Giant Sand, Live at Mad Dog Studios/The Atlantic Session (01/30/90)

I don’t know if it’s still around, but when we lived in KY (roughly 2002-2005), I was part of The Sandman Series. This was a CDR series of bootlegs organized by Jim Blackman and Howe Gelb. Basically, the way it worked was that CDRs were sent out to “seeders.” I was a seeder. The seeders committed to recording and mailing the CDRs to a certain number of people (I think it was around 10 but I really don’t remember). I seeded several different discs, but the one I still return to most was called The Atlantic Session.

The core group (at that time) of Howe Gelb, John Convertino and Joey Burns recorded this set as a demo for Atlantic Records at Mad Dog Studios in CA. It was never officially released until the Sandman Series helped bring it to the light of day. As the name suggests, this is a studio recording. The band is tight and the tunes are bitchin.

The set is available at the fantastic Archive.org.

Dive right in.

• Visit Giant Sand/Howe Gelb’s official website.

• Follow Giant Sand at Facebook.

• Follow Howe Gelb at Facebook.

• Visit the Archive.org page for the show.

• Browse all posts marked “Giant Sand” here at Holiday at the Sea.

• Purchase Giant Sand music at Amazon.

Give Me Some Of That 1973 Miles Mojo (Have you watched the PBS: American Masters special on Miles Davis?)

Have you watched the PBS: American Masters special on Miles Davis?

I watched it the other day and really enjoyed it. Of course it left a lot out. But it was also pretty straightforward about what kind of person Miles was. Complicated. Contrarian. Like all of us. And, I felt like it gave a great overview/introduction for long-time fans and those just coming to Miles’ music.

Watch the trailer here:

It should be no surprise to you that I dig Miles Davis. My first born is named Miles. And I love the many phases of Miles’ musical explorations. But lately, I’ve been listening to a lot of the On The Corner stuff. And this 1973 Stockholm Set is right up my alley:

Yesssssseeerrrreeeeeee!

The deets are as follows:

Live at Konserthuset, Stockholm (SWE 1973-10-27)

1. Band warming up 0:48

2. Untitled Original 730424c (M. Davis) 16:12

3. Calypso Frelimo (M. Davis) 20:31

4. For Dave [Mr. Foster] (M. Davis) 13:32

Tune in 5 (with applause) (M. Davis) 5:01

Liebman continues with "For Dave" (ts solo) while the rhythm section plays "Tune in 5"; cga solo 2:00-4:30

Miles Davis (tpt, org)
Dave Liebman (ss, ts, fl)
Pete Cosey (g, perc)
Reggie Lucas (g)
Michael Henderson (el-b)
Al Foster (d)
James Mtume Forman (cga, perc)

From the fantastic treasure trove of tolvis77 on the Youtubes.

• Visit the official Miles Davis website.

• Follow the Miles Davis page at Facebook.

• Purchase Miles Davis music at Amazon.

Terry and Gyan Riley Live At Oval Space (Not At the MIM Where I Saw Them)

Thanks to a friend of mine, I had the opportunity to see Terry and Gyan Riley at the Musical Instrument Museum.

Of course I was familiar with the elder Riley’s work, and I have the The Book Of Abbeyozzud album (which Amazon tells me I’ve owned since 2003), but I didn’t really know what to expect since the evening was billed as an evening of improvised music. The website for the evening’s performance quotes Terry Riley as saying:

“Nothing I have done in this life has given me more satisfaction than improvising on these songs with Gyan. Nothing I have done can match the intuitive synchronicity we have shared, many times, on the stage.”

The evening’s music was sublime, challenging and rewarding. It spun circular rhythms and balanced scales as each player was propelled by the other. I have never seen another night of music quite like it and I will be forever grateful for the experience.

Here is video of Terry and Gyan Riley from a totally different 2018 performance presented by NTS; Live At “Oval Space.”

• Visit Terry Riley’s website.

• Visit Gyan Riley’s website.

• Purchase Terry Riley’s music at Amazon.

• Purchase Gyan Riley’s music at Amazon.

Sahel Sounds presents "Music from Saharan WhatsApp 02 by Oumou Diabate et Kara Show Koumba Frifri"

Last month I was pleased to pass along the announcement that 10 years later, the Sahel Sounds was following up their fantastic Music From Saharan Cellphones compilation with the ground-breaking compilation, Music from Saharan WhatsApp.

“For the year of 2020, Sahel Sounds presents "Music from Saharan WhatsApp." Every month, we'll be releasing an EP from a musical group in the Sahel. Every album will be recorded on a cellphone, and transmitted over WhatsApp, and uploaded to Bandcamp - where it will live for one month only. Available for pay as you want, 100% of the sales will go directly to the artist or group. After one month, the album will be replaced by another one, until the end of the year.”

The label says of this second installment:

“This month we present mother and son duo, Oumou Diabate and Kara Show Koumba Frifri (Youssouf Drame), from Bamako, Mali. Playing traditional Mandingue music, these lowkey recordings are a snapshot from a griot family home. Oumou Diabate has been performing all her life, and is honored as one of the first griots to perform on television when it first arrived in Mali. Kara Show carries on his family tradition, a renowned performer of the Tamani drum. A founding member of the Balani Show outfit Group Mamelon, Kara Show is a regular guest performer in Bamako’s modern music scene."

Preview the second EP here (THIS WILL DISAPPEAR AT THE END OF THE MONTH):

Head over to the Bandcamp page to download the first installment and track future releases.

• Follow Sahel Sounds at Facebook.

• Follow Sahel Sounds at Twitter.

• Follow Sahel Sounds at Youtube.

• Support Sahel Sounds at Bandcamp.

• Browse “Sahel Sounds” at Amazon.

Giant Sandworms: "Body of Water"

Videographer Ray Frieders recently posted on Facebook:

“37 years ago today at Gates Pass, a spectacular backdrop for Tucson’s own Giant Sandworms. “Body of Water” was directed by Tony Sotelo and was the first of many 80’s music videos that I shot and edited. I am very fortunate to have these photos and some amazing memories! I am not sure what I love most, my full head of hair or the fact that I “borrowed” a KVOA news camera for this shoot.”

“Before Giant Sand there was Giant Sandworms, Howe Gelb's first band in Tucson. Here is their debut music video from 1983.

• Howe Gelb - Guitar, Vocals

• Dave Seger - Guitar, Vocals

• Billy Sed -Drum, Vocals

• Scott Garber - Bass”

• Visit Howe Gelb/Giant Sand’s official website.

• Follow Giant Sand at Facebook.

• Follow Howe Gelb at Facebook.

• Browse all posts marked “Giant Sand” here at Holiday at the Sea.

• Purchase Giant Sand music at Amazon.

New Music From Topknot: "All My Love"

My friend Trenton Wheeler (formerly of Seryn) has a new project called Topknot. They just released a new single, “All My Love.” Trenton says this of the track on Facebook:

“ALL MY LOVE releases at midnight on Friday and I am wildly excited to share with you this simple message. I wrote this one during a time when my heart was deeply heavy over the way I watched our leaders mistrust & mistreat human beings because they come from somewhere else, or because they believe something different; those seeking refuge from tyranny, and those seeking justice.

We are all connected, and I do feel that we have a responsibility to one another to employ compassion and love. I felt guilty that while I groaned about the decisions of my government, I sat in the comfort of my home doing little to change it. In this I was reminded that I cannot change others, but I can change myself. This one is for the disenfranchised, those of us struggling, feeling hopeless or unloved. You are not alone in this life. You are loved. ❤️”

• Visit Topknot’s official website.

• Follow Topknot on Facebook.

• Follow Topknot on Twitter.

• Follow Topknot on Instagram.

Sammy Brue: The Crash Test Kid's Teenage Mayhem

I’m sure he’s tired of hearing this, but you might recognize Sammy Brue from the cover of Justin Townes Earle’s Single Mothers album. There’s an even lesser chance that you saw Sammy’s phenomenal house show at my house. There’s even less of a chance that you knew that my wife went to high school with Sammy’s Dad.

But there’s a high likelihood that you’ll dig Sammy’s latest songs, “Teenage Mayhem,” and “Crash Test Kid,” the title track from Brue’s upcoming album of the same name due out 06/12/20 on New West Records.

Sammy says:

“YOOOOO been waiting for this day for a minute!!! Teenage Mayhem AND Crash Test Kid are both out today! So proud of these songs. Thank you Iain Archer for making magic with me. I'm so excited to finally share these songs with you. Only more to come! “

Sammy’s Dad says:

“Best part of this video was watching Sammy’s Mom try not to freak out about her house being destroyed!”

asfd

• Visit Sammy Brue’s official website.

• Follow Sammy Brue at Facebook.

• Follow Sammy Brue at Twitter.

• Follow Sammy Brue at Instagram.

• Purchase Sammy Brue’s music at Amazon.

Huntingtons: "Muerto, Carcel, O Rocanrol"

During the summer between 6th and 7th grade, a friend gave me an unmarked cassette. He had an older brother who listened to a lot of different music. Anyway, not only was the cassette unlabeled, it was so worn that it was no longer even clear which side was A or B. Nor did my friend care to tell me what was on the cassette. He just said: “Listen to this, it’s my brother’s current favorite band.”

That night when I went to bed, I put it in my little boombox and pressed play while I got right up next to the speakers because I didn’t have earphones and I didn’t want to get in trouble for listening to music when I was supposed to be going to sleep. This was my introduction to punk rock.

I now know that my entry was Side B of Social Distortion’s classic Mommy’s Little Monster. But I didn’t know that at the time. I just knew that this was music whose immediacy I related with. The angst and what seemed to me to be a quagmire of suburban-consumerist-apathy.

That entry led me to bands like T.S.O.L., The Damned, The Vandals, J.F.A., Decsendents, Dead Kennedys, The Misfits, The Exploited, and too many others to mention, though, in one way or another, many of them all seemed to pay homage in some way to The Ramones. That’s not to say that there were a lot of bands intentionally trying to sound like the Ramones, it was just that the Ramones had put something into the DNA of punk rock in a way that it was difficult for many bands not to owe something to the Ramones. But, then again, of course, there were bands that were intentionally trying to sound like the Ramones.

Is it possible to write about Baltimore punk band Huntingtons without referencing The Ramones? Probably, but this is not that piece. The band has worn their affections on their sleeves and they’ve never been shy of their love for The Ramones. The Hungtingtons not only released an album of Ramones covers called (tongue-in-cheek?) File Under Ramones that was so convincing that Joey Ramone picked them as his backing band for two shows at the legendary CBGBs.

Muerto, Carcel, o Rocanrol is the band’s first new music in 17 years and their 23rd release in all. Though the band has gone through a series of lineup changes over the years, the sound has remained consistent and this time around the band is made up of: Mike Holt (vocals/bass) Jonathan “Cliffy” Walker (guitars/vocals) Josh Blackway (guitars/vocals) and Chris Eller (drums).

The album charges out of the gate with the title track, letting you know exactly what themes we’re going to explore.

On the couch at 9:30,
Can’t keep my eyes open any more
Got no interest in the TV
Might be new, but I’ve seen it all before

Took a listen, to your playlist,
Tried my best, but man, it’s not my thing
The Modern Royals might get your worship
but if you ask me J is still the king

It’s fine by me to not agree
and I’m aware
but I’m too old to care

How do punks grow up? Maybe punk rock was never meant to grow up? The Huntington’s new album clings to the angst and energy of youth but sees through weary eyes. Time takes its toll and weighs us down. Alcohol reliance comes up several times, leading one to wonder just how autobiographical the lyrics might be. These is still fast-paced pop-punk but it’s seen too much to pretend to be carefree. But neither does it take itself too seriously. The band’s press release reflects on the title’s significance:

“Muerto” (Dead) is where the band could have been, had they given up on their career completely in 2005, when they played a “final show”. “Carcel” (Jail) is where they would be had they continued using the same 3 chords, playing the same small clubs, covering endless amounts of Ramones songs and never branching out or taking risks. “O Rocanrol” (Or Rock-N-Roll) is where they are: doing what they want, when they want, and doing it louder, faster, with more attitude and a deeper meaning behind the songs.”

My favorite track “Not Penny’s Boat” looks soberly at growing old, admitting that sometimes life is hard and doesn’t seem to make sense.

“Can’t focus on what I can’t change
Got too much on my mind
Been wasting too much time
Today, I put hope in the wrong place”

“Remember when we said
that we’d never do it any other way?
But now, looking through the looking glass,
it seems too late.”

The band recently released “Thank God For The Bomb” as the second single along with a short documentary about the song and the album. Again we hear the angst of aging punks trying to reconcile growing up in a genre that doesn’t want to.

“Met so many people
Been so many places
But the end is always near
So we press on
’Till it’s all gone
Thankful for the ones who’ve carried on

There’s no worry about tomorrow
Tomorrow’s just another day
It’s ours; we take it where we want to
There’s never been a price to pay
We’ll be OK”

We press on, thankful for the ones who’ve carried on.

Catch the band out on tour:

• 2/7 - Baltimore, MD @ Zen West

• 2/8 - Lancaster, PA @ Chameleon Club

• 2/29 - Atlantic City, NJ @ Bourre

• 3/28 - Washington DC @ the Velvet Lounge

• 4/1 - Baltimore, MD @ the Ottobar

• 4/25 - Philadelphia, PA @ Connie’s Ric Rac

• 5/23 - Wilmington, DE @ 1984

• 7/16-19 - Bergamo Italy @ Punk Rock Raduno

• 8/7-8 - Frostburg, MD @ Savage Mountain Fest

• Follow The Huntingtons at Facebook.

• Purchase Huntingtons merchandise at Store Frontier.

• Follow the Huntingtons at Instagram.

• Purchase Huntingtons music at Amazon.

Sahel Sounds presents "Music from Saharan WhatsApp"

The Sahel region of northwestern Africa, spans several countries including: Mauritania, Mali, and Niger, and includes dozens of languages and dialects. This region produces some of my favorite music in the world (browse my posts tagged “Tuareg”). And one of my favorite labels putting out some of my favorite music is Sahel Sounds.

Pitchfork says that at least part of the reason label owner Christopher Kirkley chose to work in the Sahel region was “in part because it was so hard to find English-language information about it.” The label’s website says:

“We work directly with artists that we represent and aim to have input and control over artistic endeavors. All profits are shared 50/50. We’re committed to using culture as a means of communication, helping our artists build careers, and listening to good music.”

Preview the trailer for 2016 German trailer about the label (which is available to watch at Amazon Prime):

In 2010, the label put out the terrific and fascinating Music From Saharan Cellphones compilation. The compilation’s Bandcamp page provides some context:

“Music from Saharan cellphones is a compilation of music collected from memory cards of cellular phones in the Saharan desert.

In much of West Africa, cellphones are are used as all purpose multimedia devices. In lieu of personal computers and high speed internet, the knockoff cellphones house portable music collections, playback songs on tinny built in speakers, and swap files in a very literal peer to peer Bluetooth wireless transfer.”

The compilation not only helped highlight music from the region but was, for many, the first exposure to Tuareg guitar wizard Mdou Moctar, whose album Ilana (The Creator) was one of my favorites of 2019. Now, 10 years later, the label presents the follow-up to the ground-breaking compilation, Music from Saharan WhatsApp.

“For the year of 2020, Sahel Sounds presents "Music from Saharan WhatsApp." Every month, we'll be releasing an EP from a musical group in the Sahel. Every album will be recorded on a cellphone, and transmitted over WhatsApp, and uploaded to Bandcamp - where it will live for one month only. Available for pay as you want, 100% of the sales will go directly to the artist or group. After one month, the album will be replaced by another one, until the end of the year.”

The label profiles the first installment at the Bandcamp page:

“This month's release comes from Agadez guitar band, Etran de L'Aïr. Translated to "Star's of Agadez," Etran is one of the longest running wedding bands in a city renowned for guitar. Constantly playing in the outdoor weddings, both in the city and the surrounding countryside, Etran play exhaustive concerts, late into the night. Even for a guitar band, they push the instrument to the extreme, with three guitars playing simultaneously, soloing over one another, creating a dreamy cacophony of sound. This session was recorded at night in their home in Abala, just outside the center of Agadez. "We invited friends over to the home, for encouragement," says Moussa "Abindi" Ibra. "But we asked them not to make too much noise, for the sake of the recording."

Preview the first EP here:

Head over to the Bandcamp page to download the first installment and track future releases.

• Follow Sahel Sounds at Facebook.

• Follow Sahel Sounds at Twitter.

• Follow Sahel Sounds at Youtube.

• Support Sahel Sounds at Bandcamp.

• Browse “Sahel Sounds” at Amazon.

Janes Addiction 1989

Here is video of a full 1989 set from Janes Addiction. Need I say more? Nothing’s Shocking had already been released and the band was on the rise. The video’s Youtube page provides the following credits for this show:

“Goldenvoice Productions April 29, 1989. Director: Richard Alan White. Production: Paul Tollett, Gary Tovar, Ted Gardner. Location: John Anson Ford Theater. Hollywood Hills. The Seventh show of Seven in a row from 1989. Authorized by Goldenvoice, Ted Gardner, Jane's Addiction.”

Tracklisting:

1. Up the Beach

2. 1%

3. Idiots Rule

4. Whores

5. Had a Dad

6. Mountain Song

7. Ted, Just Admit It...

8. Thank You Boys

9. Standing in the Shower... Thinking

10. Bobhaus

11. Pigs in Zen

12. Summertime Rolls

13. Ocean Size

14. Trip Away

15. Jane Says

• Visit Jane’s Addiction’s official website.

• Follow Jane’s Addiction on Facebook.

• Purchase Jane’s Addiction’s music at Amazon.

The Cure's First U.S. Concert (04/10/80)

Let’s continue visiting some old live recordings. This is one I had years ago (though sadly I believe I’ve lost my copy somewhere along the line). I remember trading for it back when tape-trading through the mail was a thing. Maybe it still is? I don’t know.

The Cure had was touring behind their second album Seventeen Seconds and making their first trip to the United States. Journalist Van Gosse was working for Melody Maker to follow the band and would sometimes record concerts to listen back to later on.

Stream Side One:

Stream Side Two

Here’s the setlist I have to go along with it:

1. Seventeen Seconds

2. Pray for Today

3. Three Imaginary Boys

4. Fire In Cairo

5. Grinding Halt

6. In Your House

7. Subway Song

8. m

9. 10:15 Saturday Night

10. Accuracy

11. At Night

12. Boys Don’t Cry

13. Jumping Someone Else’s Train

14. Another Journey By Train

15. A Forest

16. Secrets

17. Killing An Arab

• Visit The Cure’s official website

• Follow The Cure on Facebook

• Follow The Cure on Twitter

• Purchase The Cure’s music at Amazon.

The Clash 03/08/80 Capitol Theatre

December 22 marked the 17th anniversary of Joe Strummer’s death. December 2019 also marked the 40th anniversary of the Clash’s landmark album London Calling.

To celebrate, let’s watch an amazing full concert from 03/08/1980 at the Capitol Theatre, in Passaic, NJ, USA. This was just after London Calling was released in the U.S. and, Jambase notes:

“On March 8, 1980 the band performed at the Capitol Theatre in Passaic, New Jersey. The concert is The Clash at the height of their powers. Luckily video of the show has survived for posterity and reads like a blueprint in building the bridge that would connect punk with new wave and grunge.”

Setlist

1. 0:00:00 - Clash City Rockers

2. 0:03:43 - Brand New Cadillac

3. 0:05:47 - Safe European Home

4. 0:09:20 - Jimmy Jazz

5. 0:13:31 - London Calling

6. 0:16:57 - Guns of Brixton

7. 0:20:11 - Train In Vain

8. 0:23:28 - White Man

9. 0:27:48 - Koka Kola / I Fought The Law

10. 0:32:00 - Spanish Bombs

11. 0:35:23 - Police And Thieves

12. 0:40:17 - Stay Free

13. 0:43:52 - Julie's Been Working For The Drug Squad

14. 0:47:08 - Wrong Em Boyo

15. 0:51:12 - Clampdown (incomplete)

16. 0:54:46 - Janie Jones

17. 0:56:50 - Complete Control

18. 1:00:27 - Armageddon Time

19. 1:07:47 - English Civil War / Garageland

20. 1:11:19 - Bank Robber

21. 1:15:00 - Tommy Gun

• Visit The Clash’s official website

• Follow The Clash at Facebook

• Follow The Clash on Twitter

• Purchase The Clash’s music at Amazon

Cochemea Live at the Transmusicales Festival

Cochemea’s ‘All My Relations’ is one of my favorite albums of 2019.

I featured the title track on Volume 01 of my four-volume 2019 year-end playlist and the track “Asatoma” on Episode 40 of The Global Elite Music Radio Podcast Supershow.

Cochemea recently posted the following on Facebook and we think it’s great advice:

“Our entire show from the Transmusicales festival in Rennes, France is available to stream. Check it!👇🏽”

• Follow Cochemea on Facebook.

• Visit the Daptone Records website.

• Purchase the album at Amazon.

• Listen to “Asatoma” by Cochemea on Episode 40 of the Global Elite Music Radio Podcast Supershow.

Les Filles de Illighadad at Chicago Music Exchange

You already know that I dig Tuareg music (browse tagged posts here). I featured the song ““Jori” by Les Filles de Illighadad on Episode 46 of The Global Elite Music Radio Podcast Supershow and have followed the group ever since. Les Filles de Illighadad join Tartit as the number of women Tuareg led groups continues to grow.

As noted in my original post: The group’s Bandcamp page says:

“Sublime recordings from rural Niger. Two very different sides of Tuareg music - dreamy ishumar acoustic guitar sessions, and the hypnotic polyphonic tende that inspires it. Guitarist Fatou Seidi Ghali and vocalist Alamnou Akrouni lead the troupe, named after the village.”

She Shreds recently partnered with Chicago Music Exchange to invite Les Filles de Illighadad to play at CME’s showroom, and to talk with Fatou Seidi Ghali. Watch the fantastic performance here and head over to She Shreds to read the interview.

• Visit the group’s profile at the Sahel Sounds website.

• Follow the group at Facebook.

• Purchase the album at Bandcamp.

• Listen to “Jori” by Les Filles de Illighadad on Episode 46 of the Global Elite Music Radio Podcast Supershow.

Kikagaku Moyo / 幾何学模様 Live At Highway Holidays

Kikagaku Moyo / 幾何学模様 recently posted a great live session for Highway Holidays.

We featured the song "Kogarashi” by Kikagaku Moyo / 幾何学模様 from the 2016 album House In The Tall Grass on Episode 10 of the Global Elite Music Radio Podcast Supershow.

In that post, I noted the band as “Fine purveyors of psychedelic rock from Tokyo, Japan” who has “has quickly garnered international attention.” That about sum it up.

I was able to see these guys live in March of 2019 and all I have to say is that if you get a chance to catch this band live, I highly recommend it. Watch the great live set here.

• Visit the group's official website.

• Follow the group on Facebook.

• Follow the group on Twitter.

• Purchase the group's music at Bandcamp.

• Purchase the album at Amazon.

Holiday at the Sea's Favorite Music of 2019

2019 has been a great year for music. From 30-minute mind-melting jams to Tuareg guitar and all kinds in between. I LOVE year-end lists. I love seeing what other people loved, especially if I can find something I hadn’t heard before. And to a lesser extent, who doesn’t like having their tastes confirmed by people much cooler?

But I don’t necessarily like ranking everything. After all, every list is subjective. And is there really any music that is “best”? Maybe you preferred one album to others, but does that really mean it’s “better”? Excuse me while I step off of my soapbox.

And I don’t like not hearing what people recommend. So, as you already know, I made a four-volume mix of some of my favorite music of the year, which I hope you’ve already checked out. If not, feel free to do so here and here and here and here. Also, just one more time of review, I chose 50 songs this year but only 49 albums since ‘Sideways’ by Seryn was released as a single.

Now that you’ve had a chance to to hear the songs, here is the complete list in alphabetical order.

• I Was Real by 75 Dollar Bill

• Mandatory Reality by Joshua Abrams & Natural Information Society

• Ancestral Recall by Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah

• U.F.O.F. by Big Thief

• Sahari by Aziza Brahim

• RE_CORDIS by Bruno Bavota

• i,i by Bon Iver

• V by The Budos Band

• African Giant by Burna Boy

• Shepherd In A Sheepskin Vest by Bill Callahan

• Ghosteen by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

• All My Relations by Cochemea

• A Good Time by Davido

• Grow Towards The Light by Dire Wolves

• Sun Cycle / Elk Jam by Elkhorn

• Pianoworks by Eluvium

• Blue Values by Eamon Fogarty

• All Time Present by Chris Forsyth

• Gold Past Life by Fruit Bats

• One Of The Best Yet by Gang Starr

• One Step Behind by Garcia Peoples

• The Unseen In Between by Steve Gunn

• Back At The House by Hemlock Ernst and Kenny Segal

• The Gospel According to Water Joe Henry

• Terms of Surrender by Hiss Golden Messenger

• More Arriving by Sarathy Korwar

• Miri by Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba

• Sauropoda by L'Eclair

• Ilana (The Creator) by Mdou Moctar

• Stars Are The Light by Moon Duo

• Three Chords and the Truth by Van Morrison

• All Mirrors by Angel Olsen

• Desire Path by One Eleven Heavy

• Phoenix by Pedro the Lion

• Rainford by Lee “Scratch” Perry

• Purple Mountains by Purple Mountains

• Rose City Band by Rose City Band

• ‘Sideways’ by Seryn

• Out of Darkness by Some Dark Hollow

• Illegal Moves by Sunwatchers

• Amankor / The Exile by Tartit

• Amadjar by Tinariwen

• Preserves by Matt Valentine

• Father of the Bride by Vampire Weekend

• Remind Me Tomorrow by Sharon Van Etten

• Come On Up To The House: Women Sing Waits by Various Artists

• Water Weird by Wet Tuna

• Ode To Joy by Wilco

• The Sisypheans by Xylouris White

• Walk Through The Fire by Yola

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

• 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

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

  ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Holiday at the Sea’s Favorite Music Label of 2019

My Favorite music label of the year would have to be, without a doubt, Brooklyn’s Beyond Beyond is Beyond. Self-describes as: "“Music for Heads, by Heads,” which just about sums it up. More a vibe than a genre. A way of thinking than a particular style.

With five out of my favorite 49 albums of the year; (Dire Wolves, Garcia Peoples, L'Eclair, One Eleven Heavy, and Matt Valentine (plus, if I had expanded my list or included an “Honorable Mentions” section, this list would have expanded even more. That De Lorians is really good to mention only one more), no other single label presented as much music that I wanted to hear this year.

I can’t wait to hear what’s next.

• Visit the Beyond Beyond is Beyond website

• Visit Beyond Beyond is Beyond’s Bandcamp page for all the goodies

• Follow the label on Facebook

• Follow them on Twitter

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

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)

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)

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

Holiday at the Sea's Favorite 2019 Music Mix (Volume 01)

I love year-end lists.

I love to see what other people loved. Especially people I respect who can introduce me to new music (and to a lesser extent, have my tastes validated by people cooler than me). But I don’t dig ranking everything. After all, it’s all subjective in the first place. You may not like what I like, and I probably don’t like what you do, and that’s OK. The past couple of years, I’ve done unranked, alphabetical lists. But this year I’d doing something different. (though there will still be an unranked, alphabetical list at the end).

Over the next several days, I’ll post four different playlists of some of my favorite music of 2019; selections from my favorite albums. Each mix is as close to an hour as I could get it. There are 50 songs, but if you want to be specific, there are only 49 albums represented since ‘Sideways’ by Seryn was released as a single and not part of an album. After lots of finagling, I just decided to leave it that way. It is what it is and it is all great. I hope you enjoy. Here’s the first installment.

Volume 01:

Volume 01 Tracklisting:

1. ‘Out Of The Blue’ by Bruno Bavota from the album RE_CORDIS

2. ‘Cuatro Proverbios’ by Aziza Brahim from the album Sahari

3. ‘Tetuzi Akiyama’ by 75 Dollar Bill from the album I Was Real

4. ‘All My Relations’ by Cochemea from the album All My Relations

5. ‘Family and Loyalty’ by Gang Starr from the album One Of The Best Yet

6. ‘Harmony Hall’ by Vampire Weekend from the album Father of the Bride

7. ‘Taqkal Tarha’ by Tinariwen from the album Amadjar

8. ‘Tomorrow Might as Well Be Today’ by Chris Forsyth from the album All Time Present

9. ‘Wiwasharnine’ by Mdou Moctar from the album Ilana (The Creator)

10. ‘Slabs of the Sunburnt West’ by Hemlock Ernst and Kenny Segal from the album Back At The House

11. ‘Fall in Your Love’ by Moon Duo from the album Stars Are The Light

12. ‘I Need a Teacher’ by Hiss Golden Messenger from the album Terms of Surrender

13. ‘Gold Past Life’ by Fruit Bats from the album Gold Past Life

14. ‘Sideways’ by Seryn // Released as a single

15. ‘Afous Dafous’ by Tartit from the album Amankor / The Exile

16. ‘Fear Song’ by Rose City Band from the album Rose City Band

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• Listen to Volume 02 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