#TheCure – Songs of a Lost World (2024). “Alone,” the opener of the Cure’s first studio album in 16 years, is half over before Robert Smith begins to sing. The unhurried pace – reflected in each of the nine tracks – shows the Cure remain confident in fans’ willingness to stay the course as “A Fragile Thing” and “Warsong” weave melancholy threads of sadness and hard-won reality. The myth that we mellow as we age lies in the dust by the time “Endsong” fades to black. #GreatRockAlbums #CurrentSpins

#CurrentSpins My favorite new release is this excellent album by singer-songriter #MarinaAllen . If you liked the #MaryTimony I posed about a few weeks ago, you'll want to check out Marina Allen. (Thanks to my reviewer colleague Igor Bannikov for the tip).

https://marinagallen.bandcamp.com/album/eight-pointed-star

#CurrentSpins – #MaryTimony – Untame the Tiger (2024). #IndieRock guitarist/ singer-songwriter Timony hasn't cut a solo album in 19 years, remaining active in a gaggle of groups, including Ex Hex. Here, Timony shows herself as one of the best-kept secrets in rock.

The album combines power pop with sparse acoustic material, lyrically touching on grief (both her parents died during the making of the album) without sounding aggrieved. Ex-Fairport Convention Dave Mattacks drums on several tracks.

#CurrentSpins - #TheLemonTwigs – A Dream is All We Know (2024). Long Island multi-instrumentalist brothers Brian and Michael D'Addario play an almost perfect facsimile of Beatles and Beach Boys-styled pop rock. This, their fifth album, refines these gestures with solid songwriting that often lives up to the brothers' inspirations. For those who miss Jellyfish or the Raspberries, The Lemon Twigs deliver uncomplicated confectionary for the ears. Sean Ono Lennon guests on one track.

My review of jazz artist Kamasi Washington's new album, Fearless Movement, published today in PopMatters.

#GreatJazzAlbums #Jazz #KamasiWashington #CurrentSpins #PopMatters

https://www.popmatters.com/kamasi-washington-fearless-movement-review

#CurrentSpins - #NeilYoung & Crazy Horse - Fuckin' Up (2024). Young's latest revision of the past is Fuckin' Up, an interpretation of nine of the ten songs from his and Crazy Horse's 1991 album Ragged Glory. Recorded live at Toronto's Rivoli Club in November 2023, the album finds Neil and company in fine, rambunctious form – gleefully powering through amiably sloppy renditions of the old songs.

Here is my review of the intriguing new album by avant-pop artist Jane Weaver, published today in #PopMatters
https://www.popmatters.com/jane-weaver-love-constant-spectacle

Here is my review of Ride's Interplay, the latest album by the reunited British shoegaze band. Published today in PopMatters:

https://www.popmatters.com/ride-interplay-music-review

#RideBand #Shoegaze #Music #PickOfTheWeek
#PopMatters #CurrentSpins

Here is my review of Audio Vertigo, the new album by the British band Elbow. Published today in PopMatters.

Strong contender for my list of the year's best.

https://www.popmatters.com/elbow-audio-vertigo-review

Here is my review of Bruce Dickinson's new solo album, The Mandrake Project, published today in PopMatters: https://www.popmatters.com/bruce-dickinson-mandrake-project-review

Review of Liam Gallagher John Squire... https://www.popmatters.com/liam-gallagher-john-squire-2024

My review of the forthcoming new album by the Bevis Frond -- Nick Saloman's underrated rock band from London, UK. Focus on Nature is out on March 1st.

#BevisFrond #PopMatters #CurrentSpins

https://www.popmatters.com/bevis-frond-focus-on-nature

My review of a new release (Friday) by the Toronto-based alternative/ ambient folk artist Avi C. Engel. Published in #PopMatters Chicago, USA. Find the album on Bandcamp.

#AviCEngel #FolkMusic #Ambient #PopMatters #CurrentSpins

https://www.popmatters.com/avi-c-engel-too-many-souls

My review of the remastered editions of Cocteau Twins' Four-Calendar Cafe and Milk & Kisses, published today in #PopMatters #CurrentSpins

https://www.popmatters.com/cocteau-twins-four-calendar-cafe-2024

#PickOfTheWeek - #SleaterKinney – Little Rope (2024). Completed in the wake of personal tragedy (Carrie Brownstein's mother and step-father passed in 2022), SK's latest sounds less aggrieved than determined to forge onwards in a complex world. "Hell" sounds its bells at the start, before "Say it Like You Mean It" and "Hunt You Down" meld SK's bristling indie rock with new wave textures. "Untidy Creature" is one of those tunes I'll play on repeat, feet planted by the stereo.

#CurrentSpins @Great_Albums

NEW AND UPCOMING RELEASES:
#TheBevisFrond – Focus on Nature (pre-release tracks; out 1 March)
#JEmber (j ember) – Ultraviolet (alternative)
#JulyTalk – Solstice EP (alternative)
#Pile – Hot Air Balloon EP (alternative)
#Sprints - Letter to Self (alternative)

NEW AND UPCOMING REISSUES:
#CocteauTwins – Four Calendar Café (LP arrives January 12)
#CocteauTwins – Milk and Kisses (LP arrives January 12)

#CurrentSpins @Great_Albums

A year-end roundup of 2023 releases that didn’t make my 23From2023 list:

#AroojAftab #VijayIyer #ShahzadIsmaily – Love in Exile (jazz/ world)
#CrossCountryDriver – The New Truth (rock)
#GreenLung – This Heathen Land (rock/ metal)
#Lankum – False Lankum (Irish folk)
#PatMetheny – Dream Box (jazz)

CLASSIC REISSUES:

#TheBlackCrowes – The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion (super deluxe)
#PharoahSanders – Pharoah (remastered)

#Music #Rock #PopMusic #2023

#CurrentSpins @Great_Albums

NEW RELEASES:
#PeterGabriel – i/o (pop)
#EdKuepper – Mr Mirakle (rock)
#MJLenderman – And the Wind (alternative)
#SouthHillExperiment – Sunstrikes (rock)

CLASSIC LPs ON ROTATION:
#BrianEno – Another Green World (prog)
#PopolVuh – Das Hohelied Salomos (ambient)
#PopolVuh – Hosianna Mantra

IN MEMORIAM:
#ShaneMacGowan – 1957-2023
“The old man said to me, ‘we won’t see another one’… and then he sang a song.”

#CurrentSpins @Great_Albums

NEW RELEASES:

#BigWreck – Pages EP – rock
#PhilipGlass – Complete String Quartets, Vol. 2 – classical
#RyuichiSakamoto – Monster – original soundtrack
#TinaTurner – Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll – compilation

CLASSIC ALBUMS REAPPRECIATED:

#HankWilliams – Hank Williams 100 – country
#Pentangle – The Pentangle (Bonus Track Edition) – folk
#Yes – The Yes Album – Super Deluxe Edition

#CurrentSpins @Great_Albums

NEW RELEASES:
#Andre3000
– New Blue Sun – ambient
#IronAndWine
– Who Can See Forever – soundtrack
#KurtVile
– Back to Moon Beach – rock
#BobDylan
– The Complete Budokan 1978 – live

CLASSIC ALBUMS REAPPRECIATED:
#TheBeatles
– 1962-1966 (The Red Album) – reissue
#TheBeatles
– 1967-1970 (The Blue Album) – reissue
#NinaSimone
– I Put a Spell on You – jazz/ R&B