Spotify Me Part 21: 2 Play 2 List

Spotify Me Part 21: 2 Play 2 List

Mark’s Discover Weekly Playlist for the week of 1/18/2016

Well you win some you lose some. Just as last week’s Playlists was one of the best I’ve ever had, this was one of the worst. A lot of video game music, and a bunch of songs I just didn’t find very interesting. Out of the whole thing I could really only find the following 2 songs that I actually wanted to talk about. And with that, there comes into the idea of what I actually want to write about. This is ok because I kind of needed a break anyway.

When Me and Lizz started this blog, we didn’t want to get trapped inside a theme. And soon, as the weather gets nicer, I will start making the “Spotify Me” article less often. I plan on using the You Tube channel associated with this account to make some videos about diving and the friends I have made though that activity. Also, me and my brothers are picking our D&D campaign back up, so maybe I’ll write about that as well. But in the meantime, enjoy the paragraphs

Quantum Mechanics EP
B Story

Back Then – B Story

Remembering past relationships can be a hard thing to do. On one hand these are happy memories about a person you cared about. But the hurt from separation can often ruin the positive aspect of that memory. Thinking back on how things have changed in any given situation, let alone a romantic one, can be surreal for most people. It is in this vein of emotions that this song finds it inspiration. The energy in this song, if I’m honest, kind of brings me down a notch. But at the same time, so does thinking of an ex. It’s not a song I would listen to every day, as I tend to be more interested in louder faster songs. But every once in a while, you can get into an odd nostalgic mood, and look for slower, quieter, and softer music. It’s with those songs that this song will find a home.

Ukulele Anthem
Single by Amanda Palmer

Ukulele Anthem – Amanda Palmer

Amanda Palmer has a certain humor that although I don’t entirely understand, I can appreciate. In this anthem, she invites all those who are odd, or strange to embrace their true nature, and be proud to be themselves in a tongue and cheek way that fans of hers have come to love. Like many anthems, the song is rude and unapologetic. Unlike many anthems, it focuses on a very minimalistic soundscape, relying heavily on the humor in the lyrics to carry the main meat of the song. It’s a fun song to listen to when hanging out with a small group of people, or just alone when you feel like you can’t be yourself. As odd as the song is, it does manage to be inspiring on a strange level.

Spotify Me Part 20: Playlist Harder

Spotify Me Part 20: Playlist Harder

Mark’s Discover Weekly Playlist for the week of 1/11/2016

This was a really good week for my playlist. I must have like half the songs this week, and it was because I genuinely wanted to listen to them over and over again. At the same time I finally broke down and bought Spotify premium, and have to say I love it so far. I don’t want to go too much into it because Spotify isn’t paying me to talk about them. So instead I’m going to tell you about the Google Cardboard I bought: it’s not here yet. I also bought a dry suit: it’s also not here.

Have you ever bought a gadget and then had to wait for it? It’s really hard. I love going to stores because then I have the gadget right away but right now, I’m sitting here waiting for mail to arrive and its horrible. It’s hard to imagine you used to have to order things through the mail. You send in a letter, wit for that letter to arrive, and then they mail the gadget to you. That’s too long to wait. That’s why I love Spotify, where I don’t have to wait. All my favorite songs are – you see I almost did it right there. That’s what I’m talking about.

Single
Kniles

Modify – Kniles 

Another frustrating game of “I know I’ve heard this song” was played this week. I kept listening to this song though out the week, because it’s a good song. But I could not shake the feeling that I knew it from somewhere. The hunt had no effect on how much I liked the song. It makes you want to move around, if not break into actual dance. It’s a “good times” kind of song that you might hear at a casual party, or in a 70’s teen movie trailer. I have always stated that I wish my generation had more of a chance with disco, and so this type of music usually wins me over. And what really makes the song stand out to me is ironically that it doesn’t fight for your attention. The song is perfectly content to just groove in and create the atmosphere. It’s a great song to listen to to cheer up or have a good time. Oh, and I did figure out where I had heard it before.It was in the Game of Thrones BLR video, which shouldn’t have surprised me.

In the Morning
Jayne Trimble

Meet You at the Gate – Jayne Trimble

One of my favorite albums to listen to is the soundtrack to the movie “O Brother Where Art Thou.” Due to the nature of the film, the soundtrack became a collection of bluegrass and American folk music performed by some of the greatest voices in the genre. Sometimes I listen to that type of music and feel a bit sad that I messed out on that part of American culture, the passing of songs through the generations. Even though that culture isn’t as relevant as it used to be, that style of music is still being written and recorded today, this song being a great example. It’s a quiet slow song, which is as soothing as it is beautiful. The singer has a soft voice that flows so well with the rhythm of the song, and has just enough power to put emotion into the song, but not break the songs tranquil nature. And the sudden rhythm at the end of the chorus is what really reminds me of that classic American folk sound. So, even though this isn’t the song your mother sings to you, because her mother sang it to her, it certainly calls to mind the idea of a time when she may have. And it’s these kinds of images that make me love this song.

Gizmodgery
maximum10

Trunk Fulla Amps [explicit] – Self

Loud, rude, rude and proud, the band Self Gives a very focused description on the exact content of their trunk. Exaggerated distortion floods the speakers as the lead singer boasts away about his clear and apparent abundance of amps. The in your face style of the song makes it as fun as it is obnoxious. The lyrics are fairly simple, allowing the instruments to do the heavy lifting with distorted guitar, thumping drums, and loud builds. The song contains the mood of a teenage rebellion, and the creation of noise for noises sake. But at the same time the song is extremely catchy, and can really become stuck in your head, which is ok as the lyrics aren’t that hard to learn. As we all know, the only thing worse than having a bad song stuck in your head, is having only half of a good song stuck in your head. This is a great song to have running in your pumping you up for your day. However, be warned that language is heavily used, so becarful about singing it to yourself in your cubicle.

Dead Zone Boys
Asthmatic Kitty

You Cried Me – Jookabox

With fast plucky strings and a wailing chorus, Jookabox howls into this week’s playlist. The song takes you for a fast paced ride where the vintage car is constantly veering in and out of control. The style reflects on a youth that is constantly in chase of new adventures and experiences regardless of the consequences. It feels like you have to keep driving with no opportunity to brake or pause. Any delay can result in missing out on what’s going on. The lyrics are simple in their idea. A man tries to warn a girl of the dangers of joining him on this self-destructive journey, and is ultimately unsuccessful as she refuses to leave his side. It’s easy to identify with this type of song, either due to the idea of pushing love away or convincing someone they are worth being loved. The tune and instruments do a great job of matching the raw nerves that can be so exposed, and the risk of chasing the one you love.

F Note
Too Many Zooz

To the Top – Too Many Zooz

So if you sit back for a minute and imagine that a saxophone were an animal, much like a dog or cat, and now consider the noise that animal would make if it were abused horribly. Now add a trumpet to the mix and this song roughly captures that experience. Based out of the New York subway that brought you Moon Hooch, comes Too Many Zooz, a loud an unapologetic Brasshouse (a mixture of jazz, rock and dance) band that is testing the distinction between sound and noise in a pretty incredible way. By using their instruments in all the ways your middle school band teacher told you not to, they create an intense sound, filing every inch of their soundscape with the energy of just three instruments. The band isn’t afraid to experiment to get every possible sound they can out of the instrument and use it in some form or another to make music. All of this adds up to a loud, rough, and chaotic style that somehow works. I would love to see them play live, especially in the subway where they first started to play.

Spotify Me part 19: This Naming Convention is Running Thin

Spotify Me part 19: This Naming Convention is Running Thin

Mark’s Discover Weekly Playlist for the week of 1/4/16

They new year has arrived, and with it, true winter weather. It's cold outside and the snow is thin, blowing easily in the howling winter wind. Last night, as me and my friends sat on a back porch, with only a small lamp illuminating our small world, I felt as though I was in the antarctic tundra, with the wind howling, and the shadows hiding the common look of modern suburbia. With only our small area illuminated, and the darkness hiding reality, I was able to escape into a world of harsh yet calmin isolation. It was incredible. 

Then you have to go and drive in it which is miserable and ruins the magic entirely. Your car slides every where and brakes do less and less as the mess piles up. You arrive home and cant go to sleep in case it warms up casting a thick sheet of ice over your drive way. At least I have music while I'm driving. Seriously, it's poetic, but also a nightmare.

Port Entropy
P-Vine Records

Rum Hee – Shugo Tokumaru

This is not the first time this song has appeared on the playlist, and it still catches me off guard every time. The only reason I hadn’t written about it yet is because the last time I heard it was before I started writing this article. I’m not hyper aware of music styles and trends in Japan, but this is never what I expect form a Japanese artist. It actually reminds me of the band Jónsi, a band I am aware of purely because I am an adult who enjoys kid’s movies about dragons. This song matches the aloof, innocent, and adventurous nature of these types of kid’s movies, and could see it being associated with a Miyazaki film, specifically one of the lighter films, more aimed at children. I bring Miyazaki up because of the Japanese affiliation, however any what really is important is the sense of childlike adventure the song carries. There are no sad notes, no worries, and the beat is colorful and alive. I can’t rally speak for the lyrics, as I do not speak Japanese, but I can say the light signing matches the style of the song well, adding to the carefree nature of the tune. The many features of the song work well together, making it a joy to listen to every time.

Letters in the Dirt
Red House Records

Bill & Annie – Chuck Brodsky

I don’t know if Spotify has a data base of songs that have appeared on Welcome to Night Vale, or if the guy who runs their music selection just has similar taste in music to me. Regardless of the reasoning behind it, the Podcasts weather section gets another mention here on our blog. However, the artist himself should also be mentioned, as the song is his hard work and labor, and sometimes I think these “Weather Songs” don’t get that kind of proper recognition. I want to make sure that isn’t the case here as Chuck Brodsky deserves the recognition for this song. The tune is light, and just sad enough for the story that is told. The song is all about timing, and how important it is to falling in love. The characters in this song are in love, and maybe even meant for each other. However, their timing is never perfect, and they sacrifice their chance at love so they can do right by the others in their lives. The song leaves a good deal of questions unanswered though. For example, the singer introduces himself as Chuck and introduces his wife Annie. While to me it seems that the name Annie simply reminds Bill of his past life, it is possible that Chucks wife Annie may be the very same he fell in love with. The other question that isn’t answered is whither it was right for Bill to value his commitments over his love, though it seems Bill knows the answer to the question. We the listeners are left to think about the answer for ourselves.

Trilogy
No Quarter

Escape From Midwich Valley – Carpenter Brut

Ok, so, this is a song from a movie. But I didn’t know that, and as was revealed by way to much research, neither do most of the people who have heard it. From what I can tell, the song was also used in a trailer for the video game Hot Line Miami 2. This, and the limited material available on the short film that the song is from, made it almost impossible to figure out if the song was actually in the movie, or just inspired by it. Which was possible as the song is released as a part of an album separate from the short film and was released in the following year. However, Carpenter Brut is listed as the composer for the film, and I went ahead and watched a bit of the movie to make sure, and yes, the song is in the film in bits and pieces. This version of the song may be a conglomerate of all the sounds he composed for the short film. But before I knew any of that, it was, to me, just an eerie and cool electronic song. It sent me on a journey both while I was listening to it, and while I was researching it. Its sound is reminiscent of 80’s electronic sounds and styles, but also reflective of horror and thriller films. And the song is apparently versatile, having been used in a horror film, and a crime noir video game. The song is all about the experience of the sounds, and the sounds are great. Not only that, but I now know about a Lovecraft inspired film that I have to watch, as the film Escape from Midwich Valley is inspired by the book The Shadow over Innsmouth. And that is one of my favorite books.

Volcanology - Single
Industry of Cool

Volcanology – Brooklyn

Music like this doesn’t seem like anything new. Young artists see issues as they become old enough to understand them, put them into a song or some other form of media, and send it out over the internet. I should know, I post a weekly blog. But what has allowed this kind of band to exist for so long? There are, probably, so many studies that go to show why this type of music is timeless, and why it remains popular. But the point of it all is that this is a very over saturated genre, and it takes a lot of work and talent to make it while playing this type of music. And Brooklyn has all of that. Small things in this song make it better than average. The tune is happy, even though the lyrics contain a hint of youth angst and rebellion. This conflict of attitude puts an ironic twist on the song, making it both the voice of a youthful concern as well as a joyful anthem. And their talent has been recognized, as this song was featured in one of the Saint’s Row games. Teenage rebellion will never go away, and so long as it’s here, this music will be too. This music is important, and I like it.

Spotify Me Part 18: Auld Lang Playlist

Spotify Me Part 18: Auld Lang Playlist

Mark’s Discover Weekly Playlist for the week of 12/28/15

During this week we saw an old year go and a new year arrives, and we all know what that means. It means a solid month of writing the date wrong because we all keep forgetting that 2015 is over. Lizz, the mythical cowriter of this blog, and I had a wonderful New Year’s Eve celeb ration with friends where we sang traditional songs, listened to vinyl, watched good films, and more. It was a good time had by all. My New Year’s resolution was keep being awesome as it always is. I don’t know what Elizabeth’s resolution was, but maybe, if I believe hard enough…

But this week’s playlist did allow me to look back in a way, at the music I have discovered this year thanks to the starting of this blog. Some bands make reappearance, some look at genres that I have come to love, and one band helps me remember there is nothing like coming home to your favorite sounds. So as we enter this New Year, filled with new albums and artists, let’s take a minute to look back at 2015.

Glean
Idlewild Records

Under Water Woman – They Might Be Giants

It really was only a matter of time before my favorite band popped up on the playlist. I waited in Gleeful anticipation for the maters of my teenage years found their way onto the pages of my blog. They have just released s new album called Why? and I’m working on a review for it, but this song comes from another recent album called Glean. Glean heavily features songs that have been uploaded into They Might be Giants re-launch of dial a song, which I have on speed dial. The song Underwater Woman is one of my favorite songs on this album, and shines with the bands sense of humor and talent for oddly poetic lyrics. Although I wouldn’t describe the song as catchy, it does stick in my memory. The song may not before every one. They Might be Giants is, in many ways, an invitation to the weird party, and it’s up to you to accept that invitation.  This song is a great example of that invitation. The melody is odd, the rhythm is not typical, and the lyrics barely make sense at best. It’s very much up to the listener to decide what the meaning of the song actually is, and most would come up with a different answer. But in the end, the song is what They Might be Giants have been, which is different and fun.

Marvin's Marvelous
Mechanical Museum
Quack!Media

Mucka Blucka (Bonus Track) – Tally Hall

We have talked about Tally Hall before on this blog, as well as Rob Cantor’s solo career that followed the bands Hiatus. Tally Hall runs in the same vein as They Might be Giants, continuing the trend of making listeners work to find meaning in the songs, as well as exploration of typically untouched sounds and melodies. And although they are typically more down to earth than TMBG, they do venture into a very strange territory from time to time, as is seen here in this bonus track from their first album. When you first start listening to this song, you might think, “Hey is this just going to be rhythmic clucking?” and then you find out that yes, it is going to be just rhythmic clucking. It might seem like a gimmick, and my uptight world music teacher from college would say it isn’t really music. But to me it feels like the band was just having fun, sharing a bit of themselves with the listener on an extra track. It’s just good fun, and music from time to time should be just that: fun. So tell the PhD music professors of the world to get over themselves, because this is music, and I like it.

2nite EP
Independant

Prismatic Core – TWRP

We have talked about this band as well as this album before on the blog. They to a good job of the 80’s power band style, and this song is no exception. Now, usually, I wouldn’t talk about a song of this nature since it is a clear and present reference to a video game called Prismatic Core, even taking the time to ask you to construct additional pylons. However, I’ve never played that game before, and only know the quote from memes. If not for that line, the song would seem like any other slow 80’s rock song to me. And because it is able to stand alone as its own song, I really enjoy it. It doesn’t just stand alone, but it relies more heavily on instrumental elements than it does on the game reference, whereas most songs of this nature tend to be a series of jokes about the game and then not much else. This song then becomes a song that people who enjoy the game will find fun, but also a song that other people can find enjoyment in as well. I don’t really want to get to much into the marketing of music as I really know nothing about it, but it seems logical that if you write music that only a small niche audience can enjoy, you are only limiting how popular and widespread your music can become. However, what this song has achieved is creating a song with references as a side dish rather than the main course, allowing it to break out of that limited circle and into a more open atmosphere.

The Electric Swing Circus
Ragtime Records

Bella Belle – Electric Swing Circus

One genre that has made its presence known to me this year is electro swing. When the band Caravan Palace released their robot face album this year, they made a statement for the genre that allowed this style of music to gain prominence in my listening preferences. I haven’t listened to much Electric Swing Circus yet, but my hope is that they are just as good. This song is a strong argument in the positive direction. What sets this song apart from some other electro swing that I have heard is that it has original melody and lyrics, when sometimes all you get are sampled clips of older swing songs with electronic elements mixed in. Bella Belle manages to accomplish the task of bringing swing music itself into the modern age, rather than just brining one old song. And on top of all of that, it’s a good song with a catchy melody and fun beat. You can see people dancing to this kind of song at a modern party, rather than a “20’s theme” event. Similar to the song above, that manages to open swing to a wider audience than a specific niche. If we are lucky, this style of music may bring partner dancing back in a big way.