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5. Hurray For The Riff Raff – The Navigator
Living In The City
Hungry Ghost
Hurray For The Riff Raff is the project of Alynda Segarra, a Puerto Rican who grew up in the Bronx with very eclectic musical influences. Those are reflected on The Navigator, her sixth album but first I’ve really dug into. The theme is established early on “Living in the City”, where she belts “Standing on the roof tops, We’re just yellin’ till the morning, All surrounded by the visions, Of all who came before them”. The acute and ingenious lyrics on America’s multi-cultural society and everyone’s shared desire to be “ready for the world” pervades this exquisite release. The sound is a melding of ardent folk and harmonious indie rock like the tune “Hungry Ghost” that takes the listener on a soaring ride. Her voice is phenomenal and it takes center stage on the relatively hushed but rich “Nothing’s Gonna Change That Girl” and “Fourteen Floors”, the latter of which is especially stunning in its simplicity and beauty. Her latin-music inspiration creates an arousing cacophony on the Title track and the subtly-angry protest anthem, “Rican Beach”. Every track is solid on this intense and cohesive album! Even better – the ultimate message is positive and uplifting. “Pa’lante”!
4. Benjamin Booker – Witness
Motivation
Witness
Benjamin Booker‘s follow up to his widely praised eponymous debut explores all the grey areas of his overdriven Blues Rock. First and foremost, it’s evident again – Booker can play! After the energetic “Right On You” leads off where his previous album left off, Booker dives into soulful rhythm and blues with outstanding results. “Motivation” and “Witness” find his raspy croon in top form with layers of keys and strings occasionally ripped apart by his blistering guitar. The former is an inspiring take on youthful aspiration while the latter is a gospel-tinged stunner with racial injustice on its mind – complete with supporting vocals from the untiring Mavis Staples. A chill, groovy funk permeates “The Slow Drag Under” and “Truth Is Heavy” while uplifting vocals carry the accessible “Believe”. “Overtime” is another highlight where Booker sings “You have got to work for good things in this world”. The achievements on Witness are revealed not only in the excellent songs, but also the personal, socially aware lyrics where hope and positive action win out.
3. John Moreland – Big Bad Luv
Sallisaw Blue
Love Is Not An Answer
No album started my mornings more this year than John Moreland‘s stirring Big Bad Luv. His ragged, impassioned croon and guitar playing incites emotion with every note. It would be a challenge to find more impressive interplay of acoustic guitar, electric slide, keys, harmonica, and shuffling percussion. “Sallisaw Blue” and “Ain’t We Gold” are bustling country-blues rockers – the latter with a dueling piano and harmonica bridge. Electric guitar and slide delay effects each find their own space on the breezy “Every Kind of Wrong” and “It Don’t Suit Me (Like Before)”. “Love Is Not An Answer” is a beautiful song, and I dig the percussive block sound that encircles throughout. Big Bad Luv contains excellent songwriting and lyrics, and each song has savory flourishes peering through the slyly lavish production. If you haven’t heard or seen John Moreland before, something tells me more folks will soon. It’s an album that impresses from beginning to end!
2. Spoon – Hot Thoughts
WhisperI’lllistentohearit
Do I Have To Talk You Into It
What more can be said about the ultra-consistent and invariably-cool Spoon!? Certainly one of my favorite bands over the past two decades, and what I appreciate most is their ability to create something fresh while still sounding like themselves. The title track is beat-heavy and dance-able with a surging and fading synth passage. “WhisperI’lllistentohearit” builds from eerie atmospherics into a soaring indie rocker driven by a pounding bass riff from the underrated Rob Pope. There are so many adventurous sections in “Do I Have To Talk You Into It” that it almost seems like different songs – somehow held together by a funky vamp and Britt Daniel’s trademark snarl. More straightforward but no less daring tracks “Can I Sit Next To You” and “Shotgun” balance the psychedelic awesomeness of “Pink Up” and sparse beauty of “I Ain’t The One”. Hot Thoughts is another fascinating album, and Spoon has never sounded more confident.
1. JD McPherson – Undivided Heart & Soul
Lucky Penny
On The Lips
With its excellent performances and authentic vintage vibe, JD McPherson’s Undivided Heart & Soul could be the best album of any era! As a guitarist, his skill and reverb-soaked tone is both precise and raw. As a vocalist, he nails both staccato rhythm and resonant hollers. Album opener “Desperate Love” chimes with passion and venerable flourishes, while “Crying’s Just A Thing You Do” has a throbbing funky blues that gets the feet moving. That commotion continues on the ripping blues rocker “Lucky Penny” and keenly engrossing “Style (Is A Losing Game)”. McPherson showcases his expressive old time radio influences on the lovely “Hunting For Sugar” and boogie-woogie of “Bloodhound Rock”. I absolutely could not get the driving modern-Soul of “On The Lips” out of mind – dig it immensely. There isn’t a weak track here and JD McPherson’s mix of fantastic songwriting and warm production make this an album for the ages.
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