Have a listen as you go!
Floating Action – Awake but Horizontal I’ve been in a discovery phase lately. I first heard of Floating Action from My Morning Jacket. In fact, Floating Action is on Yim Yames’ label, Removador. In conversation with my musically inclined friend, Michael, I suggested this band and he suggested this song. From the second it started I knew it was going to be a game changer. The song has a spoken intro done by Jim himself, and it got me right then and there. Its jazzy guitar rhythm so memorable and it’s very mellow and harmonious. Not to mention that bass line! “Fell apart in February when it started the rain.” I mean, how perfect right? It’s an odd song but it’s awfully appealing. The beat really makes this song work in my world. You really can’t help but to nod to the tune! Floating Action just released a new album, Hold Your Fire this month; it’s absolutely fantastic. Lou Reed – She’s My Best Friend During my vinyl shopping spree in December, I had to have Coney Island Baby. I’m almost inclined to call Lou my leader. I know, I sound insane. But to me, he’s the most influential musical person in my life. His music is able to get to me like no one else has, solo or with VU. His heavily crafty tunes and honest lyrics just squeeze every fiber of my being. Anytime a legend passes, it makes a huge impact on the world, but his passing in October of 2013 was absolutely devastating to me.It’s hard to see anyone’s hero go but losing Lou Reed was hard for everyone. This particular song is very soothing as far as rock and roll goes. I listened to this on the drive home from work and it always calmed me, even at the song’s breakdown. Its classic Lou; warming harmonies, his comforting voice and you can feel the sheer rock and roll that just emanates from him. Lou gets me every time. He said it himself, “I think it’s important that people don’t feel alone”, I take that to heart. Peggy Lee – Is That All There Is? Netflix released the last season of Mad Men earlier this month. Luckily I was able to get my dad to watch the show and he immediately felt what I felt when I watched it. I watch a lot of TV, but there is something about Don Draper that reminds me of myself. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a self-hating, misogynistic, destructive New Yorker. I’m talking about his compassionate side. He understood the inside and outs of the human mind which made him so successful. Not saying I am anything like Don, but I understand his prospective on life. That’s what I related to the most about him. This song opened the finale season premiere and it shook me to my core. I’ve always questioned life and what it had to offer and this song managed to wrap up my thoughts entirely. With Peggy’s gorgeous-husky voice and the way she can make you feel as if she understands too, this song is a home run for me. She wasn’t afraid to sing about someone who feels the disappointment in everything, no matter how lucky or grateful they are. Constantly feeling that emptiness in everything they do or find, yet living life feeling that way regardless. And I feel that sums up the month of February. Parquet Courts – Uncast Shadow Of A Southern Myth My first mosh pit was at the Parquet Courts show at Pitchfork 2015, I know... Needless to say, I hate mosh pits so that is why it was my first and last. I remember listening to this song while they performed it and falling in love with it. However, I didn’t find it until now and it’s been on every playlist since. Measured and mellow guitar strokes as Andrew Savage sings about Southern mysteries and histories. This song is particularly timed and slow but don’t be mistaken, these guys can fucking rock. True punks and rock n rollers at heart, but when it comes time to slow down they can keep that hype up and with this song, it goes above and beyond. The last bits of the song make it a hero. Parquet Courts are getting ready to release Human Performance in April and they’ve already released two singles from it and I can say I have a good feeling about this album. Steely Dan – Your Gold Teeth Steely Dan. Steely fucking Dan. My dad is a huge fan, going to nearly every Chicago show since he knew the band. “Your Gold Teeth” is his favorite Steely Dan song. It’s funky, groovy and the lyrics don’t make any sense. Countdown to Ecstasy is a game changer for sure. It really shaped the era and 1973 sure needed it. This song has a second part, “Your Gold Teeth II”, which some find it better than part one. But regardless, I prefer part one because it influenced my father heavily and it’s such an amazing song. It takes keyboard melodies to another place. This nearly 7 minute jam is perfect for dawn or sunset, when you have one doobie in one hand and a cold beer in the other. STRFKR – Never Ever Ahh Starfucker, or that’s how they used to spell it. Man that switch on my iPod was a bitch. This is their latest single which only means more good things to come. At first, I didn’t really care for this track, it lacked musical evolvement. It sounded like they didn’t really progress from their last record, Miracle Mile. They are usually the best at reinventing their musical styles. But the more and more I listened, the more and more it grew on me. It’s likable and it’s definitive STRFKR. This song has an interesting sound while being pop-y and indie at the same time. This is the most underrated American band alive and I can’t wait for their new album. I love this band so much, I got a fake doctor’s note to get out of class to go see them live. Definitely one of the best bands to see live in this lifetime. So new music from them is just one step closer to them coming to a venue near me. The Grates – Holiday Home I keep getting myself in this cycle where I find music at a later time than when it’s released. And it’s extremely aggravating especially when it comes to The Grates. I’m a huge fan of the band since I was 13. I’ve been lucky enough to meet them; get autographs, get pictures and Patience even gave me a kiss! I love this band. Grungy, raw, punk and pure Australian rock. “Holiday Home” is off of their 2014 album, Dream Team. I feel it’s a song that needs to be performed in order to be appreciated and they are one of the best bands live. They put on a fucking great show every time, constant energy, they never slow down. They’re a band that only gets better live as the years go. “Holiday Home” is hard, soft at the right times and overall has great release of rage. I desperately wish they’d come back to their spiritual city. Jay Reatard – It Ain’t Gonna Save Me and Wounded The first ever, two part-er! I couldn’t decide which song belonged on this month’s list because both have such a huge impact on me. I’ve been a Jay Reatard fan since I obsessively listened to everything SPIN magazine told me to listen to when I was a young teen. He was the perfect tone for my teenage rebellion. I loved his music because it was raw and he was so unbelievably creative for his time. Watch Me Fall changed the way I started to listen to music. It began my maturity with indie and rock. Since high school, I’ve had a hard time listening to his music because his passing in 2010 made it hard for me to try. But in the last two weeks I’ve had his name in my head and over 4 years later, Jay’s music has still hit me in all the right places. “Wounded” has always been my favorite out of the two because of its charismatic guitar strums and the way he guides that rhythm, it makes me flutter. Jay Reatard went too early and Deerhunter paid homage to their friend with “He Would Have Laughed”. Another extremely fitting song to his wonderful spirit. Bear Hands – 2 AM I was showed this song three days before this publication and it’s been on repeat since. My friend, Michael, showed me this song in the most recent back and forth. This song is so groovy, new age and very catchy. I just love it. It’s the perfect song to walk down the city streets to at night. It’s seductive with a dark element, just right up my alley. Not to mention it’s called “2 AM” for a reason, nothing good ever happens after 2 AM and we’ve all learned that from Ted Mosby. The cover art for this is just amazing too. I took a listen to their older stuff and it seems that they are going in the right direction after the release of this single. I’m very excited to see what else they have up their sleeves. Honorable mentions: Part Time - Living in Pretend (My Girl Imagination) Dear reader, It seems this month’s theme is like most others, music helps me discover who I am and what I’m feeling. I seem to lack recognition in my emotions but I’m happy to have music out there that helps round me out. It’s a random playlist, I’ll say it. But this month was particularly very random for me. New gigs popping up. New discoveries. February’s musical impacts were drawn from all over the place. I hope your February was as diverse as mine! I have high hopes for March, lots of brand new and great opportunities headed my way. Can’t wait to see what my musical inspirations will take me. My musically inclined friend, Michael, is coming out with a music blog of his own! Blogs take time, so in the meantime check out his playlist for this month here. And look out for Music Uncovered by Michael Inglehearn! If you have any suggestions for next month or want to discuss any of my February picks, let me know at: [email protected] OR @jessfsamson
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