December 31, 2016 CHIRP Radio Show playlist (Show #320)

This was part one of my two part review of my 50 favorite albums of 2016. I have put my ranking of the respective albums in parentheses.

9:01 AM Loretta Lynn • Who's Gonna Miss Me? • Full Circle • Sony Legacy (#50)

9:04 AM PJ Harvey • River Anacostia • The Hope Six Demolition Project • Island (#49)

9:09 AM Kabanjak • Somebody • The Dooza Tapes Vol. 1 • Switchstance

My Top 40 Albums of 2016

By consensus, 2016 was a pretty lousy year. Some good things happened, but, in the end, y'know...Trump happened. And, of course, we lost so many musical legends, including one who bowed out with a career highlight. But the music kept going and lot of it was terrific. I listened to somewhere around 180 to 200 full albums this year. The usual disclaimers apply: 1) this is just my faves. With so many albums and so little time, no one can make a definitive list, and, 2) once you get past the top 25 or so albums, the difference between the individual albums is pretty small...and there are about 30-40 more albums I considered. Without further ado, here it goes.

1. Beyonce -- Lemonade (Parkwood/Columbia): She has been a superstar for so long, and, due to her ubiquity, I never bothered to check out anything beyond the hits. Watching the HBO longform video album made me realize what a mistake I had made not delving more deeply. In a year that brought us the death of David Bowie and Prince, this is the album we needed -- one of the biggest stars in music making a definitive statement. What is striking about this album is how Beyonce takes any style she feels like to match the thoughts and feelings she is trying to express. Whether it’s chilly modern electro-soul, rock, or Americana, among other styles, she takes it and makes it hers, making her message(s) all the more powerful.

2. Michael Kiwanuka -- Love & Hate (Polydor): I loved Kiwanuka’s debut album, but seeing him live, it was clear that there was a lot teeming under the surface of his retro soul-folk-rock. This album picks up on that, and manages to be more sweeping and epic, yet also more direct and personal. Working with Dangermouse and Paul Butler, Kiwanuka continues updating ‘70s music tropes, but with greater purpose, putting his expressive voice to work and showing his guitar playing is just as impressive.

3. Emma Pollock – In Search of Harperfield (Chemikal Underground): The third solo album from this former member of the Delgados provides the same stately pop pleasures of her best material of her former band. Pollock is an authoritative vocalist and the tunes are state-of-the-art indie rock and chamber pop, with really smart lyrics. This is proof that you can do a rock album about being middle aged, as Pollock addresses a lot of those concerns in inviting packages. This is the culmination of her great work over the years. An overlooked gem.

December 24, 2016 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #319)

9:00 AM Stevie Wonder and Andra Day • Someday at Christmas • Merry Christmas from Andra Day • Warner Bros.

9:03 AM Doleful Lions • Jesus Christ • Stuck in the Chimney (More Christmas Singles) • Parasol

9:08 AM Josienne Clarke & Ben Walker • Something Familiar • Overnight • Rough Trade

December 10, 2016 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #318)

9:00 AM The Jam • The Bitterest Pill (I Ever Had to Swallow) • The Bitterest Pill (I Ever Had to Swallow) • Polydor

9:04 AM Angel Olsen • Always Half Strange • Half Way Home• Bathetic

9:06 AM Saba • Stoney (featuring Phoelix & BJRKNC) • Bucket List Project • self-released

November 26, 2016 CHIRP Radio Show (Show #317)

9:01 AM Rumer • Balance of Nature • This Girl's In Love • Eastwest

9:05 AM Buddy Holly • Peggy Sue Got Married • Down the Line • Geffen

9:07 AM Jagwar Ma • High Rotations • Every Now and Then • Mom + Pop

November 19, 2016 CHIRP Radio show (Show #316)

9:01 AM Jim James • Hide in Plain Sight • Eternally Even • Capitol

9:06 AM Scotty • Draw Your Brakes • The Harder They Come• Island

9:08 AM The Flat Five • Bottom Buck • It's a World of Love and Hope • Bloodshot

November 12, 2016 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #315)

9:01am Yello Pacific AM from Toy (Polydor)

9:06am Janelle Monae Mr. President from Metropolis: The Chase Scene (Special Edition) (Bad Boy/Wondaland)

9:10am The Baird Sisters Towpath Drill from Until You Find Your Green (Ba Da Bing)

October 29, 2016 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #314)

9:01 AM Nicole Atkins • A Little Crazy • Goodnight, Rhonda Lee • self-released

9:05 AM Sweet • Lady Starlight • Give Us A Wink • Capitol

9:07 AM Tony Molina • No One Told Me • Confront the Truth •Slumberland

October 22, 2016 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #313)

9:01 AM Kandace Springs • Leavin' • Soul Eyes • Blue Note

9:05 AM Jerry Lee Lewis • Middle Age Crazy • Country Memories • Mercury

9:10 AM Roy Montgomery • A Guitar Called Boomslang • R M H Q: Headquarters • Grapefruit

October 15, 2016 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #312)

9:01 AM Juliana Hatfield • Needle in the Hay • Say Yes! A Tribute to Elliott Smith • American Laundromat

9:05 AM Otis Redding • Ole Man Trouble • Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul • Volt

9:07 AM Ultimate Painting • Bills • Dusk • Trouble in Mind

October 8, 2016 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #311)

9:00 AM Bon Iver • 33 "GOD" • 22, A Million • Jagjaguwar

9:04 AM T-Bone Burnett • Dope Island • Tooth of the Crime •Nonesuch

9:08 AM Graveola e O Lixo Polifônico • Costi • Camaleão Borboleta • Mais un Discos

October 1, 2016 CHIRP Radio Show playlist (Show #310)

9:01 AM Billy Bragg & Joe Henry • The L & N Don't Stop Here Anymore • Shine a Light • Cooking Vinyl

9:05 AM Prince • Annie Christian • Controversy • Warner Bros.

9:10 AM Rebecca Schiffman • Long Weekend • Rebecca Schiffman • Fayettenam

September 17, 2016 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #309)

9:02 AM Lindsay Buckingham • It Was You • Under the Skin •Reprise

9:05 AM Lush • Chirpy Chirpy Cheep • Topolino • 4AD

9:07 AM Jack Rose • Miss May's Place • Dr. Ragtime & His Pals • Three Lobed

September 10, 2016 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #308 -- Self Indulgent Birthday Show!)

9:01 AM Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds • Skeleton Tree •Skeleton Tree • Bad Seed Ltd.

9:05 AM Madness • The Prince • Ultimate Collection • Hip-O

9:07 AM Vieux Kanté • Fatoumata • The Young Man's Harp •Sterns Music

September 3, 2016 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #307)

9:01 AM Silver Apples • Missin' You • Clinging to a Dream •ChickenCoop

9:05 AM Katy Perry • Hackensack • Unplugged • Capitol

9:08 AM The Chairman Dances • Augustine • Time Without Measure • Black Rd

August 27, 2016 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #306)

9:00 AM Frank Ocean • Self Control • Blonde • self-released

9:04 AM Nada Surf • Blonde on Blonde • Let Go • Barsuk

9:08 AM AT/ALL • Deeper • Sun Dog • self-released

August 20, 2016 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #305)

9:01 AM Dolly Parton • Can't Be That Wrong • Pure & Simple• RCA

9:05 AM Tom Waits • Danny Says • Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards • ANTI-

9:08 AM Whyte Horses • La Coteur Originelle • Pop or Not •CRC

August 13, 2016 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #304)

9:01 AM Cat's Eyes • Drag • Treasure House • Kobalt

9:04 AM UB40 • As Always You Were Wrong Again • Geffery Morgan • A & M

9:08 AM Cara & Mike Gangloff with the Great American Drone Orchestra • Sentimental Journey • Knock on Life's Door • MIE Music

August 6, 2016 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #303)

9:02 AM Noname • Sunny Duet (w/The Mind) • Telefone • self-released

9:04 AM Erasure • Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime •Other People's Songs • Mute

9:07 AM Ali Beletic • Stone Fox • Legends of These Lands Left to Live • Lightning

July 30, 2016 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #302)

9:02 AM Jamila Woods • HEAVN • HEAVN • Closed Sessions

9:05 AM The Replacements • Sixteen Blue • Let It Be •Twin/Tone

9:09 AM Fear of Men • Ruins • Fall Forever • Kanine

Double Door no more?

After a lengthy litigation, a Cook County judge today ordered the eviction of Double Door from it's space on Milwaukee and Damen. This is generating cries of outrage and disbelief. At one level, I get it -- the club became a Wicker Park institution. But, on the other hand, I'm pretty unsympathetic.

The owners of the Double Door (one of those owners is Joe Shanahan, who must be much less involved in Double Door)have not had the best relationship with the landlord of the old liquor store/bar that they converted into a club. In 2005, there was legal action that was resolved. You would think that this would have put the Double Door on notice to tread carefully and adhere to their lease. Based on the coverage of the trial that led to this eviction, you would turn out to be wrong. The landlords had two issues: 1) Double Door had fallen months behind on its rent, and, 2) Double Door failed to follow the terms of the lease to execute an extension. The provision required notice by certified mail with a certain amount of time before the lease's expiration date. According to the landlord, they never received any notice.

There was not much in the news coverage regarding the rent. I get the impression that the failure to pay was conceded. The big issue was the extension. And Double Door's defense was not a good one. The claim was that one of the owners wrote a note seeking to extend the lease and threw it in with a (apparently rare) rent check. In other words, the Double Door's defense was, "Hey, we violated the lease, but we really wanted to renew." Ultimately, the judge didn't buy it, and the eviction date will be set at a subsequent court date (DD has shows booked into November).

Now, all is not lost. Double Door can appeal, which could delay things. We'll see if they do.

It should also be noted that the judge gave the parties ample time to settle this. The landlord obviously wants to jack up the rent, and Double Door, based on its non-payment of the rent, likely had a problem with it. While it sucks that bands many no longer be able to play there, the landlord is entitled to make money off the place.

So we've lost a cultural institution, I suppose. I've certainly seen some fine shows there. I saw a Facebook post where someone got married there. It has sentimental value, for sure.

But, in the end, Chicago will survive. It always has. I think of all the clubs that have come and gone over the years. Club Dreamerz (where I first saw Didjits and The Jesus Lizard). The West End (I saw The Feelies close it down with 8 encores!). Gunther Murphy's. Thurston's. The Note. Batteries Not Included. The original Exit. The Elbo Room (wait...The Elbo Room is still open? How the fuck did that happen???).

And Lounge Ax. It was a really big deal when Lounge Ax had to shut down due to noise complaints. The place had booked so many great acts. It was romanticized to the nth degree. But you know what? It was a really lousy place to see a show. A small, narrow space with a low stage, meaning that if you weren't within 15 feet of the stage, it was hard to see. And when it was hot during the summer, it was miserable. I felt bad it had to close, but I never really missed it.

And that's how I feel about Double Door. While the repurposing of the place was kind of neat, it didn't have the greatest PA or sight lines, had the sound board in an awkward place, and once you got towards the back, it was just a place where people gabbed. I'll remember it for my show there (Elastica w/Smoking Popes), seeing the original line up of Naked Raygun days before my wedding, Frisbie's first record release show and Didjits' last ever show, among others.

But there nothing about the space that can't be replaced, and replaced by something better. Most clubs are fungible dumps. I'm going to Empty Bottle tonight to see Royal Headache and Negative Scanner, and while I've seen many great shows there, the room itself ain't much. If it went, something would take it's place. Something always has.

Maybe it's a blow to Wicker Park, but I think Wicker Park can handle it. Who knows, maybe the next occupant will also be a music venue.

July 9, 2016 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #301)

9:00 AM John Lee Hooker • Too Much Boogie • The Legendary Modern Recordings • Flair

9:03 AM The Fall • Petty (Thief) Lout • This Nation's Saving Grace • Beggars Banquet

9:09 AM Jaye Bartell • Light Enough • Light Enough •Sinderlyn

Mid-year Top 40 albums of 2016

This is a very loose ranking of my favorite albums of what has already been a terrific year for new music. After the first 10 or 11, the rankings aren't really that thought out. There are video or audio clips where available. I was surprised how much harder it was to get things -- apparently Google doesn't allow for 100% Blogger/YouTube synergy.

1. Beyonce – Lemonade

2. Suede – Night Thoughts

3. Emma Pollock – In Search of Harperfield

July 2, 2016 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #300)

For this show, I played at least one 3:00 song every set. I've marked those songs with an asterisk.

9:01 AM Bat For Lashes • In God's House • The Bride •Warner Bros.

9:06 AM The Pearlfishers • Say Goodbye to the Fairground* •Sky Meadows • Marina

9:08 AM Samara Lubeski • The Spectacle of Exile • The Gilded Raid • Drawing Room

June 25, 2016 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #299)

9:00 AM Garbage • If I Lost You • Strange Little Birds • Stun Volume/BMG

9:04 AM The Members • Working Girl • Uprhythm, Downbeat •Arista

9:08 AM Mitski • Your Best American Girl • Puberty 2 • Dead Oceans

June 11, 2016 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #298)

9:01 AM Paul Simon • Insomniac's Lullaby • Stranger To Stranger • Concord

9:05 AM James Blake • I Need a Forest Fire (Ft. Bon Iver) •The Colour in Anything • Republic

9:10 AM Cassius Clay • Round 3: Do You Have to Ask? • I Am The Greatest! • Columbia

May 28, 2016 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #297)

9:00 AM The Jayhawks • Lovers of the Sun • Paging Mr. Proust • Sham

9:03 AM James Carr • These Ain't Raindrops • The Essential James Carr • Razor & Tie

9:05 AM Mosaics • Freedom • Year of Valor • self-released

May 21, 2016 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #296)

9:00 AM Bob Dylan • Skylark • Fallen Angels • Columbia

9:03 AM The Pharcyde • Moment in Time • Labcabincalifornia• Delicious Vinyl

9:06 AM Chris Cohen • Torrey Pine • As If Apart • Captured Tracks

May 14, 2016 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #295)

9:01 AM James Blake • Put That Away and Talk to Me • The Colour in Anything • Republic

9:05 AM Elliott Smith • Easy Way Out • Figure 8 •Dreamworks

9:08 AM John Carpenter • Persia Rising • Lost Themes II •Sacred Bones

May 7, 2016 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #294)

9:01 AM The Monkees • You Bring the Summer • Good Times!• Rhino

9:04 AM Stevie Wonder • Jesus Children Of America •Innervisions • Tamla

9:08 AM Wild Belle • Our Love Will Survive • Dreamland •Columbia

April 16, 2016 CHIRP Radio show playlist (Show #293)

9:01 AM Margo Price • Tennessee Song • Midwest Farmer's Daughter • Third Man

9:05 AM Portishead • Undenied • Portishead • Go! Beat

9:09 AM MMOTHS • Lucid • Luneworks • Because/OYAE

April 9, 2016 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #292)

9:02 AM Merle Haggard • Irma Jackson • Let Me Tell You About a Song • Capitol

9:04 AM Fire Hot Opera • Decisions • Test Market Fresh • self-released

9:07 AM The Last Shadow Puppets • Everything You've Come to Expect • Everything You've Come to Expect• Domino

April 2, 2016 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #291)

9:01 AM Bombino • Ashuhada (Martyrs of the First Rebellion) •Azel • Partisan

9:04 AM Archer Prewitt • You Walk By • In the Sun • Carrot Top

9:07 AM Mavis Staples • High Note • Livin' on a High Note •Anti-

A rough list of my favorite albums of 2016, so far.

Or, should I say, an extremely rough list of favorite albums. I think it has been a wonderful year so far for music, and it will be very difficult putting together a year end list if the quality remains this high. The rankings are pretty tight as far as the first seven, after that, I could rerank them dozens of ways. So here I go:

1. Suede -- Night Thoughts
2. Emma Pollock -- In Search of Harperfield
3. David Bowie -- Blackstar
4. Thao & The Get Down Stay Down -- A Man Alive
5. Esperanza Spaulding -- Emily's D+Evolution
6. Robbie Fulks -- Upland Stories
7. Anderson .Paak -- Malibu
8. Besnard Lakes -- A Coliseum Complex Museum
9. Loretta Lynn -- Full Circle
10. Emitt Rhodes -- Rainbow Ends
11. Mavis Staples -- Livin' on a High Note
12. Savages -- Adore Life
13. Michael Carpenter -- Big Radio
14. Bob Mould -- Patch the Sky
15. Doleful Lions -- Serious Moonlight Demonstration
16. Field Music -- Commontime
17. Gogo Penguin -- Man Made Object
18. John Cale -- MFANS
19. I Don't Cares -- Wild Stab
20. King -- We Are King

March 26, 2016 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #290)

9:01 AM Sturgill Simpson • In Bloom • A Sailor's Guide to Earth • Atlantic

9:05 AM Dennis Wilson • Moonshine • Pacific Ocean Blue •Epic/Legacy

9:07 AM Eryn Allen Kane • How Many Times • Aviary: Act II •1552

March 19, 2016 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #289)

9:02 AM Robbie Fulks • Aunt Peg's New Old Man • Upland Stories • Bloodshot

9:05 AM Rose Royce • I Wanna Get Next to You • Car Wash •MCA

9:10 AM toe • A Desert Human • Hear You • Topshelf

March 12, 2016 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #288)

Today, two of the sets were done by trainee Sarah, who did a swell job.

9:03 AM The Specials • Why? • Ghost Town 12"` • Chrysalis

9:06 AM Jolie Holland • All Those Girls • Pint of Blood • ANTI

9:09 AM King • Red Eye • We Are King • King Unlimited

March 5, 2016 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #287)

9:03 AM Loretta Lynn • Whispering Sea • Full Circle • Sony

9:05 AM Charlotte Gainsbourg • Le Chat Du Café Des Artistes • IRM • Because Music

9:10 AM Mavis Staples • Love And Trust • Livin' On A High Note • Anti-

February 27, 2016 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #286)

9:01 AM Van Hunt • Digi Wit (inappropriate mix) • Free Association • Godless Hotspot

9:04 AM Bruce Springsteen • My Father's House • Nebraska• Columbia

9:10 AM Porches • Braid • Pool • Domino

February 20, 2016 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #285)

9:01 AM Mount Moriah • Baby Blue • How to Dance • Merge

9:04 AM The Lucksmiths • I Prefer the Twentieth Century •Where Were We? • Matinee

9:07 AM The Luxury Fever • Sunlight • Povera • self-released

February 13, 2016 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #284)

9:01 AM Doleful Lions • Heart of the Master • Serious Moonlight Demonstration • self-released

9:05 AM The Commodores • Just To Be Close To You • Hot On The Tracks • Motown

9:08 AM Takénobu • Dreams • Reversal • self-released

February 6, 2016 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #283)

9:00 AM The Modern Lovers • The Morning of Our Lives •Live • Beserkley

9:05 AM Plush • Born Together • Fed • Candlewick Lake

9:08 AM Woo • Ruby Past Lives • Awaawaa • Palto Flats

January 30, 2016 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #282)

9:00 AM Massive Attack • Dead Editors • Ritual Spirit •Melankolic Recordings

9:05 AM Neil Finn + Paul Kelly • Four Seasons in One Day •Goin' Your Way • Omnivore

9:08 AM d. stine • when summer flaps its wings + heads south• the pinwheel • self-released

January 23, 2016 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #281 -- 6th anniversary show!)

9:01 AM Freakwater • The Asp and the Albatross •Scheherazade • Bloodshot

9:04 AM Coldair • Holy Soul • The Provider • Twelves

9:08 AM Tears For Fears • Ashes to Ashes • Ruby Trax •NME

January 9, 2016 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #280)

9:01 AM The Besnard Lakes • Necronomicon • A Coliseum Complex Museum • Jagjaguwar

9:05 AM Christina Vantzou • The Future • No. 3 • Kranky

9:08 AM Willie Nelson • Blackjack County Chain • Minstrel Man • RCA

January 2, 2016 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #279)

This was part two of my special Top 50 albums of 2015 countdown. The ranked albums are indicated in parentheses.

9:01 AM Ought • Sun's Coming Down • Sun Coming Down •Constellation (#25)

9:06 AM Protomartyr • Dope Cloud • The Agent Intellect •Hardly Art (#24)

9:09 AM Kishi Bashi • Manchester • String Quartet Live! •Joyful Noise