It’s one of those weeks where I have absolutely nothing witty
to say in the intro that hasn’t already been said, so let’s just dive straight
in shall we…
THE BEST:
‘The Missing Sucker’
- Horse Massage
Musical discoveries like this remind me why I run a music blog.
Parping clarinets and demented guitar noodling provide a backdrop for babbling music
industry spiel in this new single from Chicago weirdos Horse Massage. As if the
whole thing wasn’t mad enough, the track then trails off ungracefully into a
gradually slowing detuned mess. I also, love their take on playing the
keyboard.
‘Silent Treatment’ –
Blanck Mass
Blanck Mass is one half of elegantly-named electronic duo Fuck Buttons. According to the press release, his latest release is about the ‘problems that arise when we don’t communicate’, although there are no lyrics to support this theme (I guess that’s the point). Opening with some choral vocals the whole thing suddenly thrusts into a noisy wall of electronica before stripping itself all the way back. It’s quite the roller-coaster, so buckle up.
‘Two Wildly Different Perspectives’ – Father
John Misty
Father John Misty’s upcoming album Pure Comedy is going to be a largely humourless affair judging from
the cuts we’ve heard so far. As sad as I am to say goodbye to the singer’s comedic
side, he does still seem to showing some sharp wit in this new track: ‘one man says ‘man, take what’s yours’/ the
other says ‘live on no more than you can afford’/but either way we just possess/and
everyone ends up with less’. Witty or preachy, depending on the wildly
differing perspective you choose (SEE WHAT I DID THERE).
‘Show You The Way’ – Thundercat ft. Michael
McDonald & Kenny Loggins
Funky singer and bassist Thundercat is back for some slinky
basslines, jazzy chord sequences and dreamy falsettos. It’s as gorgeously
satisfying as getting that piece of sweetcorn out from between your teeth, as gorgeously
satisfying as finding a fiver in an old jacket pocket, as gorgeously satisfying
as relieving your bladder after a long car journey. You get the picture.
‘Show Yourself’ –
Mastodon
The general consensus from metalheads seems to be that this
sucks – but personally I’m digging the Foo-Fighters-esque vocal melodies and
lack of bells and whistles. It may not be the Georgia group’s traditional
death/sludge/prog brew, but it’s hardly pop balladry either. That strumming and
drumming still has attitude.
THE WORST:
‘I’m Better’ - Missy
Elliot ft. Lamb
You’re right – you are better than this.