As we run down the last month of 2012 (which has been a strong year for music), I thought I’d share with you some of my highlights for 2012 in no particular order:
Cody Chesnutt was all the hype after the Roots re-did hir track “The Seed”; but he didn’t live up to the hype… until now! His album has become a late contender for my album of 2012. Worth checking out.
I’ve been waiting for a second Styles of Beyond album for over 10 years and it’s finally landed. The delay has been largely due to Warner Music. He’s a nice little pop at why their album wasn’t released….
So it’s my kick at the can as we continue delving into classic albums that have a special place in our music libraries.
Like everyone else I have been racking my brain to bring an album to the table that isn’t already in your record collections but also deserves to sit next to two great albums from the Talking Heads and Bob Marley respectively.
I have chosen Van Morrison’s first solo album: Astral Works.
My history with this album to be honest with you is fairly young. You will often find it in top 50 ‘Greatest Albums of All Time’. That said, I have traditionally avoided it as it always was put across as Van Morrison’s less successful album. I find other albums painted with the same brush are placed in lists to be ‘controversial’ or show off a writer’s music knowladge. When I fell across this album a few years ago I was proven wrong.
Van Morrison is known largely for the music he made whilst fronting the band “Them’ who were responsible for classic tracks ‘Gloria’ and ‘Here Comes The Night’. After ‘Them’ separated, Van Morrison moved to New York to work on a solo career. Sadly the music he wanted to do wasn’t what his label wanted him to do (the oh so familiar story). Subsequently Van Morrison was blacklisted from doing gigs and releasing music for a few years. This album was written in that time. The result is a very raw honesty from Van Morrison that set a standard for many artists of his generation.
I’m going to avoid pointing out my favourite tracks as I think the whole album is amazing. I say that knowing that it look me a few listens to get into it at first. Personally I think you should start the album on ‘Sweet Thing’ (which is the third track) and listen to the first two tracks last.
Get Physical Music have always been very strong in their releases, though I seem to fall in and out of the direction they are going. That said, as of late I’m loving almost everything they are releasing. Amongst the gems from September there’s this little gem.
There seems to be an on-going conversation on this blog about Hip Hop and it’s state; and the lack of being able to relate to it.
I have slept on Killer Mike to say the least. Over all I don’t like Southern Hip Hop, but I’ve been getting into Killer Mike latey. With that he’s come through pretty strong with his latest single. It’s pretty heavey.
thisisnothappening.net 