Ramsay Midwood :: Manchaca Eyeball (Live From Sam’s Town Point)

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I know I’ve mentioned this before, I but I love year-end album list time. I try to pay attention to as much music as I can throughout the year, but there’s always something I’ve missed. I love browsing other people’s lists and often find things I missed. But sometimes, I just wonder: “I wonder if Ramsay Midwood’s put out any music lately” only to discover that he put out a live album in January 2024.

I first came across Midwood about 25 years ago through the German label Glitterhouse. I ordered it from Germany after winning a silly bet with my wife. Years later, we spent our 10th wedding anniversary in Austin at Sam’s Town Point just to see him play life. We waited for like 2 hours while he ate burgers and drank beer before finally deciding to take the stage at around midnight. It was worth the wait! Even years later, we hosted him in our living room to pretty much no crowd while my friend Shawn sat in on harmonica.

All that to say, I’ve followed his music with great interest for many years. I’m even thanked in the liner notes of his radio performance release Undone, but that’s a different story.

ANYWAYS: Apparently Midwood released a live set of mostly unreleased material all the way back in January and I’m just now finding out about it. Manchaca Eyeball profiles Midwood in his natural habitat with long-time collaborator Jeff Johnston and others.

Watch the video for the lead track “Mystical Man of Sorrow”:

Preview the album here:

  • Purchase Manchaca Eyeball (Live From Sam’s Town Point) at Bandcamp

  • Follow Ramsay Midwood on Facebook.

  • Follow Ramsay Midwood on Twitter.

  • Purchase Midwood’s music at Amazon.

  • Browse all posts tagged “Ramsay Midwood”

Favorite Music :: 2024

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Some singles, some EPs and some full-length albums.

These have been 50 of my favorite releases of 2024. Selections are in alphabetical order because you can’t rank music.

Can’t wait to hear your thoughts.

  • Wood Blues by أحمد [Ahmed] // BC //

  • Ghosted II by Oren Ambarchi / Johan Berthling / Andreas Werliin // AMZN // BC //

  • Bullets In The Chamber by Arrested Development // BC //

  • Tension by Mulatu Astatke & Hoodna Orchestra // AMZN // BC //

  • This is Basic by Basic // AMZN // BC //

  • Across the River of Stars by Beachwood Sparks // AMZN // BC //

  • Live in Paris 1973 by Can // AMZN // BC //

  • Close Encounters of the Third World by Creation Rebel // AMZN // BC //

  • Songs of A Lost World by the Cure // AMZN //

  • Love Changes Everything by Dirty Three // AMZN // BC //

  • 100% Sahara Guitar by Etran De L'Aïr // AMZN // BC //

  • When I’m Called by Jake Xerxes Fussell // AMZN // BC //

  • Lives Outgrown by Beth Gibbons // AMZN //

  • Mahal by Glass Beams // AMZN // BC //

  • Goat by Goat // AMZN // BC //

  • No Title as of 13 February 2024 28,340 Dead by Godspeed You! Black Emperor // AMZN // BC //

  • the Collective by Kim Gordon // AMZN // BC //

  • Blu Wav by Grandaddy // AMZN // BC //

  • Dead of Night by Maalem Houssam Guinia // BC //

  • the Handover by the Handover // AMZN // BC //

  • In Waves by Jamie xx // AMZN // BC //

  • Chain of Light by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan & Party // AMZN // BC //

  • Diamond Jubilee by Cindy Lee // AMZN // BC //

  • Manning Fireworks by MJ Lenderman // AMZN // BC //

  • Bright Future by Adrianne Lenker // AMZN // BC //

  • Drop 7 by Little Simz

  • Two Improvisations by Joshua Massad & Dylan Aycock // AMZN // BC //

  • Locust Land by Bill MacKay // AMZN // BC //

  • Funeral For Justice by Mdou Moctar // AMZN // BC //

  • the Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis by The Messthetics // AMZN // BC //

  • Night Palace by Mount Eerie // AMZN // BC //

  • Walking After Dark by Mountain Movers // AMZN // BC //

  • David Nance & Mowed Sound by David Nance // AMZN // BC //

  • Bleed by the Necks // AMZN // BC //

  • The Way Out of Easy by Jeff Parker ETA IVtet // AMZN // BC //

  • Le Rêve de Polyphème by Polyphème // BC //

  • Deep Time by Prairiewolf // AMZN // BC //

  • Bite Down by Rosali // AMZN // BC //

  • Water Still Flows by Rich Ruth // AMZN // BC //

  • Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace by Shabaka // AMZN //

  • Exotic Birds of Prey by Shabazz Palaces // AMZN // BC //

  • Passage Du Desir by Johnny Blue Skies (Sturgill Simpson) // AMZN //

  • Time Is Glass by Six Organs of Admittance  // AMZN // BC //

  • Small Medium Large by SML // AMZN // BC //

  • Africa Yontii by Tidiane Thiam // AMZN // BC //

  • 5 by Trummors // AMZN // BC //

  • Tiger’s Blood by Waxahatchee // AMZN // BC //

  • In the Running 3 by Wet Tuna / DUNZA by Wet Tuna / DUNZA // BC //

  • Woodland by Gillian Welch & David Rawlings // AMZN // BC //

  • Acadia by Yasmin Williams // AMZN // BC //

Goat :: Live at Le Guess Who? (2022)

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We recently highlighted Goat’s fabulous 2023 album “Medicine” as one that we heard too late to make our favorites list. I still can’t believe we missed it. Goat has been a long-time favorite around the Holiday at the Sea Fake Offices.

In penance, I offer you this short but terrific live set from 2022.

From the Youtube page: “Swedish psych outfit Goat perform live at Le Guess Who? 2022 following the release of their latest album 'Oh Death' via Rocket Recordings.”

Setlist:

  1. Under No Nation

  2. Gathering of Ancient Tribes

  3. Do The Dance

  4. Disco Fever 

  5. Goatman

Deets and Credits:

  • Captured at TivoliVredenburg’s Ronda on Saturday, 12 November during Le Guess Who? 2022.

  • Direction: Dammes Kieft

  • Camera: Anaïs Saebu, Jonathan Sipkema, Nicky Pajkić, Rikash Gobardhan, Yuma Eekman, Dammes Kieft

  • Production: Claudia Rison, Studio Dammes

  • Coordination: Barry Spooren Montage: Nicky Pajkić S

  • ound recording: Marc Broer

Heard Too Late 2023 :: Goat :: Medicine

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Welcome to the third and pen-ultimate (for now) of our Heard Too Late 2023 series. Today, I humbly present to you a band I love with an album I somehow missed last year. Scandinavian Pscy-Rock-Folk-Space Voyagers Goat put out a solid album of space out music called Medicine. It is indeed medicine for what ails ya.

This one’s right up my alley for working and studying. I think you’ll dig it too.

Watch the video for “Join The Resistance”

Watch the video for “Tripping In The Graveyard”

Heard Too Late 2023 :: Dosh, Ismaily, Young

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Yesterday we began a short series of posts highlighting 2023 albums I didn’t get a chance to spend enough time with prior to compiling my year-end list with Lee Gallagher and the Hallelujah’s “The Falcon Ate The Flower.”

Next up is the self-titled release from Dosh, Ismaily, Young. Featuring “drummer Marty Dosh (Dosh, Andrew Bird, Fog), bassist Shahzad Ismaily (Marc Ribot’s Ceramic Dog, Secret Chiefs 3, Arooj Aftub), and guitarist Tim Young (Wayne Horvitz’s Zony Mash, David Sylvian, Michael White).”

With Shazad already appearing on the 2023 round up with Love In Exile by Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer, Shahzad Ismaily, this marks Ismaily’s second appearance on my favorite albums of 2023.

This is not so much a review as a profile, so I take no shame in quoting the Bandcamp page to help you get a picture of this wild ride: “On their debut self-titled release, these master musicians effortlessly deliver six solid tracks including an 11-minute krautrock mindblower, a meditation on the end of the world, and explorations into Stax-soul, space-rock, and free-jazz.”

If you’ve taken the time and effort to read this far, it’s probably because we share the same music vibes. I highly recommend this release, especially since physical copies are in short supply.

Watch the official video for the opening track, “Blast:”

  • Support Dosh, Ismaily, Young at Bandcamp

  • Purchase Dosh, Ismaily, Young’s music at Amazon

Heard Too Late 2023 :: Lee Gallagher And The Hallelujah :: The Falcon Ate The Flower

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Welcome to Heard Too Late, a short series of posts where I highlight artists and albums I didn’t spend enough time with to put on my 2023 year-end list. However, with hindsight being what it is and all, it is safe to say that if I had heard these albums sooner, they would most definitely have made the cut.

First up is “The Falcon Ate The Flower” by Lee Gallagher And The Hallelujah. As you might ascertain from the name, Gallagher’s CA (by way of Ohio) cosmic country space rock taps in to the spiritual side of life without being preachy. Maybe we’ll call it existential rock? Anyways, having recorded with Victoria Williams and others after moving to CA, Gallagher has continued to expand his sound and scope. Reviewers and biographers are quick to point to Gram Parsons, Workingman’s Dead, Humble Pie, and, surprisingly enough Rod Stewart (that last one came up a few times!) and, of course; all of these apply, but only as touch-points.

Album opener “Planes” soars in perhaps the most psychedelic country jam the album reaches, but it sets a great opening bar. Though “The Falcon Ate The Flower” doesn’t quite reach those same heights throughout the rest of the album’s songs, we take a journey through ballads, and no review would be complete without mentioning the stellar performances by violin legend Scarlet Rivera (probably best known to this crowd by her appearances in the Rolling Thunder Revue. She here appears on the tracks “Something Better,” & “Can Anyone Hear Me?”, both of which are well worth your time.

Head out on a road trip. Blare this and then let’s talk.

Watch the official video for “Baby I’m There:”

Listen to “Something Better:”

Listen to Half Lit (The Future’s Ours):

  • Visit Lee Gallagher’s official site

  • Support Lee Gallagher at Bandcamp

  • Purchase Lee Gallagher’s music at Amazon

2023 :: Favorite Music

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Welcome to the 2023 Holiday at the Sea year-end music list. There was a lot of great music in 2023, but I’ve narrowed it down to my favorite top 50, presented here in alphabetical order. I hope you see some of your favorites and find something new. I’d love to hear your thoughts. What has been your favorite music of 2023?

the 2023 Holiday at the Sea year-end music list:

  • Afro Futuristic Dreams by Idris Ackamoor & The Pyramids // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • A Trip To Bolgatanga by African Head Charge // BC // FB // Insta //Amzn //

  • Tony Allen JID018 by Tony Allen, Adrian Younge, & Ali Shaheed Muhammad (Jazz Is Dead) // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • New Blue Sun by André 3000 // site // Amzn //

  • My Back Was A Bridge For You To Cross by Anohni & The Johnsons // site // BC // Insta // Amzn //

  • Love In Exile by Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer, Shahzad Ismaily // site // Amzn //

  • Black Duck by Black Duck // BC // Amzn //

  • Sun Arcs by Blue Lake // BC // Amzn //

  • Sahel by Bombino // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Keeping Secrets Will Destroy You by Bonnie “Prince” Billy // BC // Amzn //

  • Dimanche à Bamako by Bounaly // BC // Amzn //

  • the Record by boygenius // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Fly or Die Fly or Die Fly or Die ((world war)) by jaimie branch // site // BC // Amzn //

  • Nocturnal Country by Sammy Brue // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Villagers by Califone // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Chitinous Mandible by Chitinous Mandible // site // BC // Insta // Amzn //

  • Hostile Environment by Creation Rebel // BC // Amzn //

  • Shadow Kingdom by Bob Dylan // site // FB // Amzn //

  • & the Charm by Avalon Emerson // site // BC // Insta // Amzn //

  • Some Kinda Love Performing The Music Of the Velvet Underground by the Feelies // site // BC // Amzn //

  • A River Running To Your Heart by Fruit Bats // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Let the Moon Be a Planet by Steve Gunn & David Moore // BC // Amzn //

  • Philanthropy by Hauschka // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Days In The Desert by High Pulp // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Oh Me Oh My by Lonnie Holley // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • James and the Giants by James and the Giants // BC // Amzn //

  • Did You Know That There's A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd by Lana Del Rey // site // FB // Amzn //

  • New Future City Radio by Damon Locks & Rob Mazurek // BC // Amzn //

  • No Fixed Point In Space by Modern Nature // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • the Age of Pleasure by Janelle Monae // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Since Time Is Gravity by Natural Information Society // site // BC // Amzn //

  • Travel by the Necks // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Jump On It by Bill Orcutt // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Switched-On by Pachyman // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • After the Magic by 파란노을 (Parannoul) // BC // Insta // Amzn //

  • The Times by Phoenix Afrobeat Orchestra // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Drag On Girard by Purling Hiss // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • the Window by Ratboys // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Garden Party by Rose City Band // site // BC // Insta // Amzn //

  • Live at Third Man Records by Rich Ruth // BC // Insta // Amzn //

  • Robed In Rareness by Shabazz Palaces // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Everything Is Alive by Slowdive // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Javelin by Sufjan Stevens // site // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Music Is Victory Over Time by Sunwatchers // BC // FB // Amzn //

  • Secret Stratosphere by William Tyler And The Impossible Truth // BC // FB // Amzn //

Chitinous Mandible

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When asked to describe his music in 3 words by Secret Eclectic, Tom Herman Jr. (aka Chitinous Mandible) responded with:

Enveloping surrealistic familiarity

That seems to be as good a description as any.

Prior to the Chitinous Mandible moniker, New Jersey’s Herman recorded as Old Smile, who Aquarium Drunkard described as “a wave of lo-fi, bedroom psych,” and of whom The Quietus said: “After countless recent waves of revivalist bands embracing jangly psych and sixties music - Temples, Tame Impala, Ty Segall, etc. - Old Smile is the best I've come across.” That’s high praise indeed! And as The Quietus points out: “And this dude managed to do it all himself at home!” Herman continues to ride tht independent spirit, saying of this new, self-titled project as Chitinous Mandible: “I wrote/performed/recorded/mixed everything on it aside from a couple tracks where my dad plays drums.”

Rolling in like a lo-fi swamp fog and wrapping you up in its shimmery swirls, this is music to get lost in or focus down on the details. Because there are layers if you’re willing to dig. And dig, I do. cosmic psychedelic blues for the laid-back set. Hints of Krautrock throb over Devo keyboards. More quirky non sequiturs for great music here.

I asked Hermon how his songwriting has progressed over the last few albums. He said:

“In Arches the sound was kind of slow and melancholy. The sound of Old Smile was more all over the place, there were a lot of detours. Chitinous Mandible is a bit all over the place too but it’s more concise.”

Chitinous Mandible is a bit all over the place, but more concise. That’s as good a description as any. Swampy music for sweaty afternoons. The best thing you can do is go listen for yourself. I highly recommend.

For those interested, Bandcamp reveals that "Pops plays drums on the songs "Time Design" and "Summertime Drive."

Watch “Summertime Drive:”

Watch “Connection In A Parking Lot”

  • RIYL: Rose City Band, Los Halos

  • Support Chitinous Mandible at Bandcamp

  • Follow Chitinous Mandible at Youtube

  • Follow Chitinous Mandible at Soundcloud

  • Follow Chitinous Mandible at Instagram

Soundtrack to the Collective Meltdown (2021) :: A Holiday At The Sea (MEGA) Playlist

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The next time you’ve got nearly 5 hours to kill, I’ve got the mix for you! These are not necessarily my “favorite songs of 2021.” Instead, these are choice cuts; one representative track from each of my favorite 50 albums of the year. Regardless of length.

Get ready for a ride.

Tracklist:

  1. Pray for Peace by Ustad Saami from East Pakistan Sky

  2. Recessinater by Birds of Maya from Valdez

  3. The People vs. the Rest of Us by Damon Locks Black Monument Ensemble from NOW

  4. Bell Song by 75 Dollar Bill featuring Barry Weisblat from Social Music at Troost Vol. 1

  5. Ya Rossoul by Khaira Arby from Khaira Arby In New York (Live In 2010)

  6. Movement by Bell Orchestre from House Music

  7. Broken Mirror (A Selfie Reflection)/Composition 9 by Matthew E. White and Lonnie Holley from Broken Mirror: A Selfie Reflection

  8. Riddim Rek Sa Niouy Mom by Wau Wau Collectif from Yaral Sa Doom

  9. All That They Left You by Six Organs of Admittance from The Veiled Sea

  10. Days Like These by Low from Hey What

  11. VBS by Lucy Dacus from Home Video

  12. Brothers by Phil Cook from All These Years

  13. Dark In Here by the Mountain Goats from Dark In Here

  14. Djougoh by Nahawa Doumbia from Kanawa

  15. The Call by Madlib from Sound Ancestors

  16. Beat Up Born Where I Come From by Ghost of Vroom from Ghost of Vroom 1

  17. Dovetail by Girls in Airports from Leap

  18. descension (Out of Our Constrictions) III by Natural Information Society and Evan Parker from descension (Out of Our Constrictions)

  19. Beowulf’s Trip by Jeffrey Alexander and the Heavy Lidders from Jeffrey Alexander and the Heavy Lidders

  20. World is Turning by Rose City Band from Earth Trip

  21. Disposable Thumbs by Endless Boogie from Admonitions

  22. Staggering With a Lantern by Mountain Movers from World What World

  23. Albuquerque by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis from CARNAGE

  24. OUR SIDE HAS TO WIN (for D.H.) by Godspeed You! Black Emperor from G_d's Pee At States End!

  25. Juvenescence by Yasmin Williams from Urban Driftwood

  26. Invisible Map by Derek Piotr from Making and Then Unmaking

  27. You Can Regret What You Have Done by Matt Sweeney and Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy from Superwolves

  28. This Old World by Billy Strings from Renewal

  29. Kelp Highway by Drew Gardner from Drew Gardner

  30. Jnoun ! by Bachar Mar-Khalifé from Ghost Songs

  31. In Remembrance Of Those Fallen by Sons of Kemet from Black To The Future

  32. Bertha The Cool by Marc Ribot’s Ceramic Dog from Hope

  33. Give Me Back My Loving by Leo Nocentelli from Another Side

  34. Don’t Let The Tears by Howlin’ Rain from The Dharma Wheel

  35. Tree of Tule by Daniel Lanois from Heavy Sun

  36. Way To Cairo by Native Soul from Teenage Dreams

  37. Ethiopian Sunshower by Adrian Younge And Ali Shaheed Muhammad from Brian Jackson JID008

  38. Zengadyw Derekou by Hailu Mergia from Tezeta

  39. Ya Habibti by Mdou Moctar from Afrique Victime

  40. Tropicale Moon by Mouth Painter from Tropicale Moon

  41. Natural Facts by Wet Tuna from Eu’d To A Fake Boogie Volume 4

  42. Shrinks the Day by Ryley Walker and Kikagaku Moyo from Deep Fried Grandeur

  43. Musungu Elongo Paints His Face White to Scare Small Children by Kasai Allstars from Black Ants Always Fly Together, One Bangle Makes No Sound

  44. Trap Life by Sault from Nine

  45. Désert by Dobe Gnahoré from Couleur

  46. Part 1 by Elkhorn from The Golden Lag

  47. If It Comes In The Morning by Hiss Golden Messenger from Quietly Blowing It

  48. Morning River by Steve Gunn from Other You

  49. Shiva With Dustpan by Ryley Walker from Course In Fable

  50. Cortez the Killer (live) by Neil Young and Crazy Horse from Way Down In The Rust Bucket

  • Browse my favorite albums of the year

  • Browse my “2021 Yearly Wrap-it-Up” which is really a ramble about seeing Phish

  • Browse my favorite books of 2021

  • Browse my favorite movies of 2021

  • Browse my favorite television of 2021

  • Listen to a nearly 5-hour very low quality mix of one song from each of my favorite albums of 2021 called “Soundtrack to the Collective Meltdown”

2021 Year In Review :: Favorite Albums

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Here’s the dealio, my coolios.

Each year, I keep a running diary of sorts of all of the things I liked each year. If you’re interested (which I doubt you are), you can follow along with my real-time unedited yearly bookkeeping here.

At the end of each year I try to cull down the music section to what really defined my year musically. No ranking. Just great music. Here are 50 of my favorite 2021 albums in alphabetical order.

Albums In Visual Alphabetical Order:

Albums In Alphabetical Alphabetical Order:

  1. Social Music at Troost Vol.1 by 75 Dollar Bill

  2. Jeffrey Alexander and the Heavy Lidders by Jeffrey Alexander and the Heavy Lidders // Elixor of Life by Jeffrey Alexander and the Heavy Lidders

  3. Khaira Arby in New York (Live in 2010) by Khaira Arby

  4. House Music by Bell Orchestre

  5. Valdez by Birds of Maya

  6. Carnage by Nick Cave & Warren Ellis

  7. All These Years by Phil Cook

  8. Home Video by Lucy Dacus

  9. Kanawa by Nahawa Doumbia

  10. The Golden Lag by Elkhorn

  11. Admonitions by Endless Boogie

  12. Drew Gardner by Drew Gardner

  13. Ghost of Vroom 1 by Ghost of Vroom

  14. Leap by Girls in Airports

  15. Couleur by Dobet Gnahoré

  16. G_d's Pee At States End! by Godspeed You! Black Emperor

  17. Other You by Steve Gunn

  18. Quietly Blowing It by Hiss Golden Messenger

  19. The Dharma Wheel by Howlin’ Rain

  20. Brian Jackson JID008 by Brian Jackson, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Adrian Younge

  21. Black Ants Always Fly Together, One Bangle Makes No Sound by Kasai Allstars

  22. Heavy Sun by Daniel Lanois

  23. Now by Damon Locks & Black Monument Ensemble

  24. Hey What by Low

  25. Sound Ancestors by Madlib

  26. Hope by Marc Ribot’s Ceramic Dog

  27. Ghost Songs by Bachar Mar-Khalifé

  28. Tezeta by Hailu Mergia

  29. Afrique Victime by Mdou Moctar

  30. Dark In Here by the Mountain Goats

  31. World What World by Mountain Movers

  32. Tropicale Moon by Mouth Painter

  33. Teenage Dreams by Native Soul

  34. descension (Out of Our Constrictions) by Natural Information Society/Evan Parker

  35. Another Side by Leo Nocentelli (1971)

  36. Making and Then Unmaking by Derek Piotr

  37. Earth Trip by Rose City Band

  38. East Pakistan Sky by Ustad Saami

  39. Nine by Sault

  40. The Veiled Sea by Six Organs of Admittance

  41. Black to the Future by Sons of Kemet

  42. Renewal by Billy Strings

  43. Superwolves by Matt Sweeney and Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy

  44. Deep Fried Grandeur by Ryley Walker And Kikagaku Moyo

  45. Course In Fable by Ryley Walker

  46. Yaral Sa Doom by Wau Wau Collectif

  47. Eau’d To A Fake Boogie Volume 4 by Wet Tuna

  48. Broken Mirror: A Selfie Reflection by Matthew E. White and Lonnie Holley

  49. Urban Driftwood by Yasmin Williams

  50. Way Down in the Rust Bucket by Neil Young and Crazy Horse

  • Browse my favorite albums of the year

  • Browse my “2021 Yearly Wrap-it-Up” which is really a ramble about seeing Phish

  • Browse my favorite books of 2021

  • Browse my favorite movies of 2021

  • Browse my favorite television of 2021

  • Listen to a nearly 5-hour very low quality mix of one song from each of my favorite albums of 2021 called “Soundtrack to the Collective Meltdown”

The Housemartins - Hold Tight! Granada TV Special - City Lites, Farnworth 1986

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The Housemartins were an English Pop group active in the ‘80’s. The group blended British Pop, Soul and Gospel.

They were notable for their keen sense of humor; often billing themselves as “the fourth best band in Hull" (he best three bands being Red Guitars, Everything but the Girl, and the Gargoyles). But the band was about more than just humor. As Wikipedia notes: “Many of their lyrics were a mixture of socialist politics and Christianity, reflecting the beliefs of the band (the back cover of their debut album, London 0 Hull 4, contained the message, "Take Jesus – Take Marx – Take Hope").

Here’s another live video from 1986. This one says:

“On December 3rd, 1986, Granada TV show ‘Hold Tight’ featured THE HOUSEMARTINS in concert.

A special live production at the City Lites night club in Farnworth in December 1986.”

Enjoy.

Setlist:

  1. Intro

  2. The Mighty Ship

  3. Think For A Minute

  4. Anxious / Me And The Farmer

  5. Get Up Off Our Knees

  6. Caravan Of Love

  7. Happy Hour

  8. Rap Around The Clock

  • Follow the Housemartins at Facebook

  • Purchase the Housemartins’ music at Amazon

2020 Year-End Music Round-Up Wrap-Up Extravaganza

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No one could have predicted a year like 2020. The live music industry is on life support. Bandcamp came through just about better than anyone else to support music. And there was a ton of great music released this year.

Per the norm, I do not rank albums. Music is not a competition and my taste is not your taste. So, after lots of thought and list-shuffling and winnowing, these are the 75 albums that really stood out for me. My original list was quite a bit longer (and you can always keep up in real-time by following the Yearly Bookkeeping page), so I can tell you that this list provides a great overview of my music listening for this crazy year.

Here are my favorite 75 albums of 2020.

The Visual List:

The Alphabet List:

  1. Live at Tubby's by 75 Dollar Bill Little Big Band

  2. Shaman! by Idris Ackamoor & The Pyramids

  3. Time is A Gift Which We Share All The Time by Afriquoi

  4. Rejoice by Tony Allen and Hugh Masekela

  5. Live by Angel Bat Dawid & Tha Brothahood

  6. Fu Chronicles by Antibalas 

  7. Fetch The Bolt Cutters by Fiona Apple

  8. Roy Ayers JID002 by Roy Ayers, Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad

  9. Ex-Voto by Jamie Barnes

  10. Please Advise by Beauty Pill

  11. Crash Test Kid by Sammy Brue

  12. Long In The Tooth by the Budos Band

  13. Regresa by Buscabulla

  14. Shadow Talk by Café Racer

  15. Echo Mine by Califone

  16. Gold Record by Bill Callahan

  17. Have We Met by Destroyer

  18. I Just Wasn't Made For These Set Times by Dire Wolves (Just Exactly Perfect Sisters Band)

  19. Rough and Rowdy Ways by Bob Dylan

  20. Afternoon Tea at Six by Eishan Ensemble

  21. Acoustic Storm Sessions by Elkhorn

  22.  Kahil El’Zabar’s Spirit Groove by Kahil El'Zabar & David Murray

  23. Wake Up! by Hazel English

  24. Shore by Fleet Foxes

  25. A Hero’s Death by Fontaines D.C.

  26. Peoples Motel Band by Chris Forsyth and Garcia Peoples

  27. SOURCE by Nubya Garcia

  28. Nightcap at Wits' End by Garcia Peoples

  29. Big Dark Bright Futures by Growing Concerns Poetry Collective

  30. Women In Music Pt. III by Haim

  31. Infinity Of Now by the Heliocentrics

  32. National Freedom by Lonnie Holley

  33. Muerto, Carcel o Rocanroll by Huntingtons

  34. Beginners by Christian Lee Hutson

  35. Reuinions by Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit

  36. Babani Koné by Babani Koné

  37. Mutation by Les Freres Smith

  38. 2020 by Magik Markers

  39. Eno Axis by H.C. McEntire

  40. Joshua Massad & Dylan Aycock by Joshua Massad & Dylan Aycock

  41. Microphones in 2020 by the Microphones

  42. Circles by Mac Miller

  43. Dimensional Stardust by Rob Mazurek/Exploding Star Orchestra

  44. Annual by Modern Nature

  45. Getting Into Knives by the Mountain Goats

  46. Staunch Honey by David Nance

  47. Three by the Necks

  48. Rob Noyes & Sam Moss by Rob Noyes & Sam Moss

  49. We No Be Machine by Onipa

  50. Jams From The Sun by Oregon Space Trail of Jazz

  51. High Upon The Mountain by Pacific Range

  52. Suite For Max Brown by Jeff Parker

  53. Summerlong by Rose City Band

  54. RTJ4 by Run The Jewels

  55. Landwerk demos by Nathan Salsburg

  56. Acoustic by Oumou Sangaré

  57. Untitled (Black Is) by Sault

  58. We Are Sent Here By History by Shabaka and the Ancestors

  59. The Don of Diamond Dreams by Shabazz Palaces

  60. Ocean Bridges by Archie Shepp, Raw Poetic & Damu the Fudgemunk

  61. Companion Rises by Six Organs of Admittance

  62. Shall We Go On Sinning So That Grace May Increase? by The Soft Pink Truth

  63. Optimisme by Songhoy Blues

  64. Swirling by Sun Ra Arkestra

  65. Oh Yeah? by Sunwatchers

  66. Wooden Flower by Tambourinen

  67. Folklore by Taylor Swift

  68. Nomad by Tengger

  69. Sun Racket by Throwing Muses

  70. Siftorde by Tidiane Thiam

  71. New Vanitas by William Tyler

  72. The Great Mountain by Waterless Hills

  73. Eau’d To A Fake Bookie Volume 3 by Wet Tuna

  74. Strange to Explain by Woods

  75. Homegrown by Neil Young

  • Browse Volume 01 of my 2020 favorites playlist

  • Browse Volume 02 of my 2020 favorites playlist

  • Browse Volume 03 of my 2020 favorites playlist

  • Browse Volume 04 of my 2020 favorites playlist

  • Browse Volume 05 of my 2020 favorites playlist



Holiday At The Sea's Favorite 2020 Music Mix (Volume 05)

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Volume 05 of some of Holiday at the Sea’s favorite 2020 music. I chose 75 albums this year and the playlists total 74 songs since “Microphones in 2020 by the Microphones” is 45 minutes long and I didn’t want to include the whole album as part of a mix.

Anyways, enjoy!

Tracklisting:

  1. “Sam Sam” by Afriquoi

  2. “Fight Am Finish” by Antibalas

  3. “Tulips” by Archie Shepp, Raw Poetic & Damu the Fudgemunk

  4. “Sixth Hammer” by the Budos Band

  5. “Signs” by Eishan Ensemble

  6. “Acoustic Storm Part One” by Elkhorn

  7. “Further” by the Necks

  8. “Wooden Flower” by Tambourinen

  9. “Walkin’ In Rhythm” by Wet Tuna

  10. “Snake Mouth” by Rob Noyes & Sam Moss

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Holiday At The Sea's Favorite 2020 Music Mix (Volume 04)

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Volume 04 of some of Holiday at the Sea’s favorite 2020 music. I chose 75 albums this year and the playlists total 74 songs since “Microphones in 2020 by the Microphones” is 45 minutes long and I didn’t want to include the whole album as part of a mix.

Anyways, enjoy!



Tracklisting:

  1. “Solace” by Adrian Younge And Ali Shaheed Muhammad

  2. “Theme For Cecil” by Idris Ackamoor and The Pyramids

  3. “Venom” by The Heliocentrics

  4. “Slow Bones” by Tony Allen & Hugh Masekela

  5. “Eurasia” by Tengger

  6. “Galaxy 1000” by Rob Mazurek and the Exploding Star Orchestra

  7. “Two” by Joshua Massad & Dylan Aycock

  8. “The Message Continues” by Nubya Garcia

  9. “Makoma” by Onipa

  10. “Ju$t” by Run The Jewels

  11. “The Coming Of The Strange Ones” by Shabaka and the Ancestors

  12. “Wet” by Shabazz Palaces

  13. “No Talk Talk” by Les Freres Smith

  14. “Strange To Explain” by Woods

  15. “Go Away” by Jeff Parker

  16. “Pray Up Stay Up” by Sault

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Holiday At The Sea's Favorite 2020 Music Mix (Volume 03)

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Volume 03 of some of Holiday at the Sea’s favorite 2020 music. I chose 75 albums this year and the playlists total 74 songs since “Microphones in 2020 by the Microphones” is 45 minutes long and I didn’t want to include the whole album as part of a mix.

Anyways, enjoy!

Tracklisting:

  1. “Houses of the Holy” by H.C. McEntire

  2. “Low to the Bird” by Jamie Barnes

  3. “It Gets Easier” by Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit

  4. “Santa Monica (Through the Canyon)” by Pacific Range

  5. “The 101” by Six Organs of Admittance

  6. “Howard St. & The Beach Nov. 1988 After 11” by Califone

  7. “Maestranza” by Fleet Foxes

  8. “(Our Life Could Be Your Van)” by Garcia Peoples

  9. “The Law Of Hospitality” by Waterless Hills

  10. “Four Corners” by William Tyler

  11. “Protest Song” by Bill Callahan

  12. “Crystal Doorknob” by Lonnie Holley

  13. “Landwerk 03” by Nathan Salsburg

  14. “Love Is The Main Thing” by Fontaines D.C.

  15. “Find You Ride” by Magik Markers

  16. “Fadjamou” (Acoustic) by Oumou Sangaré

  17. “St. Charles” by Throwing Muses

  18. “Nenamev” by Tidiane Thiam

  19. “Bon Bon” by Songhoy Blues

  20. “Love Paste” by Sunwatchers

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Holiday At The Sea's Favorite 2020 Music Mix (Volume 02)

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Volume 02 of some of Holiday at the Sea’s favorite 2020 music. I chose 75 albums this year and the playlists total 74 songs since “Microphones in 2020 by the Microphones” is 45 minutes long and I didn’t want to include the whole album as part of a mix.

Anyways, enjoy!

Tracklisting:

  1. “Single For The Summer” by Christian Lee Huston

  2. “Off My Mind” by Hazel English

  3. “Crimson Tide” by Destroyer

  4. “NTE” by Buscabulla

  5. “We Don't Smoke It No More” by Neil Young

  6. “If The Truth Ever Shows Up” by David Nance

  7. “Die Before You Live” by Sammy Brue

  8. “Not Penny’s Boat” by Huntingtons

  9. “Empty Bottle” by Rose City Band

  10. “Out The Window” by Café Racer

  11. “Nektar” by Kahil El'Zabar & David Murray

  12. “Jams From The Sun (Part III)” by Oregon Space Trail of Jazz

  13. “F&N” by 75 Dollar Bill

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Holiday At The Sea's Favorite 2020 Music Mix (Volume 01)

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Volume 01 of some of Holiday at the Sea’s favorite 2020 music. I chose 75 albums this year and the playlists total 74 songs since “Microphones in 2020 by the Microphones” is 45 minutes long and I didn’t want to include the whole album as part of a mix.

Anyways, enjoy!

Tracklisting:

  1. “(Brother Lee) Womblife Blues” by Dire Wolves (Just Exactly Perfect Sisters Band)

  2. “exile” by Taylor Swift

  3. “Tattooed Love Boys” by Beauty Pill

  4. “Good News” by Mac Miller

  5. “Djatigui Baro” by Babani Koné

  6. “I Know Alone” by Haim

  7. “Flourish” by Modern Nature

  8. “Murder Most Foul” by Bob Dylan

  9. “Picture Of My Dress” by the Mountain Goats

  10. “We” by the Soft Pink Truth

  11. “Shout Across Mountains” by Growing Concerns Poetry Collective

  12. “Mystic Mountain” by Chris Forsyth & Garcia Peoples

  13. “Angels And Demons At Play” by Sun Ra Arkestra

  14. “Heavy Baloon” by Fiona Apple

  15. “The Wicked Shall Not Prevail” by Angel Bat Dawid & Tha Brothahood

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Holiday at the Sea's Favorite 2019 Music Mix (Volume 04)

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Today we dive in to Volume 04 of a 4-volume playlist of some of my favorite music of 2019. And, just to review one last time: there are 50 songs, but only 49 albums represented, since ‘Sideways’ by Seryn was released as a single. We’ve already heard a lot of great music and this last installment is no exception if I do say so myself (and I do).

I hope you enjoy this last installment of the series.

Volume 04:

Volume 04 Tracklisting:

  1. ‘Come On Up To The House’ by Joseph from the album Come On Up To The House: Women Sing Waits

  2. ‘Spinning Song’ by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds from the album Ghosteen

  3. ‘U.F.O.F.’ by Big Thief from the album U.F.O.F.

  4. ‘Goin’ by Wet Tuna from the album Water Weird

  5. ‘Walk Through The Fire’ by Yola from the album Walk Through The Fire

  6. ‘All Mirrors’ by Angel Olsen from the album All Mirrors

  7. ‘Utopia In Blue’ by Eamon Fogarty from the album Blue Values

  8. ‘Margaritas at the Mall’ by Purple Mountains from the album Purple Mountains

  9. ‘My Phoenix’ by Pedro the Lion from the album Phoenix

  10. ‘Be Kind’ by Matt Valentine from the album Preserves

  11. ‘Her Arrival’ by Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah from the album Ancestral Recall

  12. ‘Endless Dave’ by L'Eclair from the album Sauropoda

  13. ‘Good Ol' Vilayati’ by Sarathy Korwar from the album More Arriving

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  • Listen to Volume 01 of my 2019 Year-End Playlist

  • Listen to Volume 02 of my 2019 Year-End Playlist

  • Listen to Volume 03 of my 2019 Year-End Playlist

Holiday at the Sea's Favorite 2019 Music Mix (Volume 03)

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As I’ve explained, rather than just give a context-less list, I’ve made a four-volume playlist of some of my favorite music of 2019. Each mix is as close to an hour as I could get it.

Today we dive in to Volume 03. Also, just to review again: there are 50 songs, but only 49 albums represented, since ‘Sideways’ by Seryn was released as a single. After lots of finagling, I just decided to leave it alone and enjoy the music. It is what it is and it is all great. I hope you enjoy this third installment.

Volume 03:

Volume 03 Tracklisting:

  1. ‘Shadow Conductor’ by Joshua Abrams & Natural Information Society from the album Mandatory Reality

  2. ‘Ptah, The El Daoud’ by Sunwatchers from the album Illegal Moves

  3. ‘Spider Web Pt. 1’ by The Budos Band from the album V

  4. ‘One Step Behind’ by Garcia Peoples from the album One Step Behind

  5. ‘Water Bearing One by Dire Wolves from the album Grow Towards The Light

  6. ‘Telephone Song’ by Xylouris White from the album The Sisypheans

  7. ‘Love Is Everywhere’ by Wilco from the album Ode To Joy

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  • Listen to Volume 01 of my 2019 Year-End Playlist

  • Listen to Volume 02 of my 2019 Year-End Playlist

  • Listen to Volume 04 of my 2019 Year-End Playlist

Holiday at the Sea's Favorite 2019 Music Mix (Volume 02)

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As I mentioned yesterday, we’re doing something different this year with my year-end list of my favorite music of 2019. I’ve made four different playlists so you can hear a representative song from each album I picked.

Today we dive in to Volume 02. Each mix is as close to an hour as I could get them. And as I already mentioned, there are 50 songs, but only 49 albums represented, since ‘Sideways’ by Seryn was released as a single and I’ll present the complete list at the end of the week. I hope you enjoy this second installment.

Volume 02:

Volume 02 Tracklisting:

  1. ‘Shepherd’s Welcome’ by Bill Callahan from the album Shepherd In A Sheepskin Vest

  2. ‘Miri’ by Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba from the album Miri

  3. ‘Autobiography Of The Upsetter’ by Lee “Scratch” Perry from the album Rainford

  4. ‘Vagabond’ by Steve Gunn from the album The Unseen In Between

  5. ‘U (Man Like)’ by Bon Iver from the album i,i

  6. 1 Milli by Davido from the album A Good Time

  7. ‘Three Chords and the Truth’ by Van Morrison from the album Three Chords and the Truth

  8. ‘Anybody’ by Burna Boy from the album African Giant

  9. ‘To See Darkness’ by Elkhorn from the album Sun Cycle / Elk Jam

  10. ‘Hot Potato Soup’ by One Eleven Heavy from the album Desire Path

  11. ‘Out of Darkness’ by Some Dark Hollow from the album Out of Darkness

  12. ‘Comeback Kid’ by Sharon Van Etten from the album Remind Me Tomorrow

  13. ‘Carrier 32’ by Eluvium from the album Pianoworks

  14. ‘Bloom’ by Joe Henry from the album The Gospel According to Water

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  • Listen to Volume 01 of my 2019 Year-End Playlist

  • Listen to Volume 03 of my 2019 Year-End Playlist

  • Listen to Volume 04 of my 2019 Year-End Playlist