SOLANGE KNOWLES, omg the return of

This is a fantastic record, and it's absolutely uncompromising, but it's not a monolith. It's not even posing a challenge -- Solange is simply asking you if you can vibe with her, and if you can't, then maybe you just can't, and where do you go after that?

― josh winters (josh), Sunday, March 3, 2019 3:46 PM

Lunch?

Only if you’re paying

Negronis for everyone!

This feels like a particularly bad album to try to power through one's non-interest. I quite like it, but I think I was primed for it by listening to a bunch of sub-two-minute tracks while figuring out nominations for Karl's poll. Thinking about it with that in mind, I want to compare it to Just Another Diamond Day or Donuts, which also have lots of doubters--or lol maybe it's her GBV album

i love short tracks. i love longform, coherent works with amorphous structure. but so far i don't love this longform work or its short tracks.

is the companion film going to be an apple music exclusive indefinitely? (that also reminds me i still have yet to hear frank ocean's endless in full, tho judging from what i heard of it i would probably prefer it to this)

It’s interesting to me how it’s only certain albums these days that people feel the need to give 10 listens to force themselves to enjoy. Like, no one was telling everyone to listen to the last, Decemberists album 15 times before judging.

I think it’s because there’s a careful curation of the image of A Verified Genius that has happened with Solange and a few others. This image of this on-another-plane, mystical, spiritual, artistically pure outsider with insights that no one else could possibly have. People have bought into it a little too unquestioningly. There’s this sense surrounding her that if you don’t GET IT you’re at best uncool and worst, racist.

The songs here are just...not very interesting songs.

strawman all you like, it's just that her last record was really fucking good and this one less immediately so, therefore I cut her a little slack and listen to it a while before dismissing it. The hot take is not the only take.

Like, no one was telling everyone to listen to the last, Decemberists album 15 times before judging.

why are you recommending mass ptomaine poisoning?

Creating a binary in which black R&B woman gets press vs white indie rock band isn't uh the way to even if you think Solange's album is no good.

yeah seriously omg

I don't think anyone who doesn't vibe on Solange's new record is uncool but I am starting to question this need to justify not liking an album over and over. You don't like a record it's cool if you feel forced to like any record it's between you and your conscience.

These tracks are built on cool grooves, but they feel static and repetitious in a way that def. does not jibe with my taste.

seems like repetition was a part of what she was going for

see bithfrk interview Steve riech etc

I’m sure it was, it’s just Not For Me

I tried to listen to this this morning but turned it off after a couple tracks to listen to Ghost

I couldn't even finish this tbh, it just felt so inconsequential, and her voice which I normally think is the best part of her music didn't seem to be doing anything dynamic or interesting. It's a nice enough vibe I guess but simply turning up and being Solange really isn't enough

uh oh I am starting to really enjoy this

my fav thing about seat was the piano/keys, so jazzy and plinky and not the usual neo-soul deep chords. my least fav was all the talking. haven’t listened to the new one yet but im hoping for more of the same keys and less talking

you got it

this album reminds me of the last thundercat album

thought the last thundercat album was dogshit

but pretty sure i like this

ya this is dope, i think i like it just as much if not more than a seat at the table

brad otm on both counts

i don’t hear hookless art installation at all, just sounds like a good r&b album

"sound of rain" fucking floors me every time. i segued it out of "sweet thing (reprise)" on my radio show yesterday and man o man

rappers turned out fun laconic verses for this

I miss when she made songs like “sandcastle disco”

I like this, but it seems very evanescent on the first several listens

maybe I will love it in a few years

why did she reissue sol-angel a few years ago without "sandcastle disco"?

On Sept 16th and 17th Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter and visual artist Solange Knowles presented Witness!, an original performance piece featuring new musical works composed, directed and choreographed by Solange Knowles at the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg in Germany accompanied by a 38 piece orchestra and dance ensemble. With support from Dropbox, the performances were presented by the artist within the architectural marvel that is Elbphilharmonie's world-class concert hall, one of the most acoustically advanced in the world.

“Performing at the Elbphilharmonie was a very gracious and special moment I’ll hold close forever. To hear and see these compositions and choreography come to life on that scale, and with such a divine ensemble will be such a lasting memory to carry on.” - Solange

The performance piece debuted 6 new musical works composed by the artist featuring an ensemble of Tubas, Trumpets, Cellist, Violinist, and Percussionist as well as highly featuring new compositions of songs from her ode to Houston, the When I Get Home (2019) album.

https://gal-dem.com/why-solange-matters-book-extract-stephanie-phillips-indie-microaggressions/

https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/art-books-music/a46683528/solange-knowles-interview-2024/

Interesting Interview and photo spread.