I think that's going to be my new catchphrase: "Before I Forget". 4 novels in danger of being forgotten - time for the exocortex to get to work.
"The All-Consuming World", by Cassandra Khaw, 2021, 268 pages, 72k words. I think this is Khaw's 1st novel? I had read some of her shorter stuff and liked it, but then decided it was too much horror, which I've kind of quit reading. This novel, tho, I think had a good recommendation as a hard sci-fi space opera. It was indeed all of that. Tons of action, building to a satisfying conclusion. Joe Bob sez, check it out.
"A Choice of Gods", by Clifford D. Simak, 1972, 187 pages, 58k words. This was probably $0.99 or $1.99 at BookBub. An interesting premise. Reading this old stuff, the characters are always so ... white. The topics covered are pretty cosmic, it was worth the reread.
"The Circumference of the World", by Lavie Tidhar, 2023, 170 pages, 52k words. Tidhar writes really well. This novel definitely has a meta feel to it. Does the fabled book exist or not? Plus we have its author introduce us to many golden age sci-fi authors. It has a bit of a Philip K. Dick feel about it. A good read.
"Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town", by Cory Doctorow, 2006, 412 pages, 112k words. What an odd novel, totally unlike any other Doctorow I have read. Kind of meta, like the last one - the A brother, our protagonist, is writing a book. Meanwhile, his father is a mountain, his mother a washing machine, the B brother sees the future, the C brother is an island, the D brother is a malevolent zombie psychopath, brothers E, F, & G are Russian dolls, and his girlfriend has wings. Quite, what, postmodern? Definitely reminiscent of John Crowley, which is high praise from me. It's fairly long, LOL, I guess to make room for more weirdness. But somehow, it seems to be making a statement to the effect that there is no such thing as "normal". All the more reason for inclusivity.
The Unread shelf in the Kobo app on my iPad is at 135 books.
A couple of these from late in the year I could maybe listen to some more.
Cleo Soul, "Heaven", 2023, 9 tracks, Bandcamp. My 2nd album of hers. Nice laid back R&B. 4 stars. Here's "Love Will Lead You There".
The National, "Laugh Track", 2023, 12 tracks, Bandcamp. 1st I've heard from them in a while. I usually seem to like the bands with baritone lead singers - San Fermin comes to mind. 4 stars. Here's "Smoke Detector".
The Rolling Stones, "Hackney Diamonds", 2023, 12 tracks. I have not particularly followed the Stones after playing a lot of their tunes in the early-mid '70s. I remember maybe 20 years ago them playing the Super Bowl Halftime Show and me thinking "Man, these dudes need to give it up." 10 years after that, I thought their "Shine a Light" concert film was very good.
I 1st start listening to this album, I'm like "Wow, that doesn't sound like Jagger." I haven't heard him sing anything new in decades, how was I supposed to know what he'd sound like? After a few listens, tho, he started sounding like Jagger.
I surprisingly enjoyed this album. The secret sauce is, these guys can still write catchy signature licks for guitar rock.
The last song, which Lady Gaga refused to let end, was disappointing. I think they were shooting for something anthemic and failed.
Here's "Get Close" - with an opening lick reminiscent of "Live With Me" maybe?
katie dey, "never falter hero girl", 2023, 14 tracks, Bandcamp. dey has been really prolific - 6 albums in 5 years. Out of Melbourne, OZ. The album covers looked pretty in iTunes on my phone.
I really found this album impressive, almost symphonic. I've recommended it strongly to a couple of people, no feedback as to if they agree. Plus how can you not love the album title? & I of course luv the all lowercase style (I keep my songbook song titles & artist names in all lowercase). A strong 4 stars. Here's "dance butterflies".
Black Pumas, "Chronicles of a Diamond", 2023, 10 tracks, Bandcamp. This album is even better than their debut. Consistently strong, compelling songs. 4 stars. Here's the 1st track, "More Than A Love Song".
the Mountain Goats, "Jenny from Thebes", 2023, 12 tracks, Bandcamp. Kind of a themed album about Jenny, not sure what the plot was. Overall, I could not get beyond a "meh" for the album - but, it is an easy listen. 3 stars.
AGBEKO, "There Must Be Another Way", 2023, 6 tracks, Bandcamp. Power Afro-fusion, neo-motown horn band out of Manchester, UK. Oh, here's the official description from their page.
AGBEKO are a high-octane afro-rock-funk-psych 11-piece from Manchester, UK.
If I am up while this is playing, I will definitely be dancing. 4 stars. Here's the title track.
The Kinks, "The Kink Kronikles", 1972, 28 tracks. This was a mid-career compilation of hits for the Davies brothers. I have it on vinyl. "Autumn Almanac" got stuck in my head 1 day, and I was surprised I didn't have it in my iTunes. I wanted to buy it, I didn't recognize the album it was on, and then somehow stumbled on/remembered "The Kink Kronikles" - reasonably priced somewhere. It is an easier path for me to take, to listen to the songs in the order I already know them.
4 stars, 5 stars for "Autumn Almanac", which follows. 1st new 5 star song in years. Now 130 5 star songs.
Maxine Sullivan, "Supposin'", 1956, 24 tracks. Sullivan was born in 1911, so she was older than Ella Fitzgerald but younger than Ethel Waters or Cleo Brown. I'm guessing that these songs were recorded around 1956, but this album is not listed in her discography on Wikipedia. It says tho, that around 1956 she changed her style and started doing lots of Andy Razaf and Fats Waller songs - which this album has. She does a whole 'nother go-round of new lyrics for "Honeysuckle Rose". She has a very enjoyable voice, almost as good as Ella's.
I stumbled on her working up "Keepin' Out of Mischief Now". 4 stars. Here's the catchy "If I Had a Ribbon Bow". LOL, she also does "Ah! Sweet Mystery of Life" as from "Young Frankenstein". It starts in French, so that definitely went on my list to work up.
Bobby Short, "Guess Who's In Town: Bobby Short Performs the Songs of Andy Razaf", 1987, 11 tracks. The prior album led me to this one. Some really odd "modernistic" arrangements of some of the songs, particularly (again) "Honeysuckle Rose". 4 stars. Here's "Tan Manhattan", the title song to a musical about people of color in NYC, which he wrote with Eubie Blake, most of which has been lost over the years. :-(
Corinne Bailey Rae, "Black Rainbows", 2023, 10 tracks. 1st new album from Rae since 2016, only her 4th. A bit more all over the place than her earlier work, but good stuff. Nice that she is back. 4 stars. Here's the uptempo "New York Transit Queen" (all over the place), and "Peach Velvet Sky", which sounds to me like "essence of Corinne Bailey Rae".
Thanks to Lexington Herald-Leader music critic - for as long as we have lived in Lexington, since 1981 - Walter Tunis for letting me know this was out. I still can't get over how Amazon & Apple, both of whom I have spent $1000s with for MP3s, will not inform me of new releases from artists for whom I have in the past purchased music - because they want me to subscribe to their damn streaming services, which I will NEVER DO! Grrr!!!
Wilco, "Cousin", 2023, 10 tracks, Bandcamp. What nice songs! Enjoyable listening. 4 stars. Here's the 1st track "Infinite Surprise".
Bonnie "Prince" Billy, "Wolfroy Goes To Town", 2011, 10 tracks, Bandcamp. Apparently backfilling BPB. OK songs, nothing really stood out. Occasionally I would note that the vocal harmonies were very good.
Plus, I screwed up & got another new BPB album early in February, before this 1 was burned in enough. 3 stars.
Johnny Winter, "Step Back", 2014, 13 tracks. My friend Canadian harpist Owen wanted me to hear the version of "Killing Floor". I far prefer the Electric Flag version that I do. This album has an all-star list of guest artists, 11 big name acts.
But, I just didn't care for it much. Kind of low energy, & I didn't like the engineering. Almost tempted to go 2 stars, but I can't do that to all those big name stars. 3 stars.
Various (First Word Records) Artists, "Two Syllables Volume Twenty", 2023, 11 tracks, Bandcamp. I like these annual record label compilations, they are a good way to find new music. Here's last year's Vol 19 from Batch 1 of this year. Last year, to Takuya Kuroda & Kaidi Tatham, I added Allysha Joy's & Werkha. This year, no new additions. 3 stars.
Karen O, "Crush Songs", 2014, 15 tracks. Karen O is the lead singer of the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs, which is my oldest daughter's fav band. She is my daughter's fav singer. This is very lo-fi, her singing & playing guitar, maybe not even in a studio. Mostly slow & emo stuff, it didn't do much for me. 3 stars.
I also wound up with 1 track, Karen O & Danger Mouse, "Lux Prima", 2018. This song I liked, 4 stars, here's the video:,
Wow, 16 albums! That seems like a lot! I was just starting to say, "I seem to be slowing down on new music acquisition." - and it looks like in 2024 that is true. LOL, slowing down on more & more stuff. [Actually, not true, getting the Jaz Dumoz Song of the Day queue back up to pandemic levels.] Old age sux, but it beats the alternative, for now.
