Rachel Chinouriri – What a Devastating Turn of Events: The production is big, the songwriting is simple yet powerful, the lyrics are funny one moment and heartbreaking the next, and the vibe frequently nods to some of my favorite British alternative/indie artists from the past four decades. This is the most excited I’ve been about a new pop/rock artist in a very long time.
Neil Young – Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere: I’ve never gotten into Neil Young, but I keep trying because I recognize there’s something about his music that resonates with me. This time, I went back to his first record with Crazy Horse, and something finally clicked into place. The songs are all solid and interesting, but the guitar solo on “Down by the River” is what emotionally grabbed me. This is a stellar example of my favorite kind of guitar playing.
Fela Kuti – Zombie: The title track is Fela at his best. The other songs are solid, but they feel almost lifeless after the fire and fury of “Zombie.”
Hollie Kenniff – We All Have Places That We Miss: This continues to grow on me and has been a staple during the first half of the year. “Salient” is the clear highlight for me but “Remembered Words” hit me hard over the past few weeks.
Danny Howells – Balance 024: This gets some bad reviews for lacking Howells’ typical energy, but I love the mood of this 2013 set. The feel reminds me of Moderat, and while I understand that’s not what many of Howells’ fans are seeking, I think it works perfectly.
Grateful Dead – 10/11/83 (NYC): I’ve listened to several Dead shows over the past month and this is the highlight. The energy of this set is fantastic from the first note. It simmers throughout the first set then comes to a boil on “China Cat Sunflower” and “I Know You Rider.” Brent Mydland is a highlight throughout, and his interactions with the other instrumentalists shine in both small and large ways.