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DJ Mick writesCHIRP Radio Best of 2021: Mick R.
Throughout December, CHIRP Radio presents its volunteers’ top albums of 2021. Our next list is from Co-Director of Features Mick R.
I strongly disfavor year-end round-ups, ranked lists of any kind, and "Best of" s, but I do enjoy writing short album reviews… go figure. Instead of any of the above sorting and/or ranking index's that pretend that artist are specifically vying for my attention and require my validation- instead of, you know, expressing themselves or doing something intrinsically meaningful - I've instead written about five records that came into the station within the past twelve months that I simply enjoyed.
This list is to encourage you to check out these albums, if you haven't already. It's a very low-pressure situation- just one music fan to another - recommending something they think the other might like based on purely on the pleasure that it brought them. It's the most human thing any music lover can do, especially in the strange and ever more atomized world we find ourselves in. Anyway, I hope you will accept my invitation and enjoy…
T.O.N.T.O. by Robin Hatch (Ramp Global)
Toronto electronic artist Robin Hatch pulled together one of the more interesting technical albums of the year with her debut album T.O.N.T.O. A harmonic synthesizer experiment, it proceeds through an elaborate and beautifully realized colloquium of wordless dialogues, utilizing such rare instruments as the Yamaha CS-80 and a phaser player used by Nash the Slash, to name a few. Of course, the centerpiece of the album is The Original New Timbral Orchestra or TONTO, from which the album takes its name- an improbably assembled, one-of-a-kind, mega-modular synthesizer, that has supercharged albums by Devo, Gil-Scott Heron, and Stevie Wonder, and which requires special permission from the National Music Centre in Calgary to be in the same room and breathe air in its presence. Robin's album is the first in decades to so prominently feature the device and its unique sonic capabilities, yet the most alluring and memorable aspects of Robin’s album are the parts that directly bear her emotional imprint and the clear impressions of her intent. A powerful and impressively imaginative album and one of the few I felt compelled to purchase their year on vinyl.
CHIRP Radio writesCHIRP Radio Weekly Voyages (Dec 20 - Dec 27)
Upcoming Events:
- All December: CHIRP Radio's volunteers share their favorite albums of 2021!
- January 19-23, 2022: The Tomorrrow Never Knows music festival kicks off at select venues in Chicago
Top of the CHIRP Charts for the week of 12/20/21:
Jordanna – The Full Story (Self-Released)
CHIRP Radio writesCHIRP Radio Weekly Voyages (Dec 13 - Dec 19)
Upcoming Events:
- Friday December 17: CHIRP Radio welcomes The Sueves, Spread Joy, and Happy Day to The Empty Bottle (CHIRP Radio DJs will be there too!)
- All December: CHIRP Radio's volunteers share their favorite albums of 2021!
On the Podcast:
- Lee Gomez talks with METZ
Top of the CHIRP Charts for the week of 12/6/21:
p.a. Pritchett vs. BassKase – Throwdown At The No K Corral (Soundpoint)
CHIRP Radio writesCIHRP Radio Weekly Voyages (Dec 6 - Dec 12)
On the Podcast:
- Mick R. interviews Chicago musician Fire-Toolz
On the Blog:
- Nikki S. interviews Bradley Morgan about his new book U2"s The Joshua Tree: Planting Roots In Mythic America
Top of the CHIRP Charts for the week of 12/6/21:
p.a. Pritchett vs. BassKase – Throwdown At The No K Corral (Soundpoint)
CHIRP Radio writesCHIRP Radio Weekly Voyages (Nov 29 - Dec 5)
On the Blog:
- A Thanksgiving Treat: Eddie Sayago feasts on a compilation of songs about food
Top of the CHIRP Charts for the week of 11/29/21:
Makaya McCraven – Deciphering The Message (Blue Note)