This is a compilation of the songs I’ve been listening to recently. I don’t think any two are from the same genre, but hopefully, there’s something in here that you will like.
Covering the song originally by 60’s garage punk band The Sonics, The Queers bring entirely new energy to “Strychnine” on their 2021 album Reverberation. People debate a lot about what makes a good cover or not; a lot of factors go into it, like whether or not the artist should make the song their own or bring a new meaning to the lyrics. I think “Strychnine” by The Queers is the perfect cover and an awesome song on its own as well. The original is very reminiscent of classic rock and roll. It’s high energy, but it still lacks the speed that other popular covers also don't have. The Queers bring a distinctly and deservedly snotty teenage attitude (their Spotify about section’s words, not mine) to a song about literally picking your own poison. Both songs are fun and edgy in different ways, and to me, the differences between the covers also show how different punk became over the years.
2. "Your Clothes" - Can’t Swim
“Your Clothes” off of Death Deserves a Name, the debut EP of New Jersey emo band, Can’t Swim, is perfect for yelling when you’re by yourself. The song is about feeling guilt over a partner in simple terms. When you look at the lyrics, you can see that the singer is anxious about making his partner uncomfortable due to assuming the worst of himself. This may be because he knows it’s his true nature, or just because he’s getting in his own head, but either way, he sees himself as depraved in comparison to his partner. A tense and dangerous-sounding bass riff during the verses highlights the self-deprecating lyrics. Aside from the sick instrumental, I think it can be a sort of relatable song for many, if not a little exaggerated for some. (Side note: “I WANNA PROVE THAT I’M A TOTAL WASTE OF ALL YOUR TIME” is probably one of my favorite lyrics ever).
3. Toy Boy - Stuck in the Sound
You may have heard of French indie rock band, Stuck in the Sound, before. Their song “Let's Go” was released in 2012, and was still pretty popular around 2016 on YouTube, especially if you had that Caravan Palace and animated music video phase like I did. When I found ‘“Toy Boy” this month, I was a little surprised since it wasn’t quite like the two other songs I had heard previously, and I liked it so much I ended up looking into the band a bit more. “Toy Boy” is from Stuck in the Sound’s second album, Nevermind the Living Dead, in 2006. The sarcastic desperate plea to a lover; a girl who can’t love, something our singer finds out a little too late. The spiteful irony is present in the music and the lyrics. Throughout the song, he calls out to her and even gives into his role as someone she only used to pass time, all despite his rational side interjecting with how it’s already done for and how used he feels. It really gets stuck in your head, and if you can even slightly relate to the subject matter, you’ll probably find yourself mouthing the words soon enough. It’s pretty good alt-rock, and I’ll definitely be listening to the full album. Plus, it was on Guitar Hero!
King Geedorah is yet another alias of the mysterious MC, MF DOOM. Under this name, the legend released Take Me to Your Leader in 2003. The whole album has everything you would expect out of MF DOOM (at least for those who are familiar, if you’re not, check out his other projects too). His clever wordplay, immaculate flow, and laid-back-yet-bold delivery are consistent throughout the album. “Fazers” was my personal favorite off of Take Me to Your Leader, as I think it perfectly encapsulates what makes the project so unique, even among the other DOOM projects. The usual old-school sample-heavy beat is in attendance, however, the best way to describe it in “Fazers” would be “cinematic” (thanks to the “Follow the Light” string sample from Invasion of Astro-Monster). The cinematic sound persists through the rest of the album, almost making it feel like a movie experience, much befitting of the King Geedorah moniker. This song and MF DOOM are rad and got me into a whole old-school hip-hop kick lately.
5. "Stoned Again" - King Krule
Another cool new find from my recently renewed love for hip hop has been King Krule. He’s an interesting artist with a pretty unique sound; elements of hip-hop, jazz, and even post-punk are accentuated with methodical delivery that feels like he’s telling you a far out anecdote, and occasionally his rough yells kick in, creating an almost eerie experience. A perfect example of his cold and paranoid sound is “Stoned Again” from his 2020 album Man Alive!. The song seems to be about a bad high while he reminisces about his childhood. King Krule’s signature growls and delivery steer the song towards the more paranoid experiences people tend to have with marijuana. I listened to his other album, THE OOZ, a bit ago and Man Alive! while writing this article, and I have to say, I prefer Man Alive! a lot more. The album is way more concise (19 songs vs. 14 songs respectively) and really perfects the sound King Krule is sort of known for, all of which works to make the songs a lot more memorable, something I felt THE OOZ struggled with, personally.
6. Teeth Like God’s Shoeshine - Modest Mouse
“Teeth Like God’s Shoeshine” is the opener for Modest Mouse’s second studio album, The Lonesome Crowded West. Modest Mouse is an indie rock classic, and their folky, critically acclaimed second album, boasting an hour and thirteen minutes worth of music, is chock-full of absolute gems. It can be difficult to maintain interest or quality with that much material, but every song in this album is just as excellent as the one before it. From personal experience, I'm not big on listening to albums and have a short attention span, so me sitting through the whole thing was really a testament to how stunning it was. And it caught my attention all thanks to the insane opening track. The song itself is about the singer’s frustration with the commercialism invading his quaint home town. The lyrics highlight the claustrophobic and superficial advertising he sees plastered around him,decorating the soon-to-be-abandoned malls. The instrumentals reflect this in the almost-seven-minute running time, juxtaposing unhinged, bursting riffs and drums (not to mention yelling) with quiet and somber reflections. The song beautifully illustrates how the modern human experience, bombarded with advertisements and anything for sale, can be both frustrating and exhausting. And even if you don’t pay attention to the lyrics, it’s an incredibly unique musical experience.