From: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org (ecto-digest) To: ecto-digest@smoe.org Subject: ecto-digest V16 #3554 Reply-To: ecto@smoe.org Sender: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk ecto-digest Saturday, January 6 2024 Volume 16 : Number 3554 To unsubscribe: e-mail ecto-digest-request@smoe.org and put the word unsubscribe in the message body. Today's Subjects: ----------------- Re: Top Albums of 2023 [Steve Molla ] Re: Top Albums of 2023 [Steve Molla ] Ecto: More Best of 2023 [Paul Jensen ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 5 Jan 2024 15:40:42 -0500 From: Steve Molla Subject: Re: Top Albums of 2023 Gotta give Dolly huge props for her cover of "What's Up", with Linda Perry. > After winning and almost turning down being inducted into the Rock and > Roll Hall of Fame, Dolly Parton instead chose to embrace it, wrote a few > originals that she performed at the induction ceremony, and then called > on all her favorite rock singers and bands to do duets on her favorite > songsbthe result being an impressive compilation of rock and roll over > the past decades. Yet in all of this, she never loses herself. Not only > is this a solid album, it also shows the power of embracing change even > at 77 years old. > > https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_l3jbBd1SJgUk24S5KLyy6KNYJ9gFrjOAE ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 5 Jan 2024 15:40:42 -0500 From: Steve Molla Subject: Re: Top Albums of 2023 Gotta give Dolly huge props for her cover of "What's Up", with Linda Perry. > After winning and almost turning down being inducted into the Rock and > Roll Hall of Fame, Dolly Parton instead chose to embrace it, wrote a few > originals that she performed at the induction ceremony, and then called > on all her favorite rock singers and bands to do duets on her favorite > songsbthe result being an impressive compilation of rock and roll over > the past decades. Yet in all of this, she never loses herself. Not only > is this a solid album, it also shows the power of embracing change even > at 77 years old. > > https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_l3jbBd1SJgUk24S5KLyy6KNYJ9gFrjOAE ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 5 Jan 2024 17:59:24 -0600 From: Paul Jensen Subject: Ecto: More Best of 2023 2023 was a pretty solid year for music.. concerts we saw included Happy Rhodes (an absolutely incredible evening I will forever be grateful for), Nick Cave (his between-song banter often killed the emotional impact of his songs, and crowd seemed restless wanting to hear rowdy rock songs but this was essentially a solo piano concert), and Loreena Mckennitt (highly recommend seeing her live, her voice is powerful to hear in person, and she tours with amazing musicians). Favorite Albums of 2023. Not necessarily in order, but maybe it kinda is, subconsciously? 1. Josephine Foster - Domestic Sphere One of the warbly-voiced folk singerbs best albums. Itbs spooky and intimate and personal. Fans of Grouper may love this. Itbs somewhat ambient, incorporating field recordings alongside gentle guitars and mumbled/whispered vocals. It feels of another era. bBirthday Song for the Deadb is gorgeous and heartbreaking. One of the few albums this year I purchased on vinyl. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AO8uf5vc8Tc 2. Caroline Polachek - Desire, I Want to Turn Into You Excellent art-pop from the former Chairlift vocalist. Her previous solo debut, bPangb, was also excellent, but she sounds even more confident here. A lot of fun, memorable songs to sink your teeth into. Big time ecto appeal, if you havenbt listened to her. Effortlessly cool. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_V2ccs_Urk 3. The Drums - Jonny I checked this out after seeing the album cover, because Ibm shallow. Just being honest. I was pleasantly surprised to find really catchy songs with sad, honest, personal lyrics. The Drums (aka Jonathan Pierce) is an important queer voice. I can see this album connecting with, and helping, a lot of young gays. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvSNnmY3-dk 4. Lana Del Rey - Did You Knowb& Every Lana album will land on my end of year list. This is maybe her most challenging album yet, though. Itbs long (nearly 80 minutes!) and quite dense at 16 tracks. I had to absorb it a few songs at a time. After a few weeks it resonated, though. Love her voice, her affected persona, her lyrics, the way she plays with genres and moods. Ibm here for her, always. 5. Nellie McKay - Hey Guys, Watch This Ibve followed Nellie since her audacious 2004 double-album debut, but havenbt truly loved an entire album of hers since the brilliant 2006 sophomore bPretty Little Headb. I was delighted to find she finally reclaimed my heart with this album, though. Shebs working with some accomplished musicians, and the overall vibe is cheerful and cozy. The albumbs closing song, bMake a Wishb, doesnbt really fit the mood of the rest of the album, but is an excellent example of her smart lyrical prowess and twisted humor. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUr6zpfqktc 6. Mary Lattimore - Goodbye, Hotel Arkada Exquisite, relaxing, hypnotic, shimmering. Instrumental songs, mostly harp with very gentle synths/electronics. One of 2023bs most beautiful. I just wish it were longer (only 39 min). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAwtRLduhtg 7. Lyla Foy - Year of the Black Water Rabbit Her 2014 debut bMirrors the Skyb is a gentle pop masterpiece, and one I still listen to. Her short 2015 EP bUmib further solidified her as a wispy ethereal pop genius. But I was less enamored with 2018bs bBigger Brighterb. And I did not connect at all with 2021bs bForneverb. Lyla, what is happening!! Thankfully shebs back in solid form on bBlack Water Rabbitb. Start to finish this is a beautifully sensitive album. bOur Loveb is one of the best love songs Ibve ever heard. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKGgC65SDwo 8. M83 - Fantasy Maybe 2023 was the year of the comeback, because herebs another artist Ibve waited 12 years to release another good album. What a great surprise. Itbs cinematic, with moments of quiet beauty and others that build to a crescendo of cathartic intensity. Donbt let the horrible album cover scare you off. Anthony Gonzalez seems to not want people buying his albums, I guess. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmdwiWPrJNE 9. Slowdive - Everything is Alive This let me down at first, but has grown on me a lot. It doesnbt soar the way their 2017 self-titled did, but it has some great moments. bAndalucia Playsb is a favorite. I do wish Rachel Goswell had more of the spotlight through the album, though. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEBl708_ou8 10. Louise Post - Sleepwalker This came out of nowhere.. Veruca Salt fans, take note, the seether is back! Had this on repeat for about a month this summer. It rocks. bWhat Aboutb, bDonbt Give Upb, bThe Way We Liveb - so catchy, such fun turns of phrases in the lyrics. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oj1vgFgerUI 11. Metric - Formentera II Loved Emily Hainesb solo work, loved Metricbs bSyntheticab, and randomly put this on when it was released. Totally loved it. Great energy, lyrics, singing, synth/rock.. just a cool sounding album made by talented people. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIKAc-vDLf4 12. Sigur Ros - ATTA So glad to hear Jonsi and crew getting back to a gentle sound. This feels, to me, like a merging of Riceboy Sleeps (Jonsi and Alexbs ambient side project) and classic Sigur Ros. Itbs meditative and works really well as a whole. Itbs not an album I can pinpoint one specific song to recommend, itbs one best experienced start to finish. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVUGKcT9QgQ 13. Sufjan Stevens - Javelin Runner-up for most horrible album cover of the year, behind M83's "Fantasy", the new Sufjan is a successful return to form, focusing on tender, sensitive lyrics and mostly acoustic soundscapes (with occasional flourishes). The album takes on greater meaning, and sadness, with his announcement post-launch of his partner's death. When he sings "I will always love you" over and over in the penultimate track, it's impossible to hold back tears. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74uuV-bMcEY Bonus Thoughts: I was underwhelmed and disappointed with Natalie Merchant's "Keep Your Courage". To me, the songs seem to ramble with very few memorable hooks or melodies. Cher's Christmas album was an unexpected delight, even in its cheesy moments. I'm sure it will get some playtime every Christmas season. 90's indie darlings Madder Rose released a solid new album, "No One Gets Hurt Ever" with some stellar tracks. ------------------------------ End of ecto-digest V16 #3554 ****************************