Free Press Houston
By K.M Anderson
Bottomless Pit - Shade Perennial
It is because of this age I am, and this time. Rock music, bare, no pretense, the room and the players, the magic of a captured moment. The guitar line that begins “Full Of Life” is like you were slapped and taunted. Here’s the selling point: This shit kills.
Pusha T - My Name Is My Name
“How could relate, when you ain’t never been great.” A line, a proclamation, a sentiment expressive of excellence beyond mantras. This is the concrete upon which the weak fall. Thud.
Marnie Stern - Chronicles of Marnia
Simpler only in guitar tracks, a woman at a crossroads, the fork in the road. Hey, you don’t need a sledgehammer to walk in my shoes.
Chance The Rapper - Acid Rap
It is the story, the journey, sun shines, but doesn’t completely illuminate. You leave saddened but inspired the struggle to the victory lap. The child playing amongst the rubble of their destroyed surroundings.
Kurt Vile - Waking On A Pretty Daze
The space, the time, the cup on your kitchen table is a monument, the epic, the mundane, the lone leaf blowing in the wind, that one cloud, the thought, “Yeah…maybe?” The gaze that followed.
Kanye West - Yeezus
There’s a fire in the distance. No. That’s a man! That man is on fire! He’s coming this way! We should run, but aren’t those flames beautiful…
Body/Head - Coming Apart
There is something in the house. There is something here, with me. There is someone here, with me. I am here, there is something inside of me. There is the music, then there is something else. Oh, doing these dishes has never been so exciting.
Earl Sweatshirt - Doris
The genius is in the words. Follow the words into the worlds. The lyrics are the fun, the cloud cover does not disrupt the show. The best of rapping on an album.
Bill Callahan - Dream River
The man has stories. He tells them every now and then. They age well, imprinted into your brain like wrinkles on skin and mystery pains. These scars, these characters.
Polvo - Siberia
The guitar is magical wand, these wizards and their spells. Walking down the mountain, stronger than before the journey. Yes, that is dragon blood on that sword.
Overseas - Overseas
Love, longing, age, a really great song called “All On Your Own”. Put away those bills; put on this album. You are alive-feel that way.
Speedy Ortiz - Major Arcana
From the gate it is great.There is a melody, there is ruckus, all of the colors are present: yellows and red, purple and blues. If I was 25 now, 25 years later, I would reminisce about this record. It would be the “when I was. . .” moment.
Vampire Weekend - Modern Vampires of the City
”Wisdom’s a gift, but you trade it for youth, age is a number but still not the truth.” Many nights have been spent in my kitchen, moved to the point of pausing, while cleaning to this album.
Drake - Nothing Was The Same
Yeah, I know, but it is a good record.
Solange - True EP
A return to or a retreat from, who knows. Experimental in a way that doesn’t lose rhythmic blues, smoothed and out.
Jhene Aiko - Sail Out
Hazy, blissed out, sorta hood, really good, music to make love to, then, smoke to, then make love again, and then roll to the store late night to, zone out, call back, return, roll another one, and make love again.
This article ran in the December 2024 edition of FPH.
