March 2026 Recap: A Monthly Exercise in Critical Transparency

Screenshot of the trailer for Opéra Comique’s production of Matthias Pintscher’s “Nuit sans aube” by There Stands the Glass.

The Top Ten Albums of March 2026
1. Irreversible Entanglements- Future Present Past
Stellar vibrations.

2. Ye- Bully
All is not forgiven, but Bully is undeniably excellent.

3. Alex Isley- When the City Sleeps
Diamond life.

4. Adam O’Farrill- ELEPHANT
Big ears.

5. Sylvie Courvoisier- Éclats: Live in Europe
With Drew Gress and Kenny Wollesen.

6. Mike Will Made-It- R3SET
A cavalcade of stars.

7. Immanuel Wilkins Quartet- Live at the Village Vanguard, Vol. 1 
Ascension.

8. Dave Adewumi- The Flame Beneath the Silence 
With Joel Ross, Linda May Oh Han and Marcus Gilmore.

9. Jorge Drexler- Taracá
MPB via Uruguay.

10. Lise Davidsen- Live at the Met
A reprehensible recording of a ripping recital.

The Top Three Reissues and Reimaginings of March 2026
1. Alice Sara Ott- Jóhann Jóhannsson: Piano Works
Solo piano renderings.

2. Aerosmith- Aerosmith: Legendary Expanded Edition
The lines on his face have never been clearer.

3. Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra- Let Freedom Swing
History geeks and freedom fighters only.

The Top Ten Songs of March 2026
1. aja monet featuring Meshell Ndegeocello and Georgia Anne Muldrow- “elsewhere”
Heavenly.

2. Gabrielle Cavassa- “Angelo”
Swoonworthy.

3. Leikeli47- "Bad Guy"
Beez in the trap.

4. Jessie Ware- “Automatic”
Instinctive.

5. CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso- “Ha Ha”
Hee haw.

6. Vince Gill- "Lonely's What I Do"
He’s gonna fill their shoes.

7. Jim Lauderdale- “We Don’t See You Anymore”
Long gone.

8. Luke Combs- “Alcohol of Fame”
There stands the glass.

9. Elucid featuring Shabaka- "Equiano"
“The Interesting Narrative of…”

10. Dry Socket- “The Chop”
Portland hardcore.

The Top Ten Performances of March 2026
Due to a transformative life event, I attended only six performances in March.

The previous monthly recap is here.

Trying to Find a Balance

Original image by There Stands the Glass.

The least expensive ticket to Elvis Costello’s concert at the Uptown Theater on July 1 was $75 before fees. I hadn’t planned to attend for that reason. Fortunately, I won a pair of tickets from radio station 90.9 The Bridge. I adored the show and I’m extremely grateful not to be out more than $150.

The non-com AAA station is currently airing what it terms the “Top 909 Songs of the Century” during the Fourth of July weekend. The last ten songs played as I type these words were by Broken Bells, the Dandy Warhols, Green Day, Kurt Vile, Sturgill Simpson, Modest Mouse, Muse, the Fratellis, Vance Joy and Alvvays.

That’s cool, but I’m compelled to offer an alternative to the alternative. Hip-hop and rap have been the most culturally significant and commercially popular forms of music this century. Without checking any notes or conducting a single search, I created a playlist of 25 favorite songs of the past 25 years.

The omissions are staggering. Partly because of my Midwestern and Southern predilections, many prominent names didn’t make the cut. But how I love what’s here! I have personal connections and vivid memories associated with each of these tracks. Here’s the Spotify playlist.

The Top 25 Songs of the Century
1. Pusha T and Kendrick Lamar- “Nosetalgia”
2. Mystikal- “Bouncin’ Back (Bumpin’ Me Against the Wall)”
3. Tyler, The Creator- “Yonkers”
4. Nicki Minaj and 2 Chainz- “Beez in the Trap”
5. Earl Sweatshirt- “Chum”
6. Doomtree- “Game Over”
7. Kanye West- “Jesus Walks”
8. Dizzee Rascal- “Sirens”
9. Jeezy- “Go Crazy”
10. Drake- “Nice for What”

11. Atmosphere- “Trying to Find a Balance”
12. Danny Brown- “Fields”
13. Fat Tone- “Imma Get’cha”
14. UGK- “Gravy”
15. Gucci Mane- “Lemonade”
16. Z-Ro- “Can’t Leave Drank Alone”
17. Vince Staples- “Norf Norf”
18. Lil Wayne- “A Milli”
19. Boosie Badazz- “Set It Off”
20. David Banner and Lil’ Flip- “Like a Pimp”

21. Tech N9ne- “Welcome to the Midwest”
22. Mike Jones, Slim Thug and Paul Wall- “Still Tippin’”
23. T.I.- “No Matter What”
24. Brother Ali- “Forest Whitiker”
25. Future- “Mask Off”

Blatherin' Bill

I perused several episodes of Blair Johnson’s Badass Records Podcast after he invited me to appear on the long-running endeavor. Aghast at the prodigious length of many episodes, I resolved to keep my remarks brief. In that regard, the embedded video is a spectacular failure.

Not even my friends and family will want to consume all two hours of my nonsense. I suspect my calculating detractors will be the only people parsing the entire discussion as they compile material to hold against me.

I disregarded Johnson’s mandate to highlight my five favorite albums. Instead, I selected releases representing different phases of my life. These are Stevie Wonder’s Fulfillingness’ First Finale (1974), Bruce Springsteen’s Darkness on the Edge of Town (1978), Alison Krauss’ Now That I’ve Found You (1995), Kanye West’s The College Dropout (2004) and Moor Mother’s Jazz Codes (2022).

Many people I admire are among the previous Badass Records guests. They include Mark Manning, Jackie Myers, Sid Sowder, Steve Tulipana and Rich Wheeler. If you don’t care to take in my visage on the YouTube video or my Midwestern twang on Apple or Spotify, I encourage you to check out those episodes.

Album Review: Travis Scott- Utopia

I refuse to renounce my abiding admiration for the music of Kanye West. He’s been canceled ten times over, but his personal missteps don’t invalidate the artistic quality of his discography.

West is undeniably the most important musician of the first two decades of the millennium. I relished the era in which each of his triumphant releases altered the direction of popular music.

Travis Scott’s reprehensible new album Utopia makes me miss West’s dominance all the more. Almost every passage on the 73-minute release references West’s art. 

Drawing inspiration from West is as commendable as it is inescapable for a mainstream rapper, but Utopia registers as shameless theft rather than loving homage.

July 2022 Recap: A Monthly Exercise in Critical Transparency

(Screenshot of the trailer for Grand Théâtre de Genève’s 2022 production of Turandot by There Stands the Glass.)

Top Ten Albums (released July 1-25)

1. Moor Mother- Jazz Codes

My review.

2. Anna Butterss- Activities

Illicit.

3. Steve Cardenas, Ben Allison and Ted Nash- Healing Power: The Music of Carla Bley

My review.

4. Kirk Knuffke Trio- Gravity Without Airs

Afloat with Michael Bisio and Matthew Shipp.

5. Kali Malone- Living Torch

Simmering drones.

6. ZZ Top- Raw

Live at Gruene Hall in 2019.

7. Flo Milli- You Still Here, Ho?

I’ve been here for years.

8. Katalyst- Jazz Is Dead 013

Clean slate.

9. Plínio Fernandes- Saudade

My review.

10. Ty Segall- Hello, Hi

Swinging sixties.

Top Ten Songs (Released July 1-25)

1. Charles Stepney- "That's the Way of the World"

My childhood was based on a lie.

2. Jimetta Rose & The Voices of Creation- "How Good It Is"

Blessings.

3. Emmanuel Jal with Nyayiena William and Elizabeth Nyajuok- "Ebul"

“A little bit of courage, a little bit of knowledge.”

4. DJ Premier with Remy Ma and Rapsody- "Remy Rap"

Def.

5. Cardi B with Kanye West and Lil Durk- "Hot Sh*t"

Supa dupa fly.

6. Megan Thee Stallion featuring Future- "Pressurelicious"

Pressed to get it.

7. Ciara featuring Coast Contra- "Jump"

Set this thing off right.

8. Fred Again- "Jungle"

Wild.

9. Dochii- "B*tch I'm Nice"

Fact.

10. Lil Uzi Vert- "Issa Hit"

Yeah, it is.

Top Ten Performances (July 1-24)

1. The Salvation Choir at Theis Park

My review.

2. Show Me the Body with Soul Glo, Wifi Gawd, Ebony Tusks and Piss Kinks at recordBar

My review.

3. Phillip Greenlief with Midwestern and the Extemporaneous Music and Arts Society at Bushranger Records

My review.

4. Animal Collective with Spirit of the Beehive at the Truman

My review.

5. Alex Cunningham, Seth Davis, Damon Smith, Evan Verplough and Weasel Walter at Charlotte Street Foundation

My Instagram clip.

6. The Dave Scott Quartet and Arnold Young’s RoughTet at Westport Coffee House

My review.

7. Lyle Lovett and Chris Isaak at Starlight Theatre

My Instagram snapshot.

8. Lester “Duck” Warner and Eclipse Trio at the Blue Room

My Instagram clip.

9. Dylan Pyles at Manor Records

My Instagram photo.

10. Midwest Chamber Ensemble at Prairie Baptist Church

Baroque in the afternoon.

Last month’s survey is here.

Album Review: Moor Mother- Jazz Codes

On “Easyjet,” a brief skit placed in the middle of 700 Bliss’s 2022 album Nothing to Declare, DJ Haram and Moor Mother mock the spoken word artist’s vitriolic persona: “who wants to hear that sh*t?… Moor Mother’s all like ‘blah blah blah blah blah blah’… is this even music?”

The bit is hilarious in part because Moor Mother is susceptible to accusations of being noisy for the sake of noise.  And her rage has occasionally lacked focus.  Yet she’s completely on point on the melodic new album Jazz Codes.  In reclaiming the notion of jazz as a revolutionary sound of freedom, Moor Mother crafted a vital work of art.  Rejecting polite supper club sounds and the associated cultural appropriation of the form, she insists jazz belongs on riot-torn streets.

Two of the best tracks celebrate the religious faith of Mary Lou Williams and memorialize the ill-fated trumpeter Woody Shaw.  Yet Jazz Codes isn’t nostalgic.  Homages to the likes of John Coltrane, Billie Holiday and Amina Claudine Myers are peppered with references to D’Angelo, Tupac Shakur and Kanye West.  Jazz Codes affirms that Moor Mother has grown into an invaluable component of that musical continuum.

Jazz scholar Thomas Stanley makes a statement of purpose on the last selection: “ultimately, perhaps it is good that the people abandoned jazz- replaced it with musical products better suited for capitalism’s designs. Now jazz jumps up like Lazarus if we allow it, to rediscover itself as a living music.”  Jazz Codes is capable of accelerating this welcome resurrection.  

My enthusiasm comes with a caveat.  I made a 300-mile round trip to see Moor Mother perform with Irreversible Entanglements in the midst of the pandemic.  The band’s Open the Gates was my second-favorite album of 2021.  And I featured Moor Mother’s Black Encyclopedia of the Air in the seventh episode of my In My Headache podcast.  Jazz Codes is my presumptive top album of 2022, but less adventurous listeners might wonder if it’s “even music.”

Album Review: Sault- Air

The infuriating baptism sequence in “Fire Shut Up in My Bones” is among my favorite scenes in Terence Blanchard’s heart-rending 2019 opera.  I’m haunted by the Metropolitan Opera’s staging broadcast by PBS on April 1.

Neither have I stopped thinking about the Latin vespers presented by the Kansas City choral group Te Deum in a drafty Episcopal church last July.  And just last week I discovered Claude Debussy’s proses lyriques and attended a Joyce DiDonato and Il Pomo d’Oro concert.  

All of which is to say I was unwittingly primed for Sault’s new album Air.  Far removed from the previous output of the anonymous collective, Air is a symphonic choral suite that synthesizes much of my recent listening.

In addition to the music cited above, Air’s expanse nods to Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana,” the holy minimalism of Arvo Pärt, Brian Wilson’s pop orchestrations and Kanye West’s Sunday Service celebrations. Sing it, my nameless brothers and sisters!

Vengeful Eyes Wide Open

Screenshot of OperaVision’s trailer of Grand Théâtre de Genève’s production of Elektra by There Stands the Glass.

I regularly recall the spectacular production of Kanye West’s 2013-14 tour promoting his intentionally grating album Yeezus. The lascivious presentations of entertainers such as Doja Cat aside, it remains the most visually audacious show I’ve witnessed. I might feel differently had I been in Switzerland last month. The futuristic staging of Richard Strauss’ gory opera Elektra at Grand Théâtre de Genève is amazing. Opera critics hated it. (Representative bad reviews are here and here.) What do they know? I hope West steps away from social media for a couple hours to glean a more productive form of visual, auditory and thematic stimulation from the ingenious version of Elektra.

February 2022 Recap: A Monthly Exercise in Critical Transparency

Screenshot of Abbey Lincoln in the trailer of Nothing But a Man by There Stands the Glass.

Top Ten Albums (Released in February)

1. Joyce DiDonato- Eden

Serpent repellent.

2. The Kahil El'Zabar Quartet- A Time for Healing

My review.

3. Binker and Moses- Feeding the Machine

England swings.

4. Sofía Reyes- Mal de Amores

A Mexican mélange of Bad Bunny, Billie Eilish and Ariana Grande.

5. Big K.R.I.T.- Digital Roses Don't Die

The graying of the Dirty South.

6. Del McCoury- Almost Proud

My related essay.

7. Gidon Kremer- Weinberg: Sonatas for Violin Solo

Eastern European angst.

8. The Adam Larson Trio- With Love, From Chicago

My album and concert reviews.

9. Rokia Koné- Bamanan

Metropolitan Malian music.

10. Bad Boy Chiller Crew- Disrespectful

Cretin hop.

Top Ten Songs (Released in February)

1. Jana Rush featuring DJ Paypal- ​​“Lonely”

Ornette Coleman gets the Chicago footwork treatment.

2. Claire Rousay and More Eaze- “floor Pt. 2”

Android dreams of electric sheep.

3. Rosalía- “Saoko”

Transformation.

4. Cécile McLorin Salvant- "Until"

Time stands still.

5. Pusha T- “Diet Coke”

“That’s a joke, right?”

6. $not and A$AP Rocky- “Doja”

Wildcatting.

7. Maren Morris- “Background Music”

Nashville existentialism.

8. Robert Glasper featuring Yebba- "Over"

My favorite Black Radio III track.

9. Willie Nelson- “I’ll Love You Till the Day I Die”

Backatcha, Willie.

10. Lívia Nestrovski and Henrique Eisenmann- "Sete Estrelas"

My concert review.

Top Ten Movies, Television Broadcasts and Streaming Programming (viewed for the first time in February, in lieu of a full resumption of live music)

1. Jeen-yuhs (2022)

My notes.

2. Donda Experience Performance (2022)

“Do I look happy to you?”

3. Nothing but a Man (1964)

Ivan Dixon and Abbey Lincoln star in an excruciating study.

4. Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles

Hypnotic.

5. Cathie Wood interview on CNBC

A robust defense of poor performance.

6. Houston at Wichita State

Bruising double-overtime men’s basketball thriller.

7. Puccini's Madama Butterfly

Timeless heartbreak at Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía in Valencia.

8. Rosita (1923)

Mary Pickford as a Spanish street singer.

10. Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show (2022)

Forgot about Dre.

Last month’s survey is here.

Somebody Please Say Grace

Original image by There Stands the Glass.

Flabbergasted by the Scarface scene in the first episode of the new jeen-yuhs documentary, I foolishly turned to Twitter seeking context concerning the meeting of the rugged rapper and Kanye West. What was I thinking! Toxic commentary on the social media platform reminded me of the depraved priorities of the much of the general public. I’m only vaguely aware of Ye’s ongoing personal drama. What’s more, I can’t be troubled with such things. My interest in the brilliant artist’s family business is limited to my unconditional appreciation of "Family Business".