February is Music Writer Exercise Month #MWE • Page 78

hell yes, been riding the latin music train so hard and salsa never fails to bring me joy. strangely enough, I haven't checked out any American salsa, only stuff from other countries.

you ever listen to Alfredo Linares?

 

Day 19
Shakti with John McLaughlin - Natural Elements (1977)

great unique album

 

I have not! Where to start?

And oddly enough I've basically only listened to American salsa. I stumbled onto Fania Records and have been so into it that I've kept mining the same vein.

This sounds awesome.

 

Shout out to @Meerkat for the A+ rec on this one.

 

El Pito, ¡Con Todo!, or Sensacionales!!! are all great albums that I can’t imagine not enjoying if you like salsa music. I’m still digging through his catalog.

You should also check out this album. Bangers all the way through. It’s technically guaracha but you may still enjoy!

 

Day 19.5
Karibe con K - Amos de Futuro (1990)

The best songs are at the start and end of the album, but overall this was a lot of fun. I typically gravitate toward the avant-folky, jazz-fusion, art rock stuff from Uruguay and Argentina—so I wanted something totally in the pop sphere that still feels authentic. This didn’t disappoint.

 

Djavan - Luz

Nice listen. Track 1 has Stevie Wonder on it. "Petala" sounds like the end SNL sax music with vocals over it. Good music to sip coffee and plan the rest of your day to.

 

My fav by him is his debut. Def not my go-to Brazilian artist but he’s pretty good!

 

SNL-core sounds delightful.

 

Day 20
Aretha Franklin - I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You (1967)

I cannot imagine living in the 60’s and casually hearing Respect for the first time. Would’ve totally knocked me on my ass. This is obviously a great classic album—and what’s amazing is how it still feels fresh to my ears.

 

Discrepancies between the 2.5 hour version of the album I was scheduled to do and the actual tracklist meant I needed a sub on the spot and goddamn what an awesome rec @phaynes12

 

The Gun Club - Miami
This rocked, weirder and more melodic than I was expecting.

Charly García - Clics modernos
This rocked too, liked it better than the other Charly Garcia I listened to earlier in the month

 

Mercyful Fate - Melissa
Not typically my bag but I am enjoying some of this. The riff in "Into the Coven" rules

 

Day 21
Liz Phair - Exile in Guyville (1993)

not much to say besides the obvious fact this sets the genre standard and very few have surpassed it since.

 

Day 21.5
Prefab Sprout - Jordan: The Comeback (1990)

i’ve mainly avoided listening to these guys because of their name. Idk why but there’s something particular about it that turns me off lol. But overall I did enjoy (most of) this.

 

They’re a band I really need to sit down with

 

I threw on the 1984 Abel Ferrara movie Fear City and was immediately taken by this song. No other info I can find about the artist, but I love the track:

 

This is an album that, by descriptions on paper, doesn't seem like my wheelhouse, but is totally my wheelhouse. She'd been building such a terrific batch of songs.

 

Day 22
Esthero - Breath from Another (1998)

Loved this. For fans of Portishead, Björk, Massive Attack, early Gorillaz, etc.

 

Day 23
Big Thief - Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You (2022)

A little disjointed overall, but there are songs on this that are fantastic and give me the same feeling Wild Pink does.

 

Day 23.5
50 Cent - Get Rich or Die Tryin’ (2003)

“In Da Club” is forever a banger. Wild I haven’t heard this in its entirety until now.