist:

1. Coming Home - Pusha T, Ms. Lauryn Hill

2. Nautical Mile - Salaam Remi, Terrace Martin

3. Nautilus - Bob James

4. Bwaata - Joe Henderson

5. Money In The Pocket - Joe Zawinul 

6. After Death Part Two - Arisawkadoria

7. Feelin It - Blimes And Gab

8. Princesa Del Desierto - Fidel Nadal

9. Maggie - Ryan Porter

10. You Are The Sky - WEEED

11. Ghizlane - Noura Mint Seymali

12. Dandelion - Parisalexa

13. Soy Provinciano - Los Chipis

14. Atlantic City - Bruce Springsteen

15. Drunken Angel - Lucinda Williams

#24

It's been a while since I posted any music. I have been spending time on other pursuits this summer, but did continue to collect songs along the way. I guess this could be viewed as a summer retrospective. The selection is broken up in to 4 parts for convenience. 

https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/4fa6b661-b68f-4e3c-8aa2-56242fe34e8a

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1i1EUlEYgZLa3Q9zdC7KPU

playlist:

1. HURRICANE - Ollie Chanin

2. All Night Long (All Night) - Lionel Richie

3. Fix Up, Look Sharp - Dizzee Rascal

4. Name Of The Game - Reflection Eternal

5. Time: The Donut Of The Heart - J Dilla

6. Qualified - Dr. John

7. Lily, Rosemary and The Jack Of Hearts - Bob Dylan

8. All Along The Watchtower - Bob Dylan, Grateful Dead

9. Not Dark Yet - Bob Dylan

10. What Good Am I? - Bob Dylan

11. Nettie Moore - Bob Dylan

12. Ballad Of A Teenage Queen - Johnny Cash

13. Old Friend - Waylon Jennings

14. Delta Dawn - Tanya Tucker

15. Highwomen - The Highwomen

https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/ea0ed268-fe3a-4ae4-a5af-541de4c961b3

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/09vBl1QxdKycwxN041UTZ7

playlist:

1. Where Ya At Mule - Dr. John

2. Mother In Law - Ernie K Doe

3. Here Come The Girls (feat. Cyril Neville) - Stanton Moore

4. Southern Nights (feat. Nicholas Payton) - Stanton Moore

5. Reaping What I Sow - Ernie K Doe

6. Chips - Mndsgn, Jon Bap

7. Bass Attack Bap - Georgia Anne Muldrow

8. Hit Somebody! (The Hockey Song) - Warren Zevon

9. Entente - Tal National

10. Four Of Five - Khruangbin

11. Charcoal Baby - Blood Orange

12. Itaru's Phone Booth - Myele Manzanza

13. Spaghetti Junction - Outkast

14. Butterfly (feat. Robert Glasper) - Bilal

15. f0nk w/ an O (feat. LMNO) - Georgia Anne Muldrow, Declaime

https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/d142e221-6d54-4e78-b54e-12b844d680c0

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4gGEKa0WhZVUDyZjXz05GC

playlist:

1. Koala Sprint - Midnight Oil

2. Atonement for the Cursed - Poison Idea

3. The Winding Sheet - Mark Lanegan

4. Weed Demon - Señor Fin

5. Both Sides Now - Joni Mitchell

6. Jarreau Of Rap (Skatt Attack) - Nas, Al Jarreau, Keyon Harold

7. The Great Return (racing seed) - Ras G

8. Exile ray-d-o - Ras G

9. Discipline09-3 - Ras G

10. NVR - Select Level

11. Heaven or Hell (feat. Kool G Rap, LMNO & Black Milk) - Georgia Anne Muldrow, Declaime

12. Ye - Burna Boy

13. Below O - Pete Rock

14. Zoltan - M. Geddes Gengras

15. One For Honor - Jonathan Blake

https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/1467fcb4-7fac-4929-a4f6-7692669f467a

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/454rxaTK7twf21syGpZmFR

playlist:

1. Right On - Marvin Gaye

2. Don't Lose Your Mind - Miles Davis

3. Hymn - Braxton Cook

4. May 20 - Kiefer

5. Bas Bad Bad (feat. Lil Baby) - Young Thug

6. break up with your girlfriend, i'm bored - Ariana Grande

7. I'm Scared (feat. 21 Savage & Doe Boy) - Young Thug

8. Stop The Tape - Emmavie

9. Hoodie - Reginald Chapman

10. Rocky Mountain Boogaloo - The Adam Deitch Quartet

11. Black Narcissus - Joe Henderson

12. The Great Empire - Joe Zawinul 

13. Grindin' - Clipse

14. Arps - Evan Marien

15. Not - Big Thief

#23

https://tidal.com/playlist/88b25321-bda8-42a3-9eb9-bbd5cd2d262a

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5xyVPj286R0O42YpnuA9CM

playlist:

1. Egocentric Molecules - Jean-Luc Ponty

2. I'll Sleep When I'm Dead - Warren Zevon

3. Two Headed Dog (Red Temple Prayer) - Roky Erickson

4. Tennessee Song - Margo Price 

5. Choo Choo - Mac Demarco

6. Thanks To You - Clams Casino, Sam Dew

7. Lawless Society - Wailing Souls 

8. Na Ma Nin Me - Sali Sidibe

9. Comin' Dine - Beanz N Kornbread

10. Butter - Radiation City

11. Baby Flies - Poison Idea

12. Jason And The Argonauts - XTC

13. Fire Is Coming (feat. David Lynch) - Flying Lotus

14. Everybody Loves The Sunshine - Roy Ayers 

15. Tearz - Wu-Tang Clan

#22

https://tidal.com/playlist/a264e06d-d2ed-43bb-9ec2-621d61a4082e

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6dM5fkj1ZeLsYhyAb1DvPZ

playlist: 

1. Sexy 4 Eva - Jay Park

2. Space - Traxman

3. Sey Wata Gaya - Tal National

4. Kagbe Sidibe - Kouloumba

5. Nabintou Diakite - Dia Ye Bana

6. Kiss Of Life - Peter Gabriel

7. Soudani - Gnawa Systeme

8. Bu Gün Menim Toyim Bar - Mehmet Sabir Karger

9. Ko'histon - Mashriq

10. Kagbe Sidibe - Simbo

11. Confessions, Pt. 2 - Badbadnotgood, Colin Stetson

12. BASQUIAT - Jamila Woods, Saba

13. Due West - Kelsey Lu

14. Crane - Beanz N Kornbread

15. The Bravest Man In The Universe - Bobby Womack 

#21

https://tidal.com/playlist/d33f57b4-ba1d-4957-bb5e-114e9a0fdec3

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4plHmp3kLGwKnRqi7Iigtt

playlist:

1. BULLET - Mark Guiliana

2. Beach Walk - Michael Abels

3. Kapoho - M. Geddes Gengras

4. Celebrity - Trouble Knows Me

5. Sanguine Paradise - Lil Uzi Vert

6. Have A Talk With God - Stevie Wonder

7. King James - Anderson .Paak

8. The Killing Season - A Tribe Called Quest 

9. Give Up The Goods (Just Step) - Mobb Deep

10. Fucc It Up - Roddy Ricch

11. DJamil - Youssou N'Dour

12. It's Yourz - Wu-Tang Clan

13. Utopia - Clever Austin 

14. How To (hair) - Ezperanza Spalding

15. Heaven Only Knows - Ryan Porter, Nia Andrews

#20

https://tidal.com/playlist/b3dd1cf4-e198-4462-946d-b49b698be5dd

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0bLtptwEjRAwR2Mg3QJ0OV


Gardun - Abdurahim Hamidov

Oh Kim - Dilnura Qodirjonova

I enjoy the opportunity to listen to music in its place of origin. The experience can provide new perspective or insight into the music. One particularly potent example for me was listening to Country music in Texas. Other personal examples include listening to Peruvian Cumbia in Lima and Reggae in Jamaica. When I was living in Los Angeles, I would make road trips back to Seattle and I would love to listen to grunge while driving up I-5 coming in to Washington. I could feel that this is where the music was from. 

I just returned from a trip to Uzbekistan, where my wife and I visited our friend, Graham, in Fergana and checked out the ancient cities of Bukhara and Samarkand along the Silk Road route. Before the trip I found some Uzbek traditional music on Tidal to listen to on the train en route to Bukhara. The city of Bukhara is over 1,000 years old. The written musical tradition of the region is based on court music dating back to the 16th century. The central location of these cities on the Silk Road as well as the historical Persian, Russian, and Mongol political and cultural influences come through in the music. I did not do any research ahead of time, but I heard melodies and vocal stylings that reminded me of music I have heard from Egypt, Turkey, China, India, and Ukraine. Abdurahim Hamidov was a famed Uzbek musician who played modern interpretations of Uzbek traditional music. After listening to this music on the train, I recalled it as we walked through the ancient trading center of Bukhara. 

To me this traditional music is nice and calming. I brought it up with an Uzbek friend that we met in Fergana, Donyor. He said that for him this music was a downer because they play it at the end of dramatic or tragic movies about love. It was cool to hear about that particular modern use, an example of how context can effect one's personal relationship to music. 

Further information about Uzbek music: 

Shashmaqam music tradition

Abdurahim Hamidov

Uzbek history

playlist: 

1. Chubby & Tubby - The Black Tones

2. Kinky Reggae - Bob Marley

3. Material Man - Gregory Isaacs

4. Gardun - Abdurahim Hamidov

5. Diaraby Nene - Oumou Sangaré

6. Salam Nubia - Alsarah, The Nubatones

7. Oh Kim - Dilnura Qodirjonova

8. Arbacoochee - Sacred Harp Singers

9. Takashi - Flying Lotus

10. It's A Acidfall - Traxman

11. Bonfire - DJ Taye, DJ Paypal

12. FDT - YG, Nipsey Hussle

13. What's Free (feat. Rick Ross & Jay Z) - Meek Mill

14. AND 1 / Hurricane G - Gifted Gab

15. Without A Face - Rage Against The Machine

#19

https://tidal.com/playlist/e9f15e29-3fc3-443d-9f56-e8ce8dc883f6

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5j2wBIMbg1hL2ySJrkn0GE

playlist:

1. Chirp Chirp - Iris Lune

2. BONES - Mark Guiliana

3. Chinese Butterfly - Chick Corea, Steve Gadd

4. Know Yourself - ginla

5. My-Story Of Love / Starring You - Shafiq Husayn

6. Freedom - Krondon, Shafiq Husayn 

7. DGAF - Joshua Redman

8. Where Are We Going? (Alternate Mix 2) - Marvin Gaye

9. Angel Shark - Dorian Concept

10. Old Town Road - Lil Nas X

11. Got Beef - The Eastsidaz

12. Hawk Over Traffic - Dave King Trucking Company

13. A Way With Words - Robert Plant

14. Visions Of Old - Kelsey Lu

15. Vitrification Of Blood (Pt. 1) - Blood Incantation 

#17

https://tidal.com/playlist/a5829de7-aaae-4e91-bb60-a7416e0b91b9

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5aMbhKsVuoG6HoL7DHZAcO

playlist:

1. Makondi - Don Cherry, Ed Blackwell

2. Your Just Movin - Traxman

3. Dedication (feat. Kendrick Lamar) - Nipsey Hustle

4. CANT GET IN KANADA - YG

5. Brand New Player - Zapp

6. New Spaceship - George Clinton, Charlie Wilson

7. Runnin' Away - Sly & The Family Stone 

8. Summer Delight - Freestyle

9. Refuse To Love - Defunkt

10. Touch In Mine (fingers) - Esperanza Spalding

11. Let Me Know - DJ Harrison

12. Voice Of Chunk - Lounge Lizards

13. Big Spliff - Black Uhuru

14. Multiply - Dayone

15. Preach - Thom Sonny Green