Well we are a bit over halfway through the year and there has been a large amount of excellent music released already. This week I want to highlight some of the best things I’ve heard so far this year.
Cha Wa – Spyboy
This local ensemble works at the cross roads between Mardi Gras Indian chants and brass band funk. I have been thrilled with Cha Wa’s sounds since they hit the scene. This record shows a tremendous amount of growth and development since their debut. I’ll have an interview with vocalist J’Wan Boudreaux and band leader Joe Gelini in September so keep an eye out for that. You can listen to the track “Cha Wa” below.
tUnE-yArDs – I Can Feel You Creep Into My Private Life
This was one of the first releases of the year and remains one of the strongest. Merrill Garbus has recorded a great record for our contemporary moment where she investigates the nature of cultural appropriation and its role in the propagation of music. This is a sunning and intense investigation into the very nature of composition and culture. It is also an extremely catchy record even as it examines the nature and origins of the rhythms it references. Trust me it’s a lot more fun than I make it sound. Check out the video for “Heart Attack” below.
Superorganism – Superorganism
This indie pop ensemble which formed in London has made some of the best pop music of the last couple of years. Their sound is a great combination of electronic, pop and psychedelic. These songs are complete ear worms in that they will leave you wondering exactly how these sounds are assembled. I love the inclusion of mostly analog elements as a means of drawing the crowd into the performance of the songs. Check out their outrageously fun Tiny Desk Concert below.
Bad Bad Hats – Lightning Round (coming August 3rd)
In 2015 I listed the Bad Bad Hats debut record as one of my top albums of the year. Kerry Alexander and company are back this year with their sophomore release Lightning Round. This record has all of the wit and charm of the first record combined with the high stakes nature of recording the tracks live. These songs are great and they work effortlessly. Check out “Talk With Your Hands” below and look for the record on the 3rd.
To Do This Week
Tomorrow night Alison Krauss is at the Saenger and Corry Henry’s Treme Funktet is the Free Friday show at Tips. Saturday Proud Parents are at the Circle bar. Monday Lake Street Dive hits the House of Blues. Tuesday The Spencer Lee Band is at Gasa.