Rob Says Listen

An album a day.

[robsayslisten]

Flashback - Run The Jewels 2

Flashback - November 15, 2014

Run The Jewels - Run The Jewels 2 (2014)

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The Run The Jewels project is something rap music really needed. Both albums are an unstoppable force of lyrical genius and abstract, surprisingly sharp production. If you don't dig rap, you probably won't enjoy it, and I'm sure the crassness will throw a few people off, but what better way to release some pent-up aggression? Musical moment of the 2014 goes to Killer Mike's speech before their show in St. Louis... "Remember, it is us against the motherfucking machine. Let's GO!"

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Dec 31 - The Mighty Diamonds

Today’s album: The Mighty Diamonds - Right Time (1976)

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The infamous riddim section of Sly & Robbie first made their mark here, as part of the Mighty Diamonds. It’s a pretty fundamental rhythm sound to everything dub that ever happened, and the record overall is a very standard reggae record once you take into account what happened afterward, but in ‘76? It must have killed. Worth it for the history and the sound alone. It helped define the Channel One sound, and if you know anything about reggae/dub, when you see “Recorded at Channel One” you buy the record, no more questions. A mighty end to a mighty year.

[robsayslisten]

Flashback - Death Cab

Flashback - November 5, 2014

Death Cab for Cutie - Transatlanticism (2003)

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Where was I when this came out? I hated Death Cab on principle, and I shouldn't have, because Transatlanticism is an incredible record. Raw and filtered only through the lens of a quiet wallflower, it's everything that was in my head through some strange times, and had I listened I feel I would have had a better time getting through it. Best when you're feeling reflective.

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Dec 30 - Woozy - Blistered

Today’s album: Woozy - Blistered (2015)

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Here’s another Exploding In Sound Records (respect to the gods) band for you. This record killed me from the beginning, “Venom” is a stunning opening track. As it goes on, it digs deeper and more introspective, but all it took was one song to get you hooked. At times it slows down too much, but the jarring, waking parts are spaced so that you never really look away. As with any good EIS album, it gets better on the second listen. Check it out.

[robsayslisten]

Dec 29 - Pink Floyd - The Endless River

Today’s album: Pink Floyd - The Endless River (2014)

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So I wanted to wait on this one to avoid the hype affecting what I thought of it, and I waited… a while. Whoops. Either way, right off, it’s probably not what you think of as a Pink Floyd record. Waters was really behind the concept thing, so it’s not that, and without vocals, it’s not Division Bell, and without Waters anyway it’s kind of just an honest tribute and finishing up of some work left with the passing of Richard Wright in ‘08. It’s intentionally ambient and very open. I hesitate to say it reminds me of Wish You Were Here, as people will take it the wrong way, but I feel the philosophy behind The Endless River is sort of from the same place, in a good way. Worth a listen as closure for Floyd fans, and as great music for anyone else.

[robsayslisten]

Flashback - Royal Blood

Flashback - Oct 22, 2014

Royal Blood - Royal Blood (2014)

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Thanks to Arctic Monkeys for digging these guys and getting them some exposure that led to a record deal. With a unique take on the duo-rock thing, Royal Blood combine riffs heavy enough for Queens of the Stone Age with the tactile swiftness of the White Stripes, and find. A way to sound bigger than both of them combined. More car chase music, best for being on a dirt bike, being chased by Lamborghini cops in in Monaco or something. Diamond heist for sure.

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Dec 28 - Adult Jazz - Gist Is

Today’s album: Adult Jazz - Gist Is (2014)

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Another one left on my list from last year, that I wish I would have listened to earlier. Gist Is is a hypnotic blend of sounds you expect, but happen in a way that totally throws you off. If you went down the rabbit hole of a band like Other Lives, this is about a mile further down the hole. It’s sparse, but rhythms never have any problem flowing freely throughout tracks. I enjoyed it, I may not listen a whole lot more but it was a really interesting record.

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Flashback - Ranking Dread

Flashback - Oct 14, 2014

Sly & Robbie - Ranking Dread In Dub (1982)

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So nice you gotta play it twice. Dub isn't for everyone, but if you dig at all or enjoy reggae, sink into this. I listened to a lot of dub this month last year, and Ranking Dread stood out as one of the best albums in both tone and musical cohesion. Not much to say, just dig in.

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Dec 27 - Oddisee

Today’s album: Oddisee - The Good Fight (2015)

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After seeing his brilliant NPR Tiny Desk Concert on a tip from a friend, I checked out the rest of the album. It really stood out in the current hip hop universe. There’s a lot going on in the abstract beat world, and a lot of throwback stuff, and stuff trying to sound like ‘03, and Drake soundalikes, but even in a world of conscious rap there’s something different about Oddisee that I like. He’s easy to follow, but not in a pandering way, in a De La Soul kinda way. There’s a voice and a call to action, but it feels like sometimes the call is to just sit on your couch and think for a minute, and I like that.

[robsayslisten]

Flashback - What Moon Things

Flashback - November 19, 2014

What Moon Things - What Moon Things (2014)

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Listen to “Squirrel Girl” first, then “Staring At the Radio”, then go back to the top. It's only a half hour long anyway so it won't be much longer. Something about the raw vocals and the twisting melodies makes this album haunting, but the harmonies make it so resolute and powerful that it's always an enjoyable listen. Heard a bootleg of a live show too, and these guys nail every note.

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Dec 26 - Botany

Today’s album: Botany - Dimming Awe, The Light Is Raw (2015)

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I had no idea what to expect here, aside from knowing Lymbyc Systym are Botany’s labelmates. I was blown away by the heaviness of the abstract hip hop that crashed in after a fitting intro. The parts with rappers or singers are cool and not overdone, and always fitting with the mood of the music. The flow of the record and the way everything works together reminds me of Burial in the best ways. Definitely worth a listen, I guarantee you haven’t heard anything like this in 2015.

[robsayslisten]

Flashback - Sam Cooke Live at the Harlem Square Club

Looking for a record to relax to with a loved one on a cold Christmas night? Look no further, Sam’s here, baby. Just sit back and enjoy the show.

Flashback - October 6, 2014

Sam Cooke - Live at the Harlem Square Club (1963)

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Sam Cooke is the greatest performer of all time. A true musician and stage persona, Cooke shines in a recording from a club full of fans, who give him energy like you wouldn't believe. Harlem Square Club is the most gutsy, true live recording of Cooke, and his intuition for leading the band and working the crowd are clear. On top of that, he sounds as bold as ever. If you haven't heard Cooke live or at all, start here.

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Dec 25 - What Moon Things

Today’s album: What Moon Things - Space Jams (2015)

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I immediately felt a comparison to deeper M83 cuts, then it got even weirder. The album opens by pulling you under the tide, then leaves you hanging underwater for a little while. It rolls along, keeping you fully submerged in washes of analog and digital noise. I’m a huge fan of their self-titled debut, and this is a really jarring deviation, but at the same time somehow right at home.

[robsayslisten]

Flashback - Adebisi Shank

Flashback - Sept 27, 2014

Adebisi Shank - This is the Third Album of a Band Called Adebisi Shank (2014)

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Put away all baseball bats, crowbars, and anything glass before you put this one on. It kinda makes you want to take over the world and impose a rule that only the most badass of rock and roll is allowed to reign on the radio. The album is bizarre, and I've never heard anything quite like it, but it blew me away and made me almost blow a speaker. "Big Unit" is easily one of my top three songs of last year, and it's a huge loss that the band broke up shortly after the record came out. Trio always.

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Dec 24 - Heart - Little Queen

Today’s album: Heart - Little Queen (1977)

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Awesome. Completely kick ass. Canadian Led Zeppelin, with less of the reasons people think Zeppelin is trite. Little Queen makes Rumours feel like a tribute album at times. Do it. There are a lot of good things at work here, not the least of which is the sister duo’s fantastic songwriting.

[robsayslisten]

Midnight Double - Kal Marks

Kal Marks - Life Is Murder (2013)

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Late night bump here, just heard this record and it’s awesome. It’s the Exploding In Sound Records (shout outs to the gods) version of Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. If that sentence doesn’t make you listen, you need to either listen to more EIS or more Mellon Collie. Get on that.

[robsayslisten]

Flashback - Marvin Gaye

Flashback - September 23, 2014

Marvin Gaye - What’s Goin’ On (1971)

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I heard this after a few of Marvin's earlier records, and it was incredible to me to hear an artist totally break out of what he was known for and self-produce a masterpiece. It's his signature style and flair, but the focus and courage present in this record is awesome. There are times where the pacing is a bit slow and you can tell it's self-produced, but it's still extremely relevant and still an extremely good record.