Pulin Kothari

american primitive

103. YOU NEVER WERE MUCH OF A DANCER by Gwenifer Raymond

Welsh-born astrophysicist (she has a PhD) and virtuoso instrumentalist has a new album coming out soon, so now is a good time to take a look at her 2018 debut. American primitive is a finger-picking guitar genre credited to American John Fahey. As such, Raymond’s record has no vocals

blues

102. BINGO! by The Steve Miller Band

Steve Miller started out in the mid-1960’s as a bluesman before shifting to AOR (album-oriented rock) for the bulk of his career. That period of music is probably what you’re most familiar with when you think of him. However, this 2010 record finds him revisiting his roots by

garage rock

101. DODGE AND BURN by The Dead Weather

This 2015 record is the third in The Dead Weather’s studio output. The band is considered a supergroup, the most notable member of which is Jack White (The White Stripes, The Raconteurs). Considered alt/garage rock, the album rocks throughout and does well to have lead vocals handled by

synth

100. WORKING MEN’S CLUB (self-titled)

This 2020 debut from the UK-based band is heavy on synthpop elements reminiscent of New Order while the pulsating beats would be welcome at any self-respecting rave. That’s not to say, however, that guitars are absent from this record - ‘White Rooms and People’ has the whole Chic/Nile

college rock

99. OUT OF TIME by R.E.M.

Today is election day in the United States, so I thought I’d cover a record that played a pretty important role in US politics back when it was released in 1991. Without getting too much into the weeds, the reason “Out of Time” is considered so critically important has

jangly pop

98. A STRANGE DREAM by Smokescreens

Fans of jangly guitar pop will do well to give this 2020 record by Los Angeles band Smokescreens a listen. You may just get reminded of a certain college rock band from Athens, Georgia. Definitely check out the album opener and closer, ‘Fork in the Road’ and ‘I Love Only

jazz

97. VANISHED GARDENS by Charles Lloyd and The Marvels plus Lucinda Williams

This 2018 record is unique in that the band is a jazz ensemble of sorts with Lucinda Williams contributing vocals to half of the tracks. Included are reinterpretations of three of Williams’ own songs as well as some Lloyd originals and other covers (notably ‘Angel’ - a Jimi Hendrix song)

singer songwriter

96. GOOD SOULS BETTER ANGELS by Lucinda Williams

Williams’ long and storied career keeps chugging along, the latest manifestation being this 2020 record. Considered Americana and/or singer-songwriter, this album definitely rocks at the same time. While her previous output has been more personal, this record is definitely more political. The album opens with ‘You Can’t Rule

blues

95. UNCIVIL WAR by Shemekia Copeland

Continuing our blues theme for the time being, this 2020 record is hot off the presses. Copeland, daughter of Texas blues legend Johnny Copeland, has been in the business since the mid-1990’s or so, delivering powerful vocals on whatever she puts down on tape. This album is no exception.

blues

94. KILL OR BE KIND by Samantha Fish

This 2019 record from blues rocker Samantha Fish is probably more rock than blues though she mixes the genres up on the songs pretty nicely - there’s even some soul-style horns scattered among the tracks. Putting out albums and touring relentlessly over the past 10 years or so, she’

blues

93. KINGFISH by Christone Ingram

Twenty-one year old blues guitar phenom Christone “Kingfish” Ingram released his debut record in 2019. Considered a child prodigy from a very young age, he was noticed and nurtured by several big names in blues music, culminating in this album release and subsequent tours. The maturity in his playing and

power pop

92. PLAY DEEP by The Outfield

Those of us who came of age in the 1980’s surely have the Picasso-esque album cover of this 1985 record, along with lead singer Tony Lewis’ boyish voice and boyish looks, seared into our psyche. Sadly, Lewis died on October 19, 2020. So, I thought I would honor him

rock

91. THE DIVISION BELL by Pink Floyd

Though almost universally criticized at the time of release as a Roger Waters-less ‘Pink Floyd’ trying too hard to sound like Pink Floyd, this 1994 record was, in later years, praised for being a Roger Waters-less Pink Floyd that sounded a lot like classic ‘Pink Floyd.’ Huh? Anyway, regardless of

shoegaze

90. AMONG MY SWAN by Mazzy Star

I mentioned in a previous entry [https://auditorymusings.ghost.io/plum-by-widowspeak/] that I would cover Mazzy Star in a future post, so here you go. The combination of Hope Sandoval’s lighter than feathers voice floating above David Roback’s alternating slide and fuzz guitars makes for dream pop/shoegaze

singer songwriter

89. WILDFLOWERS by Tom Petty

Released in 1994, this record is considered to be Tom Petty’s best, with or without the Heartbreakers (though almost all of the Heartbreakers played on “Wildflowers”). A heartland, singer-songwriter album dropping in the middle of the grunge/alt-rock craze was definitely a bold move that, in hindsight, worked out

alternative

88. WISH by The Cure

I picked this 1992 Cure record to feature since it came right after their landmark album “Disintegration” and, as such, does not get as much recognition as it should (though many still consider it a very good album). The singles/hits off “Wish” will be familiar to many, including ‘High,

folk

87. QUEENS OF THE BREAKERS by The Barr Brothers

Canadian-American band The Barr Brothers released their third record in 2017. Kind of a mix of folk, some blues and even West African instrumentation, the songs here are an eclectic combination of music that should keep the listener engaged for the full 50 minutes or so. While there are several

desert blues

86. MUSIC IN EXILE by Songhoy Blues

This 2015 debut record from the desert blues band Songhoy Blues is being featured because the Malian group is about to release their third album towards the end of October. So, in preparation for that release, I thought it would be nice to cover “Music in Exile.” The members of

rock

85. TWO ROOMS: CELEBRATING THE SONGS OF ELTON JOHN AND BERNIE TAUPIN

This 1991 covers album is not available on streaming services, so if you click on the sleeve, it will take you to a YouTube playlist of the songs. Though there have been more recent albums reimagining John/Taupin compositions (search for Revamp and Restoration), Two Rooms is near and dear

punk

84. LONDON CALLING by The Clash

One of the greatest albums of all time, one of the greatest double albums of all time, one of the greatest punk albums of all time…the list goes on and on. Released in 1980 in the US, one look at that record sleeve clued you in that you were

blues

83. COBAIN AND CORNBREAD by The Black Tones

The Black Tones are a twin sibling duo from Seattle, WA. Their brand of blues/punk music has garnered a large following in the Pacific Northwest and rightly so. Their songs tell stories and make statements. Just check out ‘The Key of Black (They Want Us Dead),’ for example. Lead

standards

82. THE LOST BERLIN TAPES by Ella Fitzgerald

There’s a sense of exhilaration when something long lost is suddenly found or, even better, when something not even known to exist abruptly does. The former applies to “The Lost Berlin Tapes” - a recording of Fitzgerald made in 1962 Berlin. When the tapes were finally found almost 60

punk

81. IT’S REAL by Ex Hex

Power-punk-pop band Ex Hex’s second record, released in 2019, showcases the trio’s knack for addictive melodies admixed with crunchy guitar riffs and sharp solos. This is arena rock masquerading as power pop. The first three songs (‘Tough Enough,’ ‘Rainbow Shiner’ and ‘Good Times’) are a great introduction to

indie

80. YOLK IN THE FUR by Wild Pink

It’s kind of funny how Wild Pink are consistently compared to The War on Drugs and Death Cab for Cutie since I haven’t been able to find any real connection to either of those band’s music. The first time I heard “Yolk in the Fur,” however, I

shoegaze

79. COLONY DRIVE (EP) by Black Nite Crash

Seattle, Washington shoegaze band, Black Nite Crash, are back with a new 4-song EP for 2020. With three guitars and a bunch of fuzz, this record is short enough (15 minutes) to listen to straight through. If you like bands like The Jesus and Mary Chain and Mazzy Star, I