enters the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart at #36

courtesy of Spotify



from Puerto Rico
3rd album
it's Puerto Rican rap crap
and I don't speak Puerto Rican

lead track

enters the Billboard Hot 100 Songs chart at #60

I don't like it
if it was in my language I might

enters the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart at #4

courtesy of Spotify



second set of his triple ep
better than Heart for me

fav

enters the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart at #1

courtesy of Spotify



from Memphis
4th album
it's rap crap

single
highest ranking of his 6 to chart this week
#35

There's something about this ... from his new album Big Colors (really had to resist putting the 'u' in there!) ... 

enters the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart at #109

courtesy of Spotify



from NYC
3rd album
20 year layoff
someone pat me on the back
just sat through a 2 hour instrumental album
prog metal I call it
what makes something prog?

single

MANCHESTER ORCHESTRA ~ The Million Masks of God


 
I’m not in the mood for anything sung that is too serious, earnest or old school right now (although that is bound to change) so was happy to uncover what I think is a cool offering by indie outfit Manchester Orchestra (nothing to do with Manchester other than it being the birthplace of a fair number of original music/musicians). Had been sifting through a host of otherwise unappealing new releases  - so much same old same old! Incidentally there seem to be many more reissues, redo’s and unearthing of 40+ year-old releases lately. Have we run out of creative steam?? There's not a lot that hasn't been done before.

The Million Masks of God sits very easy on the ear (unlike some other masks! Lol!) – it’s good to hear something a bit different – not my usual fare and I have not listened to them before. Indie/folk/alt rock with emo leanings which is not unsurprising given that Andy Hull’s birthday is on November the 7th – slap bang in the middle of watery Scorpio. I know, I know, there can’t only be twelve types of people in the world can there??! It is interesting though, how often the characteristics match up!

The feels are certainly all there and the album is well put together – produced by said Scorp too, who is also co-president of their label, Favourite Gentleman Recordings. I think they’ve done a good job; there are layers of sound and voice, both programmed and not, some interesting timing, lots of texture, and the musicians seem competent – the lyrics are not bad at all either – huh! A bit of an R.E.M. sound now and then and I was also reminded of early Fleet Foxes – sure someone else could come up with a more current ‘sounds like’. Hull’s voice is a high tenor and he seems quite versatile. Have a feeling he’ll be around for a while. Good to know there’s still a small spark out there, glimmering faintly in the darkness!!   

The full album - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJED17ThojI

"Annie" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeGUyEHWGHY

Doco about rock band The Sparks...

released soon.

Wiki:  The Sparks Brothers - Wikipedia

enters the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart at #45

courtesy of Spotify



from Buffalo
15th album
hard to believe
the only genre worse than rap for me

single
may be offensive to some viewers
well that's what they say on tv
so I felt an obligation

enters the Billboard Hot 100 Songs chart at #96

I don't like it