Michael Kiwanuka's Love & Hate is one of my favorite albums of the year, and the above cut seems particularly apt social commentary and a fitting spin after Pepper's selection yesterday. If you're inclined, the live studio track below is excellent, but I didn't think it qualified by the (unofficial?) live recording convention for WGOM videos.
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+1. And that rendition cooks. Thanks for sharing!
Yeah, it's a bit up-tempo from the version on the album. Not that I'm complaining! I dig the slow burn of the original, but this one's a little extra picante.
Heh, I listened to this album for the first time yesterday. I really enjoyed his debut (holy crap, that was 4 years ago already!?), and while my first go-through of his sophomore effort didn't blow me away (meaning it seemed on par with his first, which is still very good), I'm guessing subsequent listens may change my mind. Didn't know he played guitar.
Actually, while listening yesterday, I realized that I've unintentionally picked up a handful of somewhat "political" albums from black musicians lately. Specifically this one, the most recent Blood Orange, and Solange's latest. Good stuff all.
I think the quality of politically-oriented music this year was quite good. If I could've found a well-produced video of it, I had planned to spin a cut from Esperanza Spalding's Emily's D+Evolution ("Good Lava") instead of this cut. Looking at my year-end mix, I bookended "Black Man in a White World" with "T5" by the Swet Shop Boys and Piers Faccini's "Drone." (I absolutely loved Sturgill's "Call to Arms" and "Sea Stories," but went with "All Around You" on the mix.) Allen Toussaint's cover of "American Tune" has been getting plenty of play, too.
As for Kiwanuka, I can't wait to see what he does next. He's one of the young-ish artists who rose to the top for me this year. I hope it doesn't take four years to find out.
I recommend the Drive-By Truckers album. Good political songs that are also good songs.
I have friends who really like DBT, and I've never given myself the opportunity to get into their catalog. By everything I've heard they should be well-aligned with my taste; I've just never made the commitment to dive in.
D-BTs are one of those bands that I'd probably like, however I'm a bit too late. Too many albums to fully appreciate. I know that's a silly argument, but it's the same for me as, say, The Office. Sure, I'd probably enjoy it, but there are something like 10 seasons, right? That kind of thing always discourages me from starting.
Just listen to Decoration Day and Dirty South. Those are two with Isbell.
If you don't like them, no reason to go further. If you do like them, can still stop because these are arguably their best.
That seems like a very manageable level of immersion.
I may consider that, but like TV shows, I like to go through things from the beginning.
What Algonad said*. Don't let your completionist-self stop you from
divingsticking your toe in. Besides, I didn't/don't care for much of anything pre-Southern Rock Opera (their 4th album)*Though I have a hard time leaving Brighter Than Creations Dark un-recommended ...
That's right, I've heard great things about the new Esperanza. Gotta check that out.
Also, I'd take "Sea Stories" over "All Around You", but it's good either way.
"Sea Stories" is a fantastic song, but I'm not sure how many of mine I want to tell the Poissonnier... OTOH, "All Around You" is exactly the message I want my child to have in the event I can't be around. (I don't know what the healthy amount is to think about that kind of thing, but it's always present in my mind.)
That first song was evocative of "Sinnerman" for me.
Had a couple more listens. Real good album, stronger than its predecessor, but it's also about 10 minutes too long. Some of those songs could be tightened up with the extended jams saved for the live shows.