Spotify Me Part 13: Three Men in a Playlist

Spotify Me Part 13: Three Men in a Playlist

Mark’s Discover Weekly Playlist for the week of 11/23/2015

Thanksgiving is a weird holiday. It seems that as soon as Halloween is over people are gearing up for Christmas. In fact, with the rush everyone is in it’s an amazement that we even remember to celebrate Thanksgiving at all. But we manage it year after year, gathering around a table with either friends or family to enjoy each other’s company and a guilt free meal.

And although every holiday has music associated with it, Thanksgiving gets cut off from that privilege. See how I did that? See how I tied it all back to music? I’m pretty good at stuff like that. Anyway, there isn’t any thanksgiving music out there that people really know about, so here is some unrelated music that you can listen to instead.

The Mountain
Century Media Records and
Inside Out Music

Cockroach King – Haken

What starts out as a great deal of instrumental noise actually turns into an elaborate an complex arrangement of vocals with the accompaniment of hard electronic instrumentation. I was surprised when the vocals chimed in, as right up until that point; I had been lead to believe that this song would fall into the Metal category. But instead, the song moves through out various modes of instrumentation, sometimes filling the soundscape with loud guitars, and at other times sticking to a simple more empty a Capella. The complexity of the arrangement is impressive, and it needs to be if it’s going to hold my attention for the eight minutes that it demands. The alternation between instrumentation keeps the song new and interesting though out that long playtime, but the song never leaves the style that it starts out with. Even with such a long playtime, this song is still one I enjoy.

All That We Know
Silver Sprocket

Ebb and Flow – Larry and his Flask

As far as vocals go, the lead singer’s voice would have been enough. I’m not sure what it is about him, but he has a sincere nature about his voice that makes me want to listen. The harmonies by the other band members are a welcome bonus. This style of song, which I thought of as a more modern folk, leads me to expect a slower pace to the song. However, right from the beginning this song takes off at break neck pace, not slowing down until the tail end of the song when all singers join in. The tune is sweet and endearing, with phrases that end on wavering notes that leave anticipation for the next portion of the song. And the ending of the song is a classing joining in of all singers, making this a song that brings people together, gathering us closer.

Hotto Dogu Single
Shawn Wasabi

Hotto Dogu – Shawn Wasabi

There is something to be said for loud music that shakes your car and breaks your ears. Then you have songs like this, which seem like one of the loudest songs you’ve ever heard, without ever actually getting to loud. The song uses a more of a bouncing base tone as opposed to a speaker shattering blast. And even when the song has a drop, it bounces right back. There is a confident and energetic flow to the music, making for a great attitude and good dance music. That in combination with the comedic sound bites of people screaming the name of the song makes this track really enjoyable.

Computer Vs Banjo
Diagram Records

Give up on Ghosts – Computer vs. Banjo

Now, the name Computer vs. Banjo kind of implies a mixture of country and more modern electronic sounds. That is pretty much the mood this song hits on right out of the gate. There is the heavy beat of strings that alludes to the wild western frontier. That sense of hard sought adventure is conveyed with the gritty low sound of the strings and drums. After the mood is established, distorted vocals and electric guitars join the mix, modernizing the sound. The lyrics hit on some cowboy themes as well, referring to the ghosts of some haunted past that a man is trying to leave behind. Only way to be more cowboy than that is to John Wayne sing the song himself. However the lyrics manage not to ever really sound cliche in my opinion. I know I have a weak spot for songs like this; they make me want to go play more Read Dead Redemption right now.  If I was a cowboy in some future robot punk western movie, I would always be rocking out to songs like this.

Into the Night
Eleven Records

Last Song – Jason Webley

Endings are always a little bit sad for me, so I guess that it makes sense that the Last Song would have to be a sad one. Yet another song that was once featured as the weather on Welcome to Night Vale, this tune manages to fit in well with the oddball theme most weather reports usually run with. I’m still not sure on the exact meaning of the song, but it does contain hints at a sort of sad defeat, from the Earth being buried in snow, to a man leaving for a woman and being unable to return home. The music works in harmony with this imagery, using heavy organ and accordion sounds to play in a sad minor key. The melody played by the accordion might actually be my favorite part of the song as a whole, as I have a huge weak spot for accordions. I mean like, I have an accordion and am trying to learn to play it, so you know I mean business. The singer’s voice certainly sounds like someone who would be there at the end of the world, old tired, and lonely. But the whole song belongs in a pub, where people still sing together and buy rounds for each other. The place you would go to be with friends as the world is quietly buried in snow.