Tru Thoughts has exhibited ace taste in their covers compilations. Their newest, Covers 2 came out earlier in the month and the line-up is killer. I’m especially into Quantic and Alice Russell’s take on Leonard Castor’s mid-70s Motown classic:
And the same volume includes this Nirvana cover that my dude Phatrick worked on:
Vince Staples: Norf Norf (Def Jam, 2015, Summertime ’06)
Speaking of summer music: the new Vince Staples is killing it. I don’t think any other hip-hop album is going to move me off To Pimp A Butterfly as my favorite of the year but Vince comes pretty damn close. Now pardon me, I gotta go get a Louis Burger.
365 Days of Soul, #173
The Internet feat. Janelle Monáe: Gabby (Columbia, 2015, Ego Death)1
I’m not doing the Summer Song series this summer (I’ll probably bring it back next year though) but in listening to this new album by The Internet (whom I really like), I’m reminded of how my favorite summer songs aren’t the big, brash anthems (though those are pretty good too) but the ones that capture the stillness of summer moments created by the right blend of light and heat. Or something like that. My point is, in those moments, the soundtrack should definitely be like what The Internet does at its best (esp. when they invite Janelle Monáe to hang with ’em).
365 Days of Soul, #172
I’m just going to leave this here. Join the Meowvolution.
365 Days of Soul, #171
Late pass. I completely slept on Kali Uchis until the other week when DJ Phatrick dropped this tune onto an episode of Heartbreak Radio. First of all, how am I not going to be into a track that loops up the Notations. Second, Uchis does that dream pop thing that needs to be kept in moderation but when it works, it works well, especially over something as ethereal as this track. Now all I need is for her to drop this on a 7″.
365 Days of Soul, #169
Truth be told, this is one of the best Primo beats I’ve heard in a minute. Not like no one’s ever messed with those Shirley Bassey horns before but I’m surprised more folks haven’t tried to squeeze juice out of it. Monster.
365 Days of Soul, #168
Nicole Willis and the Soul Investigators: Where Are You Now? (Timmion, 2015, 7″)
I say this every couple of years but Nicole Willis is a treasure. Can’t wait for her next album, coming out in October.
365 Days of Soul, #167
The Soul Investigators: Bad Vibrations (Timmion, 2015, 7″)
Forthcoming on Timmion. A killer little instrumental with some funky flute action laid over a early ’70s JBs-esque rhythm.
365 Days of Soul, #166
Lion Babe’s “Treat Me Like Fire” originally dropped in 2013 but they finally came out with their debut EP and redid the video for this single (the original is here). Love the entire vibe of the song; it’s like the best song Erykah Badu never cut. And love that producer Lucas Goodman is flipping a frickin’ Mod-Art 7″ for the beat/vocals here.1 So killer.
365 Days of Soul, #55
After what seemed like a quiet winter/spring, Daptone has burst out with a grip of new releases over the last few months.
Of the bunch, my favorite has been Naomi Shelton and the Gospel Queens’ “Sinner“:
I wouldn’t have expected this to have been the cut I’d gravitate to but there’s such power here, especially in those opening bars where Shelton lights into “I…was…born!!!!!” This is the lead cut off the upcoming Naomi Shelton album.
I’m also into the new Ever-Soul reissue of The Relatives’ “Leave Something Worthwhile”.
From what I can suss out, this is the first time this track appears on 7″ and it’s a fantastic slice of mid-tempo/crossover gospel soul. Feel good, all day long. Drops July 15.
Also feeling the new single by the former back-up singing duo of Saun and Starr (aka the Dapettes).
Besides liking any story that features back-up singers moving to the front of the stage, this single has that classic Dap-Kings sound. Both sides are aces.
Last, we have Charles Bradley, joining forces with LaRose Jackson on a limited (and now sold out) 7″:
To be candid, despite this being on hot pink vinyl(!), I surprisingly wasn’t that into either side but that is, of course, purely a subjective opinion. They’re competent sides, just nothing that inherently connected with me though.
