2012 Music Journal

January 

John Mark McMillan. Economy (2011). CD (Gift). Good atmospheric work from McMillan.  One of the few Christian artists to catch and hold my attention the past couple years.

We Were Promised Jetpacks. In the Pit of My Stomach (2011). Emusic Download. Saw these boys in concert and they indubitably rock. This new album released in December provides interesting Alt-rock that has a high EQ.  I love music that uplifts and these Scottish lads do that as well as anyone.

DJ Earworm. World Go Boom. Free Download (from his site). I have much love for a mashup. Here this promising DJ has taken 25 songs from 2011 and mixed them together in a sonically pleasing jam. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

EMA.Past Life Martyred Saints (2011).  Emusic Download. Dark electronic rock. If you love fuzzy guitars and amped up noise rock, EMA is one the best new players in the market.

Spoek Mathambo. Mshini Wam (2011). Emusic Download. This little jewel was listed as one of Emusic’s stuff to buy in 2012. It mixed dubcore with African rhythms and rap style spoken word. It is compulsively danceable and movingly good.

Kathleen Edwards. Voyageur (2012). Emusic Download. I have been an Edwards fan from near the beginning (I found her 2nd album close to its drop date). Love her music and folk sensibilities. If you don’t know the singer recently went through a divorce and has taken up with Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) who produced this album. While I hate divorce and all that, let’s be honest Edwards has a voice made to sing about divorce and disaster. The old soul crackle of her voice speaks to the hope and pain found in disaster, and Vernon, who has covered Edwards in concert, knows how to make use of her. The music is better than ever (once again thanks to her partnership with Vernon), and the sound is more lush and full than ever. The songs are at once heart-rending (Change the Sheets), and hopeful (Empty Threat). As always Edwards is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

February

Craig Finn. Clear Heart Full Eyes. Emusic download (2012). This solo album from the Hold Steady frontman Finn is a masterpiece of understated Americana. Finn backed by the Heartless Bastards is simply amazing. Her wordplay is just as good as in his Hold Steady work, and there is an emotional nuance and maturity in the Americana backing that is new to any long time listener (such as myself). My long standing joke that Finn makes really good Christian music still applies but only more. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Lana Del Rey. Born to Die. Emusic Download (2012). This highly anticipated release has created a downplay of mixed reactions. I personally enjoyed it more than not. The previously released Video Games and Blue Jeans still shine while National Anthem and This Is What Makes Us Girls flourish great hooks with intriguing girl-power banter. She’s better than Brittany every dreamed, and could easily become a Lady GaGa or Katy Perry-like pop titan.

March 

Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band. Wrecking Ball. Emusic Download (2012). My favorite Bruce Springsteen album since The Rising. This album, which Bruce dedicates both to the Occupy movement  and his recently deceased best friend and E Street Sax player Clarence Clemmons, cuts a ragged path. From the vitriol of Death in My Hometown to the challenge of Wrecking Ball to the emotional uplift of We Are Alive, this album does not disappoint or back down from the emotional potency that has long made Bruce a national icon. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. 

Frankie Rose. Interstellar. Emusic Download (2012). Excellent groove in a galactic frame of mind.

Bon Iver. Towers. Emusic Download (2o12). 2 song ep from master of folk.

Lucero. Women & Work. Emusic Download (2012). This bunch of down-home Southern rock is slowly growing on me.

Le Tigre. Le Tigre Live! Emusic Download (2012). This recently released live package displays the greatness of Kathleen Hanna’s superb girl power group. I absolutely love What’s Yr Take on Cassavetes? It’s an excellent deconstruction of the debate surrounding the eccentric director (and speaks to the incipient debates in our society and the bumper sticker approach our 24 hour news cycle takes towards them).

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. Live at The Fillmore in San Francisco. Emusic Download (2010). This live recording shows Potter et al at their bluesy best. Potter’s raw edged vocals bring out the blues.