kites can’t jive

kites can’t jive: the playlist is the soundtrack to kites can’t fly. The best music on Apple Music, guaranteed.

“I like music” was a key part of my personality in my late teens and early twenties. I’m not proud of that but it’s true. I’ve grown out of a lot of the follies of my youth but one thing remains: I listen to a lot of music.

Below you’ll find a list of the stuff I’m loving in 2022.

You can also check out my recaps from past years: 2020, 2021.

January

• The Monumintal live recording by Tobe Nwige. The live recording of “Fye Fye” is one of the most uplifting things I’ve ever heard.
• The recycling bin – EP by Aesop Rock. Look, I’ll just listen to anything Aesop drops.

February

• Candid by Ivy Sole. Smooth, soulful hip-hop. Stunning work.
• Radical acceptance by Joy Guidry. A beautiful, moving exploration of gender identity and jazz. Just listen to it.
• Zeal & Ardor by Zeal & Ardor. I’ve been waiting for this for a while and it was worth it.
• Gaijin 3000 by Elijah Nang. Killer concept album.

March

• Jp5000 – EP by Junglepussy. All-time great album cover.
• El abayarde by Tego Calderón. An absolute groove.
• Love songs: a time you may embrace by Krystle Warren & the Faculty. Warren is just incredible.

April

• Love songs: a time to refrain from embracing by Krystle Warren & the Faculty. More goodness.
• Black radio III by Robert Glasper. Glasper plus some incredible collaborators equals a good time.
• Disco4: part II by Health. Loving this series of albums.
• Feral by RVG. More Australian punk, no surprise I love it.
• Death is a dream by HTRK. Great mix new stuff and reworked stuff.

May

• Rule of four by HEXDEBT. I’m obsessed with this album. Big angry guitars.
• Post earth by FEELS. Also obsessed.
• Story – EP by DJ Krush. Everything Krush drops is worth a spin.

June

• Anime, trauma and divorce by Open Mike Eagle. All-time great album name. (The hip-hop’s great too.)
• Rotsler’s rules by Black Cab. Black Cab remain one of the most enduring, vital bands in Melbourne.

July

• Come apart (single) by Fazerdaze. I loved a Fazerdaze a few years ago – their music caught me right in a major shoegazey pop moment – but I kinda dropped off them. This new track was a lovely hit of nostalgia.

August

• Made for this by JK-47. Banger hip-hop from Australia.
• Pray for Party Dozen by Party Dozen. I’m honestly not sure I like this album but I keep hearing tracks from it on the radio and really liking them so, look, I don’t know.
• CRAWLER by IDLES. This came out last year and somehow I missed it. An actual tragedy.
• Rapscallion by The Murlocs. The Murlocs never really hit for me but, with Rapscallion, I’m in. Great indie rock.
• Meanjin – EP by Thelma Plum. Plum doesn’t miss.
• Cheat codes by Danger Mouse & Black Thought. This absolutely rules.
• Care by CLAMM. More noisy Aussie punk? Yes please.

September

• Experts in a dying field by The Beths. More Beths is always a good thing.
• Covers – EP by Too Many Zooz. ‘Dragula’ has never sounded sexier.
• 93 ‘til infinity by Souls of Mischief. Classic ’90s hip-hop that I had no idea existed.