This week the sound is about moving between things. We’re about to head into November, a real demarcation from summer (at least in Texas) and toward the end of the year. The albums and songs are not very alike, but that’s the point. We’re moving between French dark wave, Mexican ballads from the 1950s, ultra classic 70s rock, global psychedelia and new and old American soul. The tension of changing should feel good, like each new album and song is something brand new, unlike before. If you’ve heard it before, and I imagine with some of these you have, let the juxtaposition change your mind and take you somewhere new with it.
We begin with Hamid Al Shaeri, someone I’ve written about before, who is a monumental figure in Egyptian music, especially in Al Jeel (a form of Egyptian pop). The album will surprise you with how good it is. Something that won’t surprise you, however, is Bob Seger. Stranger in Town is a classic and worth revisiting. If you haven’t listened to Seger since your dad threw this on in your childhood minivan, consider starting here. “Hollywood Nights” has been on repeat for me. Eje Eje is a project that might be new for you, since it is very new to me. Five Seasons re-contextualizes the Western concept of seasons and embarks on a journey to identify what those seasons feel like through sound. What does it mean to be at the end of summer? This project is genre-bending and will expand your mind, even if just a little bit. Buddy Fo’s When It’s Time To Go will not expand your mind, but will bring a deep comfort and calm into your life. His voice is silky and smooth, a bit Bobby Vinton-like. If you’re looking for classic dinner music, this is it. We stay with something a little silky, but add in a lot of grit and darkness with Suicide. This compilation is two hours of spooky, sweet tracks. My gift to you for Halloween.
Enjoy.
The playlist is here.
Monday
Kawahel - Hamid Al Shaeri (1988)
Tuesday
Stranger in Town - Bob Seger (1978)
Spotify / Apple Music / YouTube / Other streaming services
Wednesday
Five Seasons - Eje Eje (2023)
Bandcamp / Spotify / Apple Music / YouTube / Other streaming services
Thursday
When It’s Time To Go - Buddy Fo & His Group (1967)
Spotify / YouTube / Other streaming services
Friday
The Second Album - Suicide (1999)
Spotify / Apple Music / YouTube / Other streaming services
Pair with:
Pasta with roasted cauliflower and crispy capers. This is honestly pretty easy and would be a great addition to the dinner party recipe rotation. Nice fall flavors, plus capers and lemon can make any dish taste good.
Mini apple cider cakes. These are always a crowd favorite at holiday parties. They can bake a little dense, so if you’re a baking whizz keep that in mind (I’m not). The cardamom in the sugar coating really takes it from zero to hero.
Moonland fruit wine. This is a low ABV wine that blends grapes and apples, so it tastes like a slightly boozy fruit punch. It’s been a seasonal favorite the last few years.
This on-theme story Dead Woman by Rachel B. Glaser. This story is long, but keep going. It’s truly a tour de force and I was rapt the entire time.
This colander that fixes all of my pasta water problems. Literally, what do you even do when you need pasta water? I always end up pouring it into a glass measuring cup and praying it doesn’t shatter in the sink.
I have been going through a lot of these older Paris Review interviews, they are full of gems, like this one from 1992 with Italo Calvino.
Thank you, thank you. Have a great week.