It has been a wild ride musically this past week. King Crimson and Coolio dominated my listening along with a new player, RORO and snapper. Good music, all of it.

Jefferson Airplane – Crown of Creation

Everyone knows Surrealistic Pillow, the second album from the San Fransisco psychedelic rock band Jefferson Airplane. And everyone knows one song from that album, White Rabbit. But what about the rest of Jefferson Airplanes’ discography? They released ten albums between 1966 and 1989. However, there was a pause between 1973 and 1989. Crown of Creation is the fourth album and was released in 1968. Critical reception was generally favourable, and I agree. While it doesn’t have a “White Rabbit,” it is still a solid and very listenable album. I had just heard this record, so this release from 1968 was new to me. I gave this a focused listen and liked what I heard. I will be going back for a repeat before too long.

Various – Where the Action Is

I have a strange affinity for compilation records, and this one is good. It is from 1965, with appearances by luminaries such as Roy Orbison, but not his finest hour, Johnny Rivers and Glen Campbell. It’s an eclectic blend but a fun listen.

The Brothers Four – By Special Request

1965 folk music, if you’re into that, this will please you.

Coolio – Gangstas Paradise

Gangstas Paradise is some old-school rap. Clocking in at 64 minutes, this is a lengthy album but historically significant in the history of rap music. I listened to it from front to finish and listened to the song Gangstas Paradise several more times. That song has good hooks, and it is easy to understand why it was number one on Billboard and won the 1996 Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance.

Father John Misty – Mahashmashana

Joshua Michael Tillman, aka Father John Misty, is a conundrum. I listen to and enjoy his work, but I don’t know why, and I don’t go back after the first listen. That has been consistent for his last three albums. It beats me how my weird and wonderful brain works. Anyhow, Mahashmashana is another good album from Father John Misty.

King Crimson – Discipline

King Crimson – Beat

King Crimson – Three of a Perfect Pair

These three albums, Discipline, Beat and Three of a Perfect Pair, are the Crimson Trinity in my collection. They feature the quartet of Robert Fripp, Adrian Belew, Tony Levin and Bill Bruford. The first half of Discipline has the haunting echoes of the band’s previous album, Red, but it is a faint echo due to a seven-year lapse between the albums. Discipline sets the tone for the following two albums, Beat and Three of a Perfect Pair. I also think these three albums are indeed three of a perfect pair. The title of the album, Three of a Perfect Pair, is based on the idea of “perfect opposites,” or someone’s truth, someone else’s truth, and objective truth (the idea of “three sides to every story”). This album came out about thirty years before the alternative truths of Trumpism, retaining the relevance of the album.

RORO and snapir – Mass

One of my favourite lines from Monty Python is “And Now for Something Completely Different.” Mass is indeed something completely different. Mass is the lead single from the upcoming album, Colors Left, from Finnish producer/artists RORO and snapper. “Mass was one of the first pieces composed for this album.” the duo expand, “It combines crushing rhythms with a haunting melody and conveys feelings of desolation and hopelessness.” Mass caught my attention on its first play and has held it. RORO and snapper have created music that must be experienced to appreciate it. I do not have the vocabulary to give a voice to this song.

I look forward to the collaborative album Colors Left, hailed for release on January 17th, 2025, via Booa Music / Sony Music. Thanks to Dan at Mystic Sons for the heads-up on this release; it is much appreciated.

I have the nagging feeling that I am missing something that I listened to and wanted to acknowledge. It will no doubt reveal itself ten seconds after I hit publish. It has been an interesting music journey this week.

I look forward to doing an end-of-year summary as well as my usual daily listens over the next week or two.