"Siportini" by Daniel Marivate and Company

Song: Siportini
Artist: Daniel Marivate and Company
Release: (1951)
Commentary: More from the South African Music Archive Project. More info here: More info here

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Saa Magni by Oumou Sangaré

Song: Saa Magni
Artist: Oumou Sangaré
Album: Ko Sira (1993)
Commentary: Excellent album. Cool version. I need to take a look at "The Songbird of Wassoulou's" latest output. She's still creating!!

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"Boardwalk" by Negashi Armada

Song: Boardwalk ft. Brittnii
Artist: Negashi Armada
Album: The Silverprint (2019)
Also try: Dean Blunt & Inga Copeland
Commentary: I guess I found Negashi Armada through the Harsh Riddims label. Nice.
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"You'll Cowards Don't Even Smoke Crack" by Viper -- known for imprisoning a woman in his garage

NOTE: Apparently Viper imprisoned a woman in his garage for years. The misogyny (and patriarchy) that are central to society are pretty common in lyrics, but this is pretty clearly another level of awful.

Song: You'll Cowards Don't Even Smoke Crack
Artist: Viper
Album: You'll Cowards Don't Even Smoke Crack (2008)
Also try:  Lil B maybe.
Commentary: Viper has over 1,000 albums. Interesting fellow. EDIT (Jan '24) to remove some laudatory language about Viper's musical weirdness, because, forget him.

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"Blood in the Water" by backxwash

Song: Blood in the Water
Artist: backxwash
Album: I Lie Here Buried with My Rings and My Dresses (2021)
Also try: Others from the Grimalkin Collective??
Commentary: Wow just heard this artist. Very excited for her.

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"Show You a Body" by Haley Heynderickx

Song: Show You A Body
Artist: Haley Heynderickx
Album: I Need to Start a Garden (2018)
Also try:  Waxahatchee, boygenius, etc.
Commentary: Got this album when it came out and I've still been sleeping on it. It's generally nice. With a few *nice* songs (see also "Worth it"). What's Haley been up to lately?

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"Guilty" by Tirzah

Song: Guilty
Artist: Tirzah
Album: Devotion (2018)
Commentary:Some nice songs at the end of this album

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"Don't Shoot Guns Down" & "Free" by Sault

Song: "Don't Shoot Guns Down" & "Free"
Artist: Sault
Album: Untitled (Black is) and Untitled (Rise) (2020)
Commentary: Sault released two cool albums last year: Untitled (Rise) and Untitled (Black is). In researching this post, found out they had another this fall but it was only "available" for 99 days? What?! Membership is unclear but may feature some other musicians I've posted: Little Simz and Michael Kiwanuka

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"Talkin' Like You (Two Tall Mountains)" by Connie Converse

Song: Talkin' Like You (Two Tall Mountains)
Artist: Connie Converse
Album: How Sad, How Lovely (recorded in the ...70s? released in 2009)
Also try:  Kimya Dawson
Commentary: Connie Converse is DOPE. This song isn't one that particularly makes me think of Kimya Dawson, but it's still awesome. CC has an interesting backstory; I hope she found peace.

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"Hound" by Salem

Song: Hound
Artist: Salem
Album: King Night (2010)
Commentary: I really liked Fires in Heaven (2020), but the two dudes apparently did their third trio member (Heather Marlatt) dirty, so, idk. Selfishly, I hope they all make music again.

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Mdou Moctar, Live at the Niger River

Performance: Live at the Niger River
Artist: Mdou Moctar
Commentary: Mesmerizing footage and playing. Love these folks returning to their native soil to shred at sunrise. (a rare artist repeat on this page 😉)

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"Kirikisi (Ekassa 24)" by the late Dr. Victor Uwaifo

Song: Kirikisi (Ekassa 24)
Artist: Sir Victor Uwaifo, PhD
Album: Sir Victor Uwaifo Guitar Boy Superstar 1970-76 (2008) Although, I'm curious when it was originally released
Commentary: Sir Victor Uwaifo died last week! Very sad. Loved that highlife sound of his. This song was my ringtone for years. Guitar superstar indeed. Just reading about his influence rn and smiling 🥲 See also my post on this blog from Dec. 13, 2013.

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"The Mute Wide-Open Eye of All Things" by Kiran Leonard

Song: The Mute Wide-Open Eye of All Things
Artist: Kiran Leonard
Album: Devaraun Shaun (2017)
Commentary: When I was looking up the title, I found out how literary this album is? References to James Joyce, every song devoted to an author. Now I have to read some Clarice Lispector. (this is nice music with piano)

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"Nun's Litany" & "Absolutely Cuckoo" by the Magnetic Fields

Song: "The Nun's Litany" (live) & "Absolutely Cuckoo"
Artist: The Magnetic Fields
Album: Distortion (2008)
Album: 69 Love Songs (1999)
Commentary: Not convinced Stephen Merritt's not on this blog somewhere already... The Magnetic Fields have made such interesting and fun music. Let us not forget Pete & Pete. But these 2 songs are great. This live version of "Nun's Litany", lovely. "Absolutely Cuckoo," a superb song off an excellent album.

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القات - يا راعيات

Song: Ya Raiyat - يا راعيات
Artist: El Khat - القات
Album: Saadia Jefferson - سعديا  جيفيرسون (2019)
Commentary: Solid album.

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"Truth" by Alexander

Song: Truth
Artist: Alexander
Commentary: Heard it on Breaking Bad. I like the singing?

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"Conversation with Sam" by Aristotle Nice

Song: Conversation with Sam
Artist: Aristotle Nice
Album: Blood River (2017)
Commentary: Aristotle Nice was handing out his CDs at an event for justice for Sam Dubose. Abolish the police.

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"Hall of Death" by Matt Sweeney & Bonnie 'Prince' Billy ft. Mdou Moctar

Song: Hall of Death
Artist: Matt Sweeney & Bonnie 'Prince' Billy with Mdou Moctar & Ahmoudou Madassane
Album: Superwolves (2021)
Also try:  Superwolf (2003); Mdou Moctar, Les Filles de Illighadad
Commentary: I heard this song and thought, "WOW. Matt Sweeney has been studying those Tamashek desert blues." But it's actually just Mdou Moctar playing lead guitar plus Ahmoudou Madassane of Les Filles de Illighadad. Which is DOPE. And I was also already excited about a 2nd Superwolf album. A nice release!

UPDATE: Saw this live in Feb 2022 (no Mdou Moctar :( :() but Matt Sweeney definitely learned how to play in the desert blues style from Mdou for this song, so it was great.
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"Tiptoe Thru' The Tulips With Me" by Tiny Tim

Song: Tiptoe Thru' The Tulips With Me
Artist: Tiny Tim
Album: God Bless Tiny Tim (1968)
Also try:  Danielson Famile haha, maybe outsider music
Commentary: I have had Songs in the Key of Z (a collection of outsider music for YEARS and somehow I have still neglected to appreciate Tiny Tim. Hot DANG. I would tiptoe thru the tulips with Tiny Tim anyday!!!! Those tongue clicks? He would make a great kids' musician.
EDIT: I liked Tiny Tim for like 3 days before I googled him and heard more about his reactionary fundamentalist beliefs.

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"Thru it all" by Wintertime

Song: Thru It All
Artist: Wintertime
Commentary: Heard this on Queen & Slim.

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