I’m one comic short of being completely caught up, which is really good considering I couldn’t even get new comics until Friday this week. It’s so nice to have time off for the holidays.
Happy New Year!
Best Comic of the Week:
Justice League Unlimited #2 – Mark Waid and Dan Mora continue with this new take on the League, and it’s really interesting to see who they decided to include in the title. A squad is Costa Rica, dealing with a nest of Parademons, and it’s curious that they chose to bring Dr. Occult along for the ride, although his bonding with the Martian Manhunter provides some insight into why J’onn doesn’t really seem like himself lately. There’s a subplot involving Atom-Smasher and the Atom Project, which is really just designed to lead into the miniseries of the same name. I am really liking this book, and how much Waid is able to pack into each issue. It’s interesting to see all the heroes getting along and working well together, although there’s no way that can be the status quo with so many strong personalities. Dan Mora’s art is impressive and exciting, and I find myself already looking forward to the next issue.
Quick Takes:
Absolute Batman #3 – I remain blown away by Nick Dragotta’s art on this series. He has certain elements to all of his series, such as the weird headgear worn by the Black Mask, which reminds me of East of West, and it’s clear that Scott Snyder is giving him a lot of freedom in terms of layout and story pacing. These are a big part of the draw of this series for me, which continues to be unexpected in its portrayal of Bruce and his circle of friends. Alfred makes Batman an offer, building on one being made by Black Mask, and we learn a lot more about that criminal and his plans for Gotham and the world. I’m liking this series more than I expected to, especially since I thought Snyder was out of things to say about Batman. It’s nice to be proven wrong.
Absolute Wonder Woman #3 – Kelly Thompson and Hayden Sherman continue to impress with this series. As the gigantic Tetracide prepares to lure the people of a coastal city into its jaws, Diana works very hard to try to stop it, or to protect the sceptical population. We also learn what she had to sacrifice to return Steve Trevor home. Thompson’s Diana is a very different character from the one we’ve been reading about for decades, and I really like the way she’s made her more of a magic user. This issue also introduces Barbara Minerva into the mix, and she seems very different from what we’re used to as well. Sherman’s art continues to be the main draw for me in reading this comic; I love how he portrays Diana and her world, and his use of Grecian urns to tell the story is inspired. This is my favourite of the Absolute titles so far.
Batman and Robin: Year One #3 – I’m a little surprised to see that Mark Waid is choosing to focus so much of this series on a growing mob war, instead of keeping the story tightly on the growing relationship between Bruce and Dick, although we do get some good scenes involving Alfred in this issue. Chris Samnee is a terrific artist at all things, but I feel like his work looks best with lots of splashes of colour (like his Daredevil run), so seeing him draw so many night scenes is a bit of a letdown too. I’m enjoying this series, but it’s not exactly what I was expecting.
Black Canary: The Best of the Best #2 – I guess we really are going to get six or so issues of Black Canary fighting Lady Shiva in a ring in Las Vegas. That could become bland really quickly, even with the brilliant Ryan Sook drawing the book, but Tom King is keeping the focus on Dinah’s relationship with her mother, as two tiers of flashbacks show her training her for the fight, and being trained by her as a child. It’s interesting to see Dinah in this light, as I think in recent years we’ve just accepted that she’s a top-level fighter, without ever understanding how she got to that point. I know that this book is probably out of continuity, but I do wonder how the first Black Canary got mentioned as operating before Batman came along, yet young Dinah had a Wonder Woman nightgown (unless that’s supposed to be Hippolyta). I hate the fact that DC makes me think about these things constantly, after so many years of playing around with their continuity. Anyway, I’m enjoying this book, which is another classic Tom King character study.
Black Hammer: Spiral City #2 – We continue to see how difficult life has become for the powered residents of Spiral City, as Jeff Lemire gives us the perspectives of some familiar characters (Inspector Insector and Concretestador), and a new character (Belle). The city has become an unwelcoming place, and some people are using that to their advantage. This book is a good read, and looks absolutely fantastic thanks to the work of Teddy Kristiansen, an artist I’ve long admired and hadn’t realized I missed so much. I didn’t think there was any need for Lemire to return to the world of Black Hammer, but this series makes me glad he did.
Black Lightning #2 – I really miss Excellence, Brandon Thomas’s amazing Image book of a few years ago, that just kind of fizzled out, but his Black Lightning has enough that reminds me of it that I feel like it kind of continues it. Jefferson Pierce is dealing with some family issues, while also managing to protect Metropolis from people who have newly-acquired powers, and putting up with some anti-hero rhetoric from a local politician. Thomas is setting up a lot of things, and keeping the focus as much on Pierce’s daughters as it is on him, with a healthy amount of Natasha Irons thrown in as well. I don’t dislike Fico Ossio’s art, but sometimes find it a little hard to follow. I’m glad I took a chance on this title, and plan on sticking with it.
Daredevil #16 – Saladin Ahmed continues to put Matt through his paces, as he has to deal with the fact that his best friend has been possessed by a demon because of him. While managing that fact, he ends up fighting Wrath, the creature that has taken one of his group home kids from him, and that does not look like a fight he can win. It’s nice to see Aaron Kuder back on art for this issue, but once again, I’m wondering why this series is more expensive than other Marvel books; I don’t see any added value.
Dazzler #4 – Jason Loo, Rafael Loureiro, and Alan Robinson wrap up Alison’s world tour with a New York finale, which ties in to the last issue of NYX. We learn who was behind all the attacks on Ali’s shows, and see that there’s going to be something more featuring her in the spring. This was a fun little series, although it didn’t really do anything to build Alison’s character or role in the Marvel Universe. A few too many of the post-Krakoan books seem to just exist without being part of a larger picture or fitting into any kind of larger narrative. I miss the oversight that Hickman had post-HoX and PoX.
Detective Comics #1092 – Tom Taylor and Mikel Janín are doing great work on this series, and I’m concerned it’s not getting talked about enough. Batman and Robin investigate the strange killing of a young criminal they were trying to help, which brings them to a strange law enforcement agency no one’s heard of. At the same time, Bruce is exploring the medical treatment that is making him feel younger and faster than he has in a while, although he makes some pretty questionable choices on the path to learning more. Taylor is one of my favourite writers these days, and Janín’s art is always great.
Dust to Dust #1 – JG Jones returns to comics (I’m assuming he was somewhere else) with Dust to Dust, a series set in the Dust Bowl days in Oklahoma. We meet a family that is giving up on its farm and heading out to California, a local sheriff who seems to find himself at odds with the richest man in town, and a photographer from Chicago who has come to look around. Jones and Phil Bram, his co-writer, take their time in establishing these characters and their relationships to one another, but only hint at the shape of the story to come. The farm child finds what appears to be a bit of a human jawbone, and this sets the Sheriff to musing. Beyond that, I don’t really know what this is about yet, but I’m drawn in and interested. Jones’s art is always gorgeous, but it seems even more realistic than I remember, and the choice to wash all the art in sepia tones instead of colouring it is a bold one. I’m not sure if it enhances the art yet, but it does help set the tone for the comic. This looks like it’s going to be pretty interesting.
Exceptional X-Men #4 – Now this is more what I was hoping for from this title. It feels like things are starting to click, as Bronze gets the spotlight for most of this issue, confronting her fears, and a demon thing, while at school. We see that Iceman is in Chicago to keep tabs on Kate, and it’s a bit of a surprise to see who sent him there. I think it’s taken Eve L. Ewing a bit of time to get her footing with these characters, but this issue nailed them. I was considering dropping this book, but now I’m going to stick around for a while longer.
Fantastic Four #27 – Nicki, the Thing and Alicia’s adopted Skrull daughter, gets the spotlight this issue, as she struggles to decide how she fits in, and then has to battle the Mole Man. This is a good issue, but for once, the plot doesn’t revolve around a strange science thing, and that made this issue feel like it was lacking something.
The Flash #16 – As strange as this story has gotten, I am enjoying it more than I did before. I like how Simon Spurrier is increasingly focusing on Jai and Iris, to the point where Wally’s fight with the Weather Wizard is secondary to what the kids are doing (which includes figuring out where the family’s dog has come from). Spurrier is a challenging writer, but most of his stuff works. I think this is finally working for me, after a confusing start. I like how he’s incorporating the Justice League Unlimited into the book, as it represents a big shift in status quo for the DC Universe.
Green Lantern #18 – It looks like the fight with Thaaros is finally over, as Hal and the other Green Lanterns engage in a huge, confusing battle. There’s been a lot going on in this book, as Jeremy Adams incorporated elements from the Green Lantern War Journal series, and now it looks like the original Green Lantern Corps are making their return, although with some pretty big changes. I like this series, and am looking forward to seeing what it’s going to focus on here and in the upcoming GLC series.
Iron Man #3 – I was a little lost with what Spencer Ackerman was doing to start his Iron Man run; too much of it seemed too similar to things we just saw in Gerry Duggan’s run, but as this issue reveals the demonic aspect to the Roxxon and AIM takeover attempt, it starts to feel very different. I was surprised to see the story wrap up in the third issue; who really does three issue arcs these days? That made me happy, as I didn’t want to see this story dragged out longer than necessary. Julius Ohta’s art is very appealing, and while I don’t think it makes sense for Tony to keep this new lower-tech, medieval styled armor, I do like how it looks. I’ll be curious to see where Ackerman and Ohta take things next.
Jenny Sparks #5 – After all this time spent in the bar with Captain Atom, we get to see just how Jenny came to have an arrangement with Superman and Batman, and learn a little more of what her role is in Tom King’s version of the DC Universe (since I doubt that this is in continuity). We also see Captain Atom’s origin, which matches with what I remember from the 80s. I’m liking this book, especially Jeff Spokes’s art, which portrays hero costumes in a unique way, but I’m still not sure why King felt the need to tell this particular story.
Metamorpho: The Element Man #1 – I’ve never been a fan of Metamorpho (I have been collecting issues of the Outsiders, so that might change after I’ve read them), but I like both Al Ewing and Steve Lieber, so I figured this would be a safe purchase. It’s a really good comic, with a jokey tone and terrific art. There’s a mysterious secret agent with abilities like Metamorpho’s who seems to want to kill him. This guy is connected to Urania Blackwell, the Element Woman, and her origin story. We don’t really get a sense of the big picture, but Ewing and Lieber do a great job of setting the tone and setting up a good little series.
Minor Arcana #4 – As Jeff Lemire continues his supernatural family drama series, he gives a little thrill to people of his generation who grew up in Ontario. Theresa is asked to give a reading for the woman who runs the local diner as a way of testing the strange abilities she seems to have gained, and that leads her into a vision on the set of Mr. Dress-Up, a much loved and fondly remembered show that used to run on TV Ontario. Of course, he’s changed the names, but it was still pretty cool to see the treehouse, Casey, and Finegan as I remember them. This series continues to get stranger as Theresa’s new abilities emerge, and we see that there is something working behind the scenes, and that it might have something to do with her grandfather. I always love it when Lemire draws his own series, and the way he always sets them in small Ontario towns. The nostalgia factor is making me like this book even more.
Moon Knight: Fist of Khonshu #3 – Moon Knight and his team find themselves getting raided by the NYPD, who are operating on information provided by Fairchild, the otherworldly drug dealer they’ve been trying to take down. It looks like one of the members of MK’s team gets killed this issue, leading to a new hideout and renewed sense of purpose. I’ve really been enjoying the way Jed MacKay’s been writing Moon Knight the last few years, but do feel like this is one of the most decompressed issues we’ve seen lately.
Mystique #3 – I’ve been enjoying Declan Shalvey’s work on this book, and found this to be my favourite issue yet, what with the surprise tie-in to last week’s issue of Sentinels (see below). We learn just what Magneto was doing in Madripoor, as Raven continues her moves, and SHIELD, such as it is, works to counter her. This series has good pacing and terrific artwork.
The New Gods #1 – I’ve been looking forward to seeing what Ram V was going to do next, after his long Detective Comics run wrapped up, and I was really happy to see him collaborating with his Dawn Runner artist, Evan Cagle, again. Since DC killed off Darkseid (or moved him to the Absolute universe), things are changing for the New Gods. Highfather seems to be struggling, and isn’t really himself anymore. He tasks Orion with a pretty terrible mission, one that Orion knows he’ll carry out, but first he asks Mister Miracle to preemptively stop him. Cagle’s art is great, giving this book a unique look that is a hybrid of manga and European styles. V is a sharp writer, and I’m curious to see where he’s going to take this. I don’t have a lot of love for the New Gods, other than for Scott Free and Barda, but I’m always curious to see a new take on them. I think I’m going to like this book a lot.
Nightwing #121 – Dick continues to investigate a corporation that’s making big moves in Blüdhaven, and also looks to understand the Teddy Gang, a group of young criminals who go everywhere in furry heads. Dan Watters’s approach to this book and Dick’s character is pretty different from the recently finished run by Tom Taylor, but he does get a good handle on Dick’s character in this issue, as his compassion for car thieves overrides his sense of personal safety. This run is off to a good start.
Nullhunter #2 – I’m a month late getting to this because the store I shop at never got their copy. Because of that, I didn’t really remember what happened in the first issue, so was kind of lost as to the larger shape of this story. That said, this is a solid comic. Clay, a big guy with great strength, is chasing down an old man with technology that allows him to take control of people in his network, who all try to stop Clay. It’s a good action issue with great art by Gustaffo Vargas. Apparently Michael Walsh is re-imagining the legends of Hercules in this series, and the choice to set it in a very lived in and broken future is interesting.
Nullhunter #3 – Reading this right after issue two definitely helps keep track of things. Clay is sent after one of his sister’s former employees, who is hiding in a network of virtual reality memory simulations, until Clay has to chase her. It’s another solid issue that really showcases how cool Gustaffo Vargas’s art is. It has me interested in seeing more of his work, which keeps getting described as “Peruvian cyber-punk”.
Paklis #9 – Once or twice a year, I travel a few hours north to cottage country, and I’m always curious about the various abandoned motels I see along the way, some of which have been standing for more than twenty years in their current neglected states. Dustin Weaver taps into this in the lead story of the latest issue of his anthology comic, with The Juniper Lodge, a story about a failing comics artist who becomes obsessed with an abandoned motel. It’s a great story. The second story, Defects in the Hand-Drawn Line, is a strange melding of a Twin Peaks-like tale with elements from something like the Marvel Universe. If I’m being honest, I’m not sure it worked, but it was definitely interesting and ambitious. Even when the stories might be a little too convoluted, Weaver’s art is amazing, so I’m always happy to grab a new issue of this book.
Phoenix #6 – It’s hard to believe that the major empires of the galaxy would give control of their alliance to Thanos, no matter how dangerous they feel Phoenix might be, but now Jean has to deal with the Mad Titan. She does put together a team at the end of this issue that contains characters I’m happy to see in this context, but I’m still struggling to feel fully invested in this book.
The Power Fantasy #5 – Kieron Gillen and Caspar Wijngaard continue to build up their series, this time giving us a look at how magic operates in this world. More accurately, it looks at how one of the Atomics decided to shepherd magic and restrict access to it to only people who are part of the cult he built around himself. This character has an interesting proposition for the new President, taking us back to a major event of the first issue. I really would like to read this series again, as I think that I’ve missed some key things. I appreciate the world building that Gillen and Wijngaard have done on this title, although I do kind of wish there was a likeable character somewhere in this book.
Psylocke #2 – Kwannon gets Shinobi Shaw to help her track down trafficked mutant children, and ends up finding more than she expected. This title is working well, now that Alyssa Wong has set the story up. I realized that I’ve never known what Shinobi’s powers are; I have always found him to be a malleable character. I like that Scalphunter is going to be in the next issue again; his rehabilitation into an interesting character is one of the things I credit the Krakoan Era for.
The Question: All Along the Watchtower #2 – While this isn’t really a Question-exclusive story, I do like how it tries to show the background of what life is like on the Justice League Watchtower. Renee is trying to figure out who attacked one of the Challengers of the Unknown, and ends up having to fight off the Eradicator, while also deeply offending Batwoman. I like this series, especially for its ability to dredge up interesting minor characters, like The Bulleteer.
The Sacrificers #13 – Pigeon continues his rampage, which is taking on a bit of a Marxist slant, attacking the factory-like works where the god Kronious keeps the world turning with the help of his Cogoks. Rick Remender takes this story in a slightly unexpected direction, as Pigeon appeals to the god to work with him. André Lima Araújo’s art is lovely, but what really stuck with me from this issue is the way that Remender has once again guessed where the zeitgeist is headed, and has work coming out on the stands just as world events reflect it. It’s hard to not think about Elon Musk and his ilk while reading this issue, and seeing how in this fantasy world, the ‘gods’ have set themselves up for maximal pleasure and ease at the expense of everyone else.
Sentinels #3 – I’m not sure if I’m really enjoying this book or not, and that’s largely because the main characters, the people that have been made into nanotech Sentinels, haven’t really been developed to the point where I feel invested in their stories. Alex Paknadel is a brilliant writer, but this doesn’t have the energy or ingenuity I’ve seen in his creator-owned titles. It’s also not really adding to the current state of X-Books, so this feels a little forced and unnecessary. I am happy to support it, though, because I’d love to see Paknadel get the chance to really cut loose somewhere.
Spectregraph #4 – Among the writers who have really made a name for themselves in 2024, James Tynion IV is near the top of the pile. He continuously comes up with strange and new concepts for comics, and is pushing the horror genre in new directions. His Spectregraph, with Christian Ward, is a prime example of how he explores character through genre work. Two women have been trapped in a strange mansion that was designed to create immortal ‘ghosts’ of the people who enter it, and even though one causes the other to be in this situation, the real story has been about the relationship they build through the horrors they see. There’s a twist at the end that I really liked, and throughout, incredible artwork by Ward. This was yet another example of why DSTLRY is the most exciting publisher putting out comics at the moment. Really good stuff.
Star Wars: Battle of Jakku – Republic Under Siege #4 – I’ve been pretty hard on this series of miniseries so far, but as the title finishes its second act, things started to turn around, and I found myself enjoying this a lot more than I have before. Various dark forces turn on Adelhard just as a small New Republic force, led by Luke Skywalker, comes after him. The rest of the New Republic is aware that the other Imperial remnants are preparing to fight over Jakku, and for whatever reason, that desert planet seems important enough for them all to go fight there. I still have lots of questions, but this is getting better now, and I hope that carries into the next miniseries.
Star Wars: Battle of Jakku – Last Stand #1 – And with this issue, things go back to being a little disappointing. The Acolytes of the Beyond attack Leia, killing a friend of hers that we just met one page before and therefore don’t care about. Adelhard, who was taken out of the picture in the last issue, returns in this one, minimizing what was working in this book at last. One thing that is really not making sense to me is why the rest of the remaining Imperials care so much about Jakku, or why the New Republic would want to fight them there. It’s odd that Marvel hasn’t announced what’s coming after this miniseries (in terms of mainline Star Wars comics), as this feels like it’s rushing to get to a place that hasn’t been announced yet. I believe they could have spent a year or two on stories set immediately after Return of the Jedi and really built this story into an impressive epic.
Superman #21 – Lois and Clark decide to have a date night, which includes stopping a war on Gemworld, and which gives them time to get used to how things have changed for them now that Lois is Superwoman. I don’t know how Dan Mora is drawing two books a month, and so well, but I appreciate it. I am enjoying the way Joshua Williamson is writing Superman; it’s both grounded and fantastical at the same time, which has been hard for other writers to pull off. I’m interested in learning more about the aliens who turn up at the end of this issue.
Titans #18 – The Titans have decided against staying at the new Justice League Watchtower, and appear to be struggling to differentiate themselves from the larger group, perhaps having a sense that they still have to prove themselves to their older counterparts. Donna definitely feels the need to prove herself as a leader, which is why when Glimmer and Mammoth go on a rampage, she avoids involving the League. John Layman is laying down some good groundwork for a long run here, and Pete Woods’s art is always welcome. There is potential here.
Transformers #15 – This series contains a lot of chaos. When the Autobots try to help the people of a town the Decepticons attacked, they are attacked by the military. When the Autobots try to revive a friend, they are attacked by two factions of Decepticons, and it looks like things are never going to calm down. Jorge Corona does a great job of keeping all the action straight, as Daniel Warren Johnson suggests that Optimus Prime might be suffering from some form of cognitive decline. I never thought I’d stick with this book after Johnson stopped drawing it, but I’m still here and still enjoying it!
Ultimate Spider-Man #12 – This is another excellent issue of this great series. Jonathan Hickman has been using this series to prove that Peter and Mary Jane being married is not a bad thing at all. Most of this issue is given over to the Parker family Christmas party, and we get to meet Mary Jane’s mother, sister, and aunt (only one of whom is a kind and easygoing person). We get a lot of family drama stuff, with barely a hint of superhero stuff until the very end of the issue, when Mary Jane finds out why Gwen has been calling and calling. Sharp writing and very nice Marco Checchetto artwork makes this holiday party one to remember.
Void Rivals #15 – All Robert Kirkman books get to the point where the storylines just kind of continue, with each character or plotline getting a few pages. This issue is like that, as Hot Rod reunites with Springer, and we learn a little more about the history of the ring that our heroes live on. This book is exciting, but maybe has a few too many balls in the air at the moment.
Warm Fusion #1 – I feel like almost everything that DSTLRY puts out is ‘order on sight’ now, but I was still a little hesitant about this book, because I don’t know writer Scott Hoffman. I am a fan of Alberto Ponticelli’s work, ever since his Unknown Soldier run with Joshua Dysart, but I’m much more of a writer guy. This turned out to be a good purchase still, as Hoffman and Ponticelli give us a pretty bleak, Blade Runneresque world where someone is killing sex workers with a specific disability. A detective is investigating, but not getting very far. At the same time, the scion of a medical company is up to something dark and twisted, and while it’s clear he and his odd-looking associate are involved, it’s not yet clear how. This book reminds me a lot of the recent series The One Hand, and it’s definitely got me interested and looking forward to more.
War on Gaza – As a true comics person, I’ve wondered many times over the last year and a bit what Joe Sacco was thinking about what’s been happening in Palestine since Oct. 7, 2023. I know there are plenty of academics who have more authority on this topic, but it was Sacco’s comics journalism that first helped me understand the depths of deprivation the people of Gaza have been under for decades, and he remains as one of my go-to voices. I hadn’t realized that The Comics Journal had been publishing his strips online for the last while, so I appreciate that Fantagraphics published a collection of them in the oversized format used by DSTLRY. Sacco’s pieces are short and immediate, and together they do a good job of drawing some connections between what’s happening on the ground, American policy, and how protestors and vocal supporters of the people of Gaza have been treated. Sacco has obviously not been able to travel for his reporting, but his pages will stand as an artifact of this time. Given the repression dished out to voices that speak against Israeli and American talking points, I’m impressed to see Fantagraphics and The Comics Journal standing behind this work. This is not really a comic you can enjoy, but it’s something I’m happy to have in my collection.
West Coast Avengers #2 – I think I’m going to enjoy this series. Gerry Duggan is striking the right balance between straightforward superhero series and humor, and I like the setup of the team (even if it doesn’t jive nicely with what’s going on in Iron Man’s own book at the moment). I think that the most interesting character here is Firestar, and I want to see what Duggan has planned for her, since her time with the X-Men was a little too short. I don’t know how I feel about the new Flag-Smasher, aka ‘Stevil’ Rogers, showing up so soon after his Captain Krakoa appearances, but I do like the two Ultron storyline, and I want to see more of Danny Kim’s artwork.
Wonder Woman #16 – I really enjoyed this issue of Wonder Woman, which has Detective Chimp investigating the murder of Steve Trevor, and in the process, uncovering the truth about the Sovereign. The issue is written as a series of annoying visits to the Sovereign, followed by some impressive detective work. Diana barely appears in this issue, but it does a lot to move Tom King’s story forward. Bruno Redondo is the artist on the main story, and while his work is lovely, it lacks the dynamic fluidity of his recent Nightwing run. He is an artist who should be drawing lots of acrobatics or other kinetic pages, not long stretches of people talking.
X-Factor #5 – I can’t help but feel like Mark Russell is rushing things in this book a little too much, and not giving concepts time and space to grow. I don’t really understand what X-Term is all about, nor the group that Polaris is a part of, but at the same time, I don’t fully understand X-Factor’s role in the new mutant landscape. This issue kills off a character, but it’s hard to care about that, as he wasn’t really developed much. I hate the way Russell writes Cecilia Reyes, who used to be such a badass. The book is amusing, but most of the characterizations feel very off to me.
X-Men #9 – With this third chapter, the Raid on Graymalkin crossover becomes what I was hoping for all along. The two X-Men teams decide to work together, at least until the question of freeing Charles Xavier comes up. I’m a little surprised to see that Cyclops is so against restoring freedom to his mentor and main father figure, but it also makes a lot of sense, and I think provides a lot of space for future stories. I’m cautious in feeling this, but I hope this means that the X-Men books are on their way back, as this one hit all the right notes.
The Week in Music:
Masayoshi Fujita – Migratory – I love mallet instruments, so the prospect of an ambient album by Masayoshi Fujita is always going to intrigue me (he plays marimba and xylophone, in addition to some synthesizers). This album is lovely and contemplative, moving slowly around your subconscious as it plays, but then it hits the listener with a big surprise with its fourth track; Moor Mother recites poetry over Fujita’s music, and it’s spectacular. I think of so much of the music I listen to as existing in its own little pockets; I wouldn’t expect that an album of Japanese ambient music would feature one of my favourite American poets and jazz band leaders, but this is the world we live in, and I love it.
Kelly Lee Owens – Dreamstate – On Dreamstate, electronic artist Kelly Lee Owens embraces the kind of triumphant dance music that I always have a spot in my heart for. Her vocals are simple but lovely, and the music swells and builds behind them. I found this album to be a nice surprise, and it captures a sense of optimism I’m not always feeling these days, so I appreciate it for that.
Mustafa – Dunya – This is my favourite album of the year. Mustafa sings the most delicate and beautiful songs about loss and pain, with a breathy delivery that used to annoy me but now feels like an embrace. His music could be described as urban folk, and he incorporates instrumentation from Sudan. Mustafa has been through a lot in his young life, and sings about losing friends and family to violence, but in a way that feels hopeful and optimistic. I’m thankful for this album, and listen to it a lot (I’ve had it for ages but only felt like mentioning it now).
Joy Oladokun – Observations From A Crowded Room – I haven’t been very interested in the recent resurgence of country and Americana focused music, but I’ve got a carve out for artists like Joy Oladokun, who approach folk music from an outsider perspective. On her third album, Oladokun continues to demonstrate why she is one of the best songwriters in the business, with these songs about belonging, dealing with anxiety and unhappiness, and navigating her increased fame. We get a variety of song types, as the album moves from her traditional sound to songs with more electronic manipulation. The credits are impossible to find online (and aren’t in the CD packaging) so I’m not sure who has added to this (I’m not even sure who the rapper on Hollywood is), but it’s generally great. I’m looking forward to seeing Joy perform in January.
Tomin – A Willed and Conscious Balance – The artist Tomin is new to me, but I know to always pay attention to International Anthem Recording Company releases, and I’m glad I took a chance on this. This is a strange blend of cinematic ambient jazz, featuring music by Tomin (on a whole bunch of wind, brass, and electronic instruments), backed by members of Irreversible Entanglements, and some other people I’m not all that familiar with. It moves around a lot, and can be hard to pin down, but it’s lovely.
Jonah Yano – Jonah Yano & The Heavy Loop – I first came across Jonah Yano because one of my favourite bands, BADBADNOTGOOD played on his first album. He’s a local to me, who makes really decent indie pop music, which is kind of slow and sad. On this album, he gives us seven fairly conventional songs in that genre (and while BADBAD aren’t around, Felix Fox-Pappas, their newer keyboard guy, is). Then there’s the last track, The Heavy Loop, which is a half hour long song, broken up by long stretches of ambient post-rock playing. I like the first half of this disc, but it’s this long piece at the end that convinced me to add this one to my collection. I love seeing this kind of experimentation and risk-taking.
Błoto – Grzybnia – Astigmatic Records have provided me with an invaluable gateway into the world of Polish jazz, which is a little more hard-driving than a lot of the stuff coming out of the British or American scenes right now. Błoto is a very synth-heavy band that contains some of the other Astigmatic regulars from bands like EABS. Really, I probably couldn’t tell these bands apart in a blind taste test, but I do like their aesthetic and sonic landscapes.
Roc Marciano – Marciology – Roc Marci is one of those legendary rappers who we don’t know a whole lot about, and who manages to drop a project or two most years (since this came out he released a surprise album with The Alchemist which is also really good) without any drama or gossip. On Marciology, he sticks to his usual laconic flow, and delivers straightforward street rap. He produced most of the beats, which rely on lovely soul samples, and which go perfectly with the few other beats provided by Alchemist and his tour DJ, Animoss. I was lucky enough to see Marci perform twice this year (my first two times seeing him), and that helped cement some of these songs into my head (Spotify put this album in my top five for the year). His physical releases are rare, but I’m happy to have managed to get a copy of this on CD; it’s an album I’m going to want to return to again and again.
Surya Botofasina – Ashram Sun – Surya Botofasina is deeply connected to the Los Angeles music scene. As a child, he was part of Alice Coltrane’s ashram, and lately, he’s been touring with André 3000 on the New Blue Sun tour (having been a big part of that album’s creation). This album, produced by his frequent collaborator Carlos Niño, fits nicely as part of the ambient jazz milieu that André has become the most visible part of. This album is serene and restful, exploring keyboard-led soundscapes that slowly build, ebb, and flow. In addition to Niño, Botofasina is joined by other luminaries of the scene, such as Nate Mercereau, Mia Doi Todd, and surprisingly, Angel Bat Dawid. It’s a very lovely album.
