Some More Favorite Songs of 2019 (So Far)

In addition to the songs mentioned in my August post, here are a few other songs I keep going back to as the year comes to a close. In no particular order.

FIDLAR - By Myself
The most fun song of the year, an ode to being alone and sorta not giving a rat's ass. Sort of like if Beck had discovered his Midnight Vultures-era boogie back when he was writing Loser. Now I'm off to go crack one open while I finish my post, by myself.


Ian Noe - Letter to Madeline
The influences are pretty obvious, and the style isn't the most original, but this is a pretty song by this fresh Kentucky artist.


Jake Xerxes Fussell - The River St. Johns
Sticking with the rootsy theme, another pretty song by an artist that's been around a bit but I hadn't heard before this year.


Danny Brown - Dirty Laundry
Moving all the way over to the hip-hop side of my brain, Danny Brown's Q-Tip (and others)-produced uknowhatimsayin¿ is one of my late-year heavy rotation LPs. Solid stuff from a veteran.


John Batiste - Blacck (Live)
This is from Chronology of a Dream: Live at the Village Vanguard, which I've had on repeat lately. When I'm prepping dinner, for some reason, this is a go-to.


Rozi Plain - Swing Shut
This is pretty unique-sounding, although I can probably offer up a few influences. Lovely guitar.


Stef Chura - Scream
My top songs list this year is full of women, which I admit isn't typical for me.  Stef Chura's whole album Midnight is catchy.  It sometimes screams "90s!" like here, when she dons the cheerleader uniform and invites obvious nods to Nirvana, but I don't mind the shift in indie over the last few years from 80s-obsessed to 90s-obsessed.


Mannequin Pussy - Drunk II
Seems like a lot of young women these days are rocking like it's 1995. Here's a good one, with nice swirling guitars a la Smashing Pumpkins or something.


(Sandy) Alex G - Gretel
Another LP I've been spinning a lot is Alex G's House of Sugar. He's carved out space of his own built on classic ingredients like melody, hooks, production, words, etc. Gretel is a stand-out, but the LP is good all the way through.

At the Farmer's Market in October: Hibiscus for Agua de Jamaica (with Recipe)

I'm always on the hunt for something unusual at the local farmers markets. Last Saturday, at the Barton Creek Farmers Market, I got my hands on some fresh hibiscus flowers.

A hibiscus flower

The only thing I know how to make with them is agua de jamaica, a refreshing hibiscus tea often served cold that's popular in Mexico, and thus in Austin as well. Not only does it taste good, it is a gorgeous color. I make it in concentrated form, then add a bit of water, but you could add sparkling water instead, and I imagine the concentrate would make an interesting ingredient for mixologists.

Here's my recipe for Agua de Jamaica

Ingredients
1 to 1 1/2 cups fresh or dry hibiscus petals
1 quart water
2/3 cups sugar (or less, to taste)
3-4 thin slices fresh ginger (optional, to taste)
1 stick cinnamon
a few allspice berries (optional, to taste)
a few whole cloves (optional, to taste)

1. If using fresh hibiscus, separate the petals from the rest of the buds and rinse the petals well.

2. Bring water, sugar, ginger, cinnamon, allspice and cloves to a boil. Remove from heat, add hibiscus petals, cover and steep for 15-30 minutes.

3. Strain and chill. The concentrate should be strong enough to dilute with about an equal amount of water. I serve it with ice and a slice of lime.

Agua de Jamaica, concentrate (left) and diluted (right)

Some Favorite Songs in 2019 (So Far)

I think it's a pretty diverse mix of stuff, so hopefully you find something new you like.

Avey Tare - Saturdays (Again)
Mellow but rich, like you'd expect from Avey Tare.


Fontaines D.C. - Boys in the Better Land [live on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Favorite short comment: "Like Liam Gallagher and Ian Curtis had a one night stand and this beautiful Irish bastard was the outcome." Not original really in terms of style, but it still might be my favorite thing in 2019.


The Claypool Lennon Delirium - Blood and Rockets: Movement I, Saga of Jack Parsons - Movement II, Too the Moon
The best Beatles song since ...?


MIKE f. Medhane - Prayers
I guess he's feeling dark, but MIKE reminds us about the beauty that's even in the dark stuff.


Theon Cross - Activate [+ other tracks live on livesession VG Buiten Spelen]
My sister heard Activate and described it as "that booming electronic song," but it's just a tuba, drums and sax.


Rapsody ft. D'Angelo, GZA - Ibtihaj
Throwback beat with D'Angelo singing, and the young rapper keeps up.


Black Pumas - Colors
Austin proud! Adrian Quesada is The Man Who Makes Things Happen.


Devon Gilfillian - Get Out And Get It
Fela x Curtis.  I love his voice and hope he keeps exploring.


Mattiel - Mattiel - Je Ne Me Connais Pas
I like this catchy one, but hope it doesn't remind you too much of that song by Smashmouth.


Dua Saleh - Warm Pants
Talented young Sudanese-born rapper. Comment from YouTube: "Mainstream fans won’t find us here. We safe for now.🔥"

SXSW 2019: A Few Music Selections

South by Southwest 2019 is around the corner already, which is a good thing here, because that's usually when the weather becomes reliably beautiful in Austin for a month or two before gradually becoming more and more oppressively hot. I don't always have an opportunity to dip in to the festivities, but there are a few musical artists coming that I will try to check out, if the right opportunity arises.

The Beths - Rockers from New Zealand.  I put their tune "Future Me Hates Me" on my top 2018 songs list.



The Bright Light Social Hour - Austin's own throwback rockers. They killed at the Austin Music Awards in 2011. They got a bit of press when it released "Tear Down That Wall" on the day of President Donald Trump's inauguration.



Cha Wa - Mardi Gras Indian-style brass and funk from New Orleans, featuring the grandson of Golden Eagles Big Chief Monk Boudreux. These shows should have a party atmosphere.



The Comet is Coming - Modern jazz from London, featuring the searing tenor sax of prolific lead man Shabaka Hutchings and the "a tuba can do that?" tuba player Theon Cross. This one's at the top of my list.



Ezra Collective - More modern jazz from London. Another good bet for a fun show. This track has a bit of an afrobeat feel.



The Nude Party - More throwback rock ("Chevrolet Van" screams '70s), but seem like they'd be a fun show.



Warmduscher - Not sure who they sound like. Which is a compliment, natch.