Former free jazz saxophonist Zoh Amba's first album as an indie-rock singer-songwriter, Eyes Full, is better than I expected. The guitars (half by her, half by Kevin Hyland) mix forceful acoustic strumming with various types of electric roar, from Sonic Youth-esque bent tones to Stooge riffage. It's indie rock, so the drumming is rudimentary at best and never, ever swings.
The biggest problem is Amba's vocals. She can sing, but too frequently goes for "wrong" notes and an exaggerated "hill people" twang that's more Jodie Foster as Nell than Dolly Parton. (Maybe it reads "real" to city-boy critics.) But I don't hate this record, and I was pretty sure I would.
(There's a little bit of Borbetomagus-y saxophone on "Child You'll See".)
― wipes chooser (unperson), Monday, 8 June 2026 00:24 (three days ago)
It's a brilliant record, to these ears - reminds me of some wonderful combination of Victoria Williams' haywire vocals, Kristin Hersh's poetry and intensity, and the maverick bent of Meat Puppets.
― the first of many brazen movies (stevie), Monday, 8 June 2026 09:52 (three days ago)
so has she dropped sax and free jazz entirely? so many of the younger “jazz” musicians have done the singer-songwriter thing on the side or occasional thing
― The Immortal Bird of Avon (Boring, Maryland), Monday, 8 June 2026 11:44 (three days ago)
I don't think they've dropped it entirely, and they're currently playing squalling sax in Iggy Pop's touring band. There's some sax squall on one track on the album, too.
― the first of many brazen movies (stevie), Monday, 8 June 2026 11:57 (three days ago)
oh cool, don’t think they were in Iggy’s band when I saw him last fall
― The Immortal Bird of Avon (Boring, Maryland), Monday, 8 June 2026 12:01 (three days ago)
Going to town on 1970 at Coachella! https://www.instagram.com/reels/DXFEnnBidcT/
― the first of many brazen movies (stevie), Monday, 8 June 2026 12:22 (three days ago)
haven't heard the record yet, but have seen them live twice now and Jim White's drumming has been great
― bulb after bulb, Monday, 8 June 2026 13:14 (three days ago)
Yeah, Jim is always great, and a fine match for what Zoh's doing here.
― the first of many brazen movies (stevie), Monday, 8 June 2026 13:20 (three days ago)
Note to original poster: I believe Zoh uses they/them pronouns.
― Skrot Montague, Monday, 8 June 2026 13:27 (three days ago)
Yeah, I fucked that up and didn't notice it until after the post went.
― wipes chooser (unperson), Monday, 8 June 2026 14:32 (three days ago)
how much more of this kind of music do we need?
― Blues Guitar Solo Heatmap (Free Download) (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Wednesday, 10 June 2026 19:00 (yesterday)
how much more of any kind of music do we need?
― the first of many brazen movies (stevie), Thursday, 11 June 2026 07:09 (seven hours ago)
answer: more. this is a brilliant record.