Music In, 2022, Batch 4

October, November, and December acquisitions, & 2022 is in the bag!

• katie dey, "the kraken", 2022, 5 tracks, Bandcamp. I commented last time about how prolific dey is, they are not slowing down. These tracks are not hard to listen to, slow & dreamy, but no standouts. 3 stars.
• Björk, "Fossara", 2022, 13 tracks. The World's Greatest Living Composer does not disappoint. Some definitely odd orchestration, yay! Thematically, a lot of earth & nature mystical memes.
  The 1st video, of the 1st track, "Atopos", is LOL - I think I saw a quote "Björk at her Björkiest" - FTW! Bizarre visuals, instrumentation 7 bass clarinets. 4 stars. Here is the "Atopos" video.

• Various Artists, "Good Music to Ensure Safe Abortion Access to All", 2022, 49 tracks, Bandcamp. This was a 1-day special fundraider. Hmmm, apparently they meant it, searching for it on Bandcamp gives no results.
  Lots of good tracks from quite a roster of contributors, including:
  • Amanda Shires & Jason Isbell
  • Andrew Bird
  • Animal Collective
  • Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros
  • Cat Powers
  • David Byrne & Devo
  • Death Cab For Cutie
  • Dirty Projectors
  • Fleet Foxes
  • My Morning Jacket
  • Pearl Jam
  • R.E.M.
  • Soccer Mommy
  It was a "pay what you want" deal, $49 per my normal $1/track algorithm seemed too much, I think I gave $30. I should have given more, even if not tax-deductible. [Bullshit capitalist algorithm running ...] 3 stars.
• Todd Rundgren, "Space Force", 2022, 12 tracks. This took a while to grow on me, but it did. Some good tunes, some odd tunes ("Down with the Ship", "Your Fandango", "Stfu"). A different collaborator, in many different forms, on each track. Here's a really interesting 35 minute video on the album, with Rundgren talking w the Lemon Twigs brothers.
  4 stars. Here's a peppy "I'm Leaving", with the Lemon Twigs, which could have come from anytime in Rundgren's incredible career. Totally a fan, at age 74 he is totally an inspiration to this old dumbass.

• Blossom Dearie, "SINGS ROOTIN' SONGS", 1963, 12 tracks. This album was billed as 1963 hits. You got it by mailing in 3 Hires root bear bottle caps and $0.50. Some interesting songs, some I would have just as soon not heard again. As interesting an historical figure as she is, I think I'm done with Bloosom Dearie. 4 stars for "I've Got Your Number" and "He Loves Me", 3 stars for the rest. Here's "He Loves Me", which I remember from 1963 or so (although it was originally "She Loves Me").

• Takuya Kuroda, "Midnight Crisp", 2022, 6 tracks, Bandcamp. I really enjoyed his last album, this is more of the same, tasty jazz tunes. I almost don't miss vocals. 4 stars. I could have picked any of the tracks for the video, here's the title track.

• Marianne Faithful, "A Secret Life", 1995, 10 tracks. I got this from the old English guy whose "journal of a grumpy old man" I subscribe to - mostly to be aghast at his eating habits ;-> This album really seems like an old person making music for other old people. She was born in 1945, so currently 78 YO, she would have been only 50 when this album was recorded - her 12th of the 21 albums she is up to now. 3 stars.
• Low, "C'mon", 2011, 10 tracks, Bandcamp. An indie band that was founded in 1993, mostly a guitar/drums duo with 4 different bass players. Rick Beato mentioned it last year at the death of the drummer/vocalist Mimi Parker. They were known for slow, sparce music. I like it. 4 stars. Here's "You See Everything".

• Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs, "Cool It Down", 2022, 8 tracks, Bandcamp. This band is a fav of my oldest daughter Erica. Their 1st album in 9 years. Very listenable tunes, some punkier than others. Here is my of course favorite track, the upbeat, poppy "Different Today".

• Sylvan Esso, "No Rules Sandy", 2022, 16 tracks, Bandcamp. 5 tracks are short (< 30 seconds), with their name parenthesized. I got their 1st album when it came out in 2014. I like this 1 better that that 1. 4 stars. Here's the peppy & upbeat "Didn't Care".

• Jodi, "Blue Heron", 2021, 10 tracks, Bandcamp. Hunh, very much cut from the same cloth as Low (above): slow, dreamy. Definitely borderline 3 stars, but the title track (last) saves it. 4 stars.

Happy New Year!