(written by Islander)

I fear that I’ve bitten off more than I can chew, and am putting before you more than you might be able to chew as well: four complete albums that have recently been released.

It’s rare for me to do this. It’s much more within my capacity in these columns to write about individual songs, with maybe one complete release in the mix. But I know myself. I spend most of my time at NCS scurrying on a daily basis to fulfill premiere commitments while trying to coordinate what other writers are doing and constantly attempting to keep up with new things that burst open elsewhere.

It’s my own choice, of course, but it means I rarely have time to patiently sit with a complete album, much less to write something approaching a thoughtful review unless the album is one we’re premiering. And to be honest, I don’t feel I’ve fully digested any of the four records I’m recommending today. Yet all four of them made such striking impacts on me that I felt the urgent need to say something about them before the coming week’s whirlwind starts spinning me around again. Continue reading »