February is Music Writer Exercise Month #MWE • Page 39

Honestly that Exodus cover is like 87% of why I haven’t checked it out yet

 

Yeah it makes me pretty uncomfortable... the album isnt doing anything to break the mold so I wouldn't say you're missing out on anything.

 

Will have to knock out the final 2 tomorrow - Reasonable Doubt and Dirt.

 

A day delayed because of the big set of releases that came out on Friday, today I listened to Nick Cave's The Boatman Calls.

I've heard one or two of Nick Caves post-punk records in the 80s, and I knew this one by reputation as primarily piano based, and the song, "Into My Arms".

It's sombre, bleak and grim like the Cave I recognise. Sometimes I find it slightly overwritten, which has been a bit of an issue with the few bits I've heard from him before (plus his other non-musical work), but that may just be a personal preference. There are bits on here that remind me of some of Tom Waits more restrained and straightforward music, or someone like Josh T Pearson's music.

Clearly a very talented songwriter and musician, it didn't quite connect with me as much as I was hoping, but would certainly listen again, and I'm overdue listening to more of Cave in general.

 

In case you didn't know, he released a new album with Warren Ellis the other day so check that out.

 

Yeah I saw that on the main page , good timing! Planning on checking out some more of his stuff from the 90s first I think, that seemed particularly interesting from Wiki; Murder Ballads in particular sounds pretty intriguing!

 

Let Love In is another really good one from Cave.

 

Closed with a great one, my first Lucinda record. Can't recommend this one enough, especially if you liked the Waxahatchee album last year. The opening track "Right In Time" feels like a template for Saint Cloud.

So many great discoveries this year! Anyone else finish?

 

Last two! Will share some post-mortem thoughts tomorrow.

 

That's a wrap folks. Thanks to all for letting me join you on this, its provided some much needed focus and community during this lockdown. Put me down for next year.

 

Finished my list out with D'Angelo's Brown Sugar. Had such a blast doing this. Can't say Ill be listening to a new album a day moving forward but this definitely gave me that extra motivation to go outside my musical comfort zone on a daily basis.

As a bonus, I think my favorite artist that I listened to during February was Talking Heads and then discovering the album David Byrne did with St. Vincent (who has a new album coming out soon)

 

Doing #28 today while I try to track down a way to listen to #27

 

What’s 27?

 

The number before 28.

 

I can’t count good.

 

Wrote up some post-mortem thoughts to wrap up my third MWE!

 

There's no judgement here, buddy.

 

enjoyed reading along. pick your favorite of the 28.

 

A day late, but the final album for me was Vince Staples - Big Fish Theory.

I've enjoyed the little I've heard from Vince Staples, and I really enjoyed this. Some fantastic and inventive beats, that span a variety of genres, often quite jarring and abrasive, but he makes it feel smooth and natural. There are parts where it reminded me of like 90s British dance music, jungle or garage or that sort of thing, like a more aggressive Burial track.

Wasn't really able to focus on the lyrics much on a first listen, but the bits I caught sounded interesting and well written. Production and instrumentals were absolutely superb though. I can see that Sophie worked on this, and I enjoyed her album that I heard earlier this month, so good to hear that that her work seems consistently interesting.

Will definitely be back for this, and a good way for the month to conclude. A day late ultimately, but 29 days to listen to 28 new albums, plus some other new releases ain't bad.

Enjoyed this challenge / exercise a lot - will be back next year!

 

big fish theory is a masterpiece. beats are absolutely insane and hes a great lyricist. have you listened to any of his other stuff @George?

 

If I had to pick one, I think the Nina Simone album was the one that blew me away the most. @cshadows2887 had a great rec there. Runner-up is probably Pink Moon.

 

I remember listening to Summertime '06 back around when that came out, and enjoying it, but for whatever reason never coming back to it much, so I probably won't have heard it in ~5 years or so. I don't remember liking it as much as I liked Big Fish Theory on a first listen, but I'm probably due a re-listen!

 

its not as good as bft, but its still worth a listen imo. if you liked the more aggressive stuff on bft, you should give the prima donna ep a shot

 

Fernando Saunders - Cashmere Dreams.

Managed to find a YouTube playlist of the individual songs, but I wish I was listening on good speakers