December 30, 2017 CHIRP Radio Show Playlist (Show #368)

6:00 AM Bedouine • Summer Cold • Bedouine • Spacebomb

6:03 AM The Jacksons • Enjoy Yourself • The Jacksons • Epic

6:06 AM Paul Weller • Woo Se Mama • Kind Revolution • Warner Bros./Parlophone

December 23, 2017 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #367)

9:00 AM Brian Wilson • Love and Mercy • Brian Wilson • Warner Bros.

9:03 AM Andra Day (with Stevie Wonder) • Someday at Christmas • Merry Christmas from Andra Day • Warner Bros.

9:06 AM Two Sets of Eyes • For the Last Time • Two Sets of Eyes EP • Self-Released

My Top 40 albums of 2017

I listened to at least 150 albums full through this year, and these are the ones that stuck with me the most. As always, the usual caveats: 1) I only base the list on albums I own, so things I really dug but didn't purchase, like B Boys, didn't make it, 2) of course, there are many terrific albums I've never gotten around to, like Alvvays' latest, for example, and, 3) the rankings mean a bit less the further down the list this goes, the distinctions between 21 and 25, for example, are very small. I also had to figure out what to do with Run The Jewels, whose third album was offered for free in mid-December, but not physically out until 2017. I decided to exclude it. There are also a number of records that could have made the 40 during a different week. It's just a matter of when the wheel stops spinning.

December 16, 2017 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #366)

9:00 AM Wilco • Please Be Patient With Me • Sky Blue Sky • Nonesuch

9:03 AM Imagination • Just an Illusion • In the Heat of the Night • BR Music

9:07 AM ChanHays • Never Knew (featuring Supastition, Ambition & One Be Lo) • Here • Droppin' Science

December 2, 2017 CHIRP Playlist (Show #365)

9:00 AM Fine Young Cannibals • Johnny Come Home • Fine Young Cannibals • I.R.S.

9:03 AM Rumer • Slow • Seasons of My Soul • Atlantic

9:07 AM Brooklyn Raga Massive • Cells 9–11 • Terry Riley in C • Northern Spy

November 25, 2017 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #364)

8:59 AM Neko Case • That Teenage Feeling • Fox Confessor Brings the Flood • ANTI-

9:02 AM Kraftwerk • Expo2000 • Expo2000 • EMI Electrola

9:05 AM Lost Horizons • Score the Sky • Ojalá • Bella Union

November 18, 2017 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #363)

9:01 AM The Cramps • Goo Goo Muck • Psychedelic Jungle • I.R.S.

9:04 AM Portishead • Roads • Dummy • Go! Discs

9:09 AM Fazerdaze • Bedroom Talks • Morningside • Flying Nun

November 11, 2017 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #362)

9:00 AM Robbie Fulks • The Buck Starts Here • Country Love Songs • Bloodshot

9:03 AM Norman Connors • You Are My Starship • You Are My Starship • Buddah

9:08 AM Julien Baker • Hurt Less • Turn Out the Lights • Matador

November 4, 2017 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #361)

9:01 AM XTC • Harvest Festival • Apple Venus • Idea/TVT

9:04 AM The Dells • There Is • There Is • Cadet

9:08 AM Tricky • It's Your Day • Ununiform • False Idols

October 28, 2017 CHIRP Radio Show playlist (Show #360)

9:01 AM Frisbie • New Debut • New Debut • Appendix

9:04 AM Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith • Until I Remember • The Kid • Western Vinyl

9:11 AM Julien Baker • Turn Out the Lights • Turn Out the Lights • Matador

October 21, 2017 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #359)

9:01 AM Margo Price • Pay Gap • All American Made • Third Man

9:05 AM Kamasi Washington • Humility • Harmony of Difference • Young Turks

9:08 AM Split Enz • Late Last Night • Second Thoughts • Mushroom

October 14, 2017 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #358)

9:02 AM Neil Finn • Second Nature • Out of Silence • Lester Records

9:05 AM k.d. lang • (Waltz Me) Once Again Around the Dance Floor • Shadowland • Sire

9:08 AM Spa Moans • Wet Goddess • Obedient Vibrations • Drop Medium

October 7, 2017 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #357)

9:02 AM Lee "Scratch" Perry & the Subatomic Sound System • Chase the Devil • Super Ape Returns to Conquer • Subatomic Sound

9:05 AM The Flaming Lips • Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots• The Future Dictionary of America • Barsuk

9:08 AM Plates of Cake • The Good Book • Let's Not Deprive Each Other • Unblinking Ear

September 30, 2017 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #356)

9:02 AM Ibeyi • Away Away • Ash • XL

9:05 AM Richard Hawley • I Still Want You • Hollow Meadows• Parlophone

9:09 AM Sparks • Unaware • Hippopotamus • BMG

September 23, 2017 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #355)

9:01 AM The Clientele • Everyone You Meet • Music for the Age of Miracles • Merge

9:06 AM Rumer • Alfie • B Sides & Rarities • Atlantic

9:09 AM Neil Young • Human Highway • Hitchhiker • Reprise

September 16, 2017 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #354)

9:02 AM Yusef • The Laughing Apple • The Laughing Apple • Cat-o-Log

9:05 AM John Holt • Help Me Make it Through the Night • Trojan UK Hits Box Set • Trojan

9:08 AM Lisa LeBlanc • 5748Km • Why You Wanna Leave, Runaway Queen • Bonsound

September 9, 2017 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #353)

9:02 AM Sparks • I Wish You Were Fun • Hippopotamus • BMG

9:06 AM Donna Summer • The Wanderer • The Wanderer • Geffen

9:09 AM Ben Sollee • Presence • Ben Sollee and Kentucky Native • Soundly

September 2, 2017 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #352)

9:01 AM Richard Thompson • Bathsheba Smiles • Acoustic Classics II • Beeswing

9:04 AM K-os • The Love Song • Joyful Noise • Virgin/Astralwerks

9:09 AM Akai Tori • Takeda No Komori Uta • Even a Tree Can Shed Tears: Japanese Folk & Rock 1969-1973 • Light in the Attic

August 26, 2017 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #351)

9:01 AM Azealia Banks • Escapades • single • self-released

9:05 AM Eddie Rabbitt • Someone Could Lose a Heart Tonight • Step By Step • Elektra

9:08 AM Nicole Atkins • A Little Crazy • Goodnight Rhonda Lee • Single Lock

August 19, 2017 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #350)

8:59 AM Wilco • All Lives, You Say? • single • dBpm

9:02 AM Kirsty MacColl • Celestine • Tropical Brainstorm • Instinct

9:06 AM Sudan Archives • Oatmeal • Sudan Archives • Stones Throw

August 12, 2017 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #349)

9:00 AM The Beach Boys • Caroline No • Pet Sounds • Capitol

9:02 AM XTC • This World Over • The Big Express • Virgin

9:08 AM Bedouine • Nice and Quiet • Bedouine • Spacebomb

August 5, 2017 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #348)

9:01 AM Kelela • LMK • Take Me Apart • Warp

9:05 AM Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark • Almost • Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark • Virgin

9:08 AM James Elkington • Make it Up • Wintres Woma • Paradise of Bachelors

July 22, 2017 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #347)

9:01 AM Cornelius • The Spell of a Vanishing Loveliness • Mellow Waves • Rostrum

9:03 AM Björk • Hyperballad • Post • Elektra

9:09 AM SZA • Garden (Say it Like Dat) • CTRL • Top Dawg

July 15, 2017 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #346)

9:01 AM Rhye • Please • single • Loma Vista

9:04 AM Phosphorescent • Can I Sleep In Your Arms • To Willie • Dead Oceans

9:08 AM Fleet Foxes • Kept Woman • Crack-Up • Nonesuch

July 8, 2017 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #345)

9:00 AM Toro Y Moi • No Show • Boo Boo • Carpark

9:05 AM Stray Cats • I Won't Stand in Your Way • Rant n' Rave With the Stray Cats • EMI America

9:07 AM Sam Amidon • Juma Mountain • The Following Mountain • Nonesuch

9:13 AM James Elkington • Grief Is Not Coming • Wintres Woma • Paradise of Bachelors

My mid-year Top 20 albums (and a few more that came close)

This is a pretty off the cuff list, so I'm sure things will shift considerably just among these albums as the year goes on. What counts as a new release is somewhat subjective, but I feel that since the Thelonious Monk album was never before released, it can't be a reissue, so it must be new. And although the Run The Jewels was digitally released right before 2016's end, the physical release was 2017, and that's good enough for me. Of course, there are things I need to get, and things I forgot, and things I just got (like the new Vince Staples, for example) that I haven't listened to enough.

1. Songhoy Blues -- Résistance
2. Rhiannon Giddens -- Freedom Highway
3. Thelonious Monk -- Les Liaisons Dangereuses 1960
4. Run The Jewels -- Run The Jewels 3
5. Algiers -- The Underside of Power
6. Syd -- Fin
7. Temples -- Volcano
8. B Boys -- Dada
9. Jay Som -- Everybody Works
10. Sampha -- Process
11. Rose Elinor Dougall -- Stellular
12. Mark Lanegan Band -- Gargoyle
13. Joan Shelley -- Joan Shelley
14. The New Pornographers -- Whiteout Conditions
15. Andrew Combs -- Canyons of My Mind
16. Ibibio Sound Machine -- Uyai
17. Robyn Hitchcock -- Robyn Hitchcock
18. British Sea Power -- Let the Dancers Inherit the Party
19. Laura Marling -- Semper Femina
20. Juana Molina -- Halo
21. Dutch Uncles -- Big Balloon
22. Kendrick Lamar -- Damn
23. Ron Sexsmith -- The Last Rider
24. Ambrose Akinmusire -- A Rift in Decorum
25. Mark Eitzel -- Hey Mr. Ferryman
26. Real Estate -- In Mind
27. Aimee Mann -- Mental Illness
28. Panda Riot -- Infinity Maps
29. Sacred Paws -- Strike a Match
30. Paul Weller -- A Kind Revolution
31. BNQT -- Volume 1
32. Maximo Park -- Risk to Exist

July 1, 2017 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #344)

9:01 AM TLC • Perfect Girls • TLC • 852 Musiq

9:05 AM The Pipettes • Because It's Not Love (But It's Still A Feeling) • We Are the Pipettes • Memphis Industries

9:07 AM Big Sadie • Need Your Love • Keep Me Waiting • Spindle Tree Records

June 24, 2017 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #343)

9:02 AM Thelonious Monk • Six in One • Les Liasons Dangeureuses 1960 • Sam

9:06 AM Minutemen • Have You Ever Seen the Rain? • 3-Way Tie (For Last) • SST

9:09 AM The New Zeitgeist • Lack of Linear Thought • Myths and Mortals • self-released

June 17, 2017 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #342)

9:01 AM Fleet Foxes • On Another Ocean (January/June) • Crack-Up • Nonesuch

9:05 AM Otis Clay • Trying to Live My Life Without You • Trying to Live My Life Without You • Hi

9:08 AM TALSounds • Disgrace • Love Sick • Ba Da Bing

June 10, 2017 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #341)

9:02 AM Los Straitjackets • (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding • Peace, Love and Los Straitjackets • Yep Roc

9:05 AM FKA twigs • Kicks • LP1 • Young Turks

9:10 AM Sam Amidon • Blackbird • The Following Mountain • Nonesuch

9:14 AM Aldous Harding • Horizon • Party • 4AD

9:19 AM BJ The Chicago Kid • Shine • In My Mind • Motown

9:22 AM The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band • The Equestrian Solider • Gorilla • Liberty

9:26 AM Kronos Quartet • Lullaby with Rhiannon Giddens • Folk Songs • Nonesuch

9:29 AM The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band • You Are My Flower • Will the Circle Be Unbroken • Liberty

9:33 AM Do Make Say Think • Shlomo's Son • Stubborn Persistent Illusions • Constellation

9:38 AM Wilco • Open Mind • The Whole Love • dBpm

9:41 AM Chris Stamey • Cara Lee • It's Alright • A & M

9:45 AM Cigarettes After Sex • Sunsetz • Cigarettes After Sex • Partisan

9:50 AM Saint Etienne • Magpie Eyes • Home Counties • Heavenly

9:53 AM Makaya McCraven • Slightest Right • In The Moment• International Anthem

9:56 AM A House • She Keeps Me Humble • Wide Eyed and Ignorant • Sentanta

10:01 AM Lindsey Buckingham Christine McVie • Love Is Here to Stay • Lindsey Buckingham Christine McVie • Atlantic

10:05 AM Curren$y • Money Machine • Weekend at Burnie's • Warner Bros.

10:09 AM Jane Weaver • The Architect • Modern Kosmology • Partisan

10:15 AM The Como Mamas • Almighty God Mighty God • Move Upstairs • Daptone

10:17 AM Wye Oak • Glory • Shriek • Merge

10:22 AM Dwight Yoakam • A Thousand Miles From Nowhere • This Time • Reprise

10:28 AM John San Juan • Back for Less • Smashed • self-released

10:31 AM Booker T. Jones • Can't Wait (featuring Estelle) • Sound The Alarm • Stax

10:34 AM BNQT • Real Love • Volume 1 • Dualtone

10:39 AM Diana Ross & The Supremes • The Composer • Let the Sunshine In • Motown

10:42 AM Shrimpss • Say Goodbye to Us • Shrimpss • self-released

10:45 AM Perfume Genius • Otherside • No Shape • Matador

10:50 AM Kevin Morby • Tin Can • City Music • Dead Oceans

10:53 AM Lene Lovich • Angels • Flex • Stiff

10:56 AM Television • Venus • Marquee Moon • Elektra

11:01 AM Chuck Berry • Lady B. Goode • Chuck • Dualtone

11:04 AM Annette Poindexter & Pieces Of Peace • Mama • Eccentric Soul: Twinight's Lunar Rotation • Numero Group

11:06 AM The National • The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness • Sleep Well Beast • 4AD

11:13 AM Chastity Belt • Used to Spend • I Used to Spend So Much Time Alone • Hardly Art

11:17 AM Cream • Sweet Wine • Fresh Cream • Polydor

11:20 AM Lizzo • W.E.R.K. Pt. II • Lizzobangers • Totally Gross National Product

11:24 AM B Boys • Energy • Dada • Captured Tracks

11:28 AM Joe Elliott's Down 'n' Outz • Good Times • My ReGeneration • Mailboat

11:31 AM Ellen Allien • Jack My Ass • Nost • BPitch Control

11:39 AM The Jesus Lizard • The Art Of Self-Defense • Liar • Touch and Go

11:42 AM The Scruffs • This Thursday • Wanna' Meet The Scruffs? • Rev-Ola

11:44 AM The Clams • Hecho en Tejas • Gunslinger • 1980

11:49 AM Ho99o9 • New Jersey Devil • United States of Horror• Toys Have Powers

11:51 AM The White Stripes • Forever For Her (Is Over For Me) • Get Behind Me Satan • V2

11:54 AM The Boomtown Rats • A Storm Breaks • V Deep • Mercury

May 27, 2017 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #340)

9:02 AM Erasure • Oh What a World • World Be Gone • Mute

9:06 AM Hot Chocolate • A Love Like Yours • Cicero Park • Big Tree

9:09 AM Joan Shelley • We'd Be Home • Joan Shelley • No Quarter

May 20, 2017 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #339)

9:01 AM BNQT • Failing at Feeling • Volume 1 • Dualtone

9:05 AM Margo Guryan • Yes I Am • 25 Demos • Franklin Castle

9:08 AM Bonnie Prince Billy • That's the Way Love Goes • Best Troubador • Drag City

May 13, 2017 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #338)

9:01 AM Todd Rundgren • That Could Have Been Me • White Knight • Cleopatra

9:04 AM Photon Band • If It's a Beautiful Day • It's a Lonely Planet • Darla

9:08 AM El Michels Affair • Snakes (feat. Lee Fields) • Return to the 37th Chamber • Big Crown

May 6, 2017 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #337)

9:01 AM Mac DeMarco • On the Level • This Old Day • Captured Tracks

9:04 AM Aaliyah • Hot Like Fire • One in a Million • Blackground/Atlantic

9:09 AM Arca • Reverie • Arca • XL

April 29, 2017 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #336)

9:02 AM Feist • I Wish I Didn't Miss You • Pleasure • Interscope

9:07 AM Beyoncé • Hold Up • Lemonade • Parkwood

9:10 AM Future Islands • North Star • The Far Field • 4AD

April 22, 2017 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #335)

9:02 AM Jeff Tweedy • Laminated Cat • Together at Last • dBpm

9:06 AM Hollie Cook • Superstar • Superstar 7" • Merge

9:09 AM Jimmy Whoo • Interlude (Full Moon) • Motel Music Part. II • Grande Ville

April 15, 2017 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #334)

9:00 AM Aimee Mann • Simple Fix • Mental Illness • SuperEgo

9:04 AM The Lions • Picture on the Wall • This Generation • Stone's Throw

9:07 AM Craig Finn • Jester & June • We All Want The Same Things • Partisan

April 1, 2017 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #333)

9:00 AM Jon Brion • Voices • Meaningless • Straight to Cut Out

9:08 AM Laura Marling • Wild Once • Semper Femina • More Alarming

9:13 AM Ernest Dawkins New Horizons Ensemble featuring Vijay Ijer • E & V • Transient Takes • self-released

March 25, 2017 CHIRP Radio Show (Show #332)

9:03 AM Jarvis Cocker/Chilly Gonzales • Bombshell • Room 29 • Deutsche Grammophon

9:08 AM P.P. Arnold • To Love Somebody • Kafunta • Immediate

9:10 AM Madeline Ava • Feel It • Fast Break • Athletic Tapes

March 18, 2017 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #331)

9:03 AM Real Estate • Same Sun • In Mind • Domino

9:07 AM Sweet • Reflections • Funny How Sweet Co-Co Can Be • RCA

9:10 AM The Feelies • Pass the Time • In Between • Bar/None

March 11, 2017 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #330)

9:00 AM Laura Marling • Next Time • Semper Femina • More Alarming

9:04 AM Missy Elliott • All N My Grill (feat. Big Boi and Nicole) • Da Real World • Goldmind/EastWest

9:08 AM Molly Burch • Wrong For You • Please Be Mine • Captured Tracks

March 4, 2017 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #329)

9:00 AM Vagabon • Alive and a Well • Infinite Worlds • Father/Daughter

9:04 AM Badfinger • Without You • No Dice • Apple

9:09 AM Hand Habits • Bad Boy • Wildly Idle (Humble Before The Void) • Woodsist

February 25, 2017 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #328)

9:01 AM The Feelies • Stay the Course • In Between • Bar/None

9:05 AM Graham Parker • You Can't Take Love for Granted • The Real Macaw • RCA

9:09 AM Sampha • No One Knows Me (Like the Piano) • Process • Young Turks

February 18, 2017 CHIRP Radio Show playlist (Show #327)

9:01 AM Syd • Body • Fin • Columbia

9:05 AM Sam Phillips • Where the Colors Don't Go • Cruel Inventions • Virgin

9:08 AM Lawrence English • Crow • Cruel Optimism • Room40

February 11, 2017 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #326)

9:01 AM Chuck Prophet • Bad Year for Rock and Roll • Bobby Fuller Died For Your Sins • Yep Roc

9:05 AM The Staple Singers • I Wish I Had Answered • The Ultimate Staple Singers • Kent Soul

9:08 AM Kate Vargas • Second Skin • Strangeclaw • self-released

February 4, 2017 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #325)

Trainee Eric did two sets during my show, which are indicated below.

9:00 AM Sampha • Reverse Faults • Process • Young Turks

9:05 AM Merle Haggard • Son of Hickory Holler's Tramp • Sing Me Back Home • Capitol

9:08 AM Jose Mauro • Apocalipse • Obnoxius • Far Out Recordings

January 28, 2017 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #324)

9:02 AM Mark Eitzel • An Angel's Wing Brushed the Penny Slots • Hey Mr. Ferryman • Merge

9:06 AM Wailing Souls • Act of Affection • Firehouse Rock • Greensleeves

9:09 AM The Purcells • Polaroid Draws • Words Can't Say • self-released

January 21, 2017 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #323)

9:02 AM case/lang/veirs • People Have The Power • single • ANTI-

9:06 AM Neneh Cherry • Woman • Man • Circa

9:11 AM Jose Mauro • Tarde de Nupcias • Obnoxius • Far Out Recordings

January 14, 2017 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #322)

9:01 AM The xx • I Dare You • I See You • Young Turks

9:05 AM Blondie • Once I Had A Love • Plastic Letters • Chrysalis

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

January 7, 2017 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #321)

This was part two of my countdown of my Top 50 albums of 2016. I have put the ranking of the albums in parentheses.

9:01 AM Kandace Springs • The World is a Ghetto • Soul Eyes • Blue Note (#25)

9:05 AM The Lemon Twigs • These Words • Do Hollywood • 4AD (#24)

9:08 AM Rob Noyes • Soft As Lights • The Feudal Spirit • Poon Village