Radiohead - Kid A
I love the question! I rarely listen to songs or playlists, and almost never algorithm based streams. Instead I put on albums I like. Even in my 10m-15m drive to work, and do that until I’m tired on an album. So, love the question.
Aesop Rock’s Integrated Tech Solutions. Being a long time fan I thought The Impossible Kid was fantastic. TIK was as creative and ponderous as anything he’d done, but often felt more accessible and personally inviting. While accessibility is not something you generally look for with Aesop, that feeling of being personal really made it pay off. Spirit World Field Guide was good and was interesting, but didn’t work for me as much. Maybe it was a case of enjoying TIK so much, and comparison being the thief of joy? But ITS absolutely feels top notch again. Love it.
Also worth mentioning is Powerman 5000. A year or so ago (while on a kick to my youth) I found out they were still making music and had released an album (The Noble Rot) in 2020. Shortly after I discovered that, they released one in 2024 (Abandon Ship.) They’re not great songs, but they’re all great vibes. The songs feel like they 3/4s to being great to me. Like they kept the dial at a 7 or 8 instead of turning it up to 11. And even when they did turn it up, it was only at the very end. Maybe he’s going for something different, or maybe I’ve changed, but the strength feels off. But damn the vibes are still there.
Kinda wild how when Aesop dropped TIK, it felt like his magnum opus. ITS feels like a continuation. SWFG is at it’s best when I’ve taken some gummies and sink into the couch lol
While I’m reluctant to call anything a magnum opus… You’re bang on about the difference between those two and SWFG.
I’m back on “Robbin the hood” from sublime. Old but fantastic.
Sublime is timeless to me. Wish there were more of it. Looking at you too Blind Melon 😞
Dancing with Mr. Brownstone is pretty predictable unfortunately. RIP to those two and so many more.
I actually grew up near where blind melon were from. Got to see them a few times in small clubs. Drugs are fun until they’re not…
Been ages since I’ve listened to it until just the other day i took it for a spin. Funny how much i still remember, even those ridiculous Raleigh soliloquies. That really is a great album, crazy how young they were making such good music
Ha! Just listened to that one this morning. The bassline in greatest hits always gets me
All three Audioslave albums. I just love the fact that they gave Chris Cornell space and didn’t all try and overshadow his vocals.
The age of consent by Bronski Beat. You can get some preview here: https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/album/the-age-of-consent-bronski-beat/iiserdbkur9hc
Killer album. Here are a couple other places to find it:
Doing 3 because I’m eclectic. They are different enough that I feel justified.
Tool - Fear Inoculum
Run the Jewels 2 (3 is incredible also)
Chappell Roan - The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess
I can listen (have listened recently and frequently) to all three repeatedly.
I’ve heard of a couple of these. I’ll check them out!
Devin Townsend’s PowerNerd. “I love petting the cat!” 🐱
DEVY HAS A NEW ALBUM?! YEEAAUUURRGH!!!
Edit: I’m a minute in and this fucking rules.
It’s an awesome opening to the album, “oooaaaahhh POWERRRNERRD!”, classic Devin!
Reminds me of the opening of ZILLLLTOIIIID scream THE OM-NI-SCI-ENT
Love Devy so much.
“Enn” by Eivør, simply amazing! Was on a concert a few weeks back, totalt 600 people and it was a blast!
Have a listen: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mfYUyMRk-zYA1V1Z04a7GGB106N2JT5vU&si=m-R3MtJD1CuUTmVV
My wife saw her last week with a band called Heilung. That looked pretty out the gates
What a night! How were Heilung live if I may ask? I’ve been thinking of going to their show here in February.
Dude she showed some videos and it looked unreal. Full disclosure, we are both not into this type of music. Despite that, she said it was probably one of the best concerts she’d ever seen.
We live in New Zealand, and the group had joined forces with a local group of Maori performers who blended in their own cultural practices. It seems like they went above and beyond to tailor their performance to the local setting and honouring native practices here.
I’m really sad I didn’t join, but occasionally you have to give the wife a girls night out.
What an awesome show that must have been! Maybe I have to really go then!
“Spirit Of Eden” by Talk Talk.
Like a friend said when I showed it to him - “Damn, that sounds like Radiohead ten years before Radiohead!” Yeah, and even more sublime.Low – Long Division (and actually any Low album at the moment)
I still remember when Double Negative was released, knocked me off my feet even as a long time fan of records like that and TWLITF. RIP Mimi 😢
Magdalena Bay - Imaginal Disk
(At this moment, it changes frequently)
Treat yourself to Fontaines DC’s new album “Romance”!
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kZT0QOARqqnSdN_UcUN0qBfANvv4hvaq0&si=E0LfKskRbRr5vdFG
I played this in my house when it came out because I liked Skinty Fia; my kid immediately said “play that again please, the whole album”. I love it!
Module has always been my soundtrack through hard times, and I was fortunate enough to get a signed copy of this album.
It’s a pretty well-constructed compilation and I think it’s worth a listen, no matter what you typically like.
But uh… I might be biased:
Justice - Hyperdrama
