Saturday, December 26, 2015

December 26, 2015 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #278)


This week was part one of my review of my Top 50 favorite albums of 2015. I have put the rank of the selected albums in parentheses. Part two is next Saturday, 9-Noon (CST) at chirpradio.org.

9:02 AM Low • Into You • Ones and Sixes • Sub Pop (#50)

9:06 AM Pop4 • Beautiful • Summer • self-released (#49)

9:08 AM Wonky Tonk • Saffin Avenue • Stuff We Leave Behind • self-released

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

My Top 40 albums of 2015

I think I listened to more music than any year since my heyday reviewing albums for Fufkin.com. I listened to at least 175 albums at least once full through this year. Ranking them, even more than usual, was very tough and once you get past the top 14 or so, things get pretty incremental. And past 40, there are another 30 to 40 albums that I really dug. At least.

1. FFS -- FFS: The team up of Franz Ferdinand and Sparks allowed the Scottish post-punkers to expand their stylistic reach while the veteran art-poppers were freed from a singular concept and revisited many of the various approaches they have employed over the past 43 years. They found a common sensibility and knocked out a bunch of knock out songs. Even better, the vocals of Alex Kapronos and Russell Mael meshed wonderfully, and recording the album in just two weeks resulted in lively performances. This is a hook filled, varied pop-rock album of type that you don’t see too often nowadays.

2. Jessica PrattOn You Own Love Again: Pratt is a special songwriter, her numbers going from drony, folky pieces that unfold into unexpected pop songs, keyed by wonderful chord changes and resonant melodies. Her delicate finger picked guitar and reedy, engaged vocals are the best possible vehicle for her songs. The production seals the deal. This is lo-fi with a purpose, as the fidelity of the living room recordings serves to enhance the haunting qualities that these songs naturally had.

3. Kamasi Washington -- The Epic: This triple LP announces Washington and his core of fellow musicians as a major force in jazz. Conversant in both free jazz and more traditional forms, the songs cover a wide swath of sounds and emotions, all played warmly and creatively, with improvisations never overwhelming the song structures. The original compositions are exciting and the outside material is well selected. Washington wholly succeeds in bringing decades of jazz into an effort that is forward thinking and classic.

Saturday, December 19, 2015

December 19, 2015 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #277)

9:01 AM Sparks • Christmas Without a Prayer • Christmas Without Prayer single • Lil' Beethoven

9:05 AM Sly & The Family Stone • Poet • There's A Riot Goin' On • Epic

9:08 AM Kelley Stoltz • Cut Me, Baby • In Triangle Time •Castle Face

Saturday, December 12, 2015

December 12, 2015 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #276)

9:02 AM Sam Cooke • A Change Is Gonna Come • Portrait of a Legend 1951-1964 • ABKCO

9:05 AM Erran Baron Cohen • Dreidel • Songs in the Key of Hanukkah • Watertower

9:08 AM Lizzo • My Skin • Big GRRRL Small World • BGSW

Saturday, December 5, 2015

December 5, 2015 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #275)

9:01 AM Sparks • The Final Derriere • The Forbidden Room •Lil' Beethoven

9:05 AM Sade • By Your Side (Neptunes Remix) • The Ultimate Collection • Epic

9:08 AM Odetta Hartman • Creektime • 222 • Northern Spy

Saturday, November 28, 2015

November 28, 2015 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #274)

9:01 AM Pulp • The Birds in Your Garden • We Love Life •Island

9:05 AM Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn • The Letter •United Talent • MCA

9:07 AM Kishi Bashi • This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)• String Quartet Live! • Joyful Noise

Saturday, November 21, 2015

November 21, 2015 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #273)

9:01 AM Roxy Music • Dance Away • Manifesto • Virgin

9:05 AM Pure Bathing Culture • Palest Pearl • Pray For Rain• Partisan

9:09 AM DRINKS • Hermits on Holiday • Hermits on Holiday •Birth/Heavenly

Saturday, November 14, 2015

November 14, 2015 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #272)

9:01 AM Nat King Cole • Kee-Mo Ky-Mo (The Magic Song) •Nat King Cole • Capitol

9:03 AM Papas Fritas • Hey Hey You Say • Helioself • Minty Fresh

9:06 AM Joanna Newsom • Time, As a Symptom • Divers •Drag City

Saturday, November 7, 2015

November 7, 2015 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #271)

9:01 AM EL VY • Sleepin' Light • Return to the Moon • 4AD

9:05 AM John Prine • Spanish Pipedream • John Prine •Atlantic

9:08 AM Tom Carter • Carvedilol Cowboy • Long Time Underground • Three Lobed

Saturday, October 31, 2015

October 31, 2015 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #270)

9:01 AM Screamin' Jay Hawkins • I Put A Spell On You •Frenzy • Edsel

9:04 AM Doleful Lions • The Ghost That Haunts Your World Will Disappear • Shaded Lodge and Mausoleum •Parasol

9:09 AM Christina Vantzou • The Future • No. 3 • Kranky

Saturday, October 24, 2015

October 24, 2015 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #269)

9:00 AM Marvin Gaye • Pride and Joy • That Stubborn Kinda Fellow • Tamla

9:02 AM The Fatima Mansions • (Everything I Do) I Do It For You • Ruby Trax • NME

9:08 AM Ryan Adams • All You Had to Do Was Stay • 1989 •PAX AM

Saturday, October 17, 2015

October 17, 2015 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #268)

9:01 AM Deerhunter • Living My Life • Fading Frontier • 4AD

9:05 AM Owen • The Sad Waltzes Of Pietro Crespi • At Home With Owen • Polyvinyl

9:08 AM Tommy Keene • Go Back Home • Laugh in the Dark• Second Motion

Saturday, October 10, 2015

October 10, 2015 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #267)


Today was special as it's my 5th wedding anniversary.

9:02 AM Ann Peebles • Until You Came Into My Life • I Can't Stand the Rain • Hi

9:05 AM The Beta Band • Dragon • Hot Shots II • Astralwerks

9:10 AM Mike Edel • India, Seattle • India, Seattle • Cordova Bay

Saturday, October 3, 2015

October 3, 2015 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #266)


9:01 AM Roger Lion • Love Surrendered • Roger Lion • Team Love

9:04 AM Roberta Flack • In My Life • Let It Be Roberta: Roberta Flack Sings The Beatles • 429

9:08 AM Majical Cloudz • Silver Car Crash • Are You Alone? •Matador

Saturday, September 26, 2015

September 26, 2015 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #265)

9:02 AM Jeff Lynne's ELO • When I Was a Boy • Alone in the Universe • Columbia

9:06 AM Rhye • Shed Some Blood • Woman • Republic

9:09 AM Advance Base • Trisha Please Come Home •Nephew in the Wild • Orindal

Saturday, September 19, 2015

September 19, 2015 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #264)

9:03 AM The Specials • Rat Race • The Singles Collection •Chrysalis

9:06 AM Michael Carpenter • Time to Change • Right to Chews • Not Lame

9:09 AM Dave Douglas • First Things First • High Risk •Greenleaf Music

Saturday, September 12, 2015

September 12, 2015 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #263)

9:00 AM Frisbie • To See And Be Seen • The Subversive Sounds of Love • Hear Diagonally

9:04 AM Janelle Monae • Primetime (featuring Miguel) • The Electric Lady • Bad Boy

9:09 AM Lizzy Mercier Descloux • Decrypted • Press Color •Light in the Attic

Saturday, September 5, 2015

September 5, 2015 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #262)

9:02 AM Low • What Part of Me • Ones and Sixes • Sub Pop

9:05 AM Bryan Estepa • Cards & AM Radio • All the Bells and Whistles • Popboomerang

9:10 AM FKA twigs • Figure 8 • M3LL155X • Young Turks

Saturday, August 29, 2015

August 29, 2015 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #261)

9:01 AM Hiatus Kaiyote • Fingerprints • Choose Your Weapon• Flying Buddah

9:05 AM Radiohead • You and Whose Army • Amnesiac •Capitol

9:08 AM Ultimate Painting • Kodiak • Green lanes • Trouble in Mind

Saturday, August 15, 2015

August 15, 2015 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #260)

9:01 AM FKA twigs • I'm Your Doll • M3LL155X • Young Turks

9:05 AM Plush • So Blind • Underfed • Sea Note Corporation

9:07 AM Gossamer • Okuma • Automaton • Innovative Leisure

Saturday, August 8, 2015

August 8, 2015 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #259)

9:03 AM Iron and Wine & Ben Bridwell • You Know More Than I Know • Sing Into My Mouth • Black Cricket

9:06 AM Malachai • Distance • Return To The Ugly Side •Domino

9:08 AM Hums + Haws • B.w. Light.Shade • Wondering Home• 1980

Saturday, August 1, 2015

August 1, 2015 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #258)

9:02 AM Cathal Smyth • Do You Believe in Love? • A Comfortable Man • Phoenix Rising

9:06 AM Medeski Martin & Wood • Just Like I Pictured It •Combustication • Blue Note

9:09 AM Eternal Summers • Gold and Stone • Gold and Stone • Kanine

Saturday, July 25, 2015

July 25, 2015 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #257)

9:01 AM Jason Isbell • How to Forget • Something More Than Free • Southeastern

9:05 AM Hollie Cook • Looking For a Real Love • Twice • Mr. Bongo

9:11 AM Yonatan Gat • Casino Cafe • Director • Joyful Noise

Saturday, July 11, 2015

July 11, 2015 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #256)

9:01 AM Ryan Adams & The Cardinals • Happy Birthday •III/IV • PAX AM

9:03 AM Wilco • You and I • Wilco (The Album) • Nonesuch

9:07 AM Ken Camden • Curiosity • Dream Memory • kranky

Sunday, July 5, 2015

Mid-year Top 40 albums of 2015

This has been a tremendous year for music already. This Top 40 is semi-thrown together and part the product of some measure of thought. These are all albums that I own, so albums I've reviewed for CHIRP but haven't purchased yet by Eleventh Dream Day and The Cairo Gang aren't ranked (and I just purchased the Wavves + Cloud Nothings LP, but haven't listened to it yet, so, yes, I'm not ranking it yet). The rankings are a bit more precise towards the top and by the time it gets to 15 or 16, things are really close, and distinctions aren't as fine. I'd be happy if my Top 20 was a year end list, so I'm excited about what the rest of the year has to offer.

1. FFS - FFS


2. Jessica Pratt - On Your Own Love Again 


3. Ryley Walker - Primrose Green


Saturday, July 4, 2015

July 4, 2015 CHIRP Radio Show Playlist (Show #255)

9:02 AM Dave Alvin • Fourth of July • Romeo's Escape • Epic

9:06 AM The Impressions • This Is My Country • This Is My Country • Curtom

9:08 AM FFS • Things I Won't Get • FFS • Domino

Saturday, June 27, 2015

June 27, 2015 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #253)


This morning, trainee Melanie did two very nice sets, as indicated below.

9:02 AM Richard Thompson • Josephine • Still • Fantasy

9:06 AM Prince • Around the World in a Day • Around the World in a Day • Paisley Park/Warner Bros.

9:09 AM Prinzhorn Dance School • Home Economics • Clean• DFA

Saturday, June 20, 2015

June 20, 2015 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #252)

9:01 AM Todd Rundgren/Emil Nikolaisen/Hans-Peter Lindstrom • Put Your Arms Around Me • Runddans •Smalltown Supersound

9:03 AM Cassandra Wilson • Last Train to Clarksville • New Moon Daughter • Blue Note

9:08 AM Nick Diamonds • Something About the Moon • City of Quartz • Manque Music

Saturday, June 13, 2015

June 13, 2015 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #251)


9:01 AM Ornette Coleman • Blues Connotation • This Is Our Music • Atlantic

9:06 AM The Clean • Secret Place • Modern Rock • Flying Nun

9:10 AM Robert Pollard • Bizarro's Last Quest • Faulty Superheroes • GBV Inc.

Saturday, May 30, 2015

May 30, 2015 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #250)

9:01 AM Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment •Windows • Surf • self-released

9:04 AM Morphine • Cure For Pain • Cure For Pain • Rykodisc

9:08 AM Bill Fay • A Page Incomplete • Who Is The Sender? •Dead Oceans

Saturday, May 23, 2015

May 23, 2015 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #249)

9:01 AM Ambrosia Parsley • Empire • Weeping Cherry •Barbès

9:04 AM Richard Thompson • Hope You Like the New Me •Mock Tudor • Capitol

9:09 AM Lou Barlow • Boundries • 50 Bands and a Cat for Indiana Equality • Joyful Noise

Saturday, May 2, 2015

May 2, 2015 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #248)


8:59 AM The Charlatans • Come Home Baby • Modern Nature• BMG

9:03 AM Frisbie • Pollyanna • Subversive Sounds of Love •Hear Diagonally

9:08 AM Saun & Starr • Big Wheel • Look Closer • Daptone

Saturday, April 25, 2015

April 25, 2015 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #247)

9:00 AM Alabama Shakes • Guess Who • Sound & Color •ATO

9:04 AM Pet Shop Boys • Psychological • Fundamental •Parlophone

9:08 AM Tal National • Claire • Zoy Zoy • FatCat

Saturday, April 11, 2015

April 11, 2015 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #246)

9:01 AM Brian Wilson • What Ever Happened • No Pier Pressure • Capitol

9:04 AM Feist • Inside And Out • Let It Die • Arts & Crafts

9:08 AM Keiya • Baby (feat. Khalee) • Work EP • self-released

Saturday, April 4, 2015

April 4, 2015 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #245)

9:01 AM Frankie Miller • When I'm Away From You • Falling In Love • Chrysalis

9:04 AM Michael Perkins • Esteban • MR 666 • Ghost Arcade

9:07 AM Ibeyi • Ghosts • Ibeyei • XL

Saturday, March 28, 2015

March 28, 2015 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #244)

9:02 AM George Harrison • Beware Of Darkness • All Things Must Pass • Apple

9:05 AM Doleful Lions • Sunshine Spartacus • Out Like a Lamb • Parasol

9:07 AM Dorsal Fins • Fell • Mind Renovation • Gripless

Saturday, March 21, 2015

March 21, 2015 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #243)

9:02 AM Bob Dylan • Why Try To Change Me Now • Shadows In The Night • Columbia

9:05 AM The Streets • It's Too Late • Original Pirate Material •Vice/Atlantic

9:09 AM Sir Richard Bishop • Bound In Morocco • Tangier Sessions • Drag City

Saturday, March 14, 2015

March 14, 2015 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #242)

9:01 AM Rhiannon Giddens • Don't Let It Trouble Your Mind •Tomorrow Is My Time • Nonesuch

9:05 AM The Flaming Lips • All We Have Is Now • Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots • Warner Bros.

9:08 AM In Tall Buildings • All You Pine • Driver • Western Vinyl

Saturday, February 28, 2015

February 28, 2015 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #241)


9:01 AM Iron & Wine • Freckled Girl • Archive Series Volume No. 1 • Black Cricket

9:04 AM Ibeyi • River • Ibeyi • XL

9:08 AM Aphex Twin • DISKPREPT1 • Computer Controlled Acoustic Instruments pt2 EP • Warp

Saturday, February 14, 2015

February 14, 2015 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #240)

9:01 AM Sparks • With All My Might • Pulling Rabbits Out Of A Hat • Atlantic

9:05 AM Wilco • I'm The Man Who Loves You • Yankee Hotel Foxtrot • Nonesuch

9:09 AM Geographer • I'm Ready • Ghost Modern • Ingrooves

Saturday, February 7, 2015

February 7, 2015 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #239)


9:00 AM Wilco • Any Major Dude Will Tell You • Alpha Mike Foxtrot • Nonesuch

9:03 AM Wayne Shorter • Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum • Speak No Evil •Blue Note

9:09 AM Project Film • Faces in the Summer • Different Rooms • Tandem Shop

Saturday, January 31, 2015

January 31, 2015 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #238)


9:00 AM The National • I Should Live In Salt • Trouble Will Find Me • 4AD

9:04 AM Wondermints • Porpoise Song • Wondermints •Castle Music

9:07 AM Until the Ribbon Breaks • Romeo • A Lesson Unlearnt • Kobalt

Saturday, January 24, 2015

January 24, 2015 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #237) -- FIFTH ANNIVERSARY SHOW


Today show was five years and one day after my first official CHIRP Radio show. It has been a fantastic five years -- every show is a bonus.

9:01 AM The Sneetches • A Good Thing • Blow Out the Sun •Spin Art

9:04 AM C.W. McCall • Convoy • Black Bear Road • MGM

9:08 AM Mega Bog • Cologne in the Night • Gone Banana •Couple Skate

Saturday, January 17, 2015

January 17, 2015 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #236)


Today marked the five year anniversary of CHIRP Radio as a streaming internet station. It's been an amazing time.

9:02 AM David Bowie • Five Years • The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust • RCA

9:06 AM Tim Finn • Couldn't Be Done • Imaginary Kingdom •Parlophone

9:10 AM She & Him • Stay Awhile • Classics • Columbia

Saturday, January 10, 2015

January 10, 2015 CHIRP Playlist (Show #235)


9:02 AM Roky Erickson with Okkervil River • Devotional Number One • True Love Cast Out All Evil • ANTI-

9:05 AM Gleaming Spires • How To Get Girls Through Hypnotism • Songs of the Spires • Posh Boy

9:10 AM Jessie Ware • Tough Love • Tough Love • Cherrytree

Saturday, January 3, 2015

January 3, 2015 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #234)

This was the second half of my Top 40 Records of 2014 special(s). The ranking is in parentheses behind the appropriate LPs.

9:01 AM Lykke Li • No Rest for the Wicked • I Never Learn •Atlantic (#20)

9:05 AM Marianne Faithfull • Sparrows Will Sing • Give My Love To London • Easy Sound Recording Co. (#19)

9:08 AM Andy Stott • Damage • Faith in Strangers • Modern Love