Album Review: Twin Talk- Weaver

Twin Talk infuriates me.  The bold sound of its new album Weaver makes the output of far too many jazz artists seem passé.  Knowing that the trio of Katie Ernst, Andrew Green and Dustin Laurenzi are making startling sounds in Chicago renders the prospect of hearing their less imaginative peers gig in Kansas City clubs substantially less appealing.  While there are no exact analogies, Twin Talk’s surprising attack evokes bits of Sara Serpa, the Bad Plus and David Binney.  The trio’s connection to Bon Iver is also evident (but is never overbearing).  Here’s the title track of Weaver.


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I’m attending the Big Ears Festival next month.  Carla Bley!  Harold Budd!  Jlin!  Makaya McCraven!  Meredith Monk!  Spiritualized!  Wadada Leo Smith!  Care to join me?   Hotels in downtown Knoxville are so pricey that I’m seeking a roommate to help defray expenses.

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The soul balladeer James Ingram has died.

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Edwin Birdsong, a legend among R&B crate-diggers, has died.

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The Nashville insider Harold Bradley, the brother of Owen Bradley, has died.

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Yugen Blakrok’s Anima Mysterium is an invigorating throwback to old-school backpack rap.  RIYL: Jedi Mind Tricks, South Africa, Cannibal Ox.  Here’s “Picture Box”.

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Eleni Karaindrou’s Tous des oiseaux is unclassifiable.  The Greek composer’s new release doesn’t really qualify as classical, folk, jazz or ambient music.  The material was composed for a play and for a film, but it’s far more substantial than typical incidental sounds.  Here’s  “Encounter”.

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I respect Robert Pollock more with each passing year.  Guided By Voices’ Zeppelin over China is preposterously good.  About two dozen of the 32 songs are keepers.  RIYL: The Who’s Quadrophenia, impossible feats, the Pretty Things’ S.F. Sorrow.  Here’s “The Rally Boys”.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

Album Review: Migos- Culture II

Why’s everybody picking on Migos?  Even one of my favorite locally based rappers joined the indignant mob that’s bashing the group.  The herd mentality has it wrong.  Culture II, the Atlanta trio’s new album, may be even more entertaining than last year’s massive breakout release Culture.  If Culture II works as a failsafe party-starter in the dead of winter, I can only imagine how combustible it’ll be in July.  Criticizing Migos’ laughable lyrics is folly.  The hilarious ignorance of Offset, Quavo and Takeoff on bangers like “Stir Fry” is an essential component of Migos’ appeal.  Migos is all about staccato rhythms and wavy vibes, attributes in abundant supply on the 105-minute release.  Ingrates whine that Culture II is too long.  That’s like complaining that a case of beer is too heavy.


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I write weekly concert previews for The Kansas City Star.

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I featured Rubeo on my weekly spotlight on locally based musicians for KCUR.

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Blues saxophonist Eddie Shaw has died.  I’m fortunate to have seen the member of Howlin’ Wolf’s band perform a handful of times.

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Wut.  The sax-wielding Kansas City band Merlin manages to evoke both the classic metal of Iron Maiden and the zany prog-rock of Van der Graaf Generator on the astonishing Wizard.  If the lackluster vocalist were supplanted by an appropriately hammy singer in the vein of Bruce Dickinson or Peter Hammill, Wizard might be an instant classic.

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Kansas City’s Sara Morgan makes convincing ‘80s-era country on Average Jane.  RIYL: Pam Tillis, homespun charm, Kathy Mattea.

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Wayne Escoffery demonstrates that it’s still possible to make a mainstream jazz album filled with exciting surprises on Vortex.  RIYL: Branford Marsalis, persistence, John Coltrane.

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Evidence’s Weather or Not is a standard-issue Rhymesayers release, which is to say it’s first-rate hip-hop.  RIYL: Atmosphere, slow flows, Eyedea & Abilities.  Here’s “Jim Dean”.

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“Space Gun”, the title track of the forthcoming Guided by Voices album, is pretty great.

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Ivan Lins and Gilson Peranzzetta collaborate on the understated Cumplicidade.

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Catching arena-ready pop shows in small clubs is disorienting.  I took in a show by the OneRepublic-like Mako and the Joywave-ish Night Lights at RecordBar last night.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

Album Review: Aloe Blacc- Lift Your Spirit

It happened as I watched the NFL draft earlier this month.  "I'm the Man," the ubiquitous hit by Aloe Blacc, was used as bumper music during the broadcast.  Already weary of the song, I began to actively loathe "I'm the Man." 

Burnout was inevitable.  The song's blockbuster potential was immediately apparent when it popped up in December.  But what about the rest of Blacc's album Lift Your Spirit?

Well, it's more of the same.  The third track is a version of "Wake Me Up," the inescapable Avicii hit featuring Blacc's vocal.  The shameless hooks of "Here Today" and "Can You Do This" make the biggest hits of One Direction and Ariana Grande seem likes studies in subtlety.

"Owe It All," the closing track that sounds like a late period gem by the Four Tops, is one of two or three selections that successfully seduced me.  I have little doubt that several additional songs will win me over when I see Blacc perform.

I have nothing against blatantly commercial music, but Lift Your Spirit resembles a collection of expertly crafted advertising jingles.


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I reviewed Tony Bennett's concert at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts on Friday.

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Sunstroke?  I saw ghosts at Union Station yesterday.

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My Brothers & Sisters' "How To Move What To Wear" was my pick of the week for KCUR's Local Listen segment.  It's my favorite song from the band's Violet Music: Volume One album.

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Metatone's video for "When the Dreams Come" is excellent.

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The trailer for a 1974 music festival in Sedalia is hilarious.

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A recent edition of Barry Lee's Signal To Noise program on KKFI featured music from the collection of the late Anne Winter.  (Via Tim Finn.)

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Herb Jeffries, "the bronze buckaroo," has died.  (Tip via BGO.)

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Motivational Jumpsuit, the latest outburst from Guided By Voices, is unaccountably excellent.  RIYL: Rubber Soul, weirdos, Robyn Hitchcock.

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Medeski Martin & Wood's collaboration with Nels Cline on The Woodstock Sessions, Vol. 2 contains plenty of fine skronk, funk and noodling. Here's a track.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)