PinkPantheress – Tiny Desk Concert: I haven’t stopped thinking about this performance all week because (A) it’s energetic and exciting, (B) PinkPantheress is both charming and funny, and (C) the band is incredibly fun to watch and hear, especially bassist Rani Adi from Poster Girl. I enjoyed this as much as I’ve enjoyed any Tiny Desk Concert, and that’s a high bar.
Gracie Abrams – Good Riddance: I took a break from this record for about a month, the longest I’ve gone without listening since I bought it in March. I finally focused on side D, and “Block Me Out” reminded me of how beautifully Abrams addresses mental health. “I’ve been thinking way too loud / I wish that I could block me out” startled me with how accurately it captured my own experiences with the thought patterns of anxiety. Plus it’s catchy!
A Silver Mt. Zion – Born into Trouble as the Sparks Fly Upward: On their second album, SMZ was still figuring out what this band was and how it differed from Godspeed You! Black Emperor. It’s still largely instrumental (except for closing track “The Triumph of Our Tired Eyes,” which hints at the albums to come), so this is a good transition for Godspeed fans who haven’t embraced the distinctive sing-song vocals of SMZ.
Van Halen – Van Halen II: During a road trip to some record stores in Pennsylvania, Bob commented that Eddie Van Halen was his favorite rhythm guitarist. I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone single out EVH’s rhythm playing before, so I pulled this up and, sure enough, Bob is correct. Everyone talks about Eddie’s skill as a soloist, but his greatest gift might be his ability to turn simple backing chords into the heartbeat of a song.
Modeselektor – DJ-Kicks: In light of my last experience listening to Modeselektor, I wasn’t certain what the latest mix in !K7’s classic series would hold. Nothing here is as jarring as that track by The Fall, but their set is filled with surprising transitions and songs that don’t make sense but just work. My early favorite is “The Machine” and its transition into “Spillhaugen” but I can tell this set is going to reveal a lot of secrets over time.
Grateful Dead – Dick’s Picks Vol. Eight (Harpur College, Binghamton NY, 5/2/70): No new revelations on this one, other than my lifelong amazement how a sound that thrills you one day can leave you indifferent the next, and vice versa. A few years ago, I made a dismissive comment about this version of “Dancing in the Streets” but this week, I loved the same exact song.
Old friends who made it into rotation this week: Sofia Kourtesis: Volver; Nils Frahm: Paris; Gracie Abrams: The Secret of Us; Mitski: Puberty 2
Record store finds this week: My road trip to York PA was a blast. I found something at every shop we visited (Tom’s Music Trade, Iko’s Music Trade, and Mothership) and intend to go back to the absolutely amazing space at In Between Pages. A couple of highlights include some off-beat 12” singles with mixes by Larry Levan, Arthur Baker, and Junior Vasquez; John Prine’s Lost Dogs and Mixed Blessings on vinyl; some old Goa trance; and a bunch of Robert Plant solo records.