“No music, no life.”
I always found that sentiment a bit melodramatic for my taste. Don’t you? I don’t think I would literally die if music suddenly ceased to be. I just don’t see myself having a spontaneous brain implosion only because I no longer had Barry Gibb’s falsetto in my ear, sweet as it is. Surely life would still go on. Still, it’s a fun thought exercise. What would be the point without music?
In my case, I just imagine myself confusedly looking around like John Travolta in that Pulp Fiction meme. “Uh… Okay…? Now what?”
But, happily, seeing as the stuff still exists, here’s some of my favorite music since last time.
Silk Sonic
“Smokin Out The Window”
2021 | SMOOTH SOUL
I feel a bit silly “introducing” you to a song with 250 million YouTube views. In my next post, I might as well link you to “Billie Jean” or “Happy Birthday to You.”
But just on the off-chance that you haven’t heard it, this is a pretty great album. Even saying this as someone who could never quite fully get into either Bruno Mars or Anderson .Paak, I found their collaboration here really enjoyable. It’s my favorite body of work from either of the two.
It’s just outrageously smooth stuff. Sonically silky, you might even say. If you were a funnyman.
Matsumoto Iyo
“Neverland-hatsu 7:00 P.M.”
1983 | J-POP
You know, I’m going to be honest. When I first heard her voice, my initial reaction was a sense of annoyance. I didn’t like it, at all. But I quickly learned. I saw the error of my ways. I’m cured now. I’ve come to understand that Matsumoto Iyo is called “Treasure Voice” for good reason.
This is really an endorsement not just of this song and album, but an endorsement of Matsumoto Iyo in general. I’ve been hooked on pretty much her entire discography the past six months. There are so many diamonds in the rough hidden in there. So much good stuff.
Really, I could’ve chosen any number of tunes instead. It’s ridiculous. If the song above is a little too pop for you, how about something more chill? Or if on the contrary it’s not pop enough for you, then how about something totally over the top? Or do you want something funkier for slap bass practice? Or would you prefer whatever the hell this is? The choice is yours.
Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach
“In The Darkest Place”
1998 | ADULT CONTEMPORARY
This is an absolutely wonderful album. You know how sometimes when it’s late at night, it’s quiet outside, maybe you’ve had a couple of drinks, and somehow you just feel… sad? For no particular reason at all, you just feel somber. This album is the perfect soundtrack for that mood.
In the darkest place
I’m lost, I have abandoned every hope
Maybe you’ll understand
I must shut out the light
Not that all of the material on the album is as gloomy. “Tears At The Birthday Party” has a surprisingly uplifting chorus, while “Such Unlikely Lovers” almost has Steely Dan vibes. Still, much of it is really rather pensive and melancholic. Even if you’re not sad, you could listen to this album and pretend that you are. Do a bit of drunken role-playing. Dare to be different.
Seawind
“Free”
1979 | JAZZ FUSION
This album is a brilliant slice of jazz fusion (or smooth jazz, or jazz funk, or whatever you want to call it) from Hawaii of all places. Perhaps as a result, it all sounds very sunny and bright. That cover art is actually a fitting depiction of what this is.
Incidentally—and I only discovered this after several listens of the album—they’re very much a Christian band. I didn’t even notice. I was just sitting there listening to this thinking, “Wow, these guys have got some beautiful lyrics. This almost sounds kind of… spiritual?”
Looking up towards the sky on a quiet afternoon
On my mind were thoughts of only you
Soft were the colors in the silent fade of day
Warm was the voice that carried me away
Ooh, I could hear Him sayin’
Ooh, “Won’t you follow me?”
I’m not a particularly intelligent individual.
Xilembe
“Ncilo Ncilo”
1989 | BUBBLEGUM
Here’s some completely unserious yet strangely hypnotic South African synth disco from 1989.
There’s actually an argument to be made that the year 1989 was one of the best years in collective human history in terms of music. Because as you know, back in 1989, we as the human race produced this album, and we also produced the, uh… Umm… There was that, erm… Like do you remember the 1989 album by… Uhhh…
You might think I’m just throwing this in here as a joke, but I swear to you that in the past month I’ve been listening to this album more than anything else on this list. This album is fucking fun.
Ito Yukari
“Kokuhaku”
1982 | AOR
Now, Ito Yukari has got such an effortlessly likable voice. I mean, really—what a charming, full voice. Plus, she sings with such confidence and conviction, it just makes me smile.
This album, by the way, was produced by Hayashi Tetsuji, which is a name all the Japanese city pop freaks among you will recognize. It also features legendary guitarist Matsushita Makoto. So I mean, yes, I suppose if free will does exist, then you’re free to decide not to listen to this record. You could do that. It’s possible. You choosing not to listen to this album—it’s within the realm of possibility. You’re within your rights to do so.
We all make choices in life.
Enigma
“Principles of Lust”
1990 | NEW AGE
(You can skip to 2:25 if you don’t need spoken word advice as to how to listen to this song. It can be challenging sometimes, listening to music. Sometimes help is needed.)
Call me uncultured if you will, but I have never in my life heard anything quite like this. I mean, this is nuts. My first time listening to this, even just the Gregorian chanting against the backdrop of that smooth electro-dance beat, that alone told me this was going to be something different.
And—spoiler alert—it is different. You’re most likely not going to want to be listening to something like this on a daily basis. Because if you are, you’re probably already on some kind of a government watchlist. Might want to turn on your VPN before you replay this one.
Yoshimura Hiroshi
“Wet Land”
1993 | AMBIENT
I’m not always the biggest fan of music that’s “pure ambient” to quite this extent, but this is objectively so lovely that it’s impossible to dislike. And although it’s obviously a very calm, relaxing listening experience, there are moments of breathtaking beauty on this album.
Don’t miss the great comment section either. It’s a place of encouraging words.
- It’ll all be okay. The Universe didn’t let you come all this way for nothing.
- I guess life is not always a struggle.
- I just drank a glass of water and ate grapes to this.
Gaahls WYRD
“From the Spear”
2019 | BLACK METAL
I’ve always been impressed by Gaahl. This album shows why.
All of the stuff that he did with Gorgoroth back in the day still holds up so well. And now this new project, it’s just so instantly likable to me. Bear in mind, this isn’t nearly as chaotic as some of his previous work. Instead, it’s more refined and mature with echoes of modern era Enslaved, clean vocals and everything. It feels fresh, at least in the Gaahl scheme of things.
This is simply a great slab of atmospheric black metal. And the drummer is a complete maniac.
Nithing
“The Seeping Pus of Ancient Wounds”
2023 | DEATH METAL
“What the fuck…?”
My first time listening to this, my mouth was literally hanging open in disgust. It’s not often these days that I’ll hear new metal and it actually shocks me. But this is just something entirely different. It reminds me of the total disbelief I felt the first time I heard Origin many years ago.
It truly feels like we’ve reached a new level of ferocity with this album. This music shouldn’t be possible. It sounds absolutely devastating. And truth be told, this stuff really pushes me towards the far edges of my comfort zone. It isn’t “pleasant” to listen to. I’m not a fan of noise music, but if this thing was even one iota more dissonant or abrasive, it would be just that—pure noise.
Just the nastiest shit I have ever heard. Ugly, ugly music. I love it.
My ears are bleeding after that last one.
Cheers! 🍻
