Bandcamp Friday Picks: November 2023

A little bread for us music folks?

Today is Bandcamp Friday, a day when the Powers That Be waive their share of all record sales and us artists can collect 100% of each purchase. The future of Bandcamp is a little iffy at best after it was bought by Epic Games (for whatever reason) and then sold to Songtradr in just eighteen months with layoffs quickly following. It’s a real shame as Bandcamp is one of the last musician driven platforms in existence, and it seems like we’ll be forced into more corporatized pits like Spotify, YouTube, Pandora and others where our work is valued in fractions of pennies and we are forced to compete with AI “music” being uploaded daily.

As I’m terrible at marketing myself, consider having a listen to some of my work:

With that shameless self-promotion out of the way, here are some awesome creations by other artists. Remember, your support on Bandcamp goes a lot further than any other platform, and more so today. If you are enjoying these as much as I have been, consider making a contribution!

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Theo Travis: The Dark Hours

Moody, mysterious, and all around cool. The Dark Hours is a contemporary, experimental jazz album that reminds me of a long commute home from Boston by train at sundown. There is a sense of phantom nostalgia as though it is accompanying your story from a past life as you meander the strange and broken memories in an attempt to see it clearly once more. If you think jazz isn’t your thing, this record will surely change your mind while providing a gateway to other artists in the genre.

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Parannoul: After the Magic

I have had this album on repeat since it came out in January. Each song evokes a different feeling when I hear it, some that have no name as they never existed prior to listening to this record. It makes me happy, it makes me want to cry for something lost that I never knew I had or could have had. It is audible soul candy of the finest calibre. Regardless of whether or not you speak Korean, After the Magic will reach you.

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Margo Price: Strays II

I can honestly say that country is a genre that I have largely avoided with only a few exceptions. Margo Price is one of those exceptions. While not a true sequel to her earlier release Strays, this is more of a deluxe version with additional tracks. There are so many earworms on this album that you would be forgiven for thinking it was a sort of greatest hits collection. The songwriting, the arrangements, the talent that each of the band members bring to the production, it’s simply divine. If you are like I was and still think that all country music is the same, this record will change your mind for the better!

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Barry Can’t Swim: When Will We Land?

Released only two weeks ago, this is a delightful blend of electronics, jazz and so much more in between that it deserves its own genre. Playful and introspective, you will feel like dancing and reaching a higher plane of understanding at the same time. There is just something about Barry Can’t Swim’s style of production that is fun, and its highly contagious. I only wish that this album were longer.

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Stan Stewart: The Piano in the Dining Room

Inspired by and dedicated to the composer’s wife, each track is completely improvised. Some feel a little like jazz, others like new age or even contemporary classical, but each are unique and filled with a humanity that is lacking in many modern productions. By allowing the music to flow from within over painstakingly writing each piece, Stan Stewart’s love and passion for his spouse are laid before the world in a beautiful, aural tapestry. A truly moving collection.