Music

This Week’s Heavy Rotation #13

“I don’t want to make no scene.”

Each week I take a look back at my playlists and share songs that were either played the most, got stuck in my head, or just stood out. Many are new to me, but there are old faves mixed in as well.

Last year at this time we went from 100 mph to zero. As the world comes back to life, it seems like the opposite. Everything is starting all at once.

Last week I mentioned spring sports, and this week saw both of my sons’ seasons hitting critical mass — I don’t think I have a day off until Memorial Day. It’s back to an endless loop of washing jerseys, ping-ponging between fields, and a car full of cleats…and it’s awesome.

It’s a lot more fun to find new music walking around a practice field than it is stuck in your living room.

And with that, here are my Top 5 of the last 7 days:

Psychedelic Furs- “Into You Like a Train”

The ‘Furs seems to be popping up often on The Riff of late, most recently on Keith R. Higgons’ “Sad Bastard Playlist.” In that article, the band made the list with the introspective “Ghost in You” off of the Mirror Moves album. This is from the earlier Talk Talk Talk.

If Ghost in You is a look back on a now-ended relationship, then Into You might be the opposite — it’s primal and transactional. Manic, swirling, and alive all at once, it comes at you like, well, a train.

This is Richard Butler at his best. On a side note, Jawbreaker covered this and did well by it. That’s no easy feat.

You can check it out here. Let me know which version you prefer.

Bumper- You Can Get it!

I realize I’m veering dangerously close to this being a Japanese Breakfast stan account, but this is a side project…so I’m good, right?

Bumper is a collaboration between Michelle Zauner and Crying’s Ryan Galloway. Working during the pandemic, the two exchanged tracks back and forth to build songs. They live close by one another but didn’t meet in person during the making of this record. You Can Get It! is the first track on the EP.

It’s uplifting and not a little dreamy. When I hear it, it reminds me of the millions of us who spent 2020 looking out apartment windows wondering when we could get back outside.

Nirvana-About a Girl

It’s funny; if you ask just about anyone born between 1973–1980 if they liked Nirvana, they’ll swear they were there from Day 1. It used to really bother me, but now I see it as just wanting to be a part of something awesome, a part of history. I guess I’m a little less prone to orthodoxy as I get older.

But back when Teen Spirit was still just a brand of deodorant, Nirvana was playing shows in places like Portland’s Melody Ballroom to 300–400 people. And they were rearranging the minds of kids like me playing songs like this:

Hibou-Sunder

Also from the Emerald City is Hibou, Peter Michel’s project. This reminds me of The Cure’s early work, or even “Doused” by DIIV. All the post-punk/new wave feels.

Miner Moon- Under An Ocean of Holes

Eric Boehlert shared this at the end of his latest edition of Press Run. I’m not sure how to best describe it, but here's what he had to say:

Chicago’s Minor Moon, aptly described as a “cosmic Americana group,” just released its latest album. This instantly engaging, toe-tapping, mid-tempo ditty bodes well for the effort.

According to songwriter Sam Cantor, “Under an Ocean of Holes” is actually about falling into deep personal despair, following the dissolution of a long-term relationship. But the song sounds so upbeat and sunny, most listeners might just ride the wave.

I totally rode the wave.

On a side note: If you have room in your content diet, Press Run is a consistently excellent read.

Honorable mention:

After 145 long days, the mercury up here finally cleared 70 degrees again. By law, that means this must be played at least once. I don’t make the rules.

So what’s been playing on your sound machine this week? Old faves? New tracks to share? let me know in the comments!

The Riff cleared the 400 member mark this week, and I have to say that if there’s a more engaged community on this platform, I haven’t seen it. Thanks to all 416(!) of you for making this place what it is and for letting me be a part of it.

In case you missed last week’s list: