No worst tracks this week.
‘Video Game’ - Sufjan Stevens
Sufjan’s previous two singles ‘America’ and ‘My Rajneesh’
were both ten-minute-plus slow-building genre-bending epics. In contrast, ‘Video
Game’ is a snappy danceable synthpop anthem. It’s proof of just how versatile
Sufjan is (I never thought I’d be able to dance to a Sufjan Stevens track) and I’m now clueless as to what his upcoming album will sound like. If
there’s any theme, I imagine it will be in the lyrics – both ‘America’ and ‘Video
Game’ use metaphors to show despair for modern life.
‘Raping Your Mind’ - Mr. Bungle ft. Dave Lombardo and
Scott Ian
Mike Patton’s wacky experimental musical project, Mr Bungle,
started off its life in the 1980s as a thrash/death metal band. This new track
is a re-recording of a demo from the band’s early days (technically not a ‘new’ track, but whatever). Dave Lombardo of Slayer features on drums, while
Scott Ian of Anthrax plays alongside Trey Spruance on guitar. It’s an
absolutely ferocious song – the breakneck speed of the guitars is insane and
Mike Patton’s vocals are reliably psychotic. The band are re-recording their entire high-school demo tape, so expect more awesome metal tunes.
‘Daisy’ - Ashnikko
‘Here Before’ – Low Float
I thought this was going to be an Arctic-Monkeys-AM-era-styled
indie rock song judging from the moody opening bassline. However, as the synths
and vocal harmonies enter the mix, it takes on its own distinctly unique neo-soul
flavour. The Ontario-based singer-songwriter will be dropping an album titled For
Your Dreams in September.
‘Allnite BB’ – 5thPlanet
This bubbly electronic instrumental packs a lot of detail into its four minute runtime. According to the NY-based artist, this track was written ‘about a year ago, during a period that felt like an eternal nocturnal chaos. I was bartending, performing, mixing other people’s songs, getting my first consistent DJ gigs and rediscovering my interest in photography’. The fast pace and busy structure of the track definitely feels like a reflection of this fast and busy lifestyle.
‘Ohms’ - Deftones