lately i have been listening to a lot of jazz and house and folk. so here are some one sentence reviews of notable albums i’ve heard recently
all these albums are from 2025
Anna B Savage - You & i are Earth
like if you fell in love and wrote down everything beautiful that came to mind as you went for a walk through the woods while your partner was across the country
Dean Blunt & Elias Rønnenfelt - lucre
have a nice life if dan barrett was more into indie rock than doom metal
death's dynamic shroud.wmv - APPLE GIRL MANIA
another middling project from a band that i have high hopes for
Ethel Cain - Perverts
phenomenal creative and deeply moving ethel cain does it again and reminds of us of how she is one of the greatest artists alive
FKA twigs - EUSEXUA
kink music does not interest me
Ghais Guevara - Goyard Ibn Said
ghais guevara fits very nicely in with artists like elucid and mckinley dixon (both featured on the album) but with more accessible production and better political insights
Horsegirl - Phonetics On and On
one of the most accessible and listenable albums i’ve heard in years
jasmine.4.t - You Are The Morning
the title track, “You Are The Morning” is a high high for this album, and its lowest points are all still quite enjoyable, but it is generally pretty forgettable anyway
Kelela - In The Blue Light
one of my favorite live performances from recent years, kelela is unbeatable in my eyes
Larry June, 2 Chainz, The Alchemist - Life Is Beautiful
larry june is so boring but the 2 chainz verses and alchemist production save it
MIKE - Showbiz!
best MIKE release of all time supremely enjoyable
Mdou Moctar - Tears of Injustice
compelling and thoughtful as always
Okä Vibes - You and I Tonight
easy listening chilled out funk / instrumental hiphop that hits just right
Oklou - choke enough
somehow even better than the very high praise it’s received, no bad tracks even with the Bladee feature
Ol' Burger Beats - 74: Out of Time (Reimagined)
production is phenomenal (as is expected from burger) and the verses match it well, lovely jazz beats
OsamaSon - Jump Out
energetic and exciting and also boring, cool mix
Pink Siifu - BLACK’!ANTIQUE [Explicit]
pink siifu has gone from an underrated rapper with a clear dedication to the craft to THE underrated rapper, he is experimenting and excelling simultaneously and BLACK`!ANTIQUE is both incredible and innovative
Saba & No I.D. - From The Private Collection of Saba and No ID
quite good but a solo Saba project would have been preferable for me
and here are some 1 sentence reviews of albums not from 2025:
Kathryn Tickell - Return to Kielderside - 2024
cool to hear some hornpipe and historical british music but nothing very compelling
Carmela - Vinde todas - 2024
one of a kind album of Galician folk music functioning as both a musical experience and an ethnographic exploration of the process of learning ancient matrilineal songs and melodies that is haunting, joyful, clever, and rewarding
Karla da Silva - Sotak - 2024
wonderful samba album with phenomenal vocals paying tribute to the historical tradition of sotaque (localized ways of speaking) and samba qua language
Native Flute Ensemble - Gathering of Shamen - 1993
native flute ensemble is part of the label “talking taco” which releases music primarily of indigenous american origins and cultural heritage, of which Gathering of Shamen is a wonderful representative due to its calming and meditative focus on Power Sites which span the American Continents
Frank Corrales - Cantina Classics - 1999
this album is both a great introduction to Tex-Mex style guitar playing and a masterclass in it
Roy Ayers - Mahogany Vibe - 2004
with the death of Roy Ayers i have been revisiting Mahogany Vibe and loving it, from the jazzy instrumentals and acidic guitar playing to the early 2000s style hip-hop beats and the features from artists like MC Sakoni and Erykah Badu, this is an all-time classic
Quadeca - SCRAPYARD - 2024
like if bad music was good
Niontay - Dontay's Inferno - 2023
9/10 just based on Bac2highBac2reality alone but the rest of the tracks earned it too
and here’s a selection of house / jungle / techno / dance music i’ve been into
DJ Lucci - Balearic Blessings - 1998
one of the my favorite house tracks of all time
DJ Rus De Tox & Teebone - Selector Roll (Remixes) - 1995
Bizzy B - Big Things - 1995
DJ Rus De Tox - Heavenly Body - 1994
Romanthony - Hold On - 1999
DJ Mariio - The Gqom Trilogy - 2022
ZeroFG - MYSTERYBOX01 - 2025
this one is wild. some low lows but some crazy highs
Daft Punk - Live @ We Are Family - 1997
a legendary daft punk DJ set from the late 90s
Bibbi - You Don't Mind - 1992
Nicola Conte - Umoja (Joaquin Joe Claussell Sacred Rhythm Music & Cosmic Arts Remixes) - 2024
treat yourself and put this on
DJ Fucci - Onda de Calor 2 - 2024
wrt that guy getting added to a war crimes group chat: it's hard to cook up a bigger loser than Jeffrey Goldberg for that to happen to. despite being born in the US he chose to join the IOF, then wrote a book about his experiences, and has used his experience as a purveyor of genocide to posit himself as an expert on all things Palestine.
he was rabidly pro-invasion of Iraq and then pro-Hilary, he spreads US propaganda at every turn, and has worked as a lapdog for US imperialism for decades. his work is a perfect example of the output of the US intelligentsia in that it perfectly mirrors US foreign policy in all arenas where it truly matters, only differing or quibbling over inconsequential details, never considering perspectives outside of the ruling class and those that serve it.
the fact that he, as a supposed journalist, was given access to highly protected information, that he remained undetected as he was provided this information, and that he then disclosed and destroyed his access, while refusing to provide any of the truly damning information to the public, is as disappointing as it is not surprising. Goldberg has no interest in journalism or the promulgation of truth. Goldberg is not invested in anything other than the continued rule of the US and the extension of this empire. his career is proof enough of this, but the most recent incident demonstrates this very clearly: if given the choice between protecting the US government, and revealing the truth, Goldberg will choose the US government.
let’s be clear here: HE KNEW ABOUT BOMBS THAT WERE GOING TO KILL INNOCENT PEOPLE BEFORE THEY WERE DROPPED AND HE SAID NOTHING
journalists spend their whole careers trying to become privy to that sort of information. they break into the pentagon, they lie, they steal, they break myriad laws, they spend their lives avoiding extradition, they are faced with smear campaigns and murder and prison and felony charges, for opportunities and information like this. and Goldberg is being PRAISED by the media for his conscientiousness, his responsibility, his moral compass, because he refused to expose war criminals for their plans until pressed, and has still withheld specific messages and contents to “protect” involved parties.
i have been playing travel.earth with my siblings a lot lately and it’s been a lot of fun. i recommend it. i have learned so much geography from doing a few of these a day. very fun
listen to this:
i am reading The Apocalypse of Settler Colonialism by Gerald Horne right now and it is edifying. in just the first few chapters Horne explicates clearly and intricately the causes of England’s rise to power, the motivations behind the counterrevolution of 1776, how and why whiteness was brought into existence, and how formative the 17th century was for world. this book is well researched, well written, and unapologetically pro-liberation and anti-settler colonialism. i am not finished yet but i am prepared to recommend this book if only for the density of information laid out in the introduction.
playlist: i created a playlist for my friend Mia that’s all my favorite disco songs sung by women, so i’m sharing that. enjoy
U.S. Girls - So Typically Now
Disco Discharge - At the Discotheque
Ann Margret - Everybody Needs Somebody Sometimes (Pt. 1)
Suzy Q - Can't Live Without Your Love (Airwaive Mix)
Various Artists - Where Is My Man (Vocal)
A Taste of Honey - Disco Dancin (12'' Disco Remix) (Bonus)
Various Artists - Boulevard Life
Disco Discharge - There's a Way into My Heart [Original Album Version]
DJ Muro - Hunk Of Heaven
The Salsoul Orchestra - Salsoul Hustle (Disco Version)
Grace Jones - Slave To The Rhythm
Jackie Moore - This Time Baby
Gloria Gaynor - Never Can Say Goodbye
? - Sister Sledge - We are Family
Diana Ross - The Boss
Donna Summer - I Feel Love (12 Inch Version)
Whitney Houston - How will you know
spotify:
mega: no download today