And It Don't Stop

Free literature, the sound of New Orleans, the history of ‘The Village Voice,’ eyes on the prizes, the soft power of Lewis Capaldi, Fran Lebowitz, and R&B Jesus. Share Hey Bob! Does Carola have any plans for another science fiction novel? — Pierre Fleutot, Brussels, Belgium Carola’s been working on a memoir, though if you’d like to read more of her fiction, you can find several short stories and the novella [Real Piece of Work] on her website. For free. So what are you waiting for?

Terry Allen: Blood Sucking Maniacs (Paradise of Bachelors) In an hour‑plus comprising 22 songs, the far‑ranging Texas painter/sculptor/singer‑songwriter and his gang (10 members of his family plus six ringers) never falter once, and in case you’re wondering, the “blood sucking” thing and the “maniacs” thing, while not exactly jokes, function as free passes for him and his posse to come up with songs about whatever they feel like.

Share Emperor X: Unified Field (Bar/None) All too aware by now that they inhabit a world of beached whales, angry kangaroos, and that ain’t all, Chad Matheny and his guitar karass visit Ukraine and take it from there. They’re not as anxious about their musical prospects as they might be because they’ve come to believe that both their politics and their overall well‑being are rendered viable by the guitar noise and vocal energy that nourish their vision of life. A

Have you seen the movie Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted (on Amazon Prime)?. Says the NY Times writer, “I had never heard of the songwriter, producer and performer Swamp Dogg (née Jerry Williams Jr.) before pressing play on this affectionate bio-documentary.” As an avid Consumer Guide reader, I, of course, have. After watching it, I searched out a couple of his B+ albums. As an avid Consumer Guide reader, I, of course, already own all the A’s and Total Destruction. What’s next in the series?

L’Afrique Danse No. 1 (African) Originally assembled in the ‘60s as an hour‑long LP spotlighting the easy‑flowing Congolese rumba pioneer Franco Luamba and the more vocally dynamic Jean Bokelo Et Son Ensemble Congo Succès, this compilation never quits. Somewhat more lyrical than the indefatigable Franco, Bokelo is also somewhat more exciting, and the way the two artists trade tracks is an object lesson in compilation design.

This has been going around on Bluesky and I figured you’d have interesting answers: Ten musicians you wish you’d gotten to see but didn’t, the more top of head the better. — Michaelangerlo Matos, St. Paul. Top of head, fine, but why stop at ten? Charlie Parker, Robert Johnson, Gilberto Gil, Hank Williams, Billie Holiday, Marvelettes, Platters, Mungo Jerry, Ritchie Valens, Nat King Cole, Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra. Has your opinion of The Smiths changed after all these years?

Adam Brodsky: American Epitaph (Permanent Records) I swear I’ve never done this before, but I so admired this guy’s spiel I figure there’s no better way to convince you he could be worth your time than to quote it verbatim. Vis: “Combine Bob Dylan with Tom Lehrer and you get Loudon Wainwright III, do it on a shoestring budget and record it over an old Dead Milkmen tape and you get Adam Brodsky.

I no longer recall the exact timing or mechanics that led me to shock my rockcrit colleagues by naming Coulson, Dean, McGuinness, Flint’s Lo and Beholdmy 1973 album of the year. By then, McGuinness Flint was a recognizable UK band constructed around Manfred Mann sidemen, which is not to say many rock fans cared, especially in the U.S; guitarist Coulson, also a Brit, is even harder to track down.

Upgrades/downgrades, salvaging Hendrix's guitar at Monterey Pop, listening to the Eagles, not listening to classical music, and coming to a theater near you (if you're in D.C. or Provincetown). Share Xgau at Monterey Pop (in a striped shirt, second row, left) sitting a few seats away from Brian Jones (in a cape, center).

Share Aesop Rock & Homeboy Sandman: Miami Lice: Season Four (Rhymesayers Entertainment) Both New Yorkers first even though one is Hispanic and one Caucasian, one a Queens guy and the other from Montauk, together they lay endless verbiage with uncountable referents over spare beats. Instrumentally, it’s never quite compelling, but flow‑wise it’s unstoppable in its way, and verbally something like unequalled. Humpty Dumpty rhymes with guppies. Someone bowls 300 with a human skull.