Music

This Week’s Heavy Rotation #22

It’s the only thing that makes sense to me.

Note: 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.

Below is my Top 5 of the last 7 days:

The War On Drugs- Under The Pressure

Philadelphia-based The War On Drugs can be hard to categorize.

Are they a rock band? Kinda.

Ambient? I guess so.

Are they good? Abso-fucking-lutely.

The band formed in 2005 when Kurt Vile and Adam Granduciel started playing together. Vile left to focus on his solo career, but the band kept rolling. In fact, Granduciel went out on the road with Vile as part of his backing band, The Violators.

In the meantime, War has released multiple albums, including 2014’s Lost in the Dream. “Under The Pressure” is the opening track on the album. There are radio-edit versions of this out there, but I’m intentionally sharing this longer, live version, as it shows how talented the band truly is. Getting their layered, nuanced sound right in a live setting is no easy feat.

Make yourself a cup of coffee, and throw this one on. It’ll be a great start to your morning. Take note of drummer Charlie Hall’s intensity. Looking like Ted Lasso’s older, cooler brother, he’s giving 120% here. May we all have that kind of energy.

Texas is the Reason-If It’s Here When We Get Back It’s Ours

Like a meteor, Texas Is the Reason burned bright, but burned fast, disbanding after 1 full album, an EP, and a few split 7" records with groups like label mates The Promise Ring and Samiam.

But what a beautiful ride it was! This is off their eponymous first EP. It comes at you like a typhoon, and the waves just keep coming. Every so often I dig this out, play it, then wonder why I don’t do so more often.

Lindsey Buckingham- Trouble

I went down a soft rock rabbit hole after reading Paul Combs’ article. I started with Fleetwood Mac, and this was the next logical jump.

With the band on hiatus after a long world tour, Stevie Nicks put out Bella Donna, and Buckingham gave us Law & Order. It wasn’t a clean break, though, as Mick Fleetwood plays drums here.

This might be a solo record, but it would've been right at home on Fleetwood Mac’s Mirage album.

Also: Are there any Fleetwood Mac (or Buckingham solo) records that don’t end in a guitar solo?

Sheryl Crow- All I Wanna Do

Revelations can come at the strangest times. Like in a car on the freeway. Crow’s story about day-drinking is one of the best-written stories out there (and as someone that’s spent most of their adult life working on the backside of the clock, it’s kinda relatable).

But the revelation in this story came when Crow belts out the line “The Sun and The Moon!” and I heard a small voice in the back singing right along with her. When I looked back, my younger son just said, “I like this song.” Of course, he likes music! Who doesn’t? Not sure why this never really dawned on me until that moment, but here we are.

Cocteau Twins- Pearly-Dewdrop’s Drops

At the risk of sounding like every YouTube comment ever, “Halston brought me here!”

True to its subject, the show was indulgent and deliciously over the top. But that brash veneer barely covered up his long-suffering reality. This song plays at the end as the credits roll, and is… just (chef’s kiss). I’d be hard-pressed to find a better song for a denouement.

Also: Shoutout to whoever had to to the subtitles for NetFlix. Elizabeth Fraser’s voice is magical, and finally seeing what she’s actually saying is divine.

6th Man: Romeo Void- A Girl In Trouble (Is a Temporary Thing)

Today’s deep track brought to you by a random Wisconsin radio station at the low end of the dial. We heard this on a trip to Allouez WI this past weekend. Hit scan on your radio long enough and you eventually hit all 7’s.

What was top of the charts for you this week? Anything I should check out? Let me know in the comments!

As always, thanks to all of you here at The Riff! We’re closing in on 700 members in the community, and it’s awesome to be a part of that. Thanks for reading my work, and be sure to check out the fantastic work of S.W. Lauden, Terry Barr, Nia Simone McLeod, Kathryn Dillon, Paul Combs, Jessica Lee McMillan, David Acaster, Keith R. Higgons, Steven Hale, Reuben Salsa, Rob Janicke, Noah Levy and so so many more.

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Last week’s list: