The broccoli rabe has long since been classified as hazardous waste, the red peppers and mozz are growing tentacles, but here is some music that is still fresh and tasty!
These are records I got last year that gave me feelies I couldn't quite articulate. (I'll skip the classical music and save that for the WHP.) They have virtually nothing in common, so by definition, there's no rhyme or reason here. No unifying theme. Just inappropriate metaphors.
Charlie XCX: Brat (2024)
Considered "the" record of 2024, I got this in early 2025. Now, nearly a year later, I've finally figured out that I kind of like it.
What took so long? I think it's that old British reserve that goes over my Yank head, which is why I still prefer Chappell Roan and Olivia Rodrigo for this kind of dance-oriented pop. But if they're a bit much for you, this just might be what you're looking for.
It's well-put-together with more variety but less passion than Chappell. Which I guess makes this durable, if not overwhelming.
B+
Little Richard: The Georgia Peach (1991)
One day in 1964, six year old me heard that the Beatles were going to be Shindig that weekend. Did I sleep at all leading up to that show? I'm not sure, but imagine my chagrin when they came on and didn't play an actual Beatles song! (Were there such things, I wondered? But I've sinced checked and apparently there are.) Here's what they did play. I sniffed and turned up my nose. Where is the melody? The harmonies? All I heard was yelling and, shudder, rhythm. (I was such a little f*cking bitch. No fun what so ever*.)
Anyway, since then I became aware of Little Richard's existence. First by finding this song on Beatles VI, and then by hearing "Long Tall Sally" on The Beatles Second Album. It would take me a long while to realize that "Oh, Darlin'" was clearly a tribute to LR. So I reluctantly concluded that he must have been a worthy artist, but one I'd never get into until I stopped being NFWSE (see above*). It's been about sixty years and I'm still a work in progress.
Anyway...
Delight #1: "Awombompaluma..." (Please submit your suggestions for alternative spellings. Wrong answers only.)
Delight #2: Hearing his other voices, where more than once he could be mistaken for a lady.
Delights #3-20: The rest.
It's quite remarkable that for each anarchic manifesto ("Tutti Frutti", etc.) there is also a slow or mid-tempo r&b number ("Take a Hand"). Both approaches feature a different aspect of his boundless... well, energy doesn't quite cut it (Charisma? Insanity? Genius??). Just at different levels of intensity.
It's all just balanced enough to keep your head from exploding, which would be a shame because it might keep you from dancing/singing along.
Most people think Jerry Lee Lewis was the scariest of our Rock 'n roll Founding Fathers due to those undercurrents of violence/statutory rape. But that's all good old American fun compared to Little Richard's double threat of African American-ness and sexual up-for-anything-ness.
America didn't quite know what to make of him. Lucky for him I'll say.
A
Boards of Canada: Music Has the Right to Children (1998)
This Scottish duo were pioneers of the hip hop mood-music scene of the late nineties. (What, you missed it??) It's a bit static but not bad at all. There aren't many peaks (or valleys) here, which is actually a strong argument for it. It really flows.
It's also great for reading. No pesky lyrics to distract you. This has become more and more important as the internet continues to shorten my attention span.
So if you're interested in some neat background music and are tired of ambient, you could do worse.
Of course, you could do better as well.
B+
Can: Tago Mago (1971)
German art rock from the early seventies. Wait! Wait! Come back! It's really not bad at all.
It is weird in unexpected ways. It starts off promisingly, with some actual melodies and flow! But then the longer cuts kick in, and it gets a bit...harsh. The drumming isn't sophisticated, but man, it carries things for well over an hour, even when the production doesn't do it justice. That's the way to do it! Like my old boss used to say, Pneumonia? Just power through it.
And the lead guitar isn't fancy, but it fits gloriously into the jammier sections. And there really aren't any lengthy solos. Just sharp riffing in all the right places.
So it's the opposite of Boards in that it's hard to ignore. This, too, is both good and bad. Good when the musicians coalesce. Bad when the singer goes into a surrealistic rant. But even that is the outcome of an extended jam, so it has its charms.
Since it's a double album, it does have its own "Revolution 9" of sorts ("Peking O"), which I advise skipping.
But I, um, "recommend" it. Just make sure the wife and kids (and maybe pets) are out of the house first.
B+
Louis Armstrong & Duke Ellington: The Great Summit/The Master Takes (2011)
With two jazz titans in a 1962-ish recording session, this one is very hard to not like. But one could argue it's not needed, since if you're a fan of Duke Ellington, you are probably familiar with most of these songs. But having Satchmo playing - and singing! - on them is another matter altogether.
Ellington's piano is, as always, smooth and cool but never slick. The rest of the band does quite a creditable job, too, especially clarinetist Barney Bigard.
The overall mood is bluesy and slow, and yet compelling. Good music can accompany or improve your mood, and the rhythm can wake you up. But it takes pretty great music to slow you down and make you like it.
So I ended the year much like I began it - with Duke Ellington. And as with Money Jungle, this would have made my top ten of 2025 if it didn't come in so late. Which leads me to wonder if I'm listening to older music to escape from our present troubles. Seems likely.
Good Riddance!:
So it wasn't a terrible year, for music at least. And music gives us hope.
Sometimes that's all we have.
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