rhythmdevils music blog

Discussion in 'SBAF Blogs' started by rhythmdevils, Aug 12, 2020.

  1. yotacowboy

    yotacowboy McRibs Kind of Guy

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    This is where I get frustrated with Qobuz. But I don't mind dropping a few bucks on bandcamp!

    Echoing what's been stated elsewhere, I'm very, very grateful for you posting to this thread. Keep it up, cheers for the great tunes!
     
  2. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    Thanks @yotacowboy ! That makes its all worthwhile, I'll definitely keep the music coming! :)
     
  3. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    Skyler Skjelset - Back In Heaven

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    A co-founder of Fleet Foxes who has toured as a musician with Beach House and until this album made only ambient music.

    The general genre here is similar to Fleet Foxes, it’s indie folk rock. Just to give you a general sense. And it has a similar organic mellow timeless sound to it. But it’s also very different.

    The album has this incredibly gentle expression to it. Like being hugged extremely gently and lightly. Comforting but very reserved. His voice for one thing is totally unique, it’s almost like a sung whisper.

    Interesting percussion throughout and lots of layers of different sounds. This isn’t just bass drums keyboards and guitar. He’s using all kinds of instruments in little flourishes here and there. Even a drum machine along with a real drum set.

    Beautiful recording quality.

    A good morning or Sunday afternoon album. It’s good in the background but it’s rich and complex and holds your attention too.

    Interesting article about him

    LISTEN AND BUY THE ALBUM ON BANDCAMP HERE

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    YouTube Music
     
  4. Boops

    Boops Friend

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    Could you give us a sentence or two about this record? Would love a quick summary of the genre, about the artist, what you like about it, etc.
     
  5. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    The Congos - Heart Of The Congos

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    It’s time for some more reggae. The Congos are one of my favorite reggae bands of all time. This is their first album, coming out in the 70’s. It’s got a totally unique sound to all other reggae music. All of their albums do but especially this one.

    Thr music has the reggae beat but it’s repeated in a way to create a hypnotic affect. On top of that is two singers, one high falsetto for a male and one deep alto. Singing together in harmonies or playing off each other.

    Recorded with Lee Scratch Perry

    The Songwriting is so good too, it’s a magical album.

    sound quality isn’t great on this The Congos album. But It is on their later albums I will link to here as well.

    YouTube

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    The Congos - Congo Ashanti

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    I personally like this album better than their first, most famous work. Same vocal duets but they have matured and grown as musicians. This is the only reggae album I’ve ever heard that is actually kind of dark and foreboding in tone and emotion. Amazing songwriting again with incredible vocals and a sound that is totally unique to this album.

    unfortunately it is not available anywhere. All I’ve got for you is a YouTube link to the full album in one track.

    Find this album on CD. It will be with it.

    YouTube


    The Congos - Give Them The Rights

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    Then here they are decades later and they put together a dream super group of some of the best musicians in Jamaica to make a new album in 2005. The music is fresh with a new sound but the same beautiful vocal harmonies. This is the best roots reggae album to come out since 79 or perhaps early 80’s.

    it’s all got a great swing to it. Excellent recording quality. Conscious lyrics about justice and freedom.

    YouTube

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  6. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    Arooj Aftab - Vulture Prince

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    Arooj Aftab is a Pakistani musician/vocalist who makes gorgeous minimal music rooted in traditional Pakistani (and Indian - they used to be the same country) musical traditions and rhythms while adding contemporary arrangements and production and songwriting. It’s called “neo-Sufi” on her Wikipedia page.

    The entire album is just her singing with harp, violin and minimal bass as backup. Her voice is breathy and hushed but has a sense of strength to it and is put forward in the mix front and center. Really beautiful voice.

    There’s even one song on the album in English and it’s just as good as the others. Often times when artists who sing in non English languages sing in English it’s super cheesy. Ever heard Hawaiian slack key guitar music sung in English? Oh God the horror. It has to be in Hawaiian.

    Sound quality is excellent.

    fans of female vocals need to listen to this one. But it transcends that genre. It’s just great music. Calming, soothing, peaceful.

    LISTEN AND BUY THE ALBUM ON BANDCAMP HERE

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    YouTube Music (album not available but here’s a link to her artist page)
     
  7. Josh Schor

    Josh Schor Friend

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    I love this cd, it is beautiful thank you for posting it
     
  8. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    Dr. John - Goin’ Back To New Orleans

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    Dr. John was born in New Orleans and grew up surrounded by the music there in the 40’s and 50’s. His music is a mix of New Orleans piano music like Professor Longhair and James Booker mixed with a smorgasbord of different genres like blues, rock and roll, and pop music.

    But his music is always deeply rooted in New Orleans tradition. His performances were known for Mardi Gras type shows or displays or other traditional New Orleans costumes or decorations or dances.

    This album is my favorite of his many awesome albums. It’s full of songs that are funny, sad, poignant, witty. It’s got a great feel to it, neither said nor celebratory. It always has a rollicking New Orleans groove going throughout with a ton of soul.

    His lyrics are consistently good even in his choice of cover, like "Careless Love"

    From Careless Love
    "You robbed me of my silver,
    And you robbed me of my gold,
    But I'll be damned,
    if I'm gonna let you rob me out'a my soul"​

    from How Come My Dog Don't Bark When You Come Around
    "Now you say you ain't never met my wife, you ain't never seen her befo,'
    Say you ain't been hangin' roun' my crib; well here's somethin' I wanna know...
    I wanna know what in the worl' is goin' down,

    How come my dog don't bark when you come around?

    I got the baddest dog, he'll bite anybody.
    He bit my little brother, took a chunk out of my ol' sweet li'l mother.
    He bit the mailman - he sees him every day; he takes one look at you, he wanna jump up and play.
    Now I ain't got a clue as to what you puttin' down, but

    How come my dog don't bark when you come around?"
    That song just keeps getting better...


    Sound quality is excellent

    YouTube

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    Last edited: Dec 16, 2021
  9. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    The Dan Ryan - The Dan Ryan LP

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    This is good old school indie rock album. Old school meaning similar to the indie rock that was being made in the 2010’s, not the jingle jangle happy crap put out today under the genre “Indie Rock”.

    Good song writing, interesting percussion. It has an inspiring uplifting tone but isn’t overly happy.

    If you like bands like early Arcade Fire, The National, Elbow, Grizzly Bear, Tame Impala, etc you should check this album out.

    Sound quality is excellent

    Full album not available on YouTube. But here’s a few tracks.
    YouTube track
    YouTube track
    YouTube track

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  10. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    Akron/Family - s/t

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    This first album by Akron/Family is a magical mystical folk journey. It has an epic quality to it in that it’s more like one long song than a bunch of individual songs. It’s really an album to be heard as a whole. It’s super mellow and peaceful and calming. At the same time, it’s like nothing I’ve ever heard. I always picture myself sitting on a beach listening to this music. Not a tropical beach, somewhere like Big Sur. Somewhere mystical. But it has a beach day sort of vibe to it.

    It’s slow paced with lots of interesting sounds added to the mix in addition to acoustic guitar and very unique vocals sung with care with a gentle way about them. Very intimate music. Lots of silent spaces and pauses in the songs.

    Fans of Devendra Banhart’s early albums should check this out. It’s very different but would probably appeal to similar tastes.

    Interestingly, after this album, they went full on electric and I don’t like any of their later albums. They sound like a completely different band. But his album is magical.

    LISTEN AND BUY THE ALBUM ON BANDCAMP HERE

    YouTube

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  11. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    Lady Blackbird - Black Acid Soul

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    Gorgeous soul-jazz vocalist reminiscent of Ella Fitzgerald or Etta James. If you're a fan of either, this is a must hear album. Most of the music is just bass, sprinkles of piano and inceredibly soulful female vocals sung loud over the top. Differentiating herself from the above juggernauts, she adds some soul to the mix and even a bit of Afro beat in there. A conga or bongo drum would be right at home with the rhythm she is singing to. But she keeps it extremely minimal. Her voice is slow and a bit sad, bringing blues influences into the music as well.

    While not reinventing anything entirely that the great generation's jazz vocalists already have done, she creates something original enough and certainly beautiful enough to exist and hold it's own against everything I have heard.

    This is genuine, honest, heartfelt and stunningly beautiful music. Sound quality is perfect.

    I'm going to try making links with Songwhip from here on as it saves me a ton of time. But please let me know if you prefer a manual list of links to listen and stream for whatever reason.

    LISTEN, STREAM AND BUY THE ALBUM HERE
     
    Last edited: Jan 11, 2022
  12. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    Sigh - Imaginary Sonicscape

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    One of my favorite metal albums. It’s one of the very few metal albums with screaming vocals that I like. They’re done musically in this album and don’t come across like someone just screaming into the microphone. The sound is very classic metal, with tons of riffs that are often fast with a very classic metal guitar sound. There are tons of layers to the sound, even bongo drums here and there or a shaker that comes in, all to be dissected and discovered with your headphone gear. :)

    Its quite epic, with different sections and transitions, even orchestral bits.

    The drumming is pretty unique to metal, the hits are pretty light, which leads to the overall sound being less hard hitting and more about the riffs and changes.

    This is probably one of the best metal albums of all time and I believe metal fans in the know would agree with me *cough* @MuppetFace

    LISTEN, STREAM AND BUY THE ALBUM HERE
     
  13. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    Son Lux - At War With Walls And Mazes

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    It seems this genre needs a name. Rock music made entirely with electronic instruments/recorded sounds and with sung lyrics over the top. Ala The Postal Service. But this album is way better than The Postal Service.

    I believe this is a one man band.

    This is his first album and it’s so good. I’ve heard his later albums briefly but always come back to this one. The mood is fairly dark and a bit haunting but it’s always got a steady beat and moves. Lots of very interesting sounds and textures and layers. Great rhythms and excellent songwriting. The lyrics are cryptic and suggestive and he often repeats them throughout songs. In one song he repeats "Put down, all your weapons, let me in through your open wounds"

    This is really an album with many parts, and should be listened to that way.

    Sound quality is perfect

    LISTEN, STREAM AND BUY THE ALBUM HERE
     
  14. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    Haley Heynderickx - I Need To Start A Garden

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    One of the most unique new folk artists I’ve heard. Her lyrics are raw and personal and quite profound, her voice croons with emotion and pain and vulnerability and is painfully honest. Songwriting is really good. It’s not sad music, but it’s certainly not happy either. It’s got depth and pulls you in immediately. I can’t wait to hear what she makes next. One of my favorite artists right now.

    Sound quality is excellent.

    LISTEN, STREAM AND BUY THE ALBUM HERE
     
  15. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    Odesza - The Last Goodbye (song)

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    This song is great. Combines electronic club/rave type beats with really soulful female vocals on top. The combination of the electronic bears and soul works pretty well. I don't usually like this kind of music but I dig this song.

    LISTEN, STREAM, OR BUY THE SONG HERE
     
  16. Boops

    Boops Friend

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    Thanks for recommending the Haley Heynderickx album. I listened to this on the train last night (AirPods Max noise cancelling on!) and was transported. The vocal performance is so great. She is in total command of her voice. My favorite thing about this album was the variety in the instrumentation and song writing. This record is constantly throwing new things at you. Definitely going to pick this up on CD if it’s available.
     
  17. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    Awesome! She has another great album out, a collaboration with Max García Conover that isn't quite as good but definitely worth listening to.

    Haley Heynderickx & Max García Conover - Among Horses III (EP)

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    More great songwriting and vocal performances form Haley and Max on this album. It doesn't have the transportive effect of Heynderickx's solo album that @Boops describes so well, but it's great music. Be sure not to miss "Crow Song", my favorite on the album.

    LISTEN, STREAM AND BUY THE ALBUM HERE
     
  18. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    The Teskey Brothers - Run Home Slow

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    This is a modern album, out in 2019 that could easily have been recorded in the early 70's. It's straight up Motown and it's really good. There's a solid groove through the whole album, with great Motown swing and great songwriting combined with awesome soulful vocals. Nice percussion that isn't basic doo-dap, groovy bass lines, funky guitar work with clean little solos here and there.

    I don't know what else to say, if you like soul, r&b, Motown, you should check this album out! It's not breaking new grounds or anything, but it's doing an established thing in a very very good, and authentic way. Which is always good. You don't. need to re-write the book to make super good music.

    I've always believed that "newness" is overrated. Critics get jaded by seeing too many movies and listening to too much music in a critical way and forget how to watch movies or listen to music and the joy that is there. You don't have to have a new idea for your music or artwork to be new and original. If it's honest, it will be new because we are all different and when you make honest work, you impart yourself in the work, communicating a part of who you are, which is inherently unique.

    Sound quality is great, but not groundbreaking. Don't be a douchebag and only listen to Eric Clapton unplugged.

    LISTEN, STREAM, AND BUY THE ALBUM HERE
     
  19. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    T Bone Burnett - s/t

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    First of all, this is one of the best recorded albums I have ever heard. It deserves to be heard just for that alone. It also has a beautiful sound to the recording, it's not just clear and detailed, but it has a "sound" that is unique to any other recording I've heard. It's kind of soft and soooo smooth. Bass notes are pronounced and clear and punchy.

    T Bone Burnett has made many albums and is famous for cultivating pretty awesome movie soundtracks. but this is my favorite work of his.

    It's sort of reminiscent of Bela Fleck but a lot moar better. It's bluegrass in influence. but adds folk, old timey and rock influences as well as others, but it's not the typical bluegrass fusion that is just super happy garbage, this has tons of soul. The songs are constructed pretty minimally with I think a dobro or some kind of guitar, banjo, minimal violin, vocals and groovy, prominent bass lines.

    It has such a unique sound with the instrumentation combined with the recording quality. One of my favorite albums. It's a feel good album, but not happy. Lots of soul and elements of sadness.

    LISTEN, STREAM OR BUY THE ALBUM HERE
     
  20. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    Hallelujah Chicken Run Band - Take One

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    A group form Zimbabwe in the 70’s. Some of the best happy music ever made. Westerners can’t make happy music like this for whatever reason. The best happy music comes out of Africa. This is happy, but also has sooo much soul.

    Sparkling, clean gutter riffs typical of highlife music. Upbeat rhythms and percussion, grooving bass lines, cheerful, upbeat vocals. This is just such beautiful, happy music. Really good or dancing. I dare you not to move your feet, hips, butt, head or something while listening to this.

    “Originally playing the Congolese Rumba and Afro-rock styles popular in the capital, the band found success once they began incorporating elements of traditional Shona music.

    Rapidly growing in popularity after winning a national music contest during 1974, the Hallelujah Chicken Run Band became key players across Zimbabwe’s music scenes.”

    Also, best band name ever.

    The recording quality is actually really good for this type of music and the time.

    LISTEN, STEAM AND BUY THE ALBUM HERE
     

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