December 28, 2019 CHIRP Playlist (Show #459)

9:01 AM Nilüfer Yanya • Paralysed • Miss Universe • ATO

9:05 AM Robert Forster • I'll Look After You • Inferno • Tapete

9:08 AM Half Gringa • Beauty of the County • So Many Singing Vol. 2 • Ruination

9:16 AM Rhiannon Giddens with Francesco Turrisi • Gonna Write Me a Letter • There Is No Other • Nonesuch

My Top 40 albums of 2019

I really, really thought 2019 was a great year for music. Thanks again to CHIRP Radio, I got exposed to a lot of things I wouldn't have otherwise heard. I listened to a ton of new releases this year -- over 150, by my count. And figuring out what would go in the last 10 or so on this list was incredibly hard. Indeed, if I went through the albums a couple of months from now, you might have found the 2019 albums from the following artists on my list: Sasami, Cloud Eleven, Christian Scott, Tommi Zender, pronoun, Sharon Van Etten, Prince Fatty, Kaina, These New Puritans, Rosie Carney, Angelique Kidjo, The Embrooks, Bryony Jarman-Pinto, Jenny Lewis, Danny Brown, Mark Lanegan Band, and others I've forgotten about. Anyway, this is just a list of the stuff I liked the most, in a year where there was so much to like.

1. Michael Kiwanuka -- Kiwanuka (Polydor/Interscope): A confident Kiwanuka teamed up again with producers Danger Mouse and Inflo to further his intriguing blend of folk, rhythm and blues, and psychedelia. This album builds on its predecessor, Love & Hate, in the best possible ways. Kiwanuka’s vocals are as warm as ever, and he still conjures up wonderful melodies, while he and the producers conjure up a sound rooted in the ‘60s and ‘70s, but with a modern feel. Kiwanuka incisively writes about both personal matters and the ongoing struggle for civil rights with commitment and feeling, creating a very resonate album.

December 21 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #458)

9:01 AM Sparks • Little Drummer Boy • Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins • BMG

9:03 AM Rotary Connection • Peace At Last • Peace • One Way

9:08 AM FKA twigs • home with you • MAGDALENE • Young Turks

9:15 AM Neil Finn • Sweet Secret Peace • Maybe This Christmas • Nettwerk

December 7, 2019 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #457)

9:01 AM Paul Weller • Private Hell • Other Aspects • Parlophone

9:06 AM The Detroit Cobras • Let's Forget the Past • Life, Love and Leaving • Sympathy for the Record Industry

9:09 AM Alexis Gideon • Conception II • Upgrade Soul • FPE

9:14 AM Kali Uchis • Solita • single • Virgin EMI/Interscope

November 30, 2019 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #456)

9:00 AM Material Issue • Very First Lie • International Pop Overthrow • Mercury

9:04 AM Dusty Springfield • Just One Smile • Dusty In Memphis • Atlantic

9:06 AM Josienne Clarke • Leaving London • In All Weather • Rough Trade

9:11 AM Rose Elinor Dougall • How Long • single • Vermilion

November 23, 2019 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #455)

9:00 AM Rumer • Sara Smile • Boys Don't Cry • Atlantic

9:04 AM Real Estate • Primitive • Atlas • Domino

9:08 AM Ka Baird • Spiritus Operis • Respires • RVNG. Intl.

9:14 AM Dessa and the Minnesota Orchestra • Dixon's Girl • Sound the Bells: Recorded Live at Orchestra Hall • Doomtree

November 16, 2019 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #454)

9:01 AM Björk • Jóga • Homogenic • Elektra

9:07 AM Solomon Burke • The Judgement • Don't Give Up on Me • Fat Possum/ANTI-

9:09 AM Steve Hauschildt • A Planet Left Behind • Nonlin • Ghostly International

9:15 AM Pet Shop Boys • Burning the Heather • Hotspot • x2

November 9, 2019 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #453)

9:00 AM Joe Jackson • Real Men • Night and Day • A & M

9:04 AM Japanese Breakfast • Soft Sounds from Another Planet • Soft Sounds from Another Planet • Dead Oceans

9:07 AM Common Holly • Measured • When I say to you Black Lightning • Barsuk/Solitalre

9:13 AM Roy Orbison • It's Over • Live At The BBC • BBC Music

9:15 AM Half Gringa • Wearing White • Too Late to Pray: Defiant Chicago Roots • Bloodshot

November 2. 2019 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #452)

9:00 AM Billie Holiday • Strange Fruit • The Complete Commodore/Decca Masters • Verve

9:03 AM The Stranglers • Golden Brown • La Folie • Liberty

9:07 AM Bria Skonberg • Villain Vanguard • Nothing Never Happens • self-released

9:13 AM Sudan Archives • Limitless • Athena • Stones Throw

October 26, 2019 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #451)

9:01 AM Robyn • Hang With Me • Body Talk Pt. 1 • Konichiwa

9:04 AM Rhiannon Giddens with Francesco Turrisi • Letter • There Is No Other • Nonesuch

9:08 AM WOW • Come La Notte • Come La Notte • Maple Death

9:16 AM The Muffs • A Lovely Day Boo Hoo • No Holiday • Omnivore

October 19, 2019 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #450)

9:00 AM Neko Case • That Teenage Feeling • Fox Confessor Brings the Flood • ANTI-

9:03 AM Cheap Trick • Voices • Dream Police • Epic

9:07 AM (Sandy) Alex G • In My Arms • House of Sugar • Domino

9:13 AM Vagabon • Please Don't Leave the Table • Vagabon • Nonesuch

October 12, 2019 CHIRP Radio Show (Show #449)

9:01 AM The Kinks • Autumn Almanac • Something Else by The Kinks • Essential

9:04 AM Tasha • Winter Song IV • Alone at Last • Father/Daughter

9:08 AM BassKase • Elevator Music • Was It Toronto? • SoundPoint

9:14 AM Charli XCX • Official • Charli • Asylum

October 5, 2019 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #448)

9:01 AM John Lee Hooker • Tease Me Baby • The Legendary Modern Recordings • Virgin Records America

9:04 AM Laura Mvula • Flying Without You • Sing To The Moon • Columbia

9:07 AM Hélène Barbier • Tidal Bore • Have You Met Elliott? • Emotional Response

September 28, 2019 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #447)

9:01 AM Kate Bush • Rocket Man • The Other Sides • Fish People

9:05 AM Mavis Staples • Wrote a Song For Everyone • You Are Not Alone • ANTI-

9:09 AM Hiss Golden Messenger • Terms of Surrender • Terms of Surrender • Merge

September 21, 2019 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #446)

9:01 AM The Andersons! • Since You're Gone • Substitution Mass Confusion: A Tribute to The Cars • Not Lame

9:04 AM P.P. Arnold • Different Drum • The New Adventures of...P.P. Arnold • Edel Family Member

9:08 AM Shannon Lay • Nowhere • August • Sub Pop

September 14, 2019 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #445)

9:01 AM Jim Croce • Mama Tried • Home Recordings: Americana • Shout Factory

9:03 AM Linus of Hollywood • Hot Child in the City • Popsquad presents 1978 • Popsquad

9:06 AM Kit Sebastian • Tyranny 20 • Mantra Moderne • Mr. Bongo

September 7, 2019 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #444)

9:00 AM Kid Creole & The Coconuts • Name It • In Praise of Older Women and Other Crimes • Sire

9:03 AM Jessica Risker • Cut My Hair • I See You Among the Stars • Western Vinyl

9:07 AM Bon Iver • Marion • i,i • Jagjaguwar

August 31, 2019 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #443)

9:01 AM Snail Mail • Speaking Terms • Lush • Matador

9:05 AM Buddy Holly • Well... All Right • The Buddy Holly Collection • MCA

9:07 AM Dream Shanti • Music in our Dreams • Music in Our Dreams • Ear Up

9:15 AM Whitney • My Life Alone • Forever Turned Around • Secretly Canadian

August 24, 2019 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #442)

9:00 AM Bill Withers • Hope She'll Be Happier • Just As I Am• Sussex

9:04 AM Nicole Atkins • Maybe Tonight • Neptune City • Columbia

9:07 AM Shura • flyin' • forevher • Secretly Canadian

August 17, 2019 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #441)

9:02 AM Smokey Robinson • Let Me Be the Clock • Warm Thoughts • Motown

9:07 AM Laura Marling • You're No God • Alas I Cannot Swim• Astralwerks

9:10 AM Modern Studies & Tommy Perman • Moonshot • Emergent Slow Arcs • Fire

August 10, 2019 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #440)

9:02am Yo La Tengo The Weakest Part * I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass (Matador)

9:05am Joan Armatrading All the Way from America * me myself i (A & M)

9:10am Mikey Erg Kamera * all of god's money: a tribute to wilco's yankee hotel foxtrot (Better Yet)

July 27, 2019 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #439)

9:02 AM Anderson .Paak • Lite Weight (feat. The Free Nationals United Fellowship Choir) • Malibu • EMPIRE / OBE / Steel Wool / Art Club

9:05 AM Carole King • It's Too Late • The Legendary Demos • Concord

9:08 AM Kailyn Hope Bennett • Long Road Home • Loving and Losing EP • self-released

July 13, 2019 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #438)

9:01 AM Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds • Where the Wild Roses Grow (feat. Kylie Minogue) • Murder Ballads • Mute

9:05 AM Stevie Wonder • If It's Magic • Songs In the Key of Life • Tamla

9:08 AM Bedouine • Under the Night • Bird Songs of a Killjoy • Space Bomb

July 6, 2019 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #437)

9:01 AM Kelly Hogan • Stay • Because It Feels Good • Bloodshot

9:04 AM Noname • Ace (featuring Smino and Saba) • Room 25 • Self-Released

9:07 AM Tyler Ramsey • Your Whole Life • For the Morning • Fantasy

Mid-Year makeshift Top 40 Albums of 2019

This is a hastily put together list of my favorite albums of the year so far, loosely put together. After the top 8, the rankings are particularly loose. Which means the stuff near the bottom could easily switch with stuff ranked 20-30 places above it. 2019 has been pretty darned good so far.

1. Jamila Woods -- LEGACY! LEGACY!
2. Weyes Blood – Titanic Rising
3. Priests – The Seduction of Kansas
4. CHAI – PUNK
5. The Comet Is Coming – Trust in the Lifeforce of Deep Mystery

June 29, 2019 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #436)

9:01 AM Pet Shop Boys • Being Boring • Behaviour • Parlophone

9:08 AM Syd • Know • Fin • Columbia

9:11 AM Doug Tuttle • Well I Guess • Dream Road • Burger

June 22, 2019 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #345)

9:01 AM Gil Evans • 'Round Midnight • New Bottle Old Wine • World Pacific

9:05 AM Angel Olsen • Tiniest Seed • Half Way Home • Bathetic

9:08 AM Vanishing Twin • Magician's Success • The Age of Immunology • Fire

June 15, 2019 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #434)

9:01 AM Sam Cooke • Lost and Lookin' • Night Beat • RCA

9:03 AM Petra Haden • Let 'Em In • single • self-released

9:09 AM The Alibis • Day to Rise • Bloom • self-released

June 8, 2019 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #433)

9:01 AM The Specials • Ghost Town • More Specials • Chrysalis

9:07 AM Mary Lou Lord • Thirteen • Live City Sounds • self-released

9:09 AM Sam Cohen • Man on Fire • The Future's Still Ringing in My Ears • 30th Century

June 1, 2019 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #432)

9:00 AM Neko Case • Maybe Sparrow • Fox Confessor Brings the Flood • ANTI-

9:02 AM Sparks • Angus Desire • A Woofer in Tweeter's Clothing • Bearsville

9:06 AM Fauvely • What the Living Do • This Is What the Living Do EP • Diversion

May 25, 2019 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #431)

9:00 AM Roberta Flack • Reverend Lee • Chapter Two • Atlantic

9:05 AM Beck • Broken Train • Midnite Vultures • DGC

9:09 AM Art Lown • Deep Blue Sea • Sad About the Times • Anthology

May 18, 2019 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #430)

9:01 AM Arcade Fire • My Body is Cage • Neon Bible • Merge

9:06 AM Emmylou Harris • When I Stop Dreaming • Luxury Liner • Warner Bros.

9:09 AM Sarah Mary Chadwick • Pretend Lover • The Queen Who Stole the Sky • Sinderlyn

May 11, 2019 CHIRP Radio show (Show #429)

9:01 AM Tavares • She's Gone • Hard Core Poetry • Capitol

9:04 AM Beth Orton • Anywhere • Daybreaker • Astralwerks/EMI

9:09 AM Lesser Gonzalez Alvarez • It Lives It Breathes • High Drama • Carpark

April 27, 2019 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #428)

9:00 AM Linda Ronstadt • Blue Bayou • Live in Hollywood • Rhino

9:05 AM Moses Sumney • Self-Help Tape • Aromanticism • Jagjaguwar

9:08 AM Bibio • Curls • Ribbons • Warp

April 20, 2019 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #427)

8:59 AM Pere Ubu • Why Go it Alone? • Cloudland • Fontana

9:02 AM Ann Peebles • Make Me Yours • This Is Ann Peebles• Hi

9:05 AM These New Puritans • Where the Trees Are On Fire• Inside The Rose • Infectious/BMG

April 13, 2019 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #426)

9:00 AM Guru • When You're Near Me (feat. N'Dea Davenport)• Jazzmatazz • Chrysalis

9:04 AM Saint Etienne • Side Streets • Tales from Turnpike House • Sanctuary

9:07 AM Orville Peck • Big Sky • Pony • Sub Pop

April 6, 2019 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #425)

8:59 AM Adam Marsland • James K. Polk • 232 Days on the Road • Karma Frog

9:04 AM Dusty Springfield • I Will Come to You • Dusty in London • Rhino

9:07 AM Townes Van Zandt • Sky Blue • Sky Blue • Fat Possum

March 30, 2019 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #424)

9:01 AM Gladys Knight & The Pips • The Way We Were/Try to Remember • Gold • Hip-O/Motown

9:05 AM Scott Walker • Jackie • It's Raining Today: The Scott Walker Story (1967-70) • Razor & Tie

9:08 AM Xeno and Oaklander • A World Without Sun • Hypnos • Dias

March 23, 2019 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #423)

9:01 AM Aretha Franklin • Young, Gifted and Black • Young, Gifted and Black • Atlantic

9:04 AM Yo La Tengo • Andalucia • Fakebook • Bar/None

9:08 AM Howe Gelb • On the Fence • Gathered • Fire

March 16, 2019 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #422)

9:00 AM Kate Bush • Wow • Lionheart • Parlophone

9:04 AM Noname • Yesterday • Telefone • Self-released

9:07 AM Tiny Ruins • Cold Enough to Climb • Olympic Girls • Ba Da Bing!

9:14 AM Townes Van Zandt • All I Need • Sky Blue • Fat Possum

9:17 AM Helado Negro • Fantasma Vaga • This Is How You Smile • RVNG Intl

9:21 AM Beach House • Norway • Teen Dream • Sub Pop

9:25 AM Tom Verlaine • The Earth is in the Sky • Songs and Other Things • Thrill Jockey

9:30 AM Warm Human • Stranger • Ghastly • self-released

9:34 AM Ash Wednesday • Love By Numbers • Can't Stop It Australian Post Punk 1978-82 • Chapter

9:36 AM Three Dog Night • Lady Samantha • Suitable for Framing • Dunhill

9:41 AM Todd Rundgren • Boat on the Charles • Runt. The Ballad of Todd Rundgren • Ampex

9:45 AM Kate Schell • Free to Love • Past Present Future • self-released

9:48 AM Mayer Hawthorne • Just Ain't Gonna Work Out • A Strange Arrangement • Stones Throw

9:50 AM Robert Forster • I'm Gonna Tell It • Inferno • Tapete

9:56 AM Hawksley Workman • Song of Summer • Median Age Wasteland • Isadora

10:01 AM The National • Lemonworld • High Violet • 4AD

10:05 AM Janet Jackson • Doesn't Really Matter • All for You • Virgin

10:09 AM Living Hour • Before You Leave • Softer Faces • Kanine

10:14 AM The Comet Is Coming • Summon the Fire • Trust in the Lifeforce of the Deep Mystery • Impulse!

10:18 AM The Boo Radleys • Wake Up Boo! • Wake Up! • Columbia

10:22 AM Joe Jackson • Fabulously Absolute • Fool • EarMUSIC

10:26 AM The Marvelettes • Finders Keepers Losers Weepers• Finders Keepers • Ace

10:30 AM Impulsive Hearts • Boxing Day • Metoo: A Benefit for Resilience EP • Impossible Colors

10:33 AM John San Juan • There's a Place • Smashed • JSJ

10:36 AM Karen O & Danger Mouse • Turn the Light • Lux Prima • BMG

10:41 AM International Teachers of Pop • On Repeat • International Teachers of Pop • Desolate Spools

10:44 AM Mykele Deville • Free Soul • Maintain • No Trend

10:47 AM Mud • Tiger Feet • The Singles '67-'78 • Repertoire

10:51 AM Meat Puppets • Sea Of Heartbreak • Dusty Notes • Megaforce

10:56 AM The B-52's • Legal Tender • Whammy! • Warner Bros.

10:59 AM The Fall • Hit the North • The Frenz Experiment • Beggars Banquet

11:03 AM Clipse • Keys Open Doors • Hell Hath No Fury • Jive

11:06 AM Glass Candy • Good Time • Naked City EP • Italians Do It Better

11:12 AM CHAI • Family Member • Punk • Burger

11:15 AM Duvall • Standing at Your Door • Standing at Your Door • Double Zero

11:18 AM Moving Panoramas • Whiskey Fight • In Two • Modern Outsider

11:22 AM Peter Tork and Shoe Suede Blues • For Pete's Sake • Cambria Hotel • SSB

11:28 AM Absolutely Not • Bottom of the Pit • Problematic • No Trend

11:31 AM The Golliwogs • Brown Eyed Girl • Creedence Clearwater Revival • Fantasy

11:33 AM Al Green • Chariots of Fire • The Belle Album • Hi

11:38 AM Pom Poko • Follow the Lights • Birthday • Bella Union/PIAS

11:42 AM The Coathangers • 5 Farms • The Devil You Know • Suicide Squeeze

11:46 AM N0V3L • Natural • Novel • Flemish Eye

11:47 AM The Boomtown Rats • House on Fire • V Deep • Columbia

11:54 AM Crowded House • Don't Dream It's Over • Farewell to the World • Capitol

March 9, 2019 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #421)

9:01 AM Brian Wilson • Midnight's Another Day • That Lucky Old Sun • Capitol

9:05 AM KING • Red Eye • We Are KING • KING Creative

9:10 AM Julia Jacklin • Head Alone • Crushing • Polyvinyl

March 2, 2019 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #420)

9:00 AM Mark Hollis • The Colour Of Spring • Mark Hollis • Polydor

9:04 AM Maxine Funke • Lemonade • Home Fi • Feeding Tube

9:07 AM Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings • 100 Days, 100 Nights • 100 Days, 100 Nights • Daptone

February 23, 2019 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #419)

9:01 AM The Chills • Heavenly Pop Hit • Submarine Bells • Slash

9:04 AM Aretha Franklin • Crazy He Calls Me • Soul '69 • Atlantic

9:07 AM Rustin Man • Vanishing Heart • Drift Code • Domino

February 16, 2019 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #418)

9:00 AM D'Angelo • Unshaken • Red Dead Redemption II: Official Soundtrack • RCA

9:04 AM Julian Cope • Holy Love • Fried • Mercury

9:07 AM Lily & Madeleine • Supernatural Sadness • Canterbury Girls • New West

The Chicago Mayoral Primary 2019, a/k/a CLUSTERF*** 2019

Fourteen candidates for mayor, and 16 days until the primary election. While I’m sure there are a fair number of Chicagoans who have made up their minds, for so many, this process is untenable. But it’s all we’ve got.

So much of the problem is about the short window that was created by Rahm Emanuel’s late-in-the-game decision to not seek a third term. So we’re stuck with having to process a lot of information in a relatively short amount of time. This doesn’t quite compare to the large primary fields for president that sometimes crop up (like what we’re seeing for the Democrats for 2020). This is because in a national primary process, as the candidates wind their way through the states, elections, gaffes, and funding winnow the field down into something more manageable. That ain’t happening here.

February 9, 2019 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #417)

9:00 AM Lindsay Buckingham • Did You Miss Me • Gift of Screws • Reprise

9:04 AM Solange • Losing You • True • Terrible

9:08 AM Deerhunter • Element • Why Hasn't Everything Already Disappeared? • 4AD

February 2, 2019 CHIRP Radio Playlist (Show #416)

9:00 AM Massive Attack • Karmacoma • Protection • Virgin

9:05 AM Joni Mitchell • Car on a Hill • Court and Spark • Asylum

9:08 AM Foxwarren • To Be • Foxwarren • Anti-/Arts & Crafts

January 26, 2019 CHIRP Radio playlist (Show #415)

8:58 AM case/lang/veirs • Song for Judee • case/lang/veirs • ANTI-

9:02 AM Bee Gees • Method to My Madness • Life in a Tin Can • RSO

9:04 AM Dolphin Midwives • Satya Yuga • Liminal Garden • Beacon Sound/Sounds Et Al.