I admit that I haven’t given the playlist as many listens as I normally do - this month I have taken many a dark mindquest in my search for profundity and wisdom.
Still, betwixt and between my attempts to become a grim and mirthless man of consequence, I have found time to give TFJ a spin, usually when doing chores. It’s hard to embody a bleak manifestation of unsmiling angst when doing the dishes, you know!
Let’s hit shuffle…
Lemon Firebrigade - Haircut 100
You know what this one reminds me of? A past entry onto this playlist called ‘Falling and Laughing’ by Orange Juice. And who chose it? Yours truly. Inevitable I was going to love this. Bright and bouncy new wave with a brush of exotica from an album that I properly rate. There’s an inherent joy to this music that cuts through even on the rainiest October afternoons. One of the best platters this month.
HSKT - Sylvan Esso
I’m not sure the lyrical content does a huge amount for me, but the rather abrasive lockstep electro certainly does. I like the way it rubs up against a rather carefree-sounding vocal - and that’s a cool voice, no? It’s got a bit of character to it. I’m not sure if I could take a whole album of this jive, but as a singular playlist track it’s a wonderful palate cleanser. Great in the car, another place where I struggle to be a man of dismal consequence.
Above All - Bastardane
Great band name…great song? It’s a yes from me! I like the raucous, bruising sound - this one’s a chunky old dumptruck of a tune, shouldering its way through the crowd. Although it’s evidently a modern production there’s an almost classic metal slant to the proceedings. I wonder if this passes Jason’s sniff test, namely, that it sounds like the band could beat him up? I don’t know what’s going on there, I’ll leave it to someone more qualified than me to comment on his obvious psychosexual confusion!
See You Next Fall - All Them Witches
I saw these chaps with Ollie when they supported Ghost. Then, it sounded like they were channelling Tony Iommi circa Mob Rules era Sabbath. Here, it kicks off like an Uncle Acid deepcut but quickly (well, as quick as this kind of ponderous stoner-groove can go) evolves into a sound universe that wouldn’t sound out of place on an Alice In Chains album. A band that adroitly uses space in their sound, with the insistent, hypnotic bass anchoring everything. Very suited to gloomy visionquesting.
Beef Bologna - FEAR
If you haven’t seen Penelope Spheeris’ documentary Decline and Fall of Western Civilisation Part II, set in the glam rock gutters of Los Angeles, go and do so. If you have seen it, go and watch Part I, which is set in the hardcore scene. FEAR come across as particularly unpleasant individuals but, along with X, they have quite a regard for classic rock ‘n’ roll. Just how far removed is this really from the Cramps, the Stray Cats or even Gene Vincent? Not a million miles. Solid knockabout fun.
Needles and Pins - The Searchers
As somebody who grew up on a diet of Classic Gold radio, this particular track formed part of the warp and weave of my childhood. Impossible, then, to make a considered critique of a song that soundtracked a more innocent age. It sounds like I’m seventy years old, I realise. So listening to this was a proper Werther’s Original moment, but trying to push past the jumpers for goalposts, etc., it’s just a lovely, chiming pop song with just the tiniest hint of melancholy. Beautiful.
Ride Low - OTTTO
Great band name…great song? Yeah, I suppose so. I liked it just fine, especially the kicky, scuzzy guitar riffing. For some reason the singing didn’t quite resonate with me. The vocalist sounds like someone else, but for the life of me I cannot quite recall who. However, I have worked out who the main riff reminds me of - Cirith Ungol! And Cirith Ungol whip ass, so despite the little bit of static I get with the crooning, this one falls on the side of the angels.
Hate Song - The Haunted
I saw these guys during ‘metal week’ at university, where I saw The Haunted, Lamb of God, Sepultura and Motorhead in the span of six days. These guys played my student union, where I could otherwise be found busting moves to Fatman Scoop, and let me tell you I had the tar beaten out of me in the pit. This song reminds me why - absolutely unrelenting, it sounds like a diesel powered dragon laying waste to a small country, like Luxembourg or Rwanda. ‘Hate Song’ feels a bit on-the-nose for sledgehammer metal of this ilk - a bit like the elbows that repeatedly caught me in the face at this gig!
I Threw Glass at My Friend’s Eyes and Now I’m On Probation - Destroy Boys
Destroy Boys is too good a moniker for a group that makes a song this irritating. I like the music alright - in fact, if this was an instrumental I’d have a much higher regard for it. This wasn’t the mid-month frowny face - alas, this is a song that started to grate on me as the days wore on. I genuinely think I lost a few IQ points honing in on the lyrics. Are these guys worth pursuing further?
Mach 5 - Presidents of the United States of America
Is this my pick of the month? It might well be. An almost perfect balance of sugar and spice here - really hooky, a keen pop sensibility married to a breezy variety of good-time rockin’ out. Hell, even the ‘quiet’ spoken(ish) section absolutely works within the context. This should be the song they’re known for. Another joint that is made twenty percent better when you’re operating a motor vehicle. Love it, love it, love it.
No Vampires Remain in Romania (Dracula Spectacular) - King Luan
What the fuck is this? I can’t even find it within me to be charitable on Halloween.
Maps - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
The hardest song to conjure up from memory here - and even when replaying it again, now I struggle to remind myself as to where the music is going. At least that bloody vampire song stuck in the brain banks. This wasn’t unpleasant at all, and in fact the slightly astringent instrumentation isn’t half bad to listen to at all. So many indie bands sound like this, right down to the little two-note solo that makes an appearance. What’s the deal with that?
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