Playing Catch-Up: Part XXI

Artist: St. Vincent
Album: ‘Masseduction‘
Year: 2017

More people need to feel empowered by their music and musicians challenging them with their work. It’s easy and lazy to do the heavy lifting for your audience and, having a shared experience can often be more intimate and lasting and just another pop single. St. Vincent isn’t here for your bullshit. She is here to tell her story in a way that is both mysterious and in your face so you have to deal with the questions she poses about the rise and perils of a powerful woman in today’s world. I will not stand here and tell you I got everything out of this album that I should, but I got enough to appreciate it and yearn for another spin.

Track of Distinction: “Los Ageless” edges out “Masseduction” and “Pills” though, if I’m completely honest, any track on this album could have made the ToD cut.

Artist: Eminem
Album: ‘Revival‘
Year: 2017

In a country and in an industry that likes nothing better than a good redemption story, Eminem seems to milk it for all its worth. After reveling playing the bad guy over the course of his first four albums, he doubled-down, then got clean, then went back to his roots, and now he’s just trying to find himself once again through the personas and show us something true. To be honest, he doesn’t sound like the same guy. With a lower voice and lyrics that are not rapid-fired at us makes me think he’s finally comfortable in his skin. Until the next one, that is.

Track of Distinction: “Like Home” shows that Eminem is still at his best when he gets political and takes a stand.

Artist: Nine Inch Nails
Albums: ‘Not the Actual Events EP,’ ‘Add Violence EP,’ and ‘Bad Witch‘
Years: 2016, 2017, and 2018 (respectively)

Trent has been doing a good job at keeping his sound and his brand alive for the last few decades by not deviating too much from his art and keeping a measured approach. Adding in Atticus Ross to the band–the latest in a storied line of temporary “official” band members–makes it seem like Trent needs help keeping true to himself. I think his work with Ross on previous projects allowed the two to trust each other enough to put out these EPs and this year’s album that show that sometimes we need someone to keep up pointed in the right direction.

Track of Distinction: “Not Anymore” from ‘Add Violence’ sounds like his industrial blended with pain that made ‘The Fragile’ so compelling.

Artist: Eels
Album: ‘The Deconstruction‘
Year: 2018

Every Eels album feels like opening a gift from a friend who doesn’t really like you but seems to bring you something on your birthday. You appreciate the thought even if the gift is usually strange and rather horrifying. Since every Eels album is a conglomeration of E’s life since the release of the last one, this lets us know how he’s doing and how much he hates, not only his life, but the world around him. This offering is pretty middle of the road for him not wanting to burn the entire planet down but also letting us know that we both inspire him and enrage him all at once. Good to ahve you back, E. Thanks for the present.

Track of Distinction: “Premonition” edges out the saccharine “Today Is the Day.”