My intermittent media posts are now a little more organized. Music will be Lounge Pit interludes. Movies and books will get their own posts if they merit them, or they'll be in with smaller takes on articles I've read, like yesterday's post.
This week's listening includes new and old. On vinyl, I'm enjoying the 70s lounge singer vibe of The Car, by Arctic Monkeys, and Mitski’s album Be the Cowboy, which isn't her latest but is still newish and very good. And an oldie, Drums and Wires by XTC, a proto-’80s masterpiece from 1979.
That album kicks off with “Making Plans for Nigel,” an ironic slice of life from the point of view of two parents who have their son's future all planned, and the repetitive heartbeat machine riff begins to feel like a ticking bomb. The album has other fine tunes that follow in its wake, never failing—except perhaps with the tedious echoes in “Complicated Game”—but never rising to that level again. You can listen to it all here.
I never liked Arctic Monkeys, but The Car is growing on me. This is the big single. Like that nostalgia post a few weeks ago about Outrun and Mallwave, this is like 60s or 70s nostalgia by people who missed out on it.
Mitski is hard to pin down, Björky I guess? With a little more pop-rock and less experimentation. I dig her work and need the new one on vinyl. Be the Cowboy (full album at the link) is a good, short listen… but “The Only Heartbreaker” off the new album, Laurel Hell, is my favorite.
Cool It Down, The new album by The Yeah Yeah Yeahs is also brilliant, it reminds me more of older Metric (I absolutely love “Artificial Nocturne” and “Breathing Underwater”). They were formative for many bands like the Linda Lindas and Japanese Breakfast, and their triumphant return after a long hiatus is quite welcome.
Bob Dylan wrote a book of essays about formative music, which Dylan-obsessives are calling a new canon. Apparently music by women got almost entirely left out. Rather odd for someone so enamored of roots music, blues, and folk… Amanda Petrusich was having none of it, and responded with her own list of music deserving to be included. From Big Mama Thornton to Beyoncé with “Jolene” by Dolly, Patti Smith, and “Diamonds and Rust” by Joan Baez, it’s a great list, and I made an Apple Music Playlist of all the songs, in her order.
What have you been listening to, lately? I am trying my damnedest to not fall into the trap of listening to the same shit I listened to growing up, and in college, though I certainly do a lot of nostalgia-listening. I have SiriusXM in the car (and the app on my phone) so I can always hit up ‘80s on 8, First Wave, or Ozzy’s Boneyard for my nostalgia fix, but I also listen to Sirius XMU, the “college station” of emerging new alternative, and TikTok Radio, to get a taste of what the Young People are listening to these days. There’s plenty of great new music now that ClearChannel has less sway, and often you can support them directly on BandCamp, as TicketMaster and the music industry, like so many creative cartels, bleed artists dry.
Thanks for all these recommendations and the Apple Play List. (And a big fuck you kindly to Bob Dylan.)
This is kind of the opposite direction from where you're headed but have I talked/written your ear off about the podcast "60 Songs That Explain the 90's" yet? I know you don't really do podcasts, but he goes down these great musical rabbit holes for each one, and they're more than just trivia, they're re-evaluating what the whole thing meant. If you're ever tempted, I'd recommend trying the Beastie Boys' Sabotage episode:
In term of music, I've kind of been getting into Latin party music? Did I mention I have bad taste? Like Bomba Estéreo's Soy Yo. https://youtu.be/bxWxXncl53U
I'll definitely listen to the sabotage episode. I read the Beastie book and it gave me a new appreciation of the band. They began as puerile but redeemed themselves with good deeds. And to seal that deal, one member is married to Kathleen Hanna of Bikini Kill... I don't think she'd put up with misogyny. As for "taste" it's all bad, you like what you like. Kim likes mariachi versions of pop songs and odd mashups. I like a few.
Just want to say how grateful I am for your substack posts. I think this actually all started with Badreads, so it's a nice thread from Lauren Hough's posts to yours, and then from yours to WanderFinder and An Irritable Métis (I love those so much!) I got the new album by The Yeah Yeah Yeahs based on your recommendation and I'm so happy I did- it really is good. I've also been listening to Carolyn Kendrick on Bandcamp. I heard her sing live in San Francisco and fell in love with the song "Weatherman", but then couldn't find it anywhere, and when I contacted her to ask about it, she sent me an MP3 of it. :-) And lately whenever my son is in the car with me we listen to Frank Ocean. I don't know what it is about the last minute of the song "Self Control", but wow, makes me cry every time.
Just wanted to say -- speaking of crying -- this made me tear up. Thanks so much, I feel like Tom in that I'm in very good company! Oh, and I've been really enjoying the Yeah Yeah Yeahs too, and now will have to go listen to "Self Control." :)
Thank you, Lise. I'm in good company with those three. They keep me above water, with their voices and views of the world. I haven't met Chris yet, but I'm hoping to make a road trip to Montana and rectify that. Isn't it great that we can connect with musicians who move us in this way? (Writers too, I guess). I'll have to check out Carolyn Kendrick and Frank Ocean. I only know Billy Ocean.
Thanks for all these recommendations and the Apple Play List. (And a big fuck you kindly to Bob Dylan.)
This is kind of the opposite direction from where you're headed but have I talked/written your ear off about the podcast "60 Songs That Explain the 90's" yet? I know you don't really do podcasts, but he goes down these great musical rabbit holes for each one, and they're more than just trivia, they're re-evaluating what the whole thing meant. If you're ever tempted, I'd recommend trying the Beastie Boys' Sabotage episode:
https://www.theringer.com/2022/7/20/23270742/beastie-boys-sabotage-history-podcast
In term of music, I've kind of been getting into Latin party music? Did I mention I have bad taste? Like Bomba Estéreo's Soy Yo. https://youtu.be/bxWxXncl53U
I'll definitely listen to the sabotage episode. I read the Beastie book and it gave me a new appreciation of the band. They began as puerile but redeemed themselves with good deeds. And to seal that deal, one member is married to Kathleen Hanna of Bikini Kill... I don't think she'd put up with misogyny. As for "taste" it's all bad, you like what you like. Kim likes mariachi versions of pop songs and odd mashups. I like a few.
Just want to say how grateful I am for your substack posts. I think this actually all started with Badreads, so it's a nice thread from Lauren Hough's posts to yours, and then from yours to WanderFinder and An Irritable Métis (I love those so much!) I got the new album by The Yeah Yeah Yeahs based on your recommendation and I'm so happy I did- it really is good. I've also been listening to Carolyn Kendrick on Bandcamp. I heard her sing live in San Francisco and fell in love with the song "Weatherman", but then couldn't find it anywhere, and when I contacted her to ask about it, she sent me an MP3 of it. :-) And lately whenever my son is in the car with me we listen to Frank Ocean. I don't know what it is about the last minute of the song "Self Control", but wow, makes me cry every time.
Just wanted to say -- speaking of crying -- this made me tear up. Thanks so much, I feel like Tom in that I'm in very good company! Oh, and I've been really enjoying the Yeah Yeah Yeahs too, and now will have to go listen to "Self Control." :)
Thank you, Lise. I'm in good company with those three. They keep me above water, with their voices and views of the world. I haven't met Chris yet, but I'm hoping to make a road trip to Montana and rectify that. Isn't it great that we can connect with musicians who move us in this way? (Writers too, I guess). I'll have to check out Carolyn Kendrick and Frank Ocean. I only know Billy Ocean.