Warren Zevon - Excitable Boy - I’ve gotten an unusual number of requests for a Warren Zevon episode lately. It’ll happen at some point, and it’ll probably be something from this album, which is great.
Wet Leg - Wet Leg - An enjoyably affected rock album that sounds straight out of 2006. I mean that in the best possible way. I can see why these two are blowing up.
Jamison Ross - Jamo - I knew Jamison Ross as a jazz drummer, and had heard him playing with groups like Snarky Puppy. I had no idea he was also a brilliant singer and songwriter. Beautiful stuff on this record.
Juana Molina - Wed 21 - This one came via the Strong Songs Discord listening club, like a few others on this list. I’m always so impressed with people who can use looping in the studio to really build out their songs. Molina’s approach to texture and layering is endlessly creative.
Julian Lage - View with a Room - I’ve been aware of Julian Lage since he was this hotshot Bay Area kid who could play guitar like you wouldn’t believe. The better I get at guitar, the more I can believe, but Lage is still better than I can believe.
Michael Kiwanuka - Love & Hate - I heard this album’s opening track, “Cold Little Heart,” at the start of every episode of Big Little Lies back when I was watching that show. The extended instrumental soundscape at the start of the full recording makes for a perfect buildup, and really rounds out the song. The sound design on this album is otherworldly.
Tower of Power - Back to Oakland - Back in the day, my buddies Russ Kleiner (drums) and Tommy Harron (bass) helped me understand the mastery of TOP’s Dave Garibaldi and Rocco Prestia. Russ guested on the most recent funk-focused episode of Strong Songs, and whenever I finally do an episode on Tower of Power, I’ll have to have him back. Maybe Tommy’ll be down to come on, too. I cannot believe the rhythm section in this band.
Budgie - Squawk - My pal Tom told me about this band, known I’m sure to anyone familiar with 70s British heavy metal. They’re really cool, and the more I listen, the more I can hear their influence in other groups with which I was more familiar.
Seals & Crofts - Summer Breeze - I can’t remember exactly what got me listening to “Summer Breeze” the song, but I went ahead and downloaded the full record to hear what else this group was doing at that time. This is some advanced stuff!
Maya De Vitry - Violet Light - A recommendation via my friend Ruth, who always knows the best new singers to check out. This is a beautiful record full of beautiful songs, with a little more jazz in it than I was expecting. Just the right amount.
Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix - I had heard this band via placement in various ads and TV shows, but had never sat and listened to the album. Cool band, good tunes.
Lettuce - Unify - There are loads of bands out there doing the throwback nu-jazz-funk thing, but Lettuce has been at it longer. You can hear their influences, but they always maintain their own identity. One of the best horn sections going.