"Two Saviors"
Buck Meek
Keeled Scales
Producer and engineer Andrew Sarlo (who produced the first four Big Thief LPs, all of Nick Hakim's LPs, and contributed as a co-producer on Bon Iver's "i,i" ) agreed to record Buck Meek's second full length LP, "Two Saviors," under his conditions that they make the album in New Orleans during the hottest part of the year, spend no more than seven days tracking, all live on an 8-track tape machine with only dynamic microphones and no headphones, not allowing the players to hear back any takes until the final day.
The result, out Jan. 15, is a cathartic, naked confession of heartbreak, resiliency and enchantment. The first word on "Two Saviors" is "pareidolia." It is a word about recognizing shapes where none were intended to exist -- like searching for images in the clouds. It's an uncommon word, with a beautiful sound, and serves as an apt guide through these new songs of Meek's, which are themselves uncommon and beautiful, and which invite a deep, cloud-gaze state of attention. Pain is not weaponized on this record, but cared for, nurtured, and the songs become meditations on the reality of pain, conducted without resistance.
"Heavy Hitting Hurts My Head"
Christian Leave
Warner Records
Genre disruptor Christian Leave released his new EP, "Heavy Hitting Hurts My Head," on Feb. 12. The five-track record continues Leave's prolific past year, as he hits the hearts of the bewildered and befuddled by growing up, yet wide-eyed and welcoming of what could be a brighter future anyway.
Growing up in Texas, Christian Leave at 14 was just like any other teenager, wrestling with uncomfortable social dynamics that made it hard for him to balance who he was with who he wanted to be -- and then he discovered Vine. The TikTok precursor ultimately let Leave understand himself better, leaning into his awkwardness, riffing on puns and injecting dad jokes with genuine humor. Now 20 years old, Leave has spent the past few years working out of his bedroom, writing, producing and creating this sound that is at once naive and wise, the product of teenage heartbreak as viewed through the eyes of a person who grew up just a little too fast. His encyclopedic musical knowledge translates into genre-hopping bops with all the charm of your favorite indie flick.
"An Overview on Phenomenal Nature"
Cassandra Jenkins
Ba Da Bing Records
NYC musician and artist Cassandra Jenkins released her highly anticipated new album, "An Overview on Phenomenal Nature," Feb. 19. When talking about the songs on the new album, Jenkins says, "Nothing ever really disappears, it just changes shape." Over the past few years, she's seen relationships altered, travelled three continents, wandered through museums and parks, and recorded free-associative guided tours of her New York haunts. Her observations have captured the humanity and nature around her, as well as the thought patterns, memories and attempts to be present while dealing with the aftermath of personal pain and loss. With a singular voice, Jenkins has siphoned these ideas into the ambient folk that she presents.
Jenkins' voice floats amid sensuous chamber pop arrangements and raw-edged drums, ferrying the listener through impressionistic portraits of friends and strangers. Her lyrics unfold magical worlds: introducing a cast of characters like a local fisherman, a psychic at a birthday party, and a driving instructor of a spiritual bent. "The goal is to be more fluid, to be more like the clouds shifting constantly," she says, the concept of which allowed her to express herself like she never has.
"Black History Always - Music For The Movement Vol. 2"
The "Black History Always - Music For The Movement Vol. 2" EP is the second volume of the ongoing project between The Undefeated, ESPN's content initiative exploring the intersection of sports, race and culture, and Hollywood Records. Out Feb. 26, "Black History Always" is the follow up to Volume I's "I Can't Breathe" which features Rapsody, Keedron Bryant, Jensen McRae, Robert Glasper, Terrace Martin and Alex Isley.
Thematically "Black History Always" balances the realities of Black America's continued struggles, while also celebrating Black beauty and offering messages of hope. Like "I Can't Breathe," "Black History Always" features reimagined, historically significant songs as well as an original song, with the addition of a spoken word piece, made by and for Black America with contemporary artists. The message of hope is that everyone sees the beauty and history in Black culture. Each track has original artwork, created by Black artists.
Though Black History Month is celebrated in February, Black history is made every day, and the EP celebrates that in music and art.
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This spot will continue to be filled by news and reviews of new albums, both local and national. Send information about your new releases to Jocelyn Murphy at [email protected].
