/
index.html
1346 lines (1336 loc) · 106 KB
/
index.html
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
476
477
478
479
480
481
482
483
484
485
486
487
488
489
490
491
492
493
494
495
496
497
498
499
500
501
502
503
504
505
506
507
508
509
510
511
512
513
514
515
516
517
518
519
520
521
522
523
524
525
526
527
528
529
530
531
532
533
534
535
536
537
538
539
540
541
542
543
544
545
546
547
548
549
550
551
552
553
554
555
556
557
558
559
560
561
562
563
564
565
566
567
568
569
570
571
572
573
574
575
576
577
578
579
580
581
582
583
584
585
586
587
588
589
590
591
592
593
594
595
596
597
598
599
600
601
602
603
604
605
606
607
608
609
610
611
612
613
614
615
616
617
618
619
620
621
622
623
624
625
626
627
628
629
630
631
632
633
634
635
636
637
638
639
640
641
642
643
644
645
646
647
648
649
650
651
652
653
654
655
656
657
658
659
660
661
662
663
664
665
666
667
668
669
670
671
672
673
674
675
676
677
678
679
680
681
682
683
684
685
686
687
688
689
690
691
692
693
694
695
696
697
698
699
700
701
702
703
704
705
706
707
708
709
710
711
712
713
714
715
716
717
718
719
720
721
722
723
724
725
726
727
728
729
730
731
732
733
734
735
736
737
738
739
740
741
742
743
744
745
746
747
748
749
750
751
752
753
754
755
756
757
758
759
760
761
762
763
764
765
766
767
768
769
770
771
772
773
774
775
776
777
778
779
780
781
782
783
784
785
786
787
788
789
790
791
792
793
794
795
796
797
798
799
800
801
802
803
804
805
806
807
808
809
810
811
812
813
814
815
816
817
818
819
820
821
822
823
824
825
826
827
828
829
830
831
832
833
834
835
836
837
838
839
840
841
842
843
844
845
846
847
848
849
850
851
852
853
854
855
856
857
858
859
860
861
862
863
864
865
866
867
868
869
870
871
872
873
874
875
876
877
878
879
880
881
882
883
884
885
886
887
888
889
890
891
892
893
894
895
896
897
898
899
900
901
902
903
904
905
906
907
908
909
910
911
912
913
914
915
916
917
918
919
920
921
922
923
924
925
926
927
928
929
930
931
932
933
934
935
936
937
938
939
940
941
942
943
944
945
946
947
948
949
950
951
952
953
954
955
956
957
958
959
960
961
962
963
964
965
966
967
968
969
970
971
972
973
974
975
976
977
978
979
980
981
982
983
984
985
986
987
988
989
990
991
992
993
994
995
996
997
998
999
1000
<!doctype html>
<html class="no-js" lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8" />
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" />
<title>Grangler Music Series</title>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="css/styles.css" />
<link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="180x180" href="favicons/apple-touch-icon.png">
<link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="32x32" href="favicons/favicon-32x32.png">
<link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="16x16" href="favicons/favicon-16x16.png">
<link rel="manifest" href="favicons/site.webmanifest">
</head>
<body>
<header class="site-header">
<div class="content-wrap">
<h1 class="site-title">
Grangler Music
</h1>
<h2 class="site-description">
Music opinions or whatever.
</h2>
</div>
</header>
<main id="main" class="site-main" role="main">
<article class="full post">
<section class="content-wrap">
<header class="entry-header">
<h1 class="post-title">Grangler Music Series</h1>
</header>
<div class="content">
<h2>Origin, passion, reasoning</h2>
<p>For the last 8 years, I’ve been poring over my favorite albums, artists, songs of the year and compiling
a pair of CDRs to gift to family and friends for the holiday season. This was a bit of a <em>passing of
the torch s</em>o-to-speak, in that my uncle Steve used to compile CDRs as his annual gift. Steve passed
away 8 years ago, so I’ve been assembling my own compilations; both as a tribute to him and because I
really <em>really</em> love music. And even more than loving music, I love sharing music and maybe
introducing others to their new favorite artist. If I recall, correctly, Steve’s compilations were more
Adult Contemporary in scope. If I were to describe my interpretation it would be kind of all over the
place: eclectic.</p>
<p>In addition to fulfilling the music nerd in me, this process also fulfills me, as a designer. I get to
design for my favorite thing: music. For the most part, each cover’s design is rather simple. For the past
few years, I’ve removed color; as I’ve chosen to use a back-and-white toner-based printer instead of a
color ink jet. I can be fairly pragmatic, at times, I suppose. Also clearly at the forefront has been
typography decisions. Clear and bold seems to have dominated several years. As you can see,
themes/templating tended to stick around for more than one year.</p>
<h4>Definition.</h4>
<p>
<strong>Grangler</strong>
(<em>noun/adjective)</em>
</p>
<ol>
<li>A type of person who finds beauty, appreciation, and substance in a wide variety of artistic
exploration through any creative medium.</li>
<li>A qualifying adjective seeking to describe admiration for a large variety of music.</li>
</ol>
<p>The origin of my own use and definition of <a
href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/author.php?author=George+Hower"><em>Grangler</em> dates back to my
early twenties and the use of its preceding term <em>Grangley</em></a>. My friend Ben used
“Grangle” as a term (I don’t recall his meaning) and I repurposed it to <em>Grangley</em>. I then used the
word to describe “beautifully ugly” color schemes. e.g. <em>Grangley</em> color schemes,
g<em>rangley</em> orange, etc.</p>
<p>Today, I define the word as a succinct way of referring to an individual who finds beauty/appreciation
within things/objects/ideas one might not typically find beauty within.
</p>
<ul class="album-entries">
<li class="album">
<div class="top-section">
<section class="component-block image-block">
<div class="image-wrap">
<picture class="lozad"><img data-toggle-class="active"
data-src="images/grangler-music-cover-1.png"
data-srcset="images/grangler-music-cover-1.png 800w, images/grangler-music-cover-1-150x150.png 150w, images/grangler-music-cover-1-300x300.png 300w, images/grangler-music-cover-1-768x768.png 768w, images/grangler-music-cover-1-600x600.png 600w, images/grangler-music-cover-1-340x340.png 340w, images/grangler-music-cover-1-420x420.png 420w, images/grangler-music-cover-1-760x760.png 760w, images/grangler-music-cover-1-780x780.png 780w"
sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" alt="Grangler Music album cover artwork volume one"
src="./Grangler Music Series - Joe Tower_files/grangler-music-cover-1.png"
srcset="images/grangler-music-cover-1.png 800w, images/grangler-music-cover-1-150x150.png 150w, images/grangler-music-cover-1-300x300.png 300w, images/grangler-music-cover-1-768x768.png 768w, images/grangler-music-cover-1-600x600.png 600w, images/grangler-music-cover-1-340x340.png 340w, images/grangler-music-cover-1-420x420.png 420w, images/grangler-music-cover-1-760x760.png 760w, images/grangler-music-cover-1-780x780.png 780w"
class="active" data-loaded="true"></picture>
</div>
</section>
<div class="album-content" id="2008 : Volume 1">
<h2 class="artist-name">Grangler Music</h2>
<h3 class="album-title">2008 : Volume 1</h3>
</div>
</div>
<p>The first year very little of the music contained on the playlists were released that year. Instead I
opted to ease-into <em>my</em> ultimate vision for these annual playlists and learn as I went along.
The songs here were mostly timeless classics that anyone <em>should</em> appreciate in one way or
another.</p>
<h3 id="volume-1-tracklisting">Volume 1 track listing</h3>
<ol>
<li>Anathallo – Noni’s Field</li>
<li>Antler – They Know I’m The One</li>
<li>Antony & The Johnsons – Another World</li>
<li>Bilal – Gotsta Be Cool</li>
<li>Billie Holiday – I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues</li>
<li>Bon Iver – Skinny Love</li>
<li>Cecil Otter – Rebel Yellow</li>
<li>Charles Mingus – Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting</li>
<li>Doomtree – Forensics</li>
<li>Dessa – If & When</li>
<li>MGMT – The Handshake</li>
<li>The Mountain Goats W/Kaki King – Black Pear Tree</li>
<li>Nina Kiner – Spår 2</li>
<li>Nina Simone – House Of The Rising Sun</li>
<li>Dessa – Speedmetal</li>
<li>Ray Lamontagne – Sarah</li>
<li>Sigur Ros – Gobbledigook</li>
<li>Veronica Maggio – Gammal Sång</li>
</ol>
</li>
<li class="album">
<div class="top-section">
<section class="component-block image-block">
<div class="image-wrap">
<noscript><img class="image-no-js"
src="images/grangler-music-cover-2.png"
image-srcset="images/grangler-music-cover-2.png 800w, images/grangler-music-cover-2-150x150.png 150w, images/grangler-music-cover-2-300x300.png 300w, images/grangler-music-cover-2-768x768.png 768w, images/grangler-music-cover-2-600x600.png 600w, images/grangler-music-cover-2-340x340.png 340w, images/grangler-music-cover-2-420x420.png 420w, images/grangler-music-cover-2-760x760.png 760w, images/grangler-music-cover-2-780x780.png 780w"
sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" alt="" /></noscript>
<picture class="lozad"><img data-toggle-class="active"
data-src="images/grangler-music-cover-2.png"
data-srcset="images/grangler-music-cover-2.png 800w, images/grangler-music-cover-2-150x150.png 150w, images/grangler-music-cover-2-300x300.png 300w, images/grangler-music-cover-2-768x768.png 768w, images/grangler-music-cover-2-600x600.png 600w, images/grangler-music-cover-2-340x340.png 340w, images/grangler-music-cover-2-420x420.png 420w, images/grangler-music-cover-2-760x760.png 760w, images/grangler-music-cover-2-780x780.png 780w"
sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" alt=""
src="./Grangler Music Series - Joe Tower_files/grangler-music-cover-2.png"
srcset="images/grangler-music-cover-2.png 800w, images/grangler-music-cover-2-150x150.png 150w, images/grangler-music-cover-2-300x300.png 300w, images/grangler-music-cover-2-768x768.png 768w, images/grangler-music-cover-2-600x600.png 600w, images/grangler-music-cover-2-340x340.png 340w, images/grangler-music-cover-2-420x420.png 420w, images/grangler-music-cover-2-760x760.png 760w, images/grangler-music-cover-2-780x780.png 780w"
class="active" data-loaded="true"></picture>
</div>
</section>
<div class="album-content" id="2008 : Volume 2">
<h2 class="artist-name">Grangler Music</h2>
<h3 class="album-title">2008 : Volume 2</h3>
</div>
</div>
<h3 id="volume-2-tracklisting">Volume 2 track listing</h3>
<ol>
<li>Opeth – Burden</li>
<li>Gravenhurst – Black Holes In The Sand</li>
<li>Gravenhurst – Fog Round The Figurehead</li>
<li>Frumpy – How The Gipsy Was Born</li>
<li>Eric Dolphy – Something Sweet, Something Tender</li>
<li>Dessa – Sadie Hawkins</li>
<li>P.O.S – All Along The Watchtower</li>
<li>Dessa / Boy Sopranos – Into The Spin</li>
<li>Dinah Washington – Smoke Gets In Your Eyes</li>
<li>Call Me Kat – Bug In A Web</li>
<li>Little Dragon – Twice</li>
<li>Joni Mitchell – All I Want</li>
<li>Melpo Mene – I Adore You</li>
<li>Loquat – Sit Sideways</li>
<li>Nina Simone – Brown Baby</li>
<li>Adele – Hometown Glory</li>
</ol>
</li>
<li class="album">
<div class="top-section">
<section class="component-block image-block">
<div class="image-wrap">
<noscript><img class="image-no-js"
src="images/grangler-music-cover-3.png"
image-srcset="images/grangler-music-cover-3.png 800w, images/grangler-music-cover-3-150x150.png 150w, images/grangler-music-cover-3-300x300.png 300w, images/grangler-music-cover-3-768x768.png 768w, images/grangler-music-cover-3-600x600.png 600w, images/grangler-music-cover-3-340x340.png 340w, images/grangler-music-cover-3-420x420.png 420w, images/grangler-music-cover-3-760x760.png 760w, images/grangler-music-cover-3-780x780.png 780w"
sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" alt="" /></noscript>
<picture class="lozad"><img data-toggle-class="active"
data-src="images/grangler-music-cover-3.png"
data-srcset="images/grangler-music-cover-3.png 800w, images/grangler-music-cover-3-150x150.png 150w, images/grangler-music-cover-3-300x300.png 300w, images/grangler-music-cover-3-768x768.png 768w, images/grangler-music-cover-3-600x600.png 600w, images/grangler-music-cover-3-340x340.png 340w, images/grangler-music-cover-3-420x420.png 420w, images/grangler-music-cover-3-760x760.png 760w, images/grangler-music-cover-3-780x780.png 780w"
sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" alt=""
src="./Grangler Music Series - Joe Tower_files/grangler-music-cover-3.png"
srcset="images/grangler-music-cover-3.png 800w, images/grangler-music-cover-3-150x150.png 150w, images/grangler-music-cover-3-300x300.png 300w, images/grangler-music-cover-3-768x768.png 768w, images/grangler-music-cover-3-600x600.png 600w, images/grangler-music-cover-3-340x340.png 340w, images/grangler-music-cover-3-420x420.png 420w, images/grangler-music-cover-3-760x760.png 760w, images/grangler-music-cover-3-780x780.png 780w"
class="active" data-loaded="true"></picture>
</div>
</section>
<div class="album-content" id="2009 : Volume 3">
<h2 class="artist-name">Grangler Music</h2>
<h3 class="album-title">2009 : Volume 3</h3>
</div>
</div>
<p>The second year definitely featured the most graphic heavy artwork. More so than the first year, the
overall compilation focused more on music released in 2009. Some classics worked their way in – Tom
Waits, Chuck E. Weiss, Nina Simone, Otis Redding, Latyrx, and Chocolate Genius.</p>
<h3 id="volume-3-tracklisting">Volume 3 track listing</h3>
<ol>
<li>Amadou & Mariam – Ce N’est Pas Bon</li>
<li>Gossip – 8th Wonder</li>
<li>P.O.S – Let It Rattle</li>
<li>Patrick Wolf – Oblivion</li>
<li>Me’Shell NdegéOcello – Mass Transit</li>
<li>Sol.illaquists Of Sound – Look</li>
<li>Gavin Castleton – Cofflelocks</li>
<li>Nina Simone – The Thrill Is Gone</li>
<li>Joe Henry – Richard Pryor Addresses A Tearful Nation</li>
<li>Katatonia – Onward Into Battle</li>
<li>Amesoeurs – Faux Semblants</li>
<li>Antony & the Johnsons – Epilepsy is dancing</li>
<li>The Beatles – While My Guitar Gently Weeps</li>
<li>Chuck E. Weiss – Congo Square At Midnight</li>
<li>Tom Waits – Dirt In The Ground</li>
<li>Katatonia – Departer</li>
</ol>
</li>
<li class="album">
<div class="top-section">
<section class="component-block image-block">
<div class="image-wrap">
<noscript><img class="image-no-js"
src="images/grangler-music-cover-4.png"
image-srcset="images/grangler-music-cover-4.png 800w, images/grangler-music-cover-4-150x150.png 150w, images/grangler-music-cover-4-300x300.png 300w, images/grangler-music-cover-4-768x768.png 768w, images/grangler-music-cover-4-600x600.png 600w, images/grangler-music-cover-4-340x340.png 340w, images/grangler-music-cover-4-420x420.png 420w, images/grangler-music-cover-4-760x760.png 760w, images/grangler-music-cover-4-780x780.png 780w"
sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" alt="" /></noscript>
<picture class="lozad"><img data-toggle-class="active"
data-src="images/grangler-music-cover-4.png"
data-srcset="images/grangler-music-cover-4.png 800w, images/grangler-music-cover-4-150x150.png 150w, images/grangler-music-cover-4-300x300.png 300w, images/grangler-music-cover-4-768x768.png 768w, images/grangler-music-cover-4-600x600.png 600w, images/grangler-music-cover-4-340x340.png 340w, images/grangler-music-cover-4-420x420.png 420w, images/grangler-music-cover-4-760x760.png 760w, images/grangler-music-cover-4-780x780.png 780w"
sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" alt=""
src="./Grangler Music Series - Joe Tower_files/grangler-music-cover-4.png"
srcset="images/grangler-music-cover-4.png 800w, images/grangler-music-cover-4-150x150.png 150w, images/grangler-music-cover-4-300x300.png 300w, images/grangler-music-cover-4-768x768.png 768w, images/grangler-music-cover-4-600x600.png 600w, images/grangler-music-cover-4-340x340.png 340w, images/grangler-music-cover-4-420x420.png 420w, images/grangler-music-cover-4-760x760.png 760w, images/grangler-music-cover-4-780x780.png 780w"
class="active" data-loaded="true"></picture>
</div>
</section>
<div class="album-content" id="2009 : Volume 4">
<h2 class="artist-name">Grangler Music</h2>
<h3 class="album-title">2009 : Volume 4</h3>
</div>
</div>
<h3 id="volume-4-tracklisting">Volume 4 track listing</h3>
<ol>
<li>Dessa – Dixon’s Girl</li>
<li>Metric – Help I’m Alive</li>
<li>Grizzly Bear – While You Wait For The Others</li>
<li>Bilal – Sometimes</li>
<li>Volcano Choir – Island, Is</li>
<li>K’naan – Fatima</li>
<li>Mos Def – Casa Bey</li>
<li>Gossip – Four Letter Word</li>
<li>Latyrx – Lady Don’t Tek No</li>
<li>Imogen Heap – Little Bird</li>
<li>Nina Simone – Wild Is The Wind</li>
<li>Otis Redding – Change Is Gonna Come</li>
<li>Chocolate Genius – My Mom</li>
<li>Bat For Lashes – Glass</li>
<li>Jeremy Enigk – World Waits</li>
</ol>
</li>
<li class="album">
<div class="top-section">
<section class="component-block image-block">
<div class="image-wrap">
<noscript><img class="image-no-js"
src="images/grangler-music-cover-5.png"
image-srcset="images/grangler-music-cover-5.png 800w, images/grangler-music-cover-5-150x150.png 150w, images/grangler-music-cover-5-300x300.png 300w, images/grangler-music-cover-5-768x768.png 768w, images/grangler-music-cover-5-600x600.png 600w, images/grangler-music-cover-5-340x340.png 340w, images/grangler-music-cover-5-420x420.png 420w, images/grangler-music-cover-5-760x760.png 760w, images/grangler-music-cover-5-780x780.png 780w"
sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" alt="" /></noscript>
<picture class="lozad"><img data-toggle-class="active"
data-src="images/grangler-music-cover-5.png"
data-srcset="images/grangler-music-cover-5.png 800w, images/grangler-music-cover-5-150x150.png 150w, images/grangler-music-cover-5-300x300.png 300w, images/grangler-music-cover-5-768x768.png 768w, images/grangler-music-cover-5-600x600.png 600w, images/grangler-music-cover-5-340x340.png 340w, images/grangler-music-cover-5-420x420.png 420w, images/grangler-music-cover-5-760x760.png 760w, images/grangler-music-cover-5-780x780.png 780w"
sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" alt=""
src="./Grangler Music Series - Joe Tower_files/grangler-music-cover-5.png"
srcset="images/grangler-music-cover-5.png 800w, images/grangler-music-cover-5-150x150.png 150w, images/grangler-music-cover-5-300x300.png 300w, images/grangler-music-cover-5-768x768.png 768w, images/grangler-music-cover-5-600x600.png 600w, images/grangler-music-cover-5-340x340.png 340w, images/grangler-music-cover-5-420x420.png 420w, images/grangler-music-cover-5-760x760.png 760w, images/grangler-music-cover-5-780x780.png 780w"
class="active" data-loaded="true"></picture>
</div>
</section>
<div class="album-content" id="2010 : Volume 5">
<h2 class="artist-name">Grangler Music</h2>
<h3 class="album-title">2010 : Volume 5</h3>
</div>
</div>
<h2 id="volumes-5-amp-6">2010 : Volumes 5 & 6</h2>
<p>Year three contained all 2010-specific music, despite retaining the “new and old” disclaimer adorning
the artwork. This collection of songs is predominantly r&b/soul based. The year saw great releases
from local hip-hop collective extraordinaire, <strong>Doomtree</strong>; with songs/albums from
<strong>Dessa</strong>, <strong>P.O.S</strong>, <strong>Paper Tiger</strong>,
<strong>Lazerbeak</strong>, and the Doomtree-contributing supergroup <strong>Gayngs</strong>, which is
made up of all kinds of Minneapolis awesomeness. Sprinkled throughout the Doomtree madness is a mix of
pop, classical, rock, and hip-hop tracks.</p>
<h3 id="volume-5-tracklisting">Volume 5 track listing</h3>
<ol>
<li>Dessa – Poor Atlas</li>
<li>Florence and the Machine – Drumming Song</li>
<li>Bilal – Restart</li>
<li>Cee-Lo Green – Wildflower</li>
<li>P.O.S – Dear Boy (Paul McCartney Cover)</li>
<li>Joanna Newsom – ‘81</li>
<li>Gayngs – The Gaudy Side of Town</li>
<li>Yeasayer – ONE</li>
<li>Paper Tiger – Palace</li>
<li>Lazerbeak – Land’s End</li>
<li>Minus The Bear – Into the Mirror</li>
<li>B. Dolan – Marvin</li>
<li>Sade – Long Hard Road</li>
<li>Max Richter – Journey 4</li>
<li>Janelle Monáe – Dance Or Die (Featuring Saul Williams)</li>
</ol>
</li>
<li class="album">
<div class="top-section">
<section class="component-block image-block">
<div class="image-wrap">
<noscript><img class="image-no-js"
src="images/grangler-music-cover-6.png"
image-srcset="images/grangler-music-cover-6.png 800w, images/grangler-music-cover-6-150x150.png 150w, images/grangler-music-cover-6-300x300.png 300w, images/grangler-music-cover-6-768x768.png 768w, images/grangler-music-cover-6-600x600.png 600w, images/grangler-music-cover-6-340x340.png 340w, images/grangler-music-cover-6-420x420.png 420w, images/grangler-music-cover-6-760x760.png 760w, images/grangler-music-cover-6-780x780.png 780w"
sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" alt="" /></noscript>
<picture class="lozad"><img data-toggle-class="active"
data-src="images/grangler-music-cover-6.png"
data-srcset="images/grangler-music-cover-6.png 800w, images/grangler-music-cover-6-150x150.png 150w, images/grangler-music-cover-6-300x300.png 300w, images/grangler-music-cover-6-768x768.png 768w, images/grangler-music-cover-6-600x600.png 600w, images/grangler-music-cover-6-340x340.png 340w, images/grangler-music-cover-6-420x420.png 420w, images/grangler-music-cover-6-760x760.png 760w, images/grangler-music-cover-6-780x780.png 780w"
sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" alt=""
src="./Grangler Music Series - Joe Tower_files/grangler-music-cover-6.png"
srcset="images/grangler-music-cover-6.png 800w, images/grangler-music-cover-6-150x150.png 150w, images/grangler-music-cover-6-300x300.png 300w, images/grangler-music-cover-6-768x768.png 768w, images/grangler-music-cover-6-600x600.png 600w, images/grangler-music-cover-6-340x340.png 340w, images/grangler-music-cover-6-420x420.png 420w, images/grangler-music-cover-6-760x760.png 760w, images/grangler-music-cover-6-780x780.png 780w"
class="active" data-loaded="true"></picture>
</div>
</section>
<div class="album-content" id="2010 : Volume 6">
<h2 class="artist-name">Grangler Music</h2>
<h3 class="album-title">2010 : Volume 6</h3>
</div>
</div>
<h3 id="volume-6-tracklisting">Volume 6 track listing</h3>
<ol>
<li>Bilal – Think It Over</li>
<li>Sade – Soldier of Love</li>
<li>Dessa – Go Home</li>
<li>Gayngs – Faded High</li>
<li>Jeremy Messersmith – Organ Donor</li>
<li>Sia – Clap Your Hands</li>
<li>Arcade Fire – We Used To Wait</li>
<li>Lazerbeak – Bound</li>
<li>Maximum Balloon – Absence Of Light</li>
<li>The National – England</li>
<li>Cee-Lo Green – No One’s Gonna Love You</li>
<li>Grieves – Out Of My Mind</li>
<li>Caribou – Leave House</li>
<li>Glasser – Glad</li>
<li>Anais Mitchell – If It’s True (featuring Justin Vernon)</li>
</ol>
</li>
<li class="album">
<div class="top-section">
<section class="component-block image-block">
<div class="image-wrap">
<noscript><img class="image-no-js"
src="images/grangler-music-cover-7.png"
image-srcset="images/grangler-music-cover-7.png 800w, images/grangler-music-cover-7-150x150.png 150w, images/grangler-music-cover-7-300x300.png 300w, images/grangler-music-cover-7-768x768.png 768w, images/grangler-music-cover-7-600x600.png 600w, images/grangler-music-cover-7-340x340.png 340w, images/grangler-music-cover-7-420x420.png 420w, images/grangler-music-cover-7-760x760.png 760w, images/grangler-music-cover-7-780x780.png 780w"
sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" alt="" /></noscript>
<picture class="lozad"><img data-toggle-class="active"
data-src="images/grangler-music-cover-7.png"
data-srcset="images/grangler-music-cover-7.png 800w, images/grangler-music-cover-7-150x150.png 150w, images/grangler-music-cover-7-300x300.png 300w, images/grangler-music-cover-7-768x768.png 768w, images/grangler-music-cover-7-600x600.png 600w, images/grangler-music-cover-7-340x340.png 340w, images/grangler-music-cover-7-420x420.png 420w, images/grangler-music-cover-7-760x760.png 760w, images/grangler-music-cover-7-780x780.png 780w"
sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" alt=""
src="./Grangler Music Series - Joe Tower_files/grangler-music-cover-7.png"
srcset="images/grangler-music-cover-7.png 800w, images/grangler-music-cover-7-150x150.png 150w, images/grangler-music-cover-7-300x300.png 300w, images/grangler-music-cover-7-768x768.png 768w, images/grangler-music-cover-7-600x600.png 600w, images/grangler-music-cover-7-340x340.png 340w, images/grangler-music-cover-7-420x420.png 420w, images/grangler-music-cover-7-760x760.png 760w, images/grangler-music-cover-7-780x780.png 780w"
class="active" data-loaded="true"></picture>
</div>
</section>
<div class="album-content" id="2011 : Volume 7">
<h2 class="artist-name">Grangler Music</h2>
<h3 class="album-title">2011 : Volume 7</h3>
</div>
</div>
<h2 id="volumes-7-amp-8">2011 : Volumes 7 & 8</h2>
<p><strong>Active Child</strong> ushers us into this series. Like an all-too-familiar voice/style
bringing you back to the early 90s. Everything about Active Child, from his voice to production style
reminds me of the early 90s/ late 80s for some reason.</p>
<p>Who knew <strong>Frank Ocean</strong> would go on to release what could be his only masterpiece in
2012’s <em>Channel Orange</em>. I say that half-serious, as <a
href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/11-artists-who-need-to-drop-a-new-album-like-now_563bcc8be4b0411d3070467f">the
internet has been going nuts</a> about his sophomore album’s announced release date of July 2015
coming and going with no further word from Frank. At any rate, man this was a great year for music.
</p>
<p>Before the <strong>Weeknd</strong> went pop and slayed the mainstream with pairs of earworm-inducing
songs: <em>I Can’t Feel My Face</em> and <em>The Hills</em>, he wore his troubles more prominently for
all to see. <strong>Abel Tesfaye </strong>finally figured out how to mix his misogynistic psycho
sexual brand of r&b with the right amount of socially acceptable, eccentricity? Great! Now mix in
a winning pop formula, his always-great vocals and you have the next pop sensation. All an early
20-something needs to self destruct, eh? Glad the world is giving him all kinds of ammo. I’m
conflicted: I want to like him, but he’s so unlikeable it’s laughable to even consider liking him. One
can not deny his talent. I am forever stuck in a sadistic paradox. One thing is certain, Tesfaye’s
more rough corners; his darkest lyrics, and creepiest production have been reduced to almost
unrecognizable versions of themselves. Like something pretty, only hinting at being dark and creepy –
instead of being overtly dark and upfront about his intentions. I’m not sure which is worse. Wow, what
a tangent that happened there. Anyway, <em>High For This</em> still remains an incredible song.
The epicness and sharp contrast still echoes in my head and now I can’t feel my face.</p>
<p>These volumes decidedly closed with two of my favorite <strong>James Blake </strong>songs of the
year. First with a swirrling jarrer of hypnotism <em>I Never Learnt To Share</em>. Then, volume 8
closes with the unreal <strong>Joni Mitchell </strong>cover <em>A Case of You</em>. His version
<a title="James Blake and Joni Mitchell - Typography in Music"
href="https://joetower.com/2012/06/typography-in-music-joni-mitchell/">still destroys me</a>.</p>
<h3 id="volume-7-tracklisting">Volume 7 track listing</h3>
<ol>
<li>Active Child – Hanging On</li>
<li>Frank Ocean – Strawberry Swing</li>
<li>Bon Iver – Holocene</li>
<li>Doomtree – Little Mercy</li>
<li>Astronautalis – Contrails (Featuring Tegan Quin)</li>
<li>Anna Calvi – No More Words</li>
<li>Bjork – Crystalline</li>
<li>Austra – The Future</li>
<li>Saul Williams – Explain My Heart</li>
<li>Grieves – Light Speed</li>
<li>Little Dragon – Ritual Union</li>
<li>Lykke Li – Get Some</li>
<li>Tom Waits – Chicago</li>
<li>Graveyard – No Good, Mr Holden</li>
<li>Washed Out – Amor Fati</li>
<li>James Blake – I Never Learnt To Share</li>
</ol>
</li>
<li class="album">
<div class="top-section">
<section class="component-block image-block">
<div class="image-wrap">
<noscript><img class="image-no-js"
src="images/grangler-music-cover-8.png"
image-srcset="images/grangler-music-cover-8.png 800w, images/grangler-music-cover-8-150x150.png 150w, images/grangler-music-cover-8-300x300.png 300w, images/grangler-music-cover-8-768x768.png 768w, images/grangler-music-cover-8-600x600.png 600w, images/grangler-music-cover-8-340x340.png 340w, images/grangler-music-cover-8-420x420.png 420w, images/grangler-music-cover-8-760x760.png 760w, images/grangler-music-cover-8-780x780.png 780w"
sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" alt="" /></noscript>
<picture class="lozad"><img data-toggle-class="active"
data-src="images/grangler-music-cover-8.png"
data-srcset="images/grangler-music-cover-8.png 800w, images/grangler-music-cover-8-150x150.png 150w, images/grangler-music-cover-8-300x300.png 300w, images/grangler-music-cover-8-768x768.png 768w, images/grangler-music-cover-8-600x600.png 600w, images/grangler-music-cover-8-340x340.png 340w, images/grangler-music-cover-8-420x420.png 420w, images/grangler-music-cover-8-760x760.png 760w, images/grangler-music-cover-8-780x780.png 780w"
sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" alt=""
src="./Grangler Music Series - Joe Tower_files/grangler-music-cover-8.png"
srcset="images/grangler-music-cover-8.png 800w, images/grangler-music-cover-8-150x150.png 150w, images/grangler-music-cover-8-300x300.png 300w, images/grangler-music-cover-8-768x768.png 768w, images/grangler-music-cover-8-600x600.png 600w, images/grangler-music-cover-8-340x340.png 340w, images/grangler-music-cover-8-420x420.png 420w, images/grangler-music-cover-8-760x760.png 760w, images/grangler-music-cover-8-780x780.png 780w"
class="active" data-loaded="true"></picture>
</div>
</section>
<div class="album-content" id="2011 : Volume 8">
<h2 class="artist-name">Grangler Music</h2>
<h3 class="album-title">2011 : Volume 8</h3>
</div>
</div>
<h3 id="volume-8-tracklisting">Volume 8 track listing</h3>
<ol>
<li>The Weeknd – High For This</li>
<li>Active Child – Playing House</li>
<li>James Blake – Fall Creek Boys Choir (Featuring Bon Iver)</li>
<li>TV On The Radio – Will Do</li>
<li>M83 – Midnight City</li>
<li>Sims – Bad Time Zoo</li>
<li>Katy B – Katy On A Mission</li>
<li>Dessa – The Crow</li>
<li>Iron & Wine – Rabbit Will Run</li>
<li>Gary Clark Jr. – Things Are Changin’ (Live Solo Acoustic)</li>
<li>Charles Bradley – The World (Is Going Up In Flames)</li>
<li>Black Keys – Sister</li>
<li>Tune-Yards – Bizness</li>
<li>Doomtree – Beacon</li>
<li>Bon Iver – Minnesota, WI</li>
<li>James Blake – A Case Of You (Joni Mitchell Cover)</li>
</ol>
</li>
<li class="album">
<div class="top-section">
<section class="component-block image-block">
<div class="image-wrap">
<noscript><img class="image-no-js"
src="images/grangler-music-cover-9.png"
image-srcset="images/grangler-music-cover-9.png 800w, images/grangler-music-cover-9-150x150.png 150w, images/grangler-music-cover-9-300x300.png 300w, images/grangler-music-cover-9-768x768.png 768w, images/grangler-music-cover-9-600x600.png 600w, images/grangler-music-cover-9-340x340.png 340w, images/grangler-music-cover-9-420x420.png 420w, images/grangler-music-cover-9-760x760.png 760w, images/grangler-music-cover-9-780x780.png 780w"
sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" alt="" /></noscript>
<picture class="lozad"><img data-toggle-class="active"
data-src="images/grangler-music-cover-9.png"
data-srcset="images/grangler-music-cover-9.png 800w, images/grangler-music-cover-9-150x150.png 150w, images/grangler-music-cover-9-300x300.png 300w, images/grangler-music-cover-9-768x768.png 768w, images/grangler-music-cover-9-600x600.png 600w, images/grangler-music-cover-9-340x340.png 340w, images/grangler-music-cover-9-420x420.png 420w, images/grangler-music-cover-9-760x760.png 760w, images/grangler-music-cover-9-780x780.png 780w"
sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" alt=""
src="./Grangler Music Series - Joe Tower_files/grangler-music-cover-9.png"
srcset="images/grangler-music-cover-9.png 800w, images/grangler-music-cover-9-150x150.png 150w, images/grangler-music-cover-9-300x300.png 300w, images/grangler-music-cover-9-768x768.png 768w, images/grangler-music-cover-9-600x600.png 600w, images/grangler-music-cover-9-340x340.png 340w, images/grangler-music-cover-9-420x420.png 420w, images/grangler-music-cover-9-760x760.png 760w, images/grangler-music-cover-9-780x780.png 780w"
class="active" data-loaded="true"></picture>
</div>
</section>
<div class="album-content" id="2012 : Volume 9">
<h2 class="artist-name">Grangler Music</h2>
<h3 class="album-title">2012 : Volume 9</h3>
</div>
</div>
<h2 id="volumes-9-amp-10">2012 : Volumes 9 & 10</h2>
<p><strong>Graveyard’s</strong> third album didn’t strike me like their 2nd, but it’s still enjoyable.
Their brand of sludgy psychedelic blues rock is still unmistakably Graveyard.</p>
<p><strong>Katatonia</strong> released another incredible album, in <strong>Dead End Kings</strong>.</p>
<p>I’ve been a fan of <strong>Macklemore</strong> since 2009’s <em>Unplanned Mixtape EP</em>. But I
really started paying close attention when he and Ryan Lewis put out 2010’s <em>The VS</em> and
<em>The VS Redux</em>. <em>Vipassana</em> was my jam. It’s been several years, but I swear he put out
a <em>The VS</em> EP and some months later repackaged it with remixed in <em>The VS Redux</em> but I
can’t find a real instance of <em>The VS</em> by itself (need to keep googling).</p>
<p>So now, in 2012, they come along and release an album that would catapult them beyond their own
ambitions. Of course, the record didn’t truly hit its stride until 2013 – because not everyone keeps a
close watch on underground-to-mainstream artist transitions.</p>
<p><strong>P.O.S</strong> released his most polarizing record – an odd mix of I don’t know how to
describe, tracks, in <em>We Don’t Even Live Here</em>. From some solid, truly great songs (the couple
I included here) to vulgar craziness –<em>Fuck Your Stuff</em>, this album still leaves me scratching
my head a bit. It’s now 2015 and I should probably re-visit this record.</p>
<h3 id="volume-9-tracklisting">Volume 9 track listing</h3>
<ol>
<li>Graveyard – Endless Nights</li>
<li>Katatonia – The Racing Heart</li>
<li>Alt-J – Tessellate</li>
<li>Macklemore & Ryan Lewis – Same Love (Featuring Mary Lambert)</li>
<li>Frank Ocean – Thinkin Bout You</li>
<li>Twin Shadow – Golden Light</li>
<li>P.O.S – Where We Land (Featuring Justin Vernon)</li>
<li>Sea Wolf – Old Friend</li>
<li>Grizzly Bear – Speak in Rounds</li>
<li>Silversun Pickups – Make Believe</li>
<li>Polica – Lay Your Cards Out</li>
<li>Alabama Shakes – I Found You</li>
<li>Fiona Apple – Jonathan</li>
<li>David Byrne & St. Vincent – Lazarus</li>
<li>Aesop Rock – Cycles to Gehenna</li>
<li>Kyteman Orchestra – Angry at the World</li>
</ol>
</li>
<li class="album">
<div class="top-section">
<section class="component-block image-block">
<div class="image-wrap">
<noscript><img class="image-no-js"
src="images/grangler-music-cover-10.png"
image-srcset="images/grangler-music-cover-10.png 800w, images/grangler-music-cover-10-150x150.png 150w, images/grangler-music-cover-10-300x300.png 300w, images/grangler-music-cover-10-768x768.png 768w, images/grangler-music-cover-10-600x600.png 600w, images/grangler-music-cover-10-340x340.png 340w, images/grangler-music-cover-10-420x420.png 420w, images/grangler-music-cover-10-760x760.png 760w, images/grangler-music-cover-10-780x780.png 780w"
sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" alt="" /></noscript>
<picture class="lozad"><img data-toggle-class="active"
data-src="images/grangler-music-cover-10.png"
data-srcset="images/grangler-music-cover-10.png 800w, images/grangler-music-cover-10-150x150.png 150w, images/grangler-music-cover-10-300x300.png 300w, images/grangler-music-cover-10-768x768.png 768w, images/grangler-music-cover-10-600x600.png 600w, images/grangler-music-cover-10-340x340.png 340w, images/grangler-music-cover-10-420x420.png 420w, images/grangler-music-cover-10-760x760.png 760w, images/grangler-music-cover-10-780x780.png 780w"
sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" alt=""
src="./Grangler Music Series - Joe Tower_files/grangler-music-cover-10.png"
srcset="images/grangler-music-cover-10.png 800w, images/grangler-music-cover-10-150x150.png 150w, images/grangler-music-cover-10-300x300.png 300w, images/grangler-music-cover-10-768x768.png 768w, images/grangler-music-cover-10-600x600.png 600w, images/grangler-music-cover-10-340x340.png 340w, images/grangler-music-cover-10-420x420.png 420w, images/grangler-music-cover-10-760x760.png 760w, images/grangler-music-cover-10-780x780.png 780w"
class="active" data-loaded="true"></picture>
</div>
</section>
<div class="album-content" id="2012 : Volume 10">
<h2 class="artist-name">Grangler Music</h2>
<h3 class="album-title">2012 : Volume 10</h3>
</div>
</div>
<h3 id="volume-10-tracklisting">Volume 10 track listing</h3>
<ol>
<li>Silversun Pickups – Skin Graph</li>
<li>Macklemore & Ryan Lewis – Neon Cathedral (Featuring Allen Stone)</li>
<li>Frank Ocean – Lost</li>
<li>Twin Shadow – You Call On Me</li>
<li>P.O.S – Wanted/Wasted (Featuring Astronautalis)</li>
<li>Efterklang – Hollow Mountain</li>
<li>Dirty Projectors – Swing Lo Magellan</li>
<li>Alt-J – Taro</li>
<li>Witchcraft – It’s Not Because of You</li>
<li>Bat For Lashes – All Your Gold</li>
<li>Now, Now – Prehistoric</li>
<li>Kathleen Edwards – Change The Sheets</li>
<li>Grizzly Bear – Yet Again</li>
<li>Kyteman Orchestra – Mushroom Cloud</li>
<li>Frank Ocean – Pyramids</li>
</ol>
</li>
<li class="album">
<div class="top-section">
<section class="component-block image-block">
<div class="image-wrap">
<noscript><img class="image-no-js"
src="images/grangler-music-cover-11.png"
image-srcset="images/grangler-music-cover-11.png 800w, images/grangler-music-cover-11-150x150.png 150w, images/grangler-music-cover-11-300x300.png 300w, images/grangler-music-cover-11-768x768.png 768w, images/grangler-music-cover-11-600x600.png 600w, images/grangler-music-cover-11-340x340.png 340w, images/grangler-music-cover-11-420x420.png 420w, images/grangler-music-cover-11-760x760.png 760w, images/grangler-music-cover-11-780x780.png 780w"
sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" alt="" /></noscript>
<picture class="lozad"><img data-toggle-class="active"
data-src="images/grangler-music-cover-11.png"
data-srcset="images/grangler-music-cover-11.png 800w, images/grangler-music-cover-11-150x150.png 150w, images/grangler-music-cover-11-300x300.png 300w, images/grangler-music-cover-11-768x768.png 768w, images/grangler-music-cover-11-600x600.png 600w, images/grangler-music-cover-11-340x340.png 340w, images/grangler-music-cover-11-420x420.png 420w, images/grangler-music-cover-11-760x760.png 760w, images/grangler-music-cover-11-780x780.png 780w"
sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" alt=""
src="./Grangler Music Series - Joe Tower_files/grangler-music-cover-11.png"
srcset="images/grangler-music-cover-11.png 800w, images/grangler-music-cover-11-150x150.png 150w, images/grangler-music-cover-11-300x300.png 300w, images/grangler-music-cover-11-768x768.png 768w, images/grangler-music-cover-11-600x600.png 600w, images/grangler-music-cover-11-340x340.png 340w, images/grangler-music-cover-11-420x420.png 420w, images/grangler-music-cover-11-760x760.png 760w, images/grangler-music-cover-11-780x780.png 780w"
class="active" data-loaded="true"></picture>
</div>
</section>
<div class="album-content" id="2013 : Volume 11">
<h2 class="artist-name">Grangler Music</h2>
<h3 class="album-title">2013 : Volume 11</h3>
</div>
</div>
<h2 id="volumes-11-amp-12">2013 : Volumes 11 & 12</h2>
<p><strong>Earl Sweatshirt</strong> emerged from seclusion to unprecedented internet pressure and hype.
His debut full-length is exactly what it was meant to be; a brilliant young artist throwing something
out there and seeing how it’s received. While not all of the record hit me like <em>Chum</em>did, it’s
still a great record. Though, I have to empathize a bit and try to put myself in his world view to
appreciate the record. Even then, I fall short – being a white guy who largely grew up in the suburbs
and experienced very little economic/societal struggle. I can only empathize so much. What I do know
is that Earl will only get better. I look forward to hearing what he’s talking about years from now.
</p>
<p><strong>Chvrches</strong> debut record was refreshing, great even. Very inline with 2013’s fresh take
on older genres – the cycle of influence, if you will. Its inclusion here was a no-brainer – both in
terms of quality and sequencing. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same will be true for songs on 2015’s
release <em>Every Open Eye</em>. Too much of the same for me. They have such a niche sound. One whose
longevity was uncertain from the beginning. I’m reminded, not in style, but by a shared niche sound
longevity sentiment in <strong>Alt-J</strong>’s material. Both, to me, are almost unlistenable now.
I’m not sure why that is. Maybe I didn’t really ever like them that much in the first place. Ha,
ramble ramble.</p>
<p>On a similar note, <strong>London Grammer</strong> and <strong>Haim</strong> saw much commercial and
critical success. 2014 was an interesting year for debut female-fronted records. I’m a big fan of all
of that.</p>
<p>Local hometown hero (and as of 2015, MN homeowner and resident once again!) <strong>Har Mar
Superstar</strong> saw his most commercial success. It also saw his most serious, well-formed,
consistently thematic work in<strong>Bye Bye 17</strong>. Gone are the silly, playful party lyrics,
what remains is the heart and soul of Har Mar’s world.</p>
<p><strong>James Blake</strong> returned and absolutely crushed his debut record – albeit in very
different genre distinction confines. His confidence in singing ability, overall musicianship,
songwriting is all radically on-point and thoroughly engaging. I’m still holding out for <em>Radio
Silence </em>his third full-length record to be released in 2015. We’ll see. James Blake and
Frank Ocean: please release new albums this year. Pull a D’Angelo for 2015.</p>
<h3 id="volume-11-tracklisting">Volume 11 track listing</h3>
<ol>
<li>London Grammar – Stay Awake</li>
<li>Volcano Choir – Acetate</li>
<li>Chvrches – Tether</li>
<li>Laura Mvula – That’s Alright</li>
<li>Drake – Hold On, We’re Going Home</li>
<li>Darkside – Paper Trails</li>
<li>Dessa – Warsaw</li>
<li>James Blake – Retrograde</li>
<li>Har Mar Superstar – Lady, You Shot Me</li>
<li>Kanye West – Blood On The Leaves</li>
<li>Coheed & Cambria – The Hard Sell</li>
<li>Chelsea Wolfe – We Hit A Wall</li>
<li>Arcade Fire – Here Comes The Night</li>
<li>Earl Sweatshirt – Chum</li>
<li>Justin Timberlake – Mirrors</li>
</ol>
</li>
<li class="album">
<div class="top-section">
<section class="component-block image-block">
<div class="image-wrap">
<noscript><img class="image-no-js"
src="images/grangler-music-cover-12.png"
image-srcset="images/grangler-music-cover-12.png 800w, images/grangler-music-cover-12-150x150.png 150w, images/grangler-music-cover-12-300x300.png 300w, images/grangler-music-cover-12-768x768.png 768w, images/grangler-music-cover-12-600x600.png 600w, images/grangler-music-cover-12-340x340.png 340w, images/grangler-music-cover-12-420x420.png 420w, images/grangler-music-cover-12-760x760.png 760w, images/grangler-music-cover-12-780x780.png 780w"
sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" alt="" /></noscript>
<picture class="lozad"><img data-toggle-class="active"
data-src="images/grangler-music-cover-12.png"
data-srcset="images/grangler-music-cover-12.png 800w, images/grangler-music-cover-12-150x150.png 150w, images/grangler-music-cover-12-300x300.png 300w, images/grangler-music-cover-12-768x768.png 768w, images/grangler-music-cover-12-600x600.png 600w, images/grangler-music-cover-12-340x340.png 340w, images/grangler-music-cover-12-420x420.png 420w, images/grangler-music-cover-12-760x760.png 760w, images/grangler-music-cover-12-780x780.png 780w"
sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" alt=""
src="./Grangler Music Series - Joe Tower_files/grangler-music-cover-12.png"
srcset="images/grangler-music-cover-12.png 800w, images/grangler-music-cover-12-150x150.png 150w, images/grangler-music-cover-12-300x300.png 300w, images/grangler-music-cover-12-768x768.png 768w, images/grangler-music-cover-12-600x600.png 600w, images/grangler-music-cover-12-340x340.png 340w, images/grangler-music-cover-12-420x420.png 420w, images/grangler-music-cover-12-760x760.png 760w, images/grangler-music-cover-12-780x780.png 780w"
class="active" data-loaded="true"></picture>
</div>
</section>
<div class="album-content" id="2013 : Volume 12">
<h2 class="artist-name">Grangler Music</h2>
<h3 class="album-title">2013 : Volume 12</h3>
</div>
</div>
<h3 id="volume-12-tracklisting">Volume 12 track listing</h3>
<ol>
<li>Haim – Let Me Go</li>
<li>Pearl Jam – Getaway</li>
<li>Pretty Lights – Color of My Soul</li>
<li>Atoms For Peace – Ingenue</li>
<li>Neko Case – Man</li>
<li>Mutual Benefit – Advanced Falconcry</li>
<li>Baths – Miasma Sky</li>
<li>The Weeknd – Adaptation</li>
<li>The National – Pink Rabbits</li>
<li>Nine Inch Nails – Various Methods Of Escape</li>
<li>Youth Lagoon – Attic Doctor</li>
<li>Jose James – Trouble</li>
<li>Chicagojazzen – Renberg</li>
<li>Deafheaven – Irresistible</li>
<li>James Blake – Our Loves Comes Back</li>
</ol>
</li>
<li class="album">
<div class="top-section">
<section class="component-block image-block">
<div class="image-wrap">
<noscript><img class="image-no-js"
src="images/grangler-music-cover-13.png"
image-srcset="images/grangler-music-cover-13.png 800w, images/grangler-music-cover-13-150x150.png 150w, images/grangler-music-cover-13-300x300.png 300w, images/grangler-music-cover-13-768x768.png 768w, images/grangler-music-cover-13-600x600.png 600w, images/grangler-music-cover-13-340x340.png 340w, images/grangler-music-cover-13-420x420.png 420w, images/grangler-music-cover-13-760x760.png 760w, images/grangler-music-cover-13-780x780.png 780w"
sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" alt="" /></noscript>
<picture class="lozad"><img data-toggle-class="active"
data-src="images/grangler-music-cover-13.png"
data-srcset="images/grangler-music-cover-13.png 800w, images/grangler-music-cover-13-150x150.png 150w, images/grangler-music-cover-13-300x300.png 300w, images/grangler-music-cover-13-768x768.png 768w, images/grangler-music-cover-13-600x600.png 600w, images/grangler-music-cover-13-340x340.png 340w, images/grangler-music-cover-13-420x420.png 420w, images/grangler-music-cover-13-760x760.png 760w, images/grangler-music-cover-13-780x780.png 780w"
sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" alt=""
src="./Grangler Music Series - Joe Tower_files/grangler-music-cover-13.png"
srcset="images/grangler-music-cover-13.png 800w, images/grangler-music-cover-13-150x150.png 150w, images/grangler-music-cover-13-300x300.png 300w, images/grangler-music-cover-13-768x768.png 768w, images/grangler-music-cover-13-600x600.png 600w, images/grangler-music-cover-13-340x340.png 340w, images/grangler-music-cover-13-420x420.png 420w, images/grangler-music-cover-13-760x760.png 760w, images/grangler-music-cover-13-780x780.png 780w"
class="active" data-loaded="true"></picture>
</div>
</section>
<div class="album-content" id="2014 : Volume 13">
<h2 class="artist-name">Grangler Music</h2>
<h3 class="album-title">2014 : Volume 13</h3>
</div>
</div>
<h2 id="volumes-13-amp-14">2014 : Volumes 13 & 14</h2>
<p><strong>D’Angelo</strong> released his incredible third album, randomly, in December of 2014. His
songs just snuck into their places. This, as I always strive to achieve, is a very eclectic mix of
genres.</p>
<p><strong>Thom Yorke</strong> partnered with <strong>Bit Torrent</strong> to try out a new music
delivery mechanism – well, new to the legal side of music downloading, that is. I’m not sure if Bit
Torrent was successful in delivering more albums to music-hungry fans, but I know Thom’s album
downloaded quickly and the process went smoothly. What is unfortunate is that the album itself didn’t
land how anyone really anticipated. There was barely mention of Thom’s album on internet
year-end-best-lists. That’s too bad, but I too agree, it wasn’t up to par with <em>The Eraser</em>.
</p>
<h3 id="on-sequencing">On sequencing:</h3>
<p>I’m big on opening and closing with strong, memorable, songs. I’d like every track to be memorable,
but I like framing the sequence with solid bookends. At times I feel a more jarring genre
juxtaposition in song-to-song transition pairings is in order, and at other times find a more seamless
glide appropriate. Point being, sequencing matters, and I try to approach every year differently.</p>
<h3 id="volume-13-tracklisting">Volume 13 track listing</h3>
<ol>
<li>D’Angelo and The Vanguard – Really Love</li>
<li>Jessie Ware – Say You Love Me</li>
<li>Thom Yorke – A Brain In A Bottle</li>
<li>Tycho – Montana</li>
<li>Son Little – Your Love Will Blow Me Away When My Heart Aches</li>
<li>Tiny Deaths – The Words</li>
<li>FKA Twigs – Pendulum</li>
<li>Andy Stott – Science & Industry</li>
<li>Mr Twin Sister – Blush</li>
<li>PHOX – Slow Motion</li>
<li>Banks – Goddess</li>
<li>Sims – Scope Or Claw</li>
<li>Dessa – Fighting Fish (The Hood Internet Remix)</li>
<li>TV On The Radio – Right Now</li>
<li>Matthew Halsall – When the World Was One</li>
<li>Aphex Twin – aisatsana [102]</li>
</ol>
</li>
<li class="album">
<div class="top-section">
<section class="component-block image-block">
<div class="image-wrap">
<noscript><img class="image-no-js"
src="images/grangler-music-cover-14.png"
image-srcset="images/grangler-music-cover-14.png 800w, images/grangler-music-cover-14-150x150.png 150w, images/grangler-music-cover-14-300x300.png 300w, images/grangler-music-cover-14-768x768.png 768w, images/grangler-music-cover-14-600x600.png 600w, images/grangler-music-cover-14-340x340.png 340w, images/grangler-music-cover-14-420x420.png 420w, images/grangler-music-cover-14-760x760.png 760w, images/grangler-music-cover-14-780x780.png 780w"
sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" alt="" /></noscript>
<picture class="lozad"><img data-toggle-class="active"
data-src="images/grangler-music-cover-14.png"
data-srcset="images/grangler-music-cover-14.png 800w, images/grangler-music-cover-14-150x150.png 150w, images/grangler-music-cover-14-300x300.png 300w, images/grangler-music-cover-14-768x768.png 768w, images/grangler-music-cover-14-600x600.png 600w, images/grangler-music-cover-14-340x340.png 340w, images/grangler-music-cover-14-420x420.png 420w, images/grangler-music-cover-14-760x760.png 760w, images/grangler-music-cover-14-780x780.png 780w"
sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" alt=""
src="./Grangler Music Series - Joe Tower_files/grangler-music-cover-14.png"
srcset="images/grangler-music-cover-14.png 800w, images/grangler-music-cover-14-150x150.png 150w, images/grangler-music-cover-14-300x300.png 300w, images/grangler-music-cover-14-768x768.png 768w, images/grangler-music-cover-14-600x600.png 600w, images/grangler-music-cover-14-340x340.png 340w, images/grangler-music-cover-14-420x420.png 420w, images/grangler-music-cover-14-760x760.png 760w, images/grangler-music-cover-14-780x780.png 780w"
class="active" data-loaded="true"></picture>
</div>
</section>
<div class="album-content" id="2014 : Volume 14">
<h2 class="artist-name">Grangler Music</h2>
<h3 class="album-title">2014 : Volume 14</h3>
</div>
</div>
<h3 id="volume-14-tracklisting">Volume 14 track listing</h3>
<ol>
<li>Son Little – Cross My Heart</li>
<li>Clark – Winter Linn</li>
<li>Porter Robinson – Lionhearted [feat. Urban Cone]</li>
<li>Tycho – Awake</li>
<li>Hail Mary Mallon – Kiln</li>
<li>Luluc – Small Window</li>
<li>Grouper – Clearing</li>
<li>Pallbearer – Foundations</li>
<li>Snowmine – Columbus</li>
<li>St Paul & The Broken Bones – Don’t Mean a Thing</li>
<li>Marc Ribot Trio – Old Man River</li>
<li>Sylvan Esso – Coffee</li>
<li>Arca – Now You Know</li>
<li>Imogen Heap – Entanglement</li>
<li>Valery Gore – Hummingbird in Reverse</li>
<li>D’Angelo and The Vanguard – Betray My Heart</li>
</ol>
</li>
<li class="album">
<div class="top-section">
<section class="component-block image-block">
<div class="image-wrap">
<noscript><img class="image-no-js"
src="images/grangler-music-cover-15.png"
image-srcset="images/grangler-music-cover-15.png 800w, images/grangler-music-cover-15-150x150.png 150w, images/grangler-music-cover-15-300x300.png 300w, images/grangler-music-cover-15-768x768.png 768w, images/grangler-music-cover-15-600x600.png 600w, images/grangler-music-cover-15-340x340.png 340w, images/grangler-music-cover-15-420x420.png 420w, images/grangler-music-cover-15-760x760.png 760w, images/grangler-music-cover-15-780x780.png 780w"
sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" alt="" /></noscript>
<picture class="lozad"><img data-toggle-class="active"
data-src="images/grangler-music-cover-15.png"
data-srcset="images/grangler-music-cover-15.png 800w, images/grangler-music-cover-15-150x150.png 150w, images/grangler-music-cover-15-300x300.png 300w, images/grangler-music-cover-15-768x768.png 768w, images/grangler-music-cover-15-600x600.png 600w, images/grangler-music-cover-15-340x340.png 340w, images/grangler-music-cover-15-420x420.png 420w, images/grangler-music-cover-15-760x760.png 760w, images/grangler-music-cover-15-780x780.png 780w"
sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" alt=""
src="./Grangler Music Series - Joe Tower_files/grangler-music-cover-15.png"
srcset="images/grangler-music-cover-15.png 800w, images/grangler-music-cover-15-150x150.png 150w, images/grangler-music-cover-15-300x300.png 300w, images/grangler-music-cover-15-768x768.png 768w, images/grangler-music-cover-15-600x600.png 600w, images/grangler-music-cover-15-340x340.png 340w, images/grangler-music-cover-15-420x420.png 420w, images/grangler-music-cover-15-760x760.png 760w, images/grangler-music-cover-15-780x780.png 780w"
class="active" data-loaded="true"></picture>
</div>
</section>
<div class="album-content" id="2015 : Volume 15">
<h2 class="artist-name">Grangler Music</h2>
<h3 class="album-title">2015 : Volume 15</h3>
</div>
</div>
<h2 id="volumes-15-amp-16">2015 : Volumes 15 & 16</h2>
<p>This year I made it a goal to have fewer repeat artists than previous years. Just my luck, the year
produced some truly incredible records.</p>
<p><strong>Nils Frahm</strong> released a wonderful, free, <strong>Solo</strong> piano album. Volume 15
opens with one of my favorite piano pieces <em>ode</em> and Volume 16 closes with another favorite
<em>Some</em>. Both pieces feel like great bookends to the series this year. If you would like to have
the whole album, <a title="Download Nils Frahm's Solo album"
href="http://www.nilsfrahm.com/works/sol/">download it here</a>.</p>
<p><strong>Son Little</strong> released his debut solo album this year. I really can’t say enough great
things about this guy and his band. They are crazy talented and exude soul. Maggie and I had the
privilege of seeing them perform at 7th Street this year. We were not disappointed. I wrote about Son
Little <a title="Son Little Recent Records 5"
href="https://joetower.com/2015/10/recent-records-05/">earlier this year</a>.</p>
<p><strong>Courtney Barnett</strong> is sure to be at the top of many “best of” lists. It’s easy to see
why; as this record is superb.</p>
<p><strong>Kamasi Washington</strong>’s <em>The Epic</em> is also a sure-to-top “best of” lists. This is
one of the most subgenre-spanning jazz records I’ve ever heard. It’s also one of the best modern jazz
records I’ve heard, period. I wrote about Kamasi <a title="Kamasi Washington Recent Records 2"
href="https://joetower.com/2015/05/recent-records/">earlier this year</a>.</p>
<p><strong>Sufjan Stevens</strong> writes beautiful music. This record might be his most crushingly
depressing records to date. It’s also his best album to date.</p>
<p><strong>Chelsea Wolfe</strong> also released her best album to date, in the excellent<em>The
Abyss</em> release. Her sound is so much fuller sounding than previous records. I wrote about
Chelsea <a title="Chelsea Wolfe Recent Records 4"
href="https://joetower.com/2015/09/recent-records-04/">earlier this year</a>.</p>
<p>I had to include <strong>Drake</strong>’s thoroughly ridiculous but amazingly catchy campy smash hit
that everyone parodied or covered. I can’t even call this a guilty pleasure. It’s just a wonderful
awful great song.</p>
<p><strong>Floating Points</strong> came out of nowhere to put out one of the year’s most interesting
electronic albums – brilliantly fusing jazz/glitch/ambient sounds.</p>
<p><strong>Miguel</strong> put out one of my more immediate favorite fun records of the year. I feel
like he’s finally shedding his more pop-filled previous records and challenging himself, creatively.
</p>
<p><strong>Dollarstore Keyboard</strong> is a childhood friend’s (Colin Swenson) latest music project.
Colin is an exceptional musician and I always look forward to hearing what he comes up with. This is
definitely the most remarkable body of work he’s produced to date.</p>
<h3 id="volume-15-tracklisting">Volume 15 track listing</h3>
<ol>
<li>Nils Frahm – Ode</li>
<li>Son Little – Lay Down</li>
<li>Courtney Barnett – Depreston</li>
<li>Roseau – See You Soon</li>
<li>Jamie XX – Loud Places (featuring Romy)</li>
<li>Empress Of – Threat</li>
<li>Elle King – Ex’s and Oh’s</li>
<li>Odesza – It’s Only (featuring Zyra)</li>
<li>Floating Points – For Marmish</li>
<li>Kamasi Washington – Re Run</li>
<li>Sufjan Stevens – Death with Dignity</li>
<li>Chelsea Wolfe – Crazy Love</li>
<li>Joanna Newsom – You Will Not Take My Heart Alive</li>
<li>FKA Twigs – In Time</li>
<li>Drake – Hotline Bling</li>
<li>Antony & Yoko Ono – I Love You Earth</li>
<li>Alabama Shakes – Sound & Color</li>
<li>Miguel – Hollywood Dreams</li>
</ol>
</li>
<li class="album">
<div class="top-section">
<section class="component-block image-block">
<div class="image-wrap">
<noscript><img class="image-no-js"
src="images/grangler-music-cover-16.png"
image-srcset="images/grangler-music-cover-16.png 800w, images/grangler-music-cover-16-150x150.png 150w, images/grangler-music-cover-16-300x300.png 300w, images/grangler-music-cover-16-768x768.png 768w, images/grangler-music-cover-16-600x600.png 600w, images/grangler-music-cover-16-340x340.png 340w, images/grangler-music-cover-16-420x420.png 420w, images/grangler-music-cover-16-760x760.png 760w, images/grangler-music-cover-16-780x780.png 780w"
sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" alt="" /></noscript>
<picture class="lozad"><img data-toggle-class="active"
data-src="images/grangler-music-cover-16.png"
data-srcset="images/grangler-music-cover-16.png 800w, images/grangler-music-cover-16-150x150.png 150w, images/grangler-music-cover-16-300x300.png 300w, images/grangler-music-cover-16-768x768.png 768w, images/grangler-music-cover-16-600x600.png 600w, images/grangler-music-cover-16-340x340.png 340w, images/grangler-music-cover-16-420x420.png 420w, images/grangler-music-cover-16-760x760.png 760w, images/grangler-music-cover-16-780x780.png 780w"
sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" alt=""
src="./Grangler Music Series - Joe Tower_files/grangler-music-cover-16.png"
srcset="images/grangler-music-cover-16.png 800w, images/grangler-music-cover-16-150x150.png 150w, images/grangler-music-cover-16-300x300.png 300w, images/grangler-music-cover-16-768x768.png 768w, images/grangler-music-cover-16-600x600.png 600w, images/grangler-music-cover-16-340x340.png 340w, images/grangler-music-cover-16-420x420.png 420w, images/grangler-music-cover-16-760x760.png 760w, images/grangler-music-cover-16-780x780.png 780w"
class="active" data-loaded="true"></picture>
</div>
</section>
<div class="album-content" id="2015 : Volume 16">
<h2 class="artist-name">Grangler Music</h2>
<h3 class="album-title">2015 : Volume 16</h3>
</div>
</div>
<h3 id="volume-16-tracklisting">Volume 16 track listing</h3>
<ol>
<li>Max Richter – Vivaldi, Four Seasons – Spring 1</li>
<li>Leon Bridges – River</li>
<li>Son Little – Go Blue Blood Red</li>
<li>Thundercat – Them Changes (featuring Flying Lotus & Kamasi Washington)</li>
<li>Julie Holter – Feel You</li>
<li>Oneohtrix Point Never – Sticky Drama</li>
<li>Ghost – Spirit</li>
<li>Tribulation – Melancholia</li>
<li>Macklemore – Downtown (featuring Eric Nally, Melle Mel, Kool Moe Dee, Grandmaster Caz)</li>
<li>Bilal – Sirens II</li>
<li>Doomtree – The Bends</li>
<li>Silversun Pickups – Friendly Fires</li>
<li>Björk – Atom Dance</li>
<li>Dollarstore Keyboard – Teacup Falls</li>
<li>Pinkshinyultrablast – Holy Forest</li>
<li>Seinabo Sey – Younger</li>
<li>Deerhunter – Living My Life</li>
<li>Nils Frahm – Some</li>
</ol>
</li>
<li class="album">
<div class="top-section">
<section class="component-block image-block">
<div class="image-wrap">
<noscript><img class="image-no-js"
src="images/grangler-art-17-800x800.jpg"
image-srcset="images/grangler-art-17-800x800.jpg 800w, images/grangler-art-17-150x150.jpg 150w, images/grangler-art-17-300x300.jpg 300w, images/grangler-art-17-600x600.jpg 600w"
sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"
alt="Grangler Music Volume 17 album cover artwork" /></noscript>
<picture class="lozad"><img data-toggle-class="active"
data-src="images/grangler-art-17-800x800.jpg"
data-srcset="images/grangler-art-17-800x800.jpg 800w, images/grangler-art-17-150x150.jpg 150w, images/grangler-art-17-300x300.jpg 300w, images/grangler-art-17-600x600.jpg 600w"
sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" alt="Grangler Music Volume 17 album cover artwork"
src="./Grangler Music Series - Joe Tower_files/grangler-art-17-800x800.jpg"
srcset="images/grangler-art-17-800x800.jpg 800w, images/grangler-art-17-150x150.jpg 150w, images/grangler-art-17-300x300.jpg 300w, images/grangler-art-17-600x600.jpg 600w"
class="active" data-loaded="true"></picture>
</div>
</section>
<div class="album-content" id="2016 : Volume 17">
<h2 class="artist-name">Grangler Music</h2>
<h3 class="album-title">2016 : Volume 17</h3>
</div>
</div>
<h2 id="volumes-15-amp-16">2016 : Volumes 17 & 18</h2>
<p>2016 was a great year for music and not the greatest, otherwise. We lost several incredible music
legends: Leonard Cohen, David Bowie, Sharon Jones, Prince, Merle Haggard, Phife Dawg, Maurice White,
Glenn Frey, and other lesser known artists.</p>
<p>The year was riddled with social justice and injustice, racism/hatred/sexual assault in our
society and one of the most disgusting presidential elects history will have ever witnessed,
acknowledged and knowingly <em>chosen</em>. I have a lot of feelings about our country electing a
narcissist and how bad things could really get under his presidency. But let’s keep this about
the music and hope, if nothing else good comes out of the next 4 years, music and love will prevail.
FDT.</p>
<h2>Volume 17: comments & notes</h2>
<p><strong>Har Mar Superstar</strong>‘s record this year, <em>Best Summer Ever</em> is his
most serious and consistent record yet. The album opener, which also opens this year’s Grangler Music
Series, is quite the memorable emotionally-charged single. I love everything about it – the optimism,
the simple sentiment found in dancing for joy and reflecting on appreciation. For me <em>I
Hope</em> represents my feelings toward the future; both near and far.</p>
<p><strong>Son Little</strong> is the best. I have so much love and admiration for Aaron Livingston, his
band, and this incarnation of his musical voice in Son Little. While his only new music output this
year is this (too-short-in-length) single, <em>All Wet,</em> right here, man is this a fantastic
song. The chorus and melody echo in my head for days. This is my 2016 jam.</p>
<p><strong>Woods</strong> found me this year and their timing was perfect. This new record seems to be
their most consistent to date. <em>Sun City Creeps</em> has been on steady rotation throughout
the year. So much to love about it – from the mariachi horns, to the memorable vocals and melody, to
the stellar muted guitar twangs, the groove is strong with this one.</p>
<p><strong>Bibio</strong> is exceptional at evoking a time and place for me. Similar to how
<strong>Bon Iver</strong> makes me feel while listening to his music, Bibio / Stephen Wilkinson
evokes feelings of nostalgia in me. For some reason, <em>Town & Country </em>makes me feel as
though I’m living in a small Italian town, with modest means and an honorably comfortable life.
Several of the other songs that make up <em>A Mineral Love</em> evoke nostalgic feelings of
shopping at Goodwill with my father, as a child. That’s a weird range of nostalgic feelings, but they
are there to feel.</p>
<p><strong>Jinsang</strong> provides some breathing room in his instrumental work found here. As of
writing this text, December 23rd, he just released a new album on <a
href="https://jinsangbeats.bandcamp.com/album/life">Bandcamp</a>. It sounds great so far! I know
very little about Jinsang other than the fact that his instrumental beat work is exceptional and
receiving a lot of attention and love on Bandcamp. He’s got the boom bap flavor locked down in 2016.
</p>
<p><strong>Kadhja Bonet</strong> was also a discovery from <a
href="http://kbonet.com/album/the-visitor">Bandcamp</a> where her debut full-length record has
been met with much critical acclaim. <em>Honeycomb</em> feels measured and precise but also has a
casual flow to it – perhaps it’s her seemingly effortless silky delivery. This record oozes 70s vibes
all over the place. Lush orchestration, jazz feels, and lounge atmosphere permeate every square
inch of the room its being played within.</p>
<p><strong>Jack Garratt</strong> is a remarkable artist. He has an incredible talent for composing
dancehall jams, epic hooks, playing multiple instruments very well and he varies things up enough to
keep this debut full length interesting. The stand out single found here <em>Breathe Life</em> is
one of my favorite “happy jams” of the year. The way he presents, manipulates, and varies the same
melody and vocals in a looping fashion works so well. When I initially listened
to <em>Phase,</em> I unfairly dismissed Jack’s sound as being akin to a far more popular –
mainstream focused <strong>James Blake</strong>. While the comparison isn’t unwarranted – both
have heavy roots in the UK dance scene, albeit differing in sub-genre, but similar. Both artist have
remarkable compositions and vocals. Both utilize looping to manipulate/repeat/reinterpret
the same vocal lyrics in several ways. <strong>James </strong>operates on the more bleakly
beautiful end of the spectrum, while <strong>Jack </strong>evokes similar feels but is largely
more upbeat and radiates positivity.</p>
<p><strong>Frank Ocean</strong> made quite the resurgence this year – releasing not one, but two new
bodies of work. <em>Endless</em> being a video album only and has still not been released in a
format one can purchase (really unfortunate). <em>Blonde</em> being his self-released sophomore
follow up to 2013’s <em>Channel Orange</em>. Blonde’s reach and range goes well beyond my hopes
for a second album. It requires several listens to sink in and reveal itself to you. There are plenty
of layers to appreciate, observe, and love. <em>Ivy</em> is a love story anyone can relate to,
but does far more than scratch the surface of love as a typical sweet pop song would. <em>I
thought that I was dreaming when you said you loved me / I had no chance to prepare / I couldn’t see
you coming</em></p>
<p><strong>Childish Gambino</strong> surprised everyone this year by abandoning his rap delivery
and releasing his third commercial full-length as a straight up r&b funk worship affair. Also
surprising is that he chose to associate the album with his punchline-rap persona of Childish Gambino.
Donald Glover has had an incredible year – from his critically acclaimed
series <em>Atlanta, </em>to landing a role as <strong>Lando Calrissian</strong> in the
upcoming standalone Han Solo Star Wars movie, and now releasing what many are hailing as an album of
the year. This record is a head scratcher, but a good one. His vocal range doesn’t always feel as
refined and fluid as I’d like it to, but I think that will come with time. I hope he keeps evolving
down this musical path. It suits him so much better than the punchline rap game. I’m super excited to
see what the <a href="https://awakenmylove.com/products/vinyl-inventory">VR Vinyl edition</a>
of <em>Awaken, My Love!</em> sounds and looks like. <em>Redbone </em>oozes sexy funk
soul worship goodness.</p>
<p><strong>Sleepdealer</strong> is another solid beat producer found on <a
href="https://sleepdealerbeats.bandcamp.com/album/yerba">Bandcamp</a>. His latest record is a solid
collection of beachy, somewhat stoner, beats that flow nicely as the soundtrack to your work day or
chilling out on the weekend.</p>
<p><strong>Cass McCombs</strong> is an artist that I feel silly having not discovered more recently than
this eighth full-length release, <em>Mangy Love. </em>After several listens I find his
smooth production, smart lyrics, and memorable hooks very impressive. <em>Bum bum bum</em> serves
as a solid somewhat political piece that provides one of my favorite understated hooks of 2016.
Lyrically, it aligns well with the subsequent <strong>Sampha</strong> track, <em>Blood on
Me. </em>That was purposeful sequencing right there.</p>
<p><strong>Sampha</strong> is yet another hit-or-miss artist with so much potential oozing from every
corner. To date, <strong>Sampha Sissay</strong> has released a couple EPs and gained recognition for
his work with the collective known as <strong>SBTRKT</strong>, of which his vocal contributions
have been wonderful. The question has always been whether he can sustain himself, stylistically, for
an entire full-length record. Come February 3rd, 2017, we’ll find out if <em>Blood on Me</em> was
an accurate expectation setter.</p>
<p><strong>A Tribe Called Quest</strong> lost Phife Dawg this year, but released an incredible album
(their first in 18 years) that largely honors Phife’s memory. Without a doubt, <em>We Got It from
Here… Thank You 4 Your Service</em> is one of the best hip-hop records of the year. It’s full of
nostalgic voices, timely social commentary and advocacy, while being tremendously enjoyable and fun.
</p>
<p><strong>Eldamar</strong> released his first full-length record, <em>The Force of the Ancient