Cloud Eleven - Footnote (2019)

Cloud Eleven is really Rick Gallego. Rick has been recording gorgeous, layered pop music from his home in Los Angeles for many years. On this album, Cloud Eleven's sixth, Rick plays all of the instruments.

Cloud Eleven's sound has a tinge of a 60s flavor but on this album I can hear a little bit of 70s influence creeping into the songs(?). However, to me the ultimate compliment that I can pay to Cloud Eleven is that they sound like classic "California music". I don't mean surf music or early Beach Boys but it certainly has a late 60s/early 70s sound to it that reminds me of California. As a sample, consider On Pismo Beach. Or the moody but gorgeous backt-to-back songs of  kingsville and same sky

Various Artists - East Side Story Limited Edition CD Box Set

While the picture is of Volume 1, I actually purchased the 12 CD box set. This collection is legendary, especially on the West Coast, as it is dedicated to the low riders and the low rider culture. Over the years it has become more a symbol of the East LA Latino population and Latinos in general. For more background, please go to here to see the article written up in the LA Weekly. Here is a good description from that article on what you are listening to:

These were the songs often associated with Mexican-American lowrider culture, the types of songs one could expect to hear floating from the windows of a car like Ruiz's, cruising down Whittier Boulevard or similar thoroughfares in San Jose, San Antonio or Chicago circa 1978. The songs on the records weren't necessarily from L.A., but the East Side Story records originated here, and were particularly cherished for their covers, which featured snapshots of East L.A. Chicanos and Chicanas and their cars.

The music contained over these 12 CDs is really a type of  sad, sweet soul music best represented by bands like The Delfonics or The Four Tops. The songs mostly deal with a love-lost, and are moody and melodic; The songs here are the type of soul music that you would listen to when driving around late at night, on the boulevard, reminiscing about a lost love. Initially released in the 70s and the 80s, if you like your soul music sweet and love to cruise on the boulevard, this set is for you. Here is a sample from Vol. 4. Mr Garland Green with Jealous Kind of Fella. Also, check out the beautiful song by Baby Washington, That is How Heartaches Are Made.  Both of these are on Vol. 4 which I am listening to as I type this. 

Trinity - Life (1980)

Also released as Have a Little Faith in Jamaica, this Linval Thompson produced album is solid. Trinity is a well known, old-school DJ. He has a nice smooth style and on this album he is riding riddims played by the Roots Radics. The backing vocals on these versions is usually (but not always) Linval Thompson (who is a first class singer and producer in his own right!). Overall, this album is filled with great melodic rhythms for Trinity to chat over. Definitely made for those their reggae hard and rootsy. Should you get this if you are new to reggae?  Let me put it this way. If I told a reggae collector that I have a Trinity record DJ'ing over Linval Thompson riddims played by the Roots Radics, they would buy it immediately. If you find this album in a used bin or new (since the Abraham label appears in record stores all over) buy this.

Robert Ffrench - The Favourite (2019 repress)

Robert Ffrench's first album gets the repress treatment from French label, Patate Records. Originally released on the Black Solidarity label back in 1985, this is a solid if not spectacular release. Robert Ffrench is a fine singer who is comfortable singing over roots and lovers riddims. Maybe not a must have in terms of key reggae albums to own but the collectors and the deep reggae enthusiasts will either already have this or gobble this right up. A bit of a warning. My copy sounds very crisp and distorts at the high-end. Some will be bothered by this and should maybe play a copy before committing to buying a copy.

The Sleepwalkers - Roots Rockin' with (2016)

This is a fun record. The Sleepwalkers, hailing from the San Diego area, are a great mix of rockabilly, rocknroll, and cumbias. A great CD for parties. Highly recommended for those that want a fun listen.

The Brian Jonestown Massacre - Spacegirl and Other Favories (2003)

If you are not familiar with The Brian Jonestown Massacre (BJM), you would not be alone.  BJM is basically the work of Anton Newcombe. He has been recording as BJM since 1990. He is still recording and putting out great rock'n'roll that seems to be pretty influenced by 60s psychedelic and garage rock with lots of fuzz. His songs always seem to find a great melodic riff that burns in your brain. Because of the nature of his music, I often find myself sort of "grooving out" or "spacing out" when his music is playing. It is like being in a trance. This collection of songs were recorded by Anton on his own when we had access to a recording studio from midnight to 10 am every day.  Apparently, Anton would write and record these songs while playing all of the instruments. Years later, he decided to release this set of songs. Lucky Us! Most of these songs were recorded just a little after BJM recorded their first LP called Methadone. For a taste of what BJM sounds like, take a listen to the great Hide and Seek. Great groove.

There is a great music documentary about BJM and The Dandy Warhols that is a must watch. It will also explain a bit why I did not spend a lot of time trying to explain BJM.  Just watch the documentary Dig. Check out the trailer

Book: Swim Through the Darkness by Mike Stax (2016)

Written by Mike Stax of the great website and magazine, Ugly Things, this book tells the story of Craig Smith's descent into madness. Craig Smith was an all-American, clean-cut boy whose singing career took off after landing a spot as part of the Good Time Singers that appeared weekly on the Andy Williams Show in the 1960s. Craig eventually left the Good Time Singers and was a successful songwriter (i.e., writing for Andy Williams, Glen Campbell, and the Monkees), and even landed a lead role in a critically acclaimed television pilot about a three member folk group in NYC. For all practical purposes, Craig Smith's life was going well. However, during a trip to India (did he ever get there?), Craig was brutally beaten and likely suffered significant damage to his brain. Craig eventually made it back to Los Angeles but it really wasn't the same Craig that left.  Craig came back and told people to call him Maitreya Kali. In addition, Maitreya developed a messiah complex. Eventually, for many years, Craig/Maitreya lived on the streets of Los Angeles.  He eventually died on the streets in 2012. Mike Stax details his journey in trying to find Craig with the hope of understanding what happened to the man who gave us not only his own solo music (i.e., two solo albums released in the early 70s as Maitreya Kali) but also the music of his 60s band, Penny Arkade. Highly recommended.