From: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org (ecto-digest) To: ecto-digest@smoe.org Subject: ecto-digest V16 #1883 Reply-To: ecto@smoe.org Sender: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk ecto-digest Tuesday, December 13 2016 Volume 16 : Number 1883 To unsubscribe: e-mail ecto-digest-request@smoe.org and put the word unsubscribe in the message body. Today's Subjects: ----------------- Re: Best of 2016 (so far) [Tim Jones-Yelvington ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 9 Dec 2016 11:33:21 -0600 From: Tim Jones-Yelvington Subject: Re: Best of 2016 (so far) Whoomp, are we already at the list stage?? I thought this was kind of an amazing year and have more than ten: My two favoritest favorites were Emily's D+Evolution by Esperanza Spaulding, and Black Terry Cat by Xenia Rubinos. After that, my other favorites were: Beth Orton, Kidsticks ANOHNI, HOPELESSNESS Veda Hille, Love Waves Bat for Lashes, the Bride Mal Devisa, Kiid Regina Spektor, Remember Us to Life Olga Bell, Tempo Roisin Murphy, Take Her Up to Monto Kelsey Lu, Church Emma Ruth Rundle, Marked for Death Laura Mvula, The Dreaming Room Jane Siberry, Ulysses' Purse (still havent heard the new major label version) Arc Iris, Moon Saloon Flock of Dimes, If You See Me, Say Yes Beyonce, Lemonade ...I know this has some albums by old favorites that received mixed reception with this group (Beth Orton, Bat for Lashes, etc.), but I think they're great, so THERE, lol. Some others that I found myself listening to quite a bit includedb Cellars, Phases; Lydia Loveless, Real; Joseph, I'm Alone, No You're Not; Solange, A Seat at the Table; Jamila Woods, Heaven; Corinne Bailey Rae, The Heart Speaks in Whispers... Most of these I saw more as disposable/fun (Lydia, Cellars, Joseph), too spastically sequenced (Corinne Bailey Rae) or too samey-samey (Solange, Jamila) to make my list of lists. And I feel like I still haven't given sufficient attention to new Agnes Obel, Jenny Hval, Esben and the Witch, Hope Sandoval, and others. I agree that Diane Birch's Nous was amazing, but haven't been keeping great track of all of the EPs I liked this year, which could be their own list. Should go through and make that one maybe. On Fri, Dec 9, 2016 at 11:14 AM, Jeffrey Hanson wrote: > So havenb t bought as much new music this year as I have in previous, but > here a are a few of my favorites: > > 1. DakhaBrakha - Shlyak (P(P;Q Q ) - Dakha Brakha returns with a brooding, > dark album This really is one of the best bands performing now. Three > women > who play cello and drums and a guy that sing with a beautiful falsetto and > plays a variety of instruments. Think the Bulgarian Womenb s Choir mixed > with Sigur Ros and you have an idea of what to expect, but then throw a > bit of > Ukrainian hip hop in for good measure. > > 2. Kate Bush - After the Dawn - Three albums worth of Kate Bushb whatb s > not to like? And since I ddinb t get to any of the concerts, at least i > get > to hear what I missed. > > 3. Woodkid - The Golden Age - Discovered his music through the largely > foregettable movie Desierto. Think Anonhi crossed with Tears for Fears. > > 4. Jane SIberry - Ulyssesb Purse/Angels Bend Closer - Jane self-released > the > album as Ulyssesb Purse, then got it picked up by a major distributor who > renamed it and tweaked it. Still essential quirky Jane. > > 5. David Bowie - Blackstar - an impressive final album - creative to the > very > end > > 6, Eliot Sumner - Information/Kaya Stewart These two albums by > daughterb s > of 80b s music legends are very different. Eliot Sumner's voice is a lot > like her father Sting giving the music an androgynous edgeb but definitely > an > artist in her own right. A bit brooding and introspective. Kaya Stewart, > Dave Stewartb s daughter, on the other hand is bouncy and fun pop, but her > voice is really strong. > > 7. Diane Birch - Nous - because I love pretty much anything this woman > does > > 8. Kathryn Joseph - weird folky music with a very intriguing Scottish > voice > > 9, The Staves - If I Was / Dead and Born and Grown - two albums released > in > 2015 and 2012 but I just found heard them this year Beautiful harmonies > reminiscent of The Wailinb Jennys. Their singing is definitely better > than > their songwriting, but some of their covers available through you tube are > really transcendent. > > 10. Alison Moyetb s first 4 albums reissued with bonus tracks - because > more > Alison Moyet is never a bad thing. > > Honorable mentions: > Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - This Unruly Mess Ib ve Made - not as good as > their > first, but rarely has hip hop been this fun with tongue firmly in cheek. > Definitely catchy. > > Erin Hales - The Well-Tempered Clavier, part 1 - classical piano music at > its > best. Recorded live at a small church in Lake Como Italy. Discovered this > through her father who happened to teach a class for work that I attended. > Evidently this Phoenix-valley born musician is becoming one of the worldb s > top female pianists. The second volume should be out next year. > > Todrick Hall - Straight Outta Oz > This former American Idol contestant and RuPaul Drag Race guest judge > released > this surprisingly high quality album/music with really impressive videos to > accompany it. Artfully inspired by Wizard of Oz, yet also very personal. > Tons of guest artists too including Amber Riley (Glee), Nicole Sherzinger, > Jordin Sparks and Bob the Drag Queen. > > Disappointment: > Anonhi - really wanted to love this, but just doesnb t have the warmth and > heartache of the Antony and the Johnsons albums. This one just sounds > harsh > and takes itself way too seriously. Still has some beautiful moments, but > overall itb s just not that compelling. ------------------------------ End of ecto-digest V16 #1883 ****************************