Akalé Wubé - Sost

https://song.link/i/900853182

Thanks to Richard for this find. I guess these guys out of Paris curate a collection of rare and precious gems from the circa-70s Ethiopian music scene (where I'd like to be pre-incarnated).

AURORA - The Gods We Can Touch

https://song.link/i/1640354118

I'm not sure where Kenji heard this but I heard it from him. It could be (but I don't think it should be) thrown in with other retro synth-pop revival projects. Where a lot of artists seem to imitate and lean on 80s kitsch, AURORA comes off as completely original...without trying too hard to be original. The album just has so many hooks that really hook you. And her lyrics are exactly as lyrics should be: clear enough to sing along to, not so clear that you can be sure they mean the same thing to you as they do to her.

Kendrick Lamar - Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers

https://song.link/i/1640354118

Kendrick Lamar is a genius. That can't be overstated. This album is amazing! It's right up there with To Pimp a Butterfly but on a completely different topic. It's just realer than real. I love it.

Kacey Musgraves - Same Trailer Different Park

https://song.link/i/1440858612

Kacey makes me proud to be American. She just sings about stuff I get and she does it with more than a few tasty one-liners. Some are corny but hey, nothin' tastier than corn. As for the music, it doesn't need to prove anything; If you're not listening to the lyrics, you might not even know she's country as fuck.

Soul Glo - Diaspora Problems

https://song.link/i/1599197928

This album hit me like a Molotov Cocktail. It's unmistakably hardcore and, hardcore being such a well-worn genre, I just wouldn't expect to be blown away anymore. But, if someone tells you the water is hot, you're prepared for heat. You're not prepared for the water to send 1000 volts through the souls of your feet.

Yugen Blakrok - Anima Mysterium

Picture Box by Yugen Blakrok

Listen now on your favorite streaming service. Powered by Songlink/Odesli, an on-demand, customizable smart link service to help you share songs, albums, podcasts and more.

Songlink/Odesli (song.link)

Gorgon Madonna is the name of one of her songs. That's a pretty good description of her style. I imagine what rappers look like when they're rapping. Some are flailing their arms around with a scowl on their face. Some are reclining on the couch in a smoke filled room. Yugen is standing right in front of you and staring right at you. (Also thx to Richard)

Dark Castle - Surrender to All Life Beyond Form

https://song.link/i/438850443

It really annoys me how many metal acts think they can get by without a bass player because they have 7-string guitars now. However, this album (one guitarist/vocalist and one drummer) is just too damn interesting. There is a lot happening here. An appreciation for metal will definitely help you deal with most of it. On the other hand, if you have no appreciation for metal, this is the kind of album that could get you interested...but then you'd just be disappointed because you won't find anything else like it.

Arooj Aftab - Vulture Prince

https://song.link/i/1598994275

This is just nice to listen to. Just put it on while you're doing something else. You don't have to think about it if you don't speak her language (I don't) but I still enjoy it thoroughly.

Sam Jones - Visitation

https://song.link/i/159230206

This is what someone shredding an upright bass sounds like. I'd never heard of Sam Jones before this year. Maybe he was only recently written into history.

Rachika Nayar - Heaven Come Crashing

Nausea by Rachika Nayar

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Songlink/Odesli (song.link)

Guitar-based ambient shoegaze with the occasional drum & bass or trance drop??? If M83 put out a hard-hitting ambient album??? This album is hard to describe but definitely worth a listen.

10 SONGS for 2022

Robert Wyatt

Shipbuilding (Remastered in 1998) by Robert Wyatt

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Songlink/Odesli (song.link)

The Flying Dutchmen need to curate a collection of sea shanties and this needs to be on it.

KA

https://song.link/i/1487574798

This is an old gem from my current favorite rapper.

Cannonball Adderley

Work Song by Cannonball Adderley Quintet

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Songlink/Odesli (song.link)

Hey, it's a Jazz standard. What, you mean you don't know it?

Shocking Blue

Love Buzz by Shocking Blue

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Songlink/Odesli (song.link)

One of those songs that you didn't know your favorite band didn't write.

Marina Herlop

Miu (Choir Version) by Marina Herlop

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Songlink/Odesli (song.link)

A whole album in this style is too much for me but this cut is a must-listen. Very interesting vocal work that reminds me of Kenji Kawai's soundtrack to Ghost in the Shell.

Nuno Cannavaro

[Untitled] 1:30 by Nuno Canavarro

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Songlink/Odesli (song.link)

Circuit Bending. This kind of music literally makes itself. It's the result of prodding around inside a synth with two ends of a wire. This is maybe just the earliest example I've found of it.

Nick Hakim & Roy Nathanson

Cry and Party (Mixed) by Nick Hakim & Roy Nathanson

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Songlink/Odesli (song.link)

"Cry and Party" may be the only answer there is for the looming question about what we're all supposed to do when the machines take over.

The Bug

Hammer by The Bug, Flowdan

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Songlink/Odesli (song.link)

This is just my favorite cut from this dreaded and deep-bass-driven dystopian dancehall disc.

Astor Piazzolla

https://song.link/i/1452301392

This album was very interesting and it's not something I would have stumbled onto. (Thanks Cody)

SEVENTEEN

Fast Pace by SEVENTEEN

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Songlink/Odesli (song.link)

Honestly, I've listened to far more K-Pop this year than anything else. My daughters are relentless and something was bound to get through.

Youtube Video

BTW, song.links is awesome. I will be using that a lot to share music with friends, because you're right, everyone's all over the place with their music services. I usually default to YouTube for sharing, but generally when someone shares something with me I check for it on my service, Apple Music, first. Anyway, seems like a no brainer, cheers for the info on that.

Not all new in terms of release, but hopefully new in not heard so much before

I never know how to share music because everyone's on a different service and playlists aren't sharable between them etc. Anyway here's a list of song.links with titles that hopefully entice you. From there you can make any playlist you like on any service you choose.

Better than fucking 'Graceland'
1985 Reggae. The whole joint is jammy.
I love newly discovered roots. This became 'Little Fluffy Clouds'
Amon Tobin's new one is as Amon Tobinesque as ever.
Older Gum Takes Tooth jam that KILLLLLZ!
Ambient that goes a bit 'smooth' but stay tuned.
KA (Brooklyn) probably the best rapper that ever was or will be.
And then there's Daveed Digs and clipping..
Nothing but love for Little Simz.
A song Nami learned this year. I defy you to understand the time signature.