1) The music of Deftones / From time to time, I have weeks where I recall that Deftones rank among the best bands of their generation. This was one of those weeks.
2) Stax Records, “Written in Their Soul: The Stax Songwriter Demos” / At more than 140 tracks and 7 1/2 hours of music (I’m about 40 songs in), this compilation represents a sort of soul-music Promised Land. Stripped to the essentials, though never sparse, these cuts deliver rich, early versions of songs from the likes of Carla Thomas, William Bell, Eddie Floyd and The Staple Singers. Visceral glories abound.
3) The music of David Pajo / I’m slowly working through the output of Pajo’s Papa M project, a vehicle for the alt-rock lifer (Slint, Gang of Four, Zwan) to stretch out and indulge himself with everything from Spanish guitars to electronica, heavier jams and quiet ballads. Pajo’s range goes far beyond his impressive band resume, and showcases a pure musical curiosity.
4) a.s.o., self-titled / Last year’s full-length from this Berlin duo should sate listeners who crave something both present-tense and in the vein of Portishead or the smoothest sides of Massive Attack. Deeply cool, deeply sexy, deeply groovy, these songs linger in the best ways.
5) Benjamin Niespodziany, “Lassoing the Family: A Triptych” for Tupelo Quarterly / This brief triptych from Niespodziany houses an entire universe’s worth of observations about family ties, how we spend our attention and the weather systems we move through indoors. Elements of surprise and sadness attach to scenes of homemade TV broadcasts, foil sculptures and the way we tend to our little creations.