ReCOWmendations: July 2024

5 essential albums from the first half of 2024. And why compiling lists like this makes me anxious.

Image by Leopictures from Pixabay

Keeping Up with the New Stuff

I am not a reviewer, though I sometimes play one on the internet. It's much easier for me to talk about an album (or song) in relation to myself. Which is how Earworms and Song Loops came about. Self-indulgent? Perhaps, but that’s what (hopefully) you like about me!

Forming a clear opinion on a new album is challenging. It usually takes me several attentive listens to truly feel the music in my bones, muscles, and viscera. Also, first impressions are often incomplete, if not completely wrong.

Listening to a new album is like new romantic love.

It’s best if I happen upon an album almost by accident. Without actively looking for a new album. If I’ve spent weeks reading early reviews and playing pre-release singles over and over, I’ve likely built up my excitement and expectation to a level that a complex album that keeps most of its charms beneath the surface couldn’t possibly live up to.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve hyped myself on an album that thrilled me on the first listen — and on the 2nd and 3rd listens too — only for the love to fade quickly, for me to realize that the tasty cupcake was all frosting. It’s gotta have a delicately moist cake base underneath. Am I over-mixing my metaphors? Mixing metaphors is my jam. It’s my bread and butter.

There’s nothing wrong with a one-night stand album, but when I’ve already gone around proclaiming, “I found the one! This album is the real deal!” it’s embarrassing. My credibility becomes suspect.

Then there’s the opposite situation. The album where you tell people, “We’re just friends.” The one where you didn’t feel “the spark.” Where the lack of immediate chemistry had you blowing it off. But then you notice yourself mindlessly humming a couple of her songs, and when you’re together, you find you can be your true self.

After a half dozen expectation-free spins together — suddenly, without realizing it — you’re unable to get any of the songs out of your head (and your heart and the rest of your body).

If you had reviewed that album after one or two listens (and when I say “you,” I mean me), you might have given it a lukewarm or even negative rating. You may have cut off a good thing before it could develop into a great thing.

All of this is to say that I don’t know if these following five albums are one-night stands or true love albums yet. I’m hoping they are true loves — there’s plenty to go around — but I need a couple more rolls in the hay with them to be sure.

As much as I may love an album and feel it loves me back — my relationship with music is polyamorous. We’ve agreed it’s okay for you to love these records, too.

Lastly, I’m intentionally picking lesser-known records that many of you will not be familiar with. As good as Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter might be, she gets enough attention. So no Billboard charting albums here.

From allmusic.com:

Jerry Williams Jr. (born July 12, 1942), generally credited under the pseudonym Swamp Dogg after 1970, is an American country soul and R&B singer, musician, songwriter, and record producer. Williams has been described as "one of the great cult figures of 20th-century American music."

What does it say about me that I was unfamiliar with Swamp Dogg until a few months ago? If I were a real reviewer, I would have found time to listen to Mr. Williams Jr.’s extensive back catalog (26 albums since 1970), read a couple of biographies, and then discussed how his latest album, I Wish You Way More Than Luck, compares.

Nope. That’s too much work, and I have banana bread to bake.

What I will say is that the latest from Swamp Dogg travels in bluegrass, soul, country, blues, and rock. Famous for his collaborations with current stars of the day, on this album, we get pairings with Margo Price, Jenny Lewis, and guitarist Vernon Reid (Living Colour).

The humor on the record keeps me coming back for more and wanting to play songs for friends. I’ll share the hilarious opening track “Mess Under That Dress” here.

stream album

I discover a lot of new music from other music writers on Substack. I’ve sung their praises before in these virtual pages. I’m pretty sure it was Jared the Curatorwho writes the excellent The Wax Museum newsletter who first turned me on to Lo Moon.

I have a major soft spot for a gorgeous, lush pop song. Especially one that reminds me of my favorite new wave bands from the ‘80s. With Lo Moon, I get distinct elements of Talk Talk, with vocalist Matt Lowell often sounding like a smoother Mark Hollis. Lo Moon’s compositions breathe; there’s a less-is-more approach that I love. Yet somehow, it feels full and expansive.

Their 2024 album, I Wish You Way More Than Luck, has been my most-played album of the year. It’s the rare album that I loved right away and love even more three months and a dozen plays later.

Jared picked the song “Connecticut” in his top 50 songs of the year post, and I’m gonna have to agree that it’s the gemmiest of a crop of gems.

stream album

It might surprise you to hear that the genre of music I play most often is ambient. Despite appearances, ambient can encompass a wide range of sounds, from instrumental spa music to noisy, eerie soundscapes.

I tend to play ambient music in three situations: when I have trouble sleeping, when I’m writing and silence isn’t cutting it (I can’t write to any music with words), and when I’m stretching or doing yoga. So, like 50 percent of the time.

In 2024, I’ve been turning to Cowboy Sadness more than any other ambient artist or group. Cowboy Sadness has been around for a decade, though this is their first album (and with “Vol. 1” in the title, I’m hoping this is the first of many). The collective is made up of the trio of David Moore (Bing & Ruth), Peter Silberman (The Antlers), and Nicholas Principe (Port St. Willow).

I’ve been a fan of Bing & Ruth and The Antlers for some time, so I was excited to learn of this project. Listening to Selected Jambient Works evokes emotions, though sadness is just one of an assortment of feelings that might arise in you.

The album, IMO, is meant to be listened to as a whole, so I picked the song with a YouTube clip with some visuals.

stream album

I became a fan of Pakastani-American singer/composer/producer Arooj Aftab after the release of her third album, Vulture Prince, in 2021. I was mesmerized by her haunting, hypnotic voice and compositions, which seeped under my skin and seemed to slowly spread until they took over my body.

Her brilliant Tiny Desk Concert during the pandemic (link here) cemented my belief that Aftab is one of the most important artists working today.

Her new album, Night Reign, is another essential work, with guest appearances by Moor Mother, Vijay Iyer, Cautious Clay, Kaki King, and others.

“Bolo Na,” featuring Moor Mother (who also released a great album in 2024, The Great Bailout), is an album standout.

stream album

I'm realizing that my top five list (with the exception of Cowboy Sadness) consists of artists I discovered late in the game.

Amigo the Devil (Danny Kiranos) fits that bill as well. Yours Until the War Is Over is Amigo the Devil’s third full-length album. (He’s released several EPs as well.) If I were a real critic, I’d have said…”their third and best album,” or something like that, but I haven’t heard his earlier stuff (yet).

How to describe AtD’s music? Take one part Tom Waits via Rain Dogs/Frank’s Wild Years era, add some Nick Cave, and a sprinkling of heavy metal, Americana, and classic country, and you are halfway there.

His songs often talk about current times, yet they feel like they’ve been around since the beginning of time. Like everything else on this list, Amigo the Devil’s music seeps under the skin and makes itself at home.

stream album

• Do you have a favorite album (so far) of 2024? Something that should be getting more love? Share it here in the comments.

• Are you familiar with any of these 5 picks? Thoughts on any of them?

• Do you have a suggestion for a Swamp Dogg album I must listen to next?

Thanks to everyone for reading and for supporting Earworms and Song Loops. We now have over 500 subscribers! Wow! Like Wayne and Garth said: I’m not worthy.

Steve