Another edition of music notes; songs and pieces that have been keeping me company while I grapple with multiple injuries and life crises, also while being terrifyingly productive. Because of aforementioned deadlines, this is mostly just a list-based post with some commentary.
2026 Releases
I think In Times of Dragons is Tori Amos’s best album in years. And yes, of course it is political. I get really irritated by some idiotic reviews I read that claimed the politics were too “in your face” or obvious in this album. Have they not been listening to Tori? When have her politics not been obvious? It’s why we love her. As for Broken Social Scene, I was thrilled with their new album and it did not disappoint. BSS was one of my keystone listens back in the day when I was a PhD student, and their music always has that element of comfort for me. Kevin Morby’s album has been on continuous play this week. One of his best albums as far as I’m concerned, and Morby’s always been an aural delight. I’ve been paying attention to various singles by the Australian-Ghanaian rapper and musical artist Genesis Owusu over the past few months and recently checked out Redstar Wu and the Worldwide Scourge which pretty much blew me away. Many repeat listens are in my future!
- In Times of Dragons — Tori Amos
- Remember the Humans — Broken Social Scene
- Little Wide Open — Kevin Morby
- Redstar Wu and the Worldwide Scourge — Genesis Owusu
Recent Singles
- Aset — Ibeyi
- Tocando — Helado Negro and Reyna Tropical
- Charlie Sheen Reaches Out To The Feds — The Mountain Goats
- Firestorm — Dua Saleh
Ambient/Experimental/Experimental Classical
- A Thousand and One Hopes (2024) — Rachel Beckles Wilson
- Fables (Deluxe) (2025) — Charlotte Reinhardt
I’ve listened to a lot more women composers than the two listed above but they are amongst the best and I don’t have time right now to list all that I’ve had on rotation lately; also I’m still favouring my left hand which is still recovering from RSI (also why there’s been no music practice lately).
Albums I’m Anticipating
- From A Hole In The Floor To A Fountain — Future Islands (22 May 2026)
- I Built You A Tower — Death Cab For Cutie (5 June 2026)
- Offering — Ibeyi (26 June 2026)
- Days — The Mountain Goats (7 August 2026)