Totally cheating – but I can’t just do 10 – 2008 was such an amazing year in music – old farts aside, here’s 10 newish artists’ records who were at least old souls (not to be confused with ‘the’ Old Soul, who didn’t make the TO list that’ll follow…)
1. Cat Power – Jukebox
Sample Mp3 – New York, New York (Live in Paris for Black Sessions)
Chan’s second covers record – can’t say that it’s *better*, but it’s just – argh. Indescribable. To say she’s reinterpreted these tunes isn’t saying enough – they’re completely turned inside out, shorn & rebuilt as if she lived’em…
2. Eli Paperboy Reed & The True Loves – Roll With You
Sample Mp3 – I’m Gonna Getcha
So I love this guy. A lot. His scorching hot live performances translate surprisingly accurately on the record. There is no distance too far to travel to see Eli. He will change your life & restore your faith in soul music.
3. Dr. Dog – Fate
Sample Mp3 – The Rabbit, The Bat & The Reindeer
Imagine The Band reuniting for another epic Scorcese-directed Last Waltz blowout, with coked-out Shakey, saccharine Neil Diamond & mumbley Dylan, too – but instead of an afterparty with Joni, the night ends in an amazing gay sex male orgy. These are their babies.
4. Silver Jews – Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea
Sample Mp3 – Party Barge
To Quote ‘Party Barge’: “Father drove a steamroller. Momma was a crossing guard. She got rolled when he got steamed, And I got left in charge.” David Berman is the best lyricist I’ve come across since Jonathan Richman. ’nuff said.
5. The Black Angels – Directions To See A Ghost
Sample Mp3 – You In Color
We all go through a psychedelic phase, right? Let’s hope that these guys never grow out of theirs & keep putting out fuzzy spacey goodness.
6. Raphael Saadiq – The Way I See It
Sample Mp3 – Staying In Love
Call it retro-or-new-soul, or clump it with the cresting wave of DapTone’s roster, but Saadiq’s been making thick R&B records since 90′s Tony!Toni!Tone! & early 00′s Lucy Pearl. Bonus points for selecting smart vocal cameos from beefy studio mates like D’Angelo – le sigh.
7. Lykke Li – Youth Novel
Sample Mp3 – Little Bit (Aether Remix)
Slap me with a swan dress, but I’ll dare to say that Sweden’s produced a pop queen with the artistic chops, chutzpa, show(wo)manship & lyrics to rival Bjork. It you wanna complain, I’m not the complaint department.
8. Hercules & Love Affair – s/t
Sample Mp3 – Raise Me Up
It’s as if Antony had this musical karmic retribution that needed to be served. His longing, miserable, achingly perfect records with the Johnsons are completely balanced out by this peppy cosmic disco dance soundtrack for glamorous substance-fueled hookups & rollerskating.
9. She & Him – Volume One
Sample Mp3 – Change Is Hard (Live @ SXSW, March 2008)
Moms love it! Kids love it! It’s a public radio/indierock/vintagewearinghipsterhit! With good reason, not too sweet, not too polished, & twangier than you’d think. Imagine a delicious, warm, thick barley-filled soup with Beatles covers croutons sprinkled on top.
10. Erykah Badu – New Amerykah Part One
Sample Mp3 – Honey (Seiji Mix)
Mashup Sly & The Family Stone crazy funk weirdness with remixes by J Dilla & P-Funk Orchestra members chiming in for robust bridge breakdowns. Definitely old-school retro sound without being gaudy in its 70s excesses & staying true to Badu’s earth mother persona. There will be FOUR parts released in this series…eventually…& if you listen to them back to back while watching Wizard of Oz with the sound turned off….
Honourable Newish Old Soul Mentions: Ryan Adams & The Cardinals – Cardinology, Rufus Wainwright – Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall, Jamie Liddell – Jim, Mason Jennings – In The Ever, Duffy – Rockferry
