Q-Tip - Blue Girl (2002) [Hip-Hop]



Dreamy hip-hop for those late nights that never end.

Itoiz- Ezekielen Ikasgaia (1980) [Symphonic / Jazzy Folk]



Fantastic band from Basque Country, Spain who specialize in a rich, symphonic folk sound with elements of jazz and other styles mixed in. There's a surprising lack of flamenco in their overall sound - probably intentional, as they wanted to go against the grain some.

Roger Joseph Manning Jr.- You Were Right (2006) [Baroque Pop]



Lead songwriter from the critically adored Jellyfish (who were featured earlier on my thread). Roger's got a uncanny gift at capering melody that rivals the Brian Wilsons and Todd Rundgrens of the world, albeit with a different sort of edge.

Just put this one in an ambient thread then ran through the search engine. This is what I had to say:

I’d say run in the same circles sometimes son

It is pretty neat that you and I seem to align on a lot of ambient / instrumental music and a fair amount of jazz too. Might be fun to try a co-journal at some point exploring different sides of that.

Anyhoo-

Echo & The Bunnymen - Broke My Neck (1981) [Post-Punk]



Such a great closer, just thrumming to the pit of itself with a woozy aggrandizing energy that moves your meat and beats your feet.

Dog Fashion Disco - Desert Grave (2006) [Alt-Rockabilly]



Meat n' potatoes fare with a touch of class and the smell of whisky boiling over like a steam cloud.

I think it would be a blast writing point counterpoint discussions on certain records. My ego says let’s do it on Freak Fighter! But it could be an entirely fresh journal as well.

^ It can be a surprisingly good experience. I did something similar awhile back with Unknown Soldier to cover Toto's discography and we had a blast doing it.


Tim Feehan - Where's The Fire (1987) [Hi-Tech AOR]



Quite possibly the pinnacle of late 80's uptempo cheese, or atleast a contender of sorts. I also consider it a prime bit of songwriting and a great example of that mechanical subgenre of overclocked AOR known as Hi-Tech. Would be fun to hear one of today's synthwave bands cover it. It was the main theme for the 1986 film The Wraith, which is something of a cult classic and one of the better Charlie Sheen led vehicles.

Fields Of The Nephilim - New Gold Dawn (2005) [Gothic Rock]



Lots of dramatic energy on this song (as well as the rest of the album). Goetic metal musings and some luminously vibrant production bring a lot of atmosphere to the table. Not a bad pick for your next socially-distanced Halloween party.

Shmu - Lead Me To The Glow (2018) [Hypogenic / Avant-Pop]



Two years later and I'm still blindsided by how brilliant this album really is. It serves as one of those singular musical fistulas where my love for all things cheesy and smooth intersects with everything I love that's odd, dissonant and downright unhinged. They shouldn't be able to coexist easily, but on this album Shmu gave it a good flex.