File under R, becauseRostam Batmanglij useshis first name only ashis artist moniker. This guy, one of the founding members of theAmerican super nerdy butvery cool Vampire Weekendand the producer of theband’s first three albums, goes solo and releaseshis debut record, Half-Light,in 2017. It has probablybeen since 2017 when I listened to this albumlast, so IContinue reading “#848: R is for Rostam”
Tag Archives: vinyl collection
#847: R is for The Rolling Stones
Took me forever to collect anythingfrom The Rolling Stones. My love forthem has always been luke-warm at best. I have early childhood memories of listeningto my sister’s records, many of which wereStones records, the earliest ones, andthose albums did float my little rock androll boat. “Under My Thumb,” “Satisfaction,”“Get Off My Cloud,” were undeniably coolContinue reading “#847: R is for The Rolling Stones”
#843: Q is for Queen
I was nine years old when Queen releasedtheir first single in 1973. “Keep Yourself Alive” must have reached myears through AM pop radio, and whileI don’t remember the first time I heardit, I can’t imagine that I was not enthralled by its exuberance. And two yearslater, in grade school, I had a musicteacher so impressedContinue reading “#843: Q is for Queen”
#836: P is for Pomplamoose
I think we have YouTube to thankfor Pomplamoose. Most folks, including moi, came across thispop music duo on their exceptionallywell recorded and filmed DIY videosof their original songs and wildlyinventive mash-up covers. Simpleaffairs, really, just a split screenor a quartered screen, each box featuring multi-instrumentalistJack Conte and his partner NatalyDawn performing live in the studio.Recently,Continue reading “#836: P is for Pomplamoose”
#835: P is for The Police
Of all the new wave and punk era drummers,Stewart Copeland was maybe the first and maybethe only one to call attention to himself, to distinguish himself in the genre as a drummerone would admire, and, if one was a fledglingpercussionist, one to aspire to. He was, possibly, the Neil Peart of the punk and newContinue reading “#835: P is for The Police”
#834: P is for Polacheck, Caroline
What Caroline Polacheck hasover her contemporaries, the likesof Taylor and Chappelle and Charlie, you know, these powerhouse singersblending the pop and the dance and the electronics, is that Carolineis musically far more strange, far more otherworldly, far more arty, I’d say. I mean, from the first notes: listen to that howl that begins the openingContinue reading “#834: P is for Polacheck, Caroline”
#833: P is for Plant, Robert
“Little By Little,” the opening trackof Robert Plant’s solo album, Shaken ‘n’ Stirred is a glorious thought experiment to find out what a love child between The Policeand Led Zeppelin would sound like. It’s a wonderful tune with the bestof what an 80’s stink has to offer, the big snare drum, some odd but heavyContinue reading “#833: P is for Plant, Robert”
#828: P is for Parks, Arlo
Groovy, slick, smooth, personal, poetic, and very English, Arlo Parks’ first album reachedthe #3 position on the UK album charts in 2021. It’s a funky mix of hip hop lo fi drum production, jangly guitars, cool synths and organs, and Arlo’s hooky melodies, soft delivery,and earnest, conversational lyrics. This debut is nearly irresistibly cool. IContinue reading “#828: P is for Parks, Arlo”
#827: P is for Paramore
Hayley Williams is a force.I have only one, the latest, album by Paramore, and if this one recordis any indicator, these cats form a incredibly talented and versatile band, but Hayley’s vocal performances areunhinged and over the top in the mostwonderful way, bursting with energy, as wild and as spunky as anything Debbie Harry everContinue reading “#827: P is for Paramore”
#826: P is for .Paak, Anderson
I think so far in my listening challengeit must be clear: I do not have any hip hopin the collection. I do not own any rap albums. There may be hip hop moments in a Beyoncérecord, guest spots by rappers on a James Blakealbum, spoken word artists doing a thing that could not justifiably beContinue reading “#826: P is for .Paak, Anderson”
