Tina Turner – Private Dancer: I was 14 when this came out and I thought it was stupid. Surely The Scorpions knew more about overcoming adversity than some random middle-aged woman I’d never heard of. Clearly, I was an idiot when I was 14. Tina Turner is amazing, but I still think this album is lame.
Donna Summer – On The Radio: Greatest Hits, Vols. 1-2: Donna Summer is another singer I hated when I was a kid, but I listened this week after a friend recommended it and I’m so glad I did. My love for house music taught me to love disco, and unlike so much corporate swill that was swirling around in the late ‘70s, this is pure gold.
Counting Crows – August and Everything After: An album of hits and misses for me, with “Raining in Baltimore” being a favorite while “Rain King” falls squarely into the latter category.
Gia Margaret – Romantic Piano: It sounded rich and fulfilling when I listened in the background, but was dull and uninteresting when I listened on headphones outside in the dark.
The Joy Formidable – Hitch: I’m glad I didn’t let last week’s experience with this album prevent me from revisiting it. I listened a few times this week, and while it’s probably my least favorite of TJF’s records, it’s still solid. I particularly like that they stretched out the songs and created space to explore ideas.
Old friends who made it into rotation this week: Elkka: DJ-Kicks