Back in 2016 - when I thought I could afford to - I drowned out the news of the Presidential campaign by immersing myself in my World History Project.
Yeah, I didn't get around to actually writing a post about it until December but I assure you it was basically all I listened to that summer.
Well, now it's four years later and there's so much more noise than before. Or is it just that the noise is of more urgent things than before. Last time was urgent in theory. This time is, well, life or death.
I'll admit that, at first, I did try to retreat.
Robert Fripp/Eno: Evening Star (1975)
Under the influence of Brian Eno: Oblique Music, I jumped back into these two dudes who are strange enough individually, but together drive classic rockers bonkers. Maybe that's where I needed to be.
Anyway, this one's prettier than No Pussyfooting and, in retrospect, it's hard to believe what would cause such consternation. If anything it's not weird enough.
This was made around the time that Eno was more or less inventing ambient music. He'd stay there for a couple of decades and change the musical world in the process.
So all that's missing are melody, beat, singing, etc. Nothing we can't handle, right?
B+
But now it was time to come back to this reality that wasn't going away. So I decided to listen to some brand new music - from 2020!
Fiona Apple: Fetch the Boltcutters (2020)
Ah, Fiona! She started off as a young hottie in her underwear (thanks record company!) but then actually started making good music. Once canceling a tour because her dog died, she is also her own person, and as time goes on she keeps going her own way. God fucking bless her.
Her music has become spare and piano-driven. The last record had lots of chords and key-banging. This one's got lots of melodic runs that nonetheless lead to ever harder-edged lyrics.
And every time I listen closely I hear something worth my attention. She's pissed off, funny and warm, as she says, and I believe her.
A-
And as long as I was in the moment, as awful as it was, I decided it was time for these guys
Run the Jewels: RTJ4 (2020)
This wasn't scheduled to come out until this fall, but the guys thought its moment had come in the Spring, and how right they were.
As with any rap album worth its salt, this one is political in the best sense of the word. The references are less to where politicians stand and more to how people think and live.
It's all too much for me to absorb right now. I'm not always up for the dense sound and raw anger. That's my fault. But the headphones help.
B+
I'm hoping to enjoy it more in retrospect - of November 3rd, that is.
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