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2019 - Six months in. These records don't suck.

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(Steven J Wilson)

In the first six months of 2019, these sixty-six recordings impressed me favorably. Some of them I'll rarely listen to again. Some will become old friends. The ten in bold stand out a bit from the rest of the pack.

I haven't been of a mind to write record reviews for some time now. However, if you want my spontaneous two cent's worth on any of these titles, I'll be happy to give you a quick take to affirm, bolster my support.

In no particular order:

21 Savage – I am > I was

Kel Assouf – Black Tenere

Deerhunter – Why Hasn’t Everything Disappeared

Divine Comedy – Office Politics

Stella Donnelly – Beware of the Dogs

Dream Syndicate – These Times

Du Blonde – Lung Bread for Daddy

Willie Farmer – The Man from the Hill

Felice Brothers – Undress

Flesheaters – I Used to be Pretty

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vppn_T5b_Lo



Fontaines D.C. – Dogrel

Fleshtones – Budget Buster

Robert Forster – Inferno

Better Oblivion Community Center – s/t

Bellows – the Rose Gardener

Pinky Pinky – Turkey Dinner

Rhiannon Giddens – There is no Other

Patty Griffin – s/t

Guided by Voices – Zeppelin Over China

Guided by Voices – Warp and Woof

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruM6t_3q1p0



Aldous Harding – Designer

Durand Jones and the Indications – American Love Call

Jim Jones and the Righteous Mind – CollecticV

Alex Lahey – The Best of Luck Club

Mattiel – Satis Factory

Mdou Moctar – Ilana (The Creator)

Mekons – Deserted

Mystery lights – Too Much Tension

NOX Boys – out of Touch

Nots – 3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdBZ-kFyEgI



Offset – Father of 4

J.S. Ondara – Tales of America

Peter Perrett – Humanworld

Jessica Pratt – Quiet Signs

Lucy Rose – No Words Left

Sebadoh – Act Surprised

Emerson Snowe – That’s Rock n Roll

Bruce Springsteen – Western Stars

Mavis Staples – We Get By

Tacocat – This Mess is a Place

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6JC91j2lUc



Tough Shits – Burning in Paradise

Sharon Van Etten – Remind Me Tomorrow

Vandoliers – Forever

Andrew Wasylyk – Paralian

Yawpers – Human Question

Nicole Yun – Paper Suit

Raconteurs – Help Us Stranger

75 Dollar Bill – I Was Real

Kate Tempest – The Book of Traps and Lessons

Mega Bog – Dolphine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OM6ddp3BMEM




Mike – Tears of Joy

Thea Gilmore – Small World Turning

Summer Cannibals – Can’t Tell Me No

Titus Andronicus – An Obelisk

Westside Gunn – Flygod is an Awesome God

Catenary Wires – To the Morning

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkeWhRw0Xig



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The people have spoken.

Robert Pollard and Richard Davies were COSMOS. At least in 2009. I like to keep up to date.

(Steven J Wilson)
I’ve been such a good lad. Writing almost like a responsible journalist. That’s not a bad thing, but I promised myself (and you) that SPEW would be a place for more dashed off bits.   Well, here’s one.   Cosmos. Ever heard of them? Unless you’re a Robert Pollard completist, probably not. Their sole release, Jar of Jam Ton of Bricks was released in 2009 (one of Pollard’s 100+ issues, only about a 1/4 of which are Guided by Voices titles). Cosmos was a collaboration with Richard Davies, Australian pop oddball and auteur behind the cult faves the Moles. The two of them share a certain aesthetic, a vision that embraces early John Cale, the first two Brian Eno records, Pete Townshend’s Scoop demos, bits and pieces of the Beatles, and a dash of early Syd Barrett.   Some of the songs on J ar of Jam are based on little more than acoustic guitar and percussion, especially woodblock, others are full band janglers. Because of the duo’s shared sensibility it all hangs...
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It wasn't all Covid-19 and American decline: The Year in Music - 2020!

(Steven J Wilson)
• My favorite records of 2020. In arbitrary clusters of 10. • 1-10 • Bonny Light Horseman – s/t  • Bruce Springsteen – Letter to You • BLACKSTARKIDS – Whatever, Man • A Swayze and the Ghosts – Paid Salvation • Laura Marling – Song for our Daughter • Luke Haines and Peter Buck – Beat Poetry for Survivalists • RVG – Feral • Phoebe Bridgers – Punisher • Bob Dylan – Rough and Rowdy Ways • X – Alphabetland • 11-20 • Stephen Malkmus – Traditional Techniques • Run the Jewels – RTJ4 • Sports Team – Deep Down Happy • Fantastic Negrito – Have You Lost Your Mind Yet? • Chuck Prophet – The Land That Time Forgot • Fontaines D.C. – a Hero’s Death • Bobby Lees – Skin Suit • Fiona Apple – Fetch the Bolt Cutters • Guided by Voices – Styles We Paid For • 21 Savage and Metro Boomin – Savage Mode II • 21-30 • Maria McKee – La Vita Nuova • Wire – Hive Mind • Morlocks – ...
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