August 2022 Recap: A Monthly Exercise in Critical Transparency

Screenshot of the trailer for Detroit Opera’s 2022 production of Faust by There Stands the Glass.

Top Ten Albums of August

1. Megan Thee Stallion- Traumazine

Obscenely fun.

2. Jimetta Rose & The Voices of Creation- How Good It Is

Rock of ages.

3. Julia Wolfe and Sō Percussion- Forbidden Love

The string quartet turned inside-out.

4. Mach-Hommy- Dollar Menu 4

Buffalo wings.

5. Barlast- Musik för scener

My review.

6. Larry June- Spaceships on the Blade

My review.

7. Danger Mouse and Black Thought- Cheat Codes

Swindled.

8. Second Nature Ensemble- Second Nature

My review.

9. Rod Wave- Beautiful Mind

So what if Post Malone fell off?

10. Al Foster- Reflections

A memento of a massive night I enjoyed in 2019.

Top Ten Songs of August

1. Ice Spice- "Munch (Feelin' U)"

Baddie.

2. Doechii with Rico Nasty- “Swamp B*tches”

Muggy.

3. Kevin Gates- "Major League"

All star.

4. DJ Khaled featuring Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, John Legend and Fridayy- “God Did”

All is forgiven.

5. Blackstarkids- "Sex Appeal"

Magnetic.

6. Nicki Minaj- “Super Freaky Girl”

Street song.

7. Four Tet- "Mango Feedback"

Delicious.

8. Kiwi Jr.- "Parasite II"

“Someone down in the laundry room keeps shrinking all my shirts!”

9. Ronald Isley, the Isley Brothers and Beyoncé- “Make Me Say It Again, Girl”

Mr. Biggs and Queen B.

10. Jordan Davis- “Next Thing You Know”

I’m a sap.

Top Ten Concerts of August

1. Escuela Grind- Farewell

My review.

2. Flatland Cavalry- The Truman

My review.

3. Black Crack Revue- Westport Coffee House

My review.

4. Bob Bowman and Peter Schlamb- Second Presbyterian Church

My review.

5. Escher String Quartet- Polsky Theatre

My review.

6. Evan Verplough and Ben Baker- World Culture KC

My review.

7. The Summer Singers of Kansas City & Orchestra’s “Elijah”- Grace & Holy Trinity Cathedral

My review.

8. Making Movies- Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art

My Instagram photo.

8. Jenna Bauer, Daniel Dissmore and Desmond Mason- The Market at Meadowbrook

My Instagram photo.

10. Morgan Faw and The Flame- The Blue Room

My Instagram clip.

Last month’s survey is here.

July 2022 Recap: A Monthly Exercise in Critical Transparency

(Screenshot of the trailer for Grand Théâtre de Genève’s 2022 production of Turandot by There Stands the Glass.)

Top Ten Albums (released July 1-25)

1. Moor Mother- Jazz Codes

My review.

2. Anna Butterss- Activities

Illicit.

3. Steve Cardenas, Ben Allison and Ted Nash- Healing Power: The Music of Carla Bley

My review.

4. Kirk Knuffke Trio- Gravity Without Airs

Afloat with Michael Bisio and Matthew Shipp.

5. Kali Malone- Living Torch

Simmering drones.

6. ZZ Top- Raw

Live at Gruene Hall in 2019.

7. Flo Milli- You Still Here, Ho?

I’ve been here for years.

8. Katalyst- Jazz Is Dead 013

Clean slate.

9. Plínio Fernandes- Saudade

My review.

10. Ty Segall- Hello, Hi

Swinging sixties.

Top Ten Songs (Released July 1-25)

1. Charles Stepney- "That's the Way of the World"

My childhood was based on a lie.

2. Jimetta Rose & The Voices of Creation- "How Good It Is"

Blessings.

3. Emmanuel Jal with Nyayiena William and Elizabeth Nyajuok- "Ebul"

“A little bit of courage, a little bit of knowledge.”

4. DJ Premier with Remy Ma and Rapsody- "Remy Rap"

Def.

5. Cardi B with Kanye West and Lil Durk- "Hot Sh*t"

Supa dupa fly.

6. Megan Thee Stallion featuring Future- "Pressurelicious"

Pressed to get it.

7. Ciara featuring Coast Contra- "Jump"

Set this thing off right.

8. Fred Again- "Jungle"

Wild.

9. Dochii- "B*tch I'm Nice"

Fact.

10. Lil Uzi Vert- "Issa Hit"

Yeah, it is.

Top Ten Performances (July 1-24)

1. The Salvation Choir at Theis Park

My review.

2. Show Me the Body with Soul Glo, Wifi Gawd, Ebony Tusks and Piss Kinks at recordBar

My review.

3. Phillip Greenlief with Midwestern and the Extemporaneous Music and Arts Society at Bushranger Records

My review.

4. Animal Collective with Spirit of the Beehive at the Truman

My review.

5. Alex Cunningham, Seth Davis, Damon Smith, Evan Verplough and Weasel Walter at Charlotte Street Foundation

My Instagram clip.

6. The Dave Scott Quartet and Arnold Young’s RoughTet at Westport Coffee House

My review.

7. Lyle Lovett and Chris Isaak at Starlight Theatre

My Instagram snapshot.

8. Lester “Duck” Warner and Eclipse Trio at the Blue Room

My Instagram clip.

9. Dylan Pyles at Manor Records

My Instagram photo.

10. Midwest Chamber Ensemble at Prairie Baptist Church

Baroque in the afternoon.

Last month’s survey is here.

June 2022 Recap: A Monthly Exercise in Critical Transparency

Screenshot of Craig Colclough in the trailer of the Metropolitan Opera’s 2022 production of Rigoletto by There Stands the Glass.

Top Ten Albums (Released in June)

1. Carolin Widmann- L’Aurore

A new day for old music.

2. Tim Bernardes- Mil Coisas Invisíveis

Brazilian beauty.

3. Elizabeth King- I Got a Love

How I got over.

4. Chris Brown- Breezy

Bad man. Good R&B.

5. Bennie Maupin and Adam Rudolph- Symphonic Tone Poem for Brother Yusef

My review.

6. Matthew Shipp Trio- World Construct

Sturdy foundation.

7. Ensemble Intercontemporain- Reich/Richter

A minimalist marvel.

8. Lisa Moore- Frederic Rzewski: No Place to Go But Around

A loving tribute to the late composer.

9. Drake- Honestly, Nevermind

Gloriously ridiculous.

10. Lívia Nestrovski and Henrique Eisenmann- Nação

My review.

Top Ten Songs (Released in June)

1. Jimetta Rose & The Voices of Creation- "Let the Sunshine In"

Glowing.

2. Twïns- "Something about Alice Coltrane"

Spiritual eternal.

3. Katalyst, Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammed- "Juneteenth"

Deep groove.

4. Sudan Archives and Neneh Cherry- "Heart"

Analog remix.

5. Jungle- "Good Times"

Aptly titled.

6. DJ Snake- "Disco Maghreb"

The sound of young Hamtramck.

7. Cazzu- "Nena Trampa"

Cheat sheet.

8. Beyoncé- "Break My Soul"

“Release your wiggle!”

9. Pharrell Williams, 21 Savage and Tyler, The Creator- "Cash In Cash Out"

Paid in full.

10. SleazyWorld Go featuring Offset- "Step 1"

Kansas City star.

Top Ten Performances of June

1. Nduduzo Makhathini at the Blue Room

My review.

2. Angela Winbush at the Juneteenth KC festival

My review.

3. Bill Summers and Forward Back at Dunbar Park

My review.

4. John Waite at Ranch Mart Shopping Center

My Instagram clip.

5. Blind Mississippi Morris at the Gladstone Summertime Bluesfest

My Instagram clip.

6. Tre Mutava at Overland Park’s Clock Tower Plaza

My Instagram clip.

7. The Kansas City Symphony’s Mobile Music Box at Meadowbrook Park

My Instagram clip.

8. Jason Vivone and the Billy Bats at Theis Park

My Instagram clip.

9. Brian Scarborough Quintet at Sar-Ko-Par Park

My Instagram clip.

10. Mark Farina at Westwood Park

My Instagram clip.

Last month’s survey is here.