Sleaford Mods

March 2023 Recap: A Monthly Exercise in Critical Transparency

Screenshot of the trailer for Deutsche Oper Berlin’s production of Richard Strauss’ Arabella by There Stands the Glass.

Top Ten Albums of March

1. JPEGMAFIA and Danny Brown- Scaring the Hoes

Noise devolution.

2. Morgan Wallen- One Thing at a Time

My review.

3. Cécile McLorin Salvant- Mélusine

Peculiar chansons.

4. Eddie Chacon- Sundown

Quiet storm.

5. London Brew- London Brew

Restorative.

6. Slowthai- Ugly

Life is hard.

7. Willie Nelson- I Don’t Know a Thing About Love: The Songs of Harlan Howard

Nor do I.

8. Laura Schuler Quartet- Sueños Paralelos

My review.

9. MSPAINT- Post-American

Punk progression.

10. Wadada Leo Smith- Fire Illuminations

Conflagration.


Top Ten Songs of March

1. Shay Lia- "Takutá'"

Hopscotch.

2. RP Boo- "B.O.T.O."

Fancy footwork.

3. Baaba Maal- "Freak Out"

Chic.

4. Kassa Overall featuring Nick Hakim and Theo Croker- "Make My Way Back Home"

Prodigal.

5. Meshell Ndegeocello- "Virgo"

Back to the stars.

6. Moor Mother- "We Got the Jazz"

From strength to strength.

7. Las Marias- "Ismael"

Spring has sprung.

8. EST Gee- “Pray You Die in Surgery”

Cursed.

9. Sleaford Mods featuring Perry Farrell- "So Trendy"

Shouty.

10. Atmosphere- "Bigger Picture"

The relentless march of time.

Top Ten Concerts of March

1. Ghais Guevara, Tricky Youth, Student 1, Midwestern, Tabby, Defo, Laaee Uzumak and Young Mvchetes at Farewell and Howdy

My review.

2. Boston Camerata’s “Dido & Aeneas” at Community Christian Church

My Instagram photo.

3. Bill Frisell at 1900 Building

My impressions.

4. Artemis at the Gem Theater

My review.

5. Austin Plaine, Katie Toupin and the Pinkerton Raid at the Monarch (Louisville)

My Instagram clip.

6. CRAG Quartet, Joshua Gerowitz with Vinny Golia and the Extemporaneous Music and Arts Society of Kansas City at the Bunker Center for the Arts

My review.

7. Cynthia van Roden at the Market at Meadowbrook

My Instagram photo.

8. Te Deum’s “Solemn Vespers” at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church

My Instagram photo.

9. Electronic Music Midwest Festival at Kansas City Kansas Community College (concerts one, five and eight)

My review.

10. Kristina Gaddy, Nadia Ramlagan and Blakeley Burger at Carmichael’s Bookstore (Louisville)

My Instagram clip.



The previous monthly survey is here.

Album Review: Sleaford Mods- Spare Ribs

Original image by There Stands the Glass.

Original image by There Stands the Glass.

A substantial portion of my youth was spent getting yelled at. I continue to inadvertently provoke furious tirades as an adult. I’m even traumatized by diatribes that aren’t directed specifically at me. As I watched the taped farewell address of the vile American braggart this week, I found myself gradually reducing the television’s volume until it was two notches above mute. The lout’s duplicitous bellowing was still loud and clear. Even when I agree with the message, I find it difficult to embrace the angry hectoring of men like Joe Strummer and KRS-One. That’s why a little bit of Sleaford Mods- a British duo inspired by old-school punk and hip-hop- goes a long way. Their arresting new album Spare Ribs feels much longer than 43 minutes. Yet taken in single doses, songs like "Nudge It" and "Shortcummings" are world-beaters. Now please stop yelling at me.