50 years ago this month, the Carpenters siblings made it to the top with their singles collection. There are virtually no tracks on that record that one wouldn’t consider true classics 50 years later, including Yesterday Once More. Karen’s silky voice and Richard’s backing vocal arrangements were trademarks of their music that no-one could copy. Perhaps a bit overused today, but still worth listening to properly. You’ll find eight songs from the album in this month’s playlist.
Yesterday Once More is a good title for the playlist this month, for both new and old artists have looked back to yesterday for either inspiration og actual tracks
The Short List: New Tracks
The Long List: Previous Tracks
New Albums
Real Estate
No, it is not Don Henley of the Eagles, it is Dylan LeBlanc from Louisana, with a concept album – rare these days, Coyote, a story of a man on the run. It was not the story itself that drew me to this album, but the pure quality of the music, an exceptional country rock album that reminds me of Eagles in more ways than the vocals.
Great songwriting is the trademark of Real Estate’s 6th album Daniel as well. Although some of the tracks are a bit bland, most of the album is enjoyable, with its soft rock feel, melodic and sunny.
Blog followers know I am a fan of Gaby Moreno, even when she lacks a certain direction, like on her new album, Dusk. At least you’re never bored, as Gaby jumps from latin to pop to rock and back, and she does it all in style, with her warm and expressive voice, whether she sings in English or Spanish.
Kai Warrior
Rina Sawayama
There’s a bit of direction confusion on Rina Sawayama’s second album as well, Hold The Girl. But as with Moreno, perhaps it doesn’t matter that much. I am at least glad she has added more ballads and less run-of-the-mill r&b this time. It is a daring move, she could easily be up there with the Lady Gaga crowd, but like Gaga she refuses to stay on track. I will keep listening.
There is considerably less punch in Kai Warrior’s voice, and that’s the point. The songs on Everything I Know were mostly written in their bedroom and sounds like it, but they are lifted by a band that surrounds and embraces the fragile songs.
Bombay Bicyle Club from England has released a new EP, Fantasies, a happy album with catchy tunes and great harmonies.
The Japanese House
In the end it always does is the name of The Japanese House’s album of 2023, and she (yes, her real name is Amber Mary Bain) has rerecorded some of the songs on ITEIAD Sessions, including a unlikely and different version of Super Trouper by ABBA, defintely worth listening to.
Another artist that performs as a band is Alynda Segarra, aka Hurray for the Riff Raff. Although the theme of The Past is Still Alive is quite sombre, about growing up under difficult circumstances, the music is feisty and positive indie with a touch of Americana.
Gruff Rhys of Super Furry Animals has issued nearly as many solo albums as with his more famous band. On his latest, Sadness Sets Me Free, the songs are again built around his dark and introvert voice, with a calming effect, at least on me. But if you’re looking for fireworks, go elsewhere.
We end this month’s album reviews with three albums that defintely look back at yesterday. Nouvelle Vague is a French band specializing in covers of New Wave music but with a very different take. They could have fitted right in at a night club with music that wouldn’t be there otherwise. Should I Stay or Should I go contains tracks that extend from the interesting to the bizarre.
Rod Stewart and Jools Holland’s brilliant big band stay on the rails when recreating some of the great songs of the big band and rock’n’roll era on Swing Fever. No surprises here, just hipswinging, delightful rhythms, with Stewart’s crooner voice at its best.
Joe Jackson goes one giant leap further, flawlessly recreating the music hall sound on What a Racket!, even creating an alter ego in Max Champion, a performer from that era. I love artists who allows themselves to leave the safe area that have created their fame. Jackson had a number of major pop hits as far back as in 1979, like Is She Really Going Out with Him.
New Singles
I have put a lot of enjoyable singles in the jukebox for you, from Florence + The Machine’s almost hypnotic White Cliffs of Dover to Walter Trout and Beth Hart’s power ballad Broken, with a guitar solo the way they used to make ’em. And the rest covers more genres than you can name: ballads, classic piano, world music, country, rock’n’roll, latin… I’ll stop there. Just jump in.
Always Be my Man – Billy Porter & Luke Evans
Rhapsody in Blue – Richard Galliano
Capricorn – Vampire Weekend
Everybody’s Gone To War – Nerina Pallot
Hello Radio – Aden Foyer
Is There Still a Light On? – Adam Melchor
Judge Tenderly of Me – Anne Fagermo & Dag Erik Oksvold
Los lanbones – Aristides Ramirez
Next Time Around – Liam Kazar
Northern Boy – Ruby Sue
Pt. 3 Linger in Silence – Graham Reynolds & Marta Del Grandi
Rájás – Kajsa Balto
Sister’s Coming Home/Down At The Corner Beer Joint – Tami Neilson & Nicky Diamonds
Waltz for You – Andreas Ihlebæk
Why Don’t They Choose Me? – Michelle Locket
You Should Run – Missy Higgins
The Classic
One of my favourite singers, Kirsty MacColl, recorded Tropical Brainstorm in 1999. The songs had a true Cuban/Latin feel, but the lyrics were feisty, funny and literate, mostly about men who didn’t match up to MacColl’s standards. Like with all albums I call classics, I never tire listening to Tropical Brainstorm, but always with a certain sadness of what could have been. Kirsty MacColl was killed only months after its release, by a speedboat in Mexico while out swimming with her two sons. She probably saved her son’s life by pushing him out of the way, but died instantly after being hit by the boat. Because this album turned out to be her last, it is even more precious to me.
1974
I wrote about this amazing album in the intro. But even Singles 1969-1973 brings out a certain sadness in me when I listen to it, because Karen Carpenter, like Kirsty MacColl, also suffered a premature death, a heart failure at 32 following a long fight with anorexia, probably caused by dealing with fame. Richard’s career as a superstar also in effect ended with her death, although he continues to perform and produce.
I can’t get Turn the Lights Back On out of my head, so it’s abolutely this month’s ear worm, the first release from Billy Joel in 17 years, and I would argue one of his best songs ever, co-written with Freddy Wexler. It is an amazing, well-written ballad that feels true and real, whatever meaning you decide to give it. The video, directed by Wexler, is equally amazing, using AI to recreate Billy Joel from the 70s (when I saw him perform) the 80s, the 90s and today.
It’s truly Yesterday Once More.
Petter Wallace 