Semicircle, The Go! Team

Currently doing one album for each year, 1960-2020. Today: 2018.

Semicircle, The Go! Team, 2018, :40

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Since I first heard these guys way back on (looks it up) August 27, I found out that the band is an ever-changing organism, led by one Ian Parton.  Their technique is to blend everything into an aural hurricane of shouty fun: obscure samples, funk, hip-hop, dance, indie pop, double-Dutch chants, horns, steel drums, and basically any sound that might make the song a banger.  Apparently on this album there are guest vocals from various choirs and high schoolers and a lot of other singers.  The result is a great deal of eclecticism, but all swagger and sunshine pop.  If you don't like it, you're still too old.  Favorite tracks: "Chain Link Fence," "The Answer's No - Now What's the Question?," "Semicircle Song."

Thunder, Lightning, Strike, The Go! Team

Thunder, Lightning, Strike, The Go! Team, 2004, :40

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

You can hear the love of disco in every track of this album.  But a new generation of disco, alt-disco, indie-disco, with hiphop and playground chants (“We Just Won’t Be Defeated,” the exuberant clap-along “Huddle Formation”) and samples; “dancing like nobody’s watching” in music form.  Exuberant, happy, defiant, for the kids.  If it’s too weird, you’re too old.  This isn’t in my traditional wheelhouse and I love it.  It makes me happy.  This is the re-released version with the samples all made legal and stuff.   Favorite tracks: "Ladyflash," "Huddle Formation."