by

Song of the Day #3,133: ‘Cranes in the Sky’ – Solange

solangeIt was a banner year for the Knowles family. While Beyoncé took the top spot on the Village Voice Pazz & Jop singles list, her sister Solange landed at #3 with ‘Cranes in the Sky.’

Solange also claimed the fifth spot on the albums list for her record A Seat at the Table. Stellar showing, no doubt, but I kind of feel bad that Solange put out a critically-acclaimed, career-defining album the same year her sister put out an even more critically-acclaimed, career-defining album. It’s like Venus making it to the finals at Wimbledon only to lose to Serena.

Continue reading →

by

Song of the Day #3,132: ‘Ultralight Beam’ – Kanye West

kanye_life_of_pabloEach January I like to check out the annual Village Voice Pazz & Jop poll, now in its 44th year, to get a sense of what critics thought of the previous year in music.

It usually leans a little more toward infuriating than illuminating, as critics tend to flock toward the same obvious choices. If Kanye West farts on record, it has a 100% chance of making the top ten in this poll. That said, I have also discovered some great songs there that I wouldn’t have otherwise heard.

Continue reading →

by

Song of the Day #3,131: ‘Mind Eraser’ – The Black Keys

black_keys_el_caminoSometimes a Random iTunes Weekend selection pops up and I just got nothing. No feelings about the band or the song one way or the other. No anecdote about how the selection made it to my music library in the first place. Nothing.

Such is the case with today’s SOTD, ‘Mind Eraser’ by The Black Keys. Fine song, reminiscent of every other Black Keys song I’ve heard, but that’s it.

Continue reading →

by

Song of the Day #3,130: ‘Dark Days’ – Punch Brothers

hunger_games_soundtrackThe Hunger Games soundtrack is the gift that keeps on gving, popping up on Random Weekends to deliver somber ballads appropriate to the film’s dystopian Appalachian setting.

Today’s example is from Punch Brothers, a “progressive bluegrass” band that formed a decade ago in Brooklyn (of course).

It’s lovely, like most of the album.

Continue reading →

by

Song of the Day #3,129: ‘Runnin’ Just in Case’ – Miranda Lambert

miranda_lambert_weight_wingsYesterday I wrote that Beyoncé’s Lemonade topped nearly every 2016 top ten list. But it only made it to #2 on mine because Miranda Lambert released her best album yet, continuing her pattern of topping herself with every new release.

The Weight of These Wings is a double album and the first creative output for Lambert since her divorce from fellow country superstar Blake Shelton, and it continues the tradition of great break-up albums.

Continue reading →