Songs of the Week #14- Editors Pick
“pushes the boundaries of the band’s usual magical melancholy”
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ROY:
"Surgeon" -- St. Vincent
This live session captures all the best things about St. Vincent. It's smart and sexy, mixes digitally manipulated sounds and beats with classic musicianship and songwriting, and has a badass guitar solo. I love the way the video is shot and edited too, and I even love her dress and makeup. A perfect four-and-half minutes.
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CARRIE:
"Paia" -- Wild Ones
I just heard this band for the first time and bought their vinyl. Their live performance was super inspiring and charged with energy. The recorded version of "Paia" is definitely softer and sexier than the live performance, both are great, and either way I think this is their hit, though I'm enjoying the record as a whole. They make some interesting choices musically, and I love the skillful harmonies that Danielle Sullivan pulls off. I mean, come on. That voice.
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MATTY:
"Not the Same" -- Deathray
I don't know anything about this band, but I feel like I do. From the styling of the song, the front-loaded production on the acoustic guitar that slowly dips behind the electric, even the name of the band -- it all seems like stuff that I've known about for a long, long time. Does that mean they touch on specific references I can hear, but they don't do it in a way that's obvious or biting? Not sure. What I do know, the repetitive, driving riff that underpins the song is a simple but effective chord progression that sounds really really good to my ears.
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SHENYAH:
“Spring and by Summer Fall” -- Blonde Redhead
Blonde Redhead is primarily recognized for the ethereal vocal style of Kazu Makino. Oftentimes the more aggressive vocal style of her counterpart, Amedeo Pace, is overlooked. This song, placed right in the middle of the album 23, features Amedeo as the front man. He pushes the boundaries of the band’s usual magical melancholy sound and offers a triumph of layered melodies alongside a more rocking wall of sound.
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JOHN:
“To Have and Have Not” -- Lars Frederikson & the Bastards
This is one of those songs I knew I loved after hearing maybe 10 seconds of the thing. I blare this goddam brilliant piece of punk music as loud as my Honda will allow me and I scream it at the top of my lungs! I love the dichotomy. This means as much me to in my age as it did when I was a kid! I feel what he says, every word of it. I am 15 again. I am alive for 3 minutes in that awkward teenager way, when you know in your heart you are equal, but the world around you keeps you in your place. I don't even care that it sounds like "I broke the law and the law won," it's punk rock!
"Just because you're going forwards doesn't mean I'm going backwards."
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