The Plug'n Play: November (19)
November 30, 2019
You can listen to the full playlist on Apple Music, Spotify, or Tidal
With November coming to a close, we’re sitting in the middle of full-blown, non-stop Christmas music. But, before we go head first into Mariah Carey’s self-proclaimed month of music, there are a bunch of great releases from the month that deserve attention. Some personal favorites from the month being, Michael Kiwanuka’s self-titled sophomore project, the soundtrack from Queen and Slim, and Prince’s 1999 Super Deluxe/re-issue, as well as some incredible singles from Braxton Cook, Sam Wills, and James Bambu.
Below are some of our favorite songs from November, and a little about why we love them! As always we hope you find a song you like, and check out the entire project! Songs 1 - 12 were selected by Kevin, and songs, 13 - 21 were selected by me, Stanley!
Stanley: Sam Wills — Talk in the Morning
Earlier this month, I got to see Jordan Rakei in concert. Rakei came to Philly on a cold, Tuesday, November night, and Sam Wills was charged with warming up the crowd as the opening act. Wills, a native of London and frequent collaborator with other London-based artists like Tom Misch and Jordan Rakei, took the stage by himself to little fanfare. Dressed in a white t-shirt and black jeans, it was hard to tell if he were another member of the crew, but everyone in the crowd would soon find out who he was. With only a keyboard, Wills quickly had the audience captivated by his smooth, yet booming, vocals and adeptness on the the keyboard. Later that night, Wills joined Rakei on stage, performing his forthcoming single, Talk in the Morning. After hearing Wills’ performance I knew I had to put it on the playlist!
Stanley: Michael Kiwanuka — Living in Denial
Michael Kiwanuka’s self-titled sophomore album has been in heavy rotation for me since its release earlier this month. Kiwanuka’s reflective storytelling, Soulful compositions, and sultry voice, place him in a long tradition of Soul singers, and recalls a brand of rhythm and blues of yesteryear, but in a contemporary way. Living in Denial, the seventh track from the album, has all of the ingredients to what made Motown the sonic powerhouse of its day: a Fender precision bass, stacked harmonies, a flanger infused guitar, and lead vocals that neither fit in, nor protrude from the song. It’s a standout track from a list of incredible songs.
Stanley: James Bambu — White Lines
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about what the 2020s will sound like. Specifically, forms of music that are born of historically Black traditions. In some ways, I hope Soul music in the coming decade will sound like whatever rising singer-songwriter James Bambu is cooking up. As a child Atlanta and the Neo-Soul movement, his influences are clear, but there’s a newness as well. His new single, White Lines, is funky: there’s a steady beat from the drums, a Rhodes keyboard holding down the harmony, and a bass line that alters between a bass guitar and a synth bass driving the song. It’s a wonderful composition.
