Staff Picks for January
John - Sam Broussard and Barry Jean Ancelet - Broken Promised Land - This is one of those albums that stays on repeat for me. Recorded in Lafayette Louisiana, the lyrics by Cajun poet Barry Jean Ancelet, are in Cajun French. The music by guitarist extraordinaire Sam Broussard (Jimmy Buffett, Michael Murphy, Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys) is some of the most interesting and compelling I’ve heard in a long, long time. With only hints of Zydeco, the arrangements are sophisticated and complex. Highly recommended!
Chris - boygenius - “the record” - The supergroup of indie-darlings Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lucy Dacus (known collectively as boygenius) released what is likely my front-runner for 2023 Album of the Year back in March. I’ve continued to revisit it since then and I’m still moved by its sincerity, not to mention its ability to be greater than the sum of its already equally impressive parts.
Aaron - Hologram Electronics - Chroma Console - I hardly ever pre-order anything like guitar pedals, but this one was too cool to pass up. This multi-fx pedal just recently made its way onto my pedalboard and I couldn’t be happier. It has everything from LoFi warble to resonant fuzz. It’s essentially Tame Impala and Pink Floyd in a pedal.
Brandon - Yussef Dayes “Black Classical Music” - This solo album from Yussef has been highly anticipated, and with contributions from Rocco Palladino, Elijah Fox, Masego, and Tom Misch, it totally slaps from cover to cover.
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