Ahhh… do you feel that? A crispness in the air?? You know what that means, MC is back in session after a brief hiatus. Since we took a few months off, this week’s playlist is specifically dedicated to all of the new tracks we may have missed.
MC contributors were asked to provide their favorite 4 new tracks from the past calendar year, and, if they provided a music video they could have a 5th track either old or new. This playlist is a 38 track, 3 hour tour of varied music genres; stoner metal to hip hop and indie rock to soul.
Below are some of the contributor’s breakdowns of their choices:
CONTRIBUTOR: Amy
1ST PICK: (New) “Like Sugar” – Chaka Khan
DESCRIPTION: The queen of funk, 10 time Grammy winner and an artist who has sold over 70 million records worldwide, is still at it and absolutely crushing it. Although Khan has not released an album over 11 years this single is a banger. “Like Sugar” is the lead single from Khan’s upcoming album, which she promises to add to her 22-album canon sometime in 2018. The project — her first since 2007 — will be released on Diary Records, a new label run by producer and artist M.I.A.
2ND PICK: (New) “White Bronco” – Action Bronson
DESCRIPTION: This summer I recently discovered VICELAND’s F*ck That’s Delicious staring Action Bronson and his crew. If you haven’t had the privilege of seeing an episode, think an episode of Anthony Bourdain melding with a Pitbull music video. “White Bronco” is the lead single from Bronson’s upcoming album of the same title. The record is said to be the rapper’s first independent project in years, featuring help from Bronson’s live band, the Special Victims Unit which you can hear opening the first third of this single. Also just to note, I would never compare Action Bronson to Tay Diggs, but good for him for doing so.
3RD PICK: (New) “Saigon Velour” – Ghostface Killer
DESCRIPTION: The best part of Music Club? Being introduced to music you end up loving, but probably not nearly as much as those who introduced you it. Jared, Mike, thank you. On 10/5/2018 a notification for the release of this album The Lost Tapes was the first thing I saw on my phone after turning my alarm off. This album boasts some incredible feats. But, as person who had E-40’s My Ghetto Report Card on heavy rotation their sophomore year of college I obviously gravitated to this track. It’s like a perfect combination of the brief knowledge and respect I had for hip hop back when I was 19 to what I now enjoy today, all thanks to this group.
4TH PICK: (New) “Mogoya – Bastien D Remix” – Oumou Sangaré
DESCRIPTION: Wassoulou surrounds the borders of three present-day countries meet: Mali, Ivory Coast, and Guinea. It includes portions of southwestern Mali, northwestern Ivory Coast, and eastern Guinea. It is bordered by the Niger River to the northwest, and by the Sankarani River to the east. Oumou Sangaré is considered an ambassador of Wassoulou; her music has been inspired by the music and traditional dances of the region. She writes and composes her songs, which often include social criticism, especially concerning women’s low status in society. This song is off an album released in 2018 that is a remix of her album Mogoya that was released in 2017.
5TH PICK: (Old) “Deathless” – Ibeyi ft Kamasi Washington
DESCRIPTION: I would be lying if I said this last month (or few) haven’t been rough. Sometimes a girl just needs to have some empowering and brutally honest music to get through the day. Ibeyi is composed of two vocalists, twin sisters Lisa-Kaindé Diaz and Naomi Diaz. This song was inspired by the arrest of Lisa-Kaindé by a police officer who aggressively threw all of her things on the ground (including her books) while apprehending her, she was 16 years of age. Kamasi Washington can be heard on the saxophone throughout the track leading to a brief yet beautiful solo. Ash by Ibeyi was released in 2017.
Video Pick – Chaka Khan
CONTRIBUTOR:Chris
1ST PICK: High on Fire – Electric Messiah
DESCRIPTION: My picks have been selected by bands I’ve seen or meant to see but missed out due to poor scheduling on my end. High on Fire will be rolling into town and I’m hoping to get on that shit. High on Fire has been pumping out some awesome stoner metal for a couple of decades and with Electric Messiah there’s no sign of letting up. They fucking bring it, whatever “it” is, best believe they’re bringing it.
2ND PICK: Tribulation – The Lament
DESCRIPTION: Tribulation is a Swedish heavy metal band that crosses boundaries with psychedelic and goth rock. If you ever played Castlevania Symphony of the Night this band sounds just like the soundtrack to that. They also put on a great show!
3RD PICK: YOB – Ablaze
DESCRIPTION: Portland doom metal band, nice and sludgy sound (it’s odd playing this at work, folks just do a double take and give a befuddled glare).
4TH PICK: Revocation – Blood Atonement
DESCRIPTION: Thrash/death metal, technical and fast, pretty rad stuff!
CONTRIBUTOR: Mike
My Shiny and New picks, are new tracks I’m currently into. My first track is a single from Francobollo – We’re dead. Francobollo was introduced to me by MC member Amy in a previous MC (2/19/2018) I think they are an interesting mix of Pixies and Weezer, and I look forward to the full length. Daniel Rossen – Deerslayer is another new single, I may have played at a previous MC, which is taboo. Daniel Rossen is my favorite artist of the decade, I enjoy Grizzly Bear, but his solo work is amazing. I hope this leads to a full album once Grizzly Bear is done their tour. My third track is another single by Sharon Van Etten – Comeback Kid. Most of her previous work is Folk/singer songwriter and this new track delves more into synth rock. My last track, Wu tang Forever, is from the new Logic album YSIV. It features the entire living Wu-Tang Clan, and is the first charting Wu-Tang Clan track in 16 years. The track is getting pretty tough press, due to some really poor performances by some of the Clan, but I think overall it’s solid and impressive that Logic pulled it all together.
CONTRIBUTOR: Tyler
1ST PICK: Adrienne Lenker – Symbol
DESCRIPTION:Adrienne Lenker – Symbol – This is the first official solo album from the singer of Big Thief, a definite music club favorite. The album is really great, though my preference is somewhat in favor of her with her band. The album is likely what you’d expect, more of a folky sounding Big Thief. All around it’s worth a listen if you’re into that band, or if you just enjoy pretty minimalist folk music. This is honestly one of 3 new potential MC picks I could have done that are all female folk singers. Must be summer ending or some junk like that.
2ND PICK:Spirtualized – Here it comes (the Road) Lets Go
DESCRIPTION: Spiritualized – Here it Comes (The Road) Let’s Go – Honestly, I never really listened to an entire Spirtualized album from beginning to end, and though that still is not the case, this song really makes me realize I may be missing out. This song (and what little else I’ve heard of the album) has such a unique sound, one which seems to span all Spiritualized albums and can’t really be assigned a clear genre. The songs are soaring, uplifting, and hypnotic. I’m going to go listen to the full album now…
3RD PICK: Maribou State – Turnmills
DESCRIPTION:Maribou State – Turnmills – Kind of cheating as the Maribou State feat Khurangbin song was played by Amy a while back as a single, but now that the full album is out, its worthy of being shared again. I had never listened the British DJs before, but this album is easily my favorite electronic album of the year and in my top albums of the year. The songs have quite a bit of variety, so if this one is not to your liking, try out some of the other standout tracks (Glasshouses, Beginners Luck, Feel Good). This is my album of choice to balance out all the folk and it’s great to throw on in the background or whilst hanging out.
4TH PICK: Haley Heynderickx – The Bug Collector
DESCRIPTION: Haley Heynderickx – The Bug Collector – Annnnd folk singer #2. I listened to this album quite a bit when it first came out, though it seems to be making a comeback in my listening cycle, likely for the aforementioned fall starting, we live in seattle, etc. This album is filled with beautiful folk tracks and is slightly more accessible (poppier) than the Adrienne Lenker album. If an entire album of acoustic guitar and solo female vocals isn’t exactly your thing, you’re a heartless monster, but despite that, there are a couple great folk/alt-country/rock songs for your enjoyment here
5TH PICK: Robyn and Royksopp – Monument
DESCRIPTION: Robyn and Royksopp – Monument – I never knew this album existed and it somehow came out in 2014? Both Robyn and Royksopp are two of my favorite Scandinavian artists, along with ABBA and the entire genre of black metal, so it was quite the treasure to find that they had a collaboration album I never knew about. The songs alternate between pop and weird electronica in just the way they should.
Video Pick – Robyn and Roysopp
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