The Musologist’s: Cure for the Summertime Blues.
There are many cures for the Summertime Blues, and I intend to recommend 4 great albums that will do just that for you this summer. Old, new, borrowed or…well blue. Kick back and enjoy.
Janet Jackson – Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989)
Watching Janet’s Sky Documentary this week reminded me of her huge impact on music and not just another famous Jackson. With the help of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis Rhythm Nation brought Pop, Funk, Hip Hop and New Jack Swing to the fore as well as 7 major hits.
DarWin – Five Steps On The Sun (2024)
My friends sometimes roll their eyes when I tell them about ANOTHER Proggy supergroup. But these guys are something else. Drum legend Simon Phillips is joined by Shred master Greg Howe on Guitar and Indian Bass Maestro Mohini Dey. But it’s the catchy songs that leave an impression thanks to Vocalist Matt Bissonette.
Kraftwerk – Tour De France (2003)
Electronic music as we know it would not exist without Kraftwerk. Between 1974 and 1981 they had written then rewritten the rule book with amazing songs, production and concept albums. Who knew they were still in the saddle in 2003, leading the way with groundbreaking elevated Techno.
The Rolling Stones – Foreign Tongues (2026)
Most Stones fans say that Sticky Fingers from 1971 and Exile on Main St from 72 were their finest albums. Well it could be argued that 2023’s Hackney Diamonds and this year’s Foreign Tongues are going to challenge those waxings. Foreign Tongues, rocks, swings, thuds and everything in between. More varied than Hackney Diamonds but never let it be said that those in their 80s are too old to Rock n Roll.
