Weekly Track Roundup #20
This week we soundtracked the slow and tortuous descent towards November 8th.
Welcome to Weekly Track Roundup Presidential Combat Edition.
SOFT HAIr: "LYING HAS TO STOP"
If recently you have found yourself sick of checking Twitter to fact check everything that comes out of Trump’s mouth, then you might agree with the sentiment of this new single from New Zealand pop weirdo Connan Mockasin’s new project, Soft Hair. This irresistibly silky groove is easy to keep on repeat for at least an hour, if you can stomach Mockasin’s creepy-sexy underwater vocal delivery. Imagine Prince off of a few tabs with some added modern day synth flourishes and you have this oddball masterpiece. It might even inspire you to dance with your reflection in the early hours of the morning. -Will Jacobson
revive: "Crying"
Fans of New York trio Crying were likely dumbfounded by the muscle the band exhibits right from the onset of this new single. The band that formerly dealt in the rather rarefied and modest genre of 8-bit rock music has definitely shifted gears towards a more robust and triumphant sound with this track. This shift towards a more in-your-face sound brings to mind a similar one underwent rather successfully by labelmate Adventures with last year’s spectacular Supersonic Home. Crying has acknowledged ‘80s-era Rush as an influence but fans may even draw a (possibly pejorative) comparison to Van Halen, citing that monstrous guitar intro. However, as the song progresses, the band distances itself from these influences by showing fans its dynamic capabilities. Drummer Nick Corbo undoubtedly proves his chops as he deftly reels the track in and subsequently sends it back into the stratosphere. A lone synth enters, a little late to the party, and almost immediately initiates a joyous interplay with the guitar leads that makes you want to forget all of the vexations that our current Presidential Combat may yield. So if ever there was a track that could provide some elated catharsis in this oh-so-upsetting election cycle, it’s this one. -Alex Richwine
Bill callahan - "america!"
You walk backstage, drawing the curtains behind you. Twin moons stare back at you from your small paper window. "I never served my country" you whisper as you pick up your sword and prepare to strike down one of the white orbs. And yet you hesitate, pondering the consequences of bringing that celestial body crashing down to Earth. You close your eyes and pray for the best as you swing. -David Whitehouse
radiohead - "the national anthem"
In my life, there has been no album more transformative than Radiohead's Kid A. The free jazz-style wind section evokes feelings of chaos, similar to the discord and confusion that we feel when the current presidential race comes to mind. Like the presidential candidates, "The National Anthem" has received much criticism for being unpleasant, annoying, and even painful to listen to. -Allison Hsu
horse jumper of love - "orange peeler"
Horse Jumper of Love's "Orange Peeler" is a half melancholy, half raging, jingle-jangly slow burner of a tune. Frontman Dimitri Giannopoulos' molasses-smooth vocals float above the Boston trio's rough instrumentals, progressively getting more angsty and fed up as the song's six minutes fly by. HJOL achieves a strange contrast between softly gentle and aggressive, between introspective shoegaze ballads and grimy dance-party rock. A perfectly confusing song for an immensely confusing time. -Ezra Kohn
cloud nothings - "no thoughts"
"No Thoughts" is a track that starts out kinda angry (me when I saw the wack back drop :/), and then gets very angry (me every time Trump said "WRONG"). But it keeps its composure because you just gotta when shit is weird. -Meg West
king gizzard and the lizard wizard -
"people vultures"
"People Vultures" sounds like the final boss music of an 80's beat-em-up if the game was dripped in honey and acid and little bits of neon glitter. The song paints a vague picture of some vulturous predator awaiting trial before god, asking, "what else have i got to spew down?". Not a stretch to think about political 'vultures' doing their thing and vomiting out whatever necessary to continue feeding on the flesh of the American populace. Dramatic? Maybe, but King Gizzard says otherwise. -Ryan Breen
green day - "american idiot"
This song is technically about the Bush administration, but what's great about it is that it can be applied to virtually every Republican nominee in the history of mankind. Thanks to Trump, it is even more powerful now than ever before. Guys, let's not elect another American Idiot. November 8th. Beckham Hall. You know what to do. -Sariel Friedman
mac dre - "feelin' myself"
Off the album Ronald Dregan: Dreganomics, 'Feelin Myself' presents itself as one of Bay Area rapper Mac Dre's biggest hits. The song epitomizes self love, pleasure, doing whatever one wants and the importance of self-confidence- something I believe Republican nominee Donald J. Trump possesses ever so elegantly. #ronalddreganforpresident but also #rip. thank u, -Nadine Ng
Prince - "Donald trump (Black Version)"
I discovered this song over the summer and I have no idea what it is or why it exists. But I'm fascinated. -Adam Manson
Night witch - "witch hunt"
With its fast paced, loud screaming and steady instrumentals, Night Witch's "Witch Hunt" has essentially become my anthem this election season, because I've basically been internally screaming the entire time. -Michelle Rosen
YG & Nipsey Hussle - "FDT (Fuck Donald Trump)"
Someone had to say it. - Chris Gortmaker
