Mike D. – Thank You: I can’t decide if Mike D. is trying to make a more grown up Beastie Boys record or an introspective reflection from a seminal artist in the autumn of his life. Maybe Thank You tries to be both and doesn’t do either well. I like the back half of the record more than the front… Read more »
Van Morrison – His Band and the Street Choir: I listened a couple more times this week and it’s growing on me. Yes, the blues and New Orleans roots that I mentioned last week are very real and very uninteresting to me, but the album has moments that harken back to the weirdness and emotional intensity of Astral Weeks. I’m… Read more »
Alan Sparhawk – White Roses, My God: After spending some time with Sparhawk’s collaboration with Trampled by Turtles, I wasn’t expecting to like the digitized approach he used on this record. Maybe because I went in with such low expectations, I really like this on first listen. TBD if it ends up getting more plays, but I hear far more… Read more »