2015 LP roundup #2:

Never fails, make a list, post it and poof, already out-of-date. This weekend I heard two new records that rose to the top rung.  The only streams of either of these I found were Spotify.  Tho I don't do iTunes, likely found there.

1) Ash - Kablammo! :  Powerpop on hyperdrive + hooks, harmony & melody galore. Must have listened to this 10 times in the past 2 days. Won't be surprised if this sits atop many best-of lists when 2015 ends.

https://open.spotify.com/album/2Z8biSfp6WRceFCHHicFFb

2) Florence + The Machine – How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful : Saw her/the band on a new Later With Jools Holland episode, did some searching and discovered they have a record just out. Hever heard them til this. So far wonderfully filling the void left with no new Alison Moyet tunes.

https://play.spotify.com/user/umusicnz/playlist/3zznxRtLs8cjlE5m9ULd5u

cheers - michael

On 5/29/2015 3:18 PM, Michael Coxe wrote:
> These have been getting the most spins (or bits per second), generally via the mobile device thingy during commute time. Provided non-walled garden links where available.
>
> * Jessica Pratt - On Your Own Love Again:     Her 2nd lp. From San Francisco, gifted with an otherworldly voice, intuitive songwriting skills (beautiful almost old-school melodies with strange chord forays ala Tim Buckley) and a very direct presentation. What's not to love? Tho no bandcamp/soundcloud lp streams, YouTube has most songs. Her 1st from 2012 is also stunning.
>
>                  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Up6WoZZljQ
>
> * Kate Pierson - Guitars and Microphones:     B-52 singer's first solo record. Not overly B-52-ish, with an 80s AOR tint (not overproduced like most 80s stuff) in her Jersey-girl-adopted-southern-belle way. Again, best way to hear most songs is a YouTube mix.
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d48tH0SlSQs&list=PLoQGx19huftkheGlMorMEH1uKXo6w1AMx
>
> * ESKA - ESKA:     A London (via Zimbabwe) session singer, songwriter & musician. Another debut album. She issued a 5-song EP in 2013 which received acclaim, tho this lp is my first exposure. Her bandcamp site has a lengthy bio, but only 3 cuts. Soundcloud offers more music.
>
>                http://eskaonline.bandcamp.com/
>                https://soundcloud.com/eskaonline https://soundcloud.com/eskaonline
>
> * Django Django - Born Under Saturn:     Originally clued in to these guys via Michael Bennett. A Scottish quartet (based in London) creating maybe the best dance club type music at present (today's Cut Copy). Lots of synths, melody & harmony (men's chorus) and syncopation. Better than most at song craft. YouTube wins again.
>
> https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVpRQK3PTi11l9iJ-v6lMYs8sVd0xaDkg
>
> * Best Coast - California Nights:     A continuation of the duo's surf-meets-the-Muffs southern California dancidelic rock. Lots of melody & noise & not a sad note anywhere. Makes me want to twirl, leap & pogo. Literally all links on the net point to their official Tumblr page which only offers the full lp on Spotify.
>
>               http://irlirl.tumblr.com/bestcoast
>
> Cheers!
>
>  - Michael
>