Good stuff -- thanks, Mark! I didn't know about the new Thalia Zedek or Surprise Chef. Looking forward to the other new-to-me ones as well. Suzanne Vega's new one is terrific and I bet it's going to fly too far under the radar except to her longtime fans.
Thanks for reading Dave! I’d never heard of Thalia Zedek before this album so I have a bit of catching up to do with her catalog. I wouldn’t consider myself anything more than a casual Suzanne Vega fan but this album really caught my ear and I’ve kept coming back to it.
Suzanne doesn't have a weak link in her catalog. My favorites are her most experimental records, 99.9 and Nine Objects of Desire, produced by Mitchell Froom who she was married to at the time. Of her more straightforward records, Solitude Standing, Days of Open Hand, Songs in Red and Gray, and Beauty and Crime are my favorites. Enjoy!
A few of these I also really love (Samantha Crain, Stereolab), a few I had no idea about and am excited to hear (Morcheeba, Young Gun Silver Fox), and several I know nothing about (Surprise Chef, Shura, MRCY, Sea Lemon, Thalia Zedek). I had listened to the new Suzanne Vega once, and it didn't do much for me. I didn't mind it, but I think it would require a couple more plays to determine if it's a grower. I am a big fan, so I am hopeful.
I just played a couple of songs from Surprise Chef, and I think I can probably move that one to the 'love' category. I played the sample song from Thalia Zedek and it totally sucked me in. I can't believe I had never heard of her before, as she has so many albums and is in my wheelhouse.
I've been meaning to play the Matt Berninger album but haven't had a chance yet.
I did listen to Blondshell, and I can appreciate the songcraft, and it's got some nice hooks, but I don't think I'm the right audience for her. I thought her first album had more for me to grab onto.
Thanks for the list! I might have missed a couple of gems otherwise!
Glad to hear some of these resonate with you Steve! The Suzanne Vega has definitely been a grower for me. Took several listens to start working its magic. I’d also never heard of Thalia Zedek before this album and am planning to go back and investigate her catalog a bit.
The Young Gun Silver Fox clearly wears its influences on its sleeve, but I love those influences. The entire album is fantastic and it’s an AOTY definite for me.
I’ve been on the Surprise Chef train for a few albums and love their stuff. Ditto with Morcheeba in terms of their recent albums. I’d loved them in the late 90s into the 2000s and then lost touch with them. But I’ve really enjoyed their last couple albums and their most recent. Andy (Vinyl Room) and I will be seeing them (and UNKLE and DJ Shadow) in London in August. Really looking forward to that!
I hear you on the Blondshell album. It’s one that didn’t grab me on the first few listens but I’m warming to it now. I’m really enjoying the MRCY album. Not an artist I’d ever heard of before.
Good stuff -- thanks, Mark! I didn't know about the new Thalia Zedek or Surprise Chef. Looking forward to the other new-to-me ones as well. Suzanne Vega's new one is terrific and I bet it's going to fly too far under the radar except to her longtime fans.
Thanks for reading Dave! I’d never heard of Thalia Zedek before this album so I have a bit of catching up to do with her catalog. I wouldn’t consider myself anything more than a casual Suzanne Vega fan but this album really caught my ear and I’ve kept coming back to it.
Suzanne doesn't have a weak link in her catalog. My favorites are her most experimental records, 99.9 and Nine Objects of Desire, produced by Mitchell Froom who she was married to at the time. Of her more straightforward records, Solitude Standing, Days of Open Hand, Songs in Red and Gray, and Beauty and Crime are my favorites. Enjoy!
A few of these I also really love (Samantha Crain, Stereolab), a few I had no idea about and am excited to hear (Morcheeba, Young Gun Silver Fox), and several I know nothing about (Surprise Chef, Shura, MRCY, Sea Lemon, Thalia Zedek). I had listened to the new Suzanne Vega once, and it didn't do much for me. I didn't mind it, but I think it would require a couple more plays to determine if it's a grower. I am a big fan, so I am hopeful.
I just played a couple of songs from Surprise Chef, and I think I can probably move that one to the 'love' category. I played the sample song from Thalia Zedek and it totally sucked me in. I can't believe I had never heard of her before, as she has so many albums and is in my wheelhouse.
I've been meaning to play the Matt Berninger album but haven't had a chance yet.
I did listen to Blondshell, and I can appreciate the songcraft, and it's got some nice hooks, but I don't think I'm the right audience for her. I thought her first album had more for me to grab onto.
Thanks for the list! I might have missed a couple of gems otherwise!
Glad to hear some of these resonate with you Steve! The Suzanne Vega has definitely been a grower for me. Took several listens to start working its magic. I’d also never heard of Thalia Zedek before this album and am planning to go back and investigate her catalog a bit.
The Young Gun Silver Fox clearly wears its influences on its sleeve, but I love those influences. The entire album is fantastic and it’s an AOTY definite for me.
I’ve been on the Surprise Chef train for a few albums and love their stuff. Ditto with Morcheeba in terms of their recent albums. I’d loved them in the late 90s into the 2000s and then lost touch with them. But I’ve really enjoyed their last couple albums and their most recent. Andy (Vinyl Room) and I will be seeing them (and UNKLE and DJ Shadow) in London in August. Really looking forward to that!
I hear you on the Blondshell album. It’s one that didn’t grab me on the first few listens but I’m warming to it now. I’m really enjoying the MRCY album. Not an artist I’d ever heard of before.
Very excited to listen to Surprise Chef! Also saved Suzanne Vega and Young Gun Silver Fox - the genres sounded intriguing.
Thanks Lora, hope you enjoy them!