John Paul Davis

Micro Reviews

Begun as a series of posts on BlueSky, these are 300 character max reviews of albums I enjoy. I post them here & they are promulgated to BlueSky.

  1. The sonic adventurers turn the distortion down & sing quietly, close to the mic, to deliver this dreamlike, emotionally rich slice of night.

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  2. Adventurous, boundary-pushing compositions & improvisations from a quartet of young risk-takers who ride the balance between groove & experimentation made this album a classic.

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  3. Smith comes into his own as a writer/arranger, playing & singing everything on this exquisite balance between ambitious compositions & lo-fi production. Lovely melodies; sad poetry

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  4. An unflinching examination of addiction, its causes & effects, all achingly sung & supported by metamorphic, searing & gorgeous arrangements of shifting time signatures & tempos.

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  5. Lush, steady, interlocking grooves pulse above eclectic samples providing a sure foundation for shapely melodies well-suited to the emotionally intimate lyrics.

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  6. Mindful of tradition while original, the band explores young adulthood, romance & responsibility in these funky, smooth, fun, songs, elevated by silky, effortless singing.

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  7. By their 7th album the band were masters of their craft & it shows on this compelling, danceable collection of bangers & ballads. Michael Hutchence's bluesy, swaggering singing was never better.

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  8. Crystalline, emotive singing, evocative, poetic lyrics, sometimes sparse, sometimes lush arrangements make these songs of devotion, love, & yearning glisten timelessly.

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  9. Dynamic, shapeshifting compositions that are also warm, catchy tunes with oblique memorable lyrics, sweetly sung, examining both inner turmoil & middle-aged revelation & joy.

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  10. Lyrical, inventive, gentle interplay, tightly interlocked & playfully loose, between three masters of their instruments. Simultaneously adventurous & contemplative.

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  11. Buckley's versatile, shapeshifting, aching singing & dexterous, stirring guitar playing elevate these gorgeously-written tunes of longing to emotional & spiritual transcendence.

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  12. Infectious melodies & a swinging, nimble, boisterous band imbue these lean, expertly-crafted songs of losing love & finding oneself with joy in home, & the glittering world

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  13. Necessary & sometimes difficult truths & steadfast resilience delivered in exquisite lyricism sung sweetly over finely-crafted, warm, textured beats.

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  14. Bright, jubilant singable songs of gratitude, reflection & joy in the face of mortality backed with arresting, winding, textured layers.

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  15. Deftly, gorgeously layered eclectic instrumentation supports the strophic songs' backbone of acoustic guitar & Sam Beam's impressionistic lyrics tenderly, achingly sung.

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  16. Heartbreak, anger, pain & longing fill this album of baroque, amibitous, sweeping moods achingly inhabited by Wainwright's powerful, emotive singing.

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  17. Wit, wordplay, charm & character all woven together in these deceptively complex but catchy tunes. Sting is an arresting singer, baring his heart & having fun doing it.

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  18. Expertly balanced between sincere, emotive philosophy & witty, cutting satire, captivatingly sung, set against gorgeous, lush arrangements.

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  19. The brothers Gutiérrez play warmly, exploratoritavely, kaleidoscopically, expansively over spare percussion to craft a sound larger than the sum of its parts.

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  20. Analog synths, old-school drum machines, acoustic guitars & Lanegan's soulful baritone evoke a spellbinding catharsis of a life's sorrows, looking toward a new dawn.

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  21. Simultaneously adventurous & accessible arrangements of imaginative, satisfying compositions of elevated joy & sorrow. Could be from 50 years ago or 25 years in the future.

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  22. Delicate, intricate, tightly-structured songs that evolve into melodic & rhythmic complexity, paired with tender quiet singing & haunted, introspective lyrics of growth & change.

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  23. If anything is proof critics are usually full of shit, it's this brilliant, joyful, weird, moving & gorgeous album which was universally panned by everyone, all of whom were dead wrong.

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  24. Sturdy, textural beats, lo-fi & hi-fi synth voices, gritty & lush production, tension & release, all sounding like the entrance to a new world, the doorway into a spring morning.

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  25. Kinetic rhythms & intricate but not overwrought arrangements showcase the sublime melodies & interplay between musicians at the heart of this adventurous, ambitious album.

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  26. Trading the glossy, electronic sound of her previous work for acoustic & organic sounds, the big-voiced singalongs handle weighty reflections deftly & effortlessly.

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  27. 3 established artists collaborate in this testament to teamwork & friendship, enthusiastic & energetic, highlighting each member's best artistic qualities with top-notch songcraft.

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  28. Wood's arresting, elastic singing, along with his band's funky, upbeat arrangements gives these plaintive, catchy, & fun love songs life beyond just their hooky appeal.

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  29. Deeply personal lyrics & striking imagery matched by new vocabularies for the guitar all wrapped in songs expertly & hookily crafted to balance experimentation & accessibility.

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  30. In a time of fear & sorrow, an album of joy. Ecstatic exultation, optimism & faith, weathered by decades of experience with doubt, grief & hard times.

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  31. Beguiling blood harmonies soulfully-delivered over minimalist cajón-grounded beats on a collection that explores & celebrates love, familial, spiritual & romantic.

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  32. Cinematic & imaginative music, exquisitely-crafted melodies sung with verve, wittily & abstrusely exploring nostalgia, disillusion, creativity & the tension between art & commerce.

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  33. Glorious gorgeous collages of analog synths, live drums, funky guitars, catchy melodies. Reflections on the cycles & patterns of adult life: love, death, forgiveness, healing.

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  34. Songs of financial & spiritual anxiety but also songs of restoration & return. Inviting, languid arrangements, eerie cinematic atmospheres, earnest lyrics.

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  35. Stunning & elegant compositions charged with tumultuous energy that pay homage to Mingus's influences without being derivative. Suave & bluesy solos abound. A masterpiece.

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  36. Melodic guitar leads, room-filling riffs, winding song structures, inventive effects make anthems of the angry, grieving, frustrated lyrics. One song is aptly titled "Big Riff."

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  37. Introspection, yearning & spiritual ecstasy set against spacious, dreamlike but driving songs marked by daring, provocative melodies.

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  38. Backed by the Metropole Orkest, Mvula performs inventively-arranged, transcendent, shimmering, magical versions of her songs. expansive & yet somehow also intimate.

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  39. Lush, expansive, ambitious arrangements & ascending, anthemic melodies paired with spiritual introspection & grand expressions of love & healing.

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  40. Heartbreak without the 808s. Beck exorcises the demons of his divorce via his postmodern lyrics over acoustic guitars & sweeping, haunting strings & subtle analog synth soundscapes.

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  41. Acoustic instruments & the human voice, eloquently arranged. Warm & radiant, potent & graceful meditations on love, death & the human spirit. A masterclass in songwriting.

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  42. Adventurous, opulent, groove-heavy covers of 1970s classics by Marvin Gaye, Curtis Mayfield & others that crackle with life & urgency

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  43. Witty, literate lyrics woven into tender, pretty melodies accompanied by energetic acoustic guitar-driven songs of frustration & faith surviving "the daily grind of being what we are."

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  44. An everyman's lament at the state of the world - war, racism, poverty, climate change, set to deft, fervant melodies against a symphonic backdrop of daring arrangements.

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  45. Gritty & groovy, boisterous & bluesy, lively & funky, showcasing Saadiq's tight songwriting & ear for a great hook.

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  46. This quartet interact flawlessly, almost telepathically. Melodic, effortless solos, impeccable timing. The art that hides the art. A pure delight.

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  47. Shapeshifting arrangements of acoustic guitars over warm synths bloom into magnificence just as it seems they'll fall apart, much like the album's meditations on love, anxiety & loss.

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  48. More melodic, sometimes anthemic, the band are cohesive, expressive & exquisite on every track. More reflective in places, while sacrificing none of their fire.

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  49. Working class stories, probing protest songs & contemplations of faith & the American dream set to smoky, bluesy, rocking tunes by a tight, world-class band. Still timely, 40 years later.

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  50. Graceful evocative piano, perfect chord progressions, luxurious horns, cadent, swaying melodies.

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  51. Endlessly inventive arrangements, operatic in scope, these songs celebrate the birth of a child & new love with idiosyncratic brainy lyrics.

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  52. Rainy, psychedelic, haunted, questioning, questing songs, lushly-arranged, tenderly sung.

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  53. Vibrant arrangements & spectacular melodies support the reflective, pastoral lyrics that meditate on aging, longing & love.

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  54. The band cements their longevity with these finely-crafted, mature tunes that retain all their early-career energy. Searing guitars, spidery bass, thundering drums & a whole lot of heart.

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  55. Hassell defies expectations of what sounds a trumpet can make, gliding, soaring, soothing over polyrhythms, synth pads & stuttering pulsing bass lines. Brian Eno & Michael Brook sit in on some songs.

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  56. His first with a full band, exploring themes central to his 55 year career: spirituality, love, progressive politics. Lush arrangements, tender melodies & his intricate guitar picking abound.

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  57. Adroit & lively lyricism set to compelling, dynamic melodies over mostly solo acoustic guitar played energetically.

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  58. Without deviating from their warm melange of soul, R&B, disco & hip-hop Jungle expand their sonic palette for a richer, more spacious sound.

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  59. Groovy, skittery percussion & funky basslines over string ensembles as Byrne's quirky, metaphoric lyrics capture the paranoias & anxieties of post-9/11 America.

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  60. Washington's spacious, glimmering electric funk never looses its way, thanks in large part to bassist Louis Johnson's nimble grooves & Washington's always-ascending soprano sax.

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  61. Soulful & spare, this album of mostly ballads evokes the almost monastic 3 year period Rollins spent alone, honing his technique by playing on the Williamsburg Bridge.

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  62. 25 years in, the indie band delivers a brooding collection of songs that sound like soundtracks to films that don't exist. Gritty, rapturous, cutting, this quiet music should be played loud.

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  63. The Dublin rock band expands their sound while staying true to the elements that made their first 2 albums so compelling. Still hard to believe these lads are 25 & under given how well they write & play.

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  64. Breakup songs that celebrate moving away from unhealthy love & find joy in the music itself which ranges from R&B, soul, psychedelia, rock & jazz that comes together as a unified whole guided by Howard's genius.

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  65. Gabriel fronts an all-star cast of musicians from around the world, blending alt-rock & subtle electronica to house his plaintive, incisive, musing explorations of love, grief, reconciliation & healing.

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  66. The band evolves their alt-country Mexo-Americana, focusing here on intimate examinations of love & self-exploration. Fetching melodies & disarming, quietly poetic lyrics, tenderly sung.

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  67. The quartet Redman assembled for his solo debut reunites 25 years later. 4 giants of contemporary jazz deliver a set of lively, masterful interplay, deeply felt.

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  68. Which sets previously-unheard lyrics of Woody Guthrie's to music written by Bragg & Wilco. Vibrant glittering folk-rock with infectious melodies highlighting Guthrie's still-applicable fiery politics.

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  69. Their most recent, full of winding post-prog song structures, big satisfying riffs, soaring vocals, mystical contemplative lyrics, thundering drums. The godfathers of emo made the Platonic ideal of area rock records.

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  70. A majestic, expressive & expansive set that finds the band at its finest. Simultaneously uplifting & daring. Wordless hymns of boundless love & hope. Sunday morning on Saturday night.

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  71. Layers of cozy, textured analog synths & Jenn Wasner's fuzzy indie-rock guitar licks foreground her warm, inviting singing on an album that explores the twin pulls of relationships & artistic work.

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  72. A love-letter to his family & celebration of his Latine heritage. Synth-driven avant-pop that sounds wholly original backs his soft, tender singing & joyous, evocative bilingual lyrics.

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  73. Percussive acoustic guitar, minimalist beats, occasional piano & a solid spine of bass, as Doughty explores love & sobriety with his Beat-poetic lyrics, sing-rapping & gift for hooky melodies.

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  74. Their 2nd as a trio. Moody, dreamy, introspective, it blends daring & gorgeous electronics with Buck's jangly riffs & Stipe's soaring melodies. An album that grew on me, now one of my favorites by this band.

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  75. Shimmery orchestral folk-rock with intricate arrangements, unusual song structures & poetic lyrics on the need for love & the difficulties in loving & being loved. Case's singing is seductive & powerful.

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  76. Angular, funky, melodic improvised tunes highlight both their technical mastery & emotional sensitivity & Mehldau's Beat-poetry style spoken word. Pushes the envelope of what jazz can be.

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  77. Dynamic, genre-bending folk-jazz driven by musical curiosity reveling in the joy of discovery, all supporting Aftab's versatile crooning, which is simultaneously tender & passionate.

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  78. The 2 masters recorded versions of their own songs with a quartet. Lyrical, playful, & dynamic. Everything you hope for from a record called Duke Ellington & John Coltrane.

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  79. his 1957 comeback album with Miles Davis's band at the time. He struggled with addiction, was in & out of prison. His wife arranged the session & he showed up surprised. 5 hours later this brilliant record existed.

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  80. I have to "develop" in Webflow this morning, so I'm listening to this classic. They shake off the constrictions of "nu metal" & forge their own unique daring sound. Aggressive riffs over gorgeous soundscapes; melodic soulful vocals.

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  81. Infectious, groovy, funky, sublime, melodic & sometimes delightfully weird, this double album more than lives up to the promise of its title.

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  82. The album finds him paring back the lush arrangements to focus on the songwriting, which is magnificent & sorrowful. Minimalism blended with orchestral soul gives room for aching anthemic melodies & heartbreak.

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  83. In which they expand their sonic palette & songwriter John Baizley unlocks the versatility & power of his voice (writing & singing). Infectious riffs; beautiful playing by a band discovering their potential.

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  84. A left turn for him, from straightforward jazz, in which he blends pop, rock and chamber music elements with assistance from producer Jon Brion. The gorgeous, moody & daring first act of his evolution.

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  85. Folk rock sometimes layered with elements of trap, indie rock, & ambient over gorgeous melodies. Incisive poetic lyrics examine the impact of smartphones on our love lives, politics & art.

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  86. A dystopian, agitated, restless but rewarding creative leap showcasing Grian Chattan's growing & imaginative ability in both singing and writing. The band charts new sonic territory while remaining true to their sound.

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  87. A sometimes dreamy, sometimes joyous genre-blurring collection that is simultaneously earthbound & ascending. Lush rootsy, bluesy layers beneath her endlessly versatile expressive voice.

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  88. The post-punk band expand their sound with the help of Kenny Beats & Nigel Godrich, adding more experimental soundscapes & beautiful melodies while not compromising on their aggressive, fun, transgressive and danceable foundation.

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  89. The album teams him with bassist Christian McBride & drummer Brian Blade for a buoyant, rhythmic, inventive & fun set. Three masters of their craft just enjoying the hell out of playing together & improvising.

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  90. My first purchase of 2025. Anxiety & tension lift off & ascend. Arpeggiated synths, epic post-rock progressions, smeary pedal-mutated transcendent guitar melodies. Perfect soundtrack for the early days of 2025.

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  91. A pristine, glittering jazz fusion set, with Bley on organ. Winding but melodic organ / piano / electric guitar solos abound, over the solid spine of Steve Swallow, Victor Lewis & Don Alias’s tight rhythm section.

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  92. Simon imagines an alternate self who never made it big & tours the bar circuit. The band is amazing (Steve Gadd! Tony Levin!) - what if jazz musicians played bar rock? & the lyrics are poetic & probing.

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  93. Explores the impact of race & racism at home & in the larger world, over over gorgeous music blending classic R&B & soul with elements of hip-hop, electronica, indie rock & jazz, set to matchless melodies.

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  94. Stylistically adventurous, wide-ranging in its influences, this empathetic, witty, soulful record is daring, but in ways that draw you into the finely crafted songs & tightly written poetic lyrics.

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  95. Melodic, playful & swinging, a melange of bebop, cool jazz, and heavily inspired by Duke Ellington. At this point in Burrell’s career he was a master of his craft & this album is testament to that.

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  96. A landmark for ambient music but also just a gorgeous record, uncertain as it is calming, melancholy as it is optimistic, haunted as it is playful.

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  97. Barron is one of the most lyrical jazz pianists I've heard, & this 2016 album melds that with impeccable rhythm, effortless swing & accents of Latin jazz. Saw them at the Vanguard recently - a delight.

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  98. The band examines love & loss in many forms (of place, romance, friends, family, God, country etc) over piano-driven alt-pop. One of their masterpieces.

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  99. (did Bowie name *his* “Changesone” inspired by this?) Opening track “Remember Rockefeller At Attica” is one of my favorite jazz songs of all time. The song’s playful, serpentine melody is 51 bars long.

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  100. Secular hymns of questioning, wandering, rock bottom & redemption. Lots of harmonies between Bono / Edge / Lanois / Eno. The most prog U2 ever got. Pitchfork hated it. But I think it's gorgeous.

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  101. Dylan's band on this includes members of the Heartbreakers and Los Lobos. Modern anxieties shot through with love & anger.

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  102. Joyful, masterful interplay between oud, santour & percussion.

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