Wilco’s ‘Sky Blue Sky’ Was a Rare Instant-Classic Rock Album
Released 15 years ago this week, Wilco’s ‘Sky Blue Sky’ became my road music, an escape from the everyday nothingness that often drives us insane.
Something Else!
The Singles – ‘L.O.V.E. From the Santa Cruz Archives ’82-’85’ (2022)
The term “power pop” has been widely overused and misused, but the Singles can positively be deemed poster boys of the idiom.
Jacob Garchik – ‘Assembly’ (2022)
Living up to its name, Jacob Garchik’s ‘Assembly’ artfully puts together improvised parts to create structured pieces, only to place it back against its loose origins.
How Pee Wee Ellis Finally Stepped Into the Spotlight With ‘Blues Mission’
Ex-James Brown saxist Pee Wee Ellis unveiled his debut solo LP 30 years ago this month, proving again that he was one of the funkiest homo sapiens anywhere.
The Lickerish Quartet – ‘Threesome Vol. 3’ EP (2022)
With ‘Threesome, Vol. 3,’ the Lickerish Quartet once again comes up with songs that are designed complex but come off catchy and frictionless.
Kind Folk – ‘Head Towards the Center’ (2022)
There are no egos at all involved with the talented quartet Kind Folk, just a cooperative spirit that makes ‘Head Towards the Center’ truly better than the sum of its parts.
Stefan Orins Trio – ‘October 11’ (2022)
The Stefan Orins Trio’s ‘October 11’ is an enjoyable, modern jazz album with a firm rooting in the jazz of history.
How James Blood Ulmer Comforted New Orleans on ‘Bad Blood in the City’
He may not be from NOLA, but James Blood Ulmer proved 15 years ago this week that he was a true New Orleanian at heart.
Simon Love – ‘Love, Sex and Death etc’ (2022)
‘Love, Sex and Death etc’ portrays Simon Love in all his genius glory by putting smart and shrewd lyrics to insistently catchy musical incarnations.
Tim Berne and Nasheet Waits – ‘Tangled’ (2022)
‘Tangled’ is a second live document of the phenomenal sax-drum telepathy between Tim Berne and Nasheet Waits.
