A new year, a new approach to this blog. I’ve exhausted many angles as to how to go about this blog. I’ve been enjoying going back and checking out charts of the past and reliving and discovering some great music. In doing that I’ve dug myself into another rabbit hole when learning about the Now! That’s What I Call Music series of compilation albums. I’m going through them (and there’s a LOT of ‘em) and I’m working on some sort of scoring system to determine which album reigned supreme.
I went a whole month without going to a show and I didn’t die. Between the lack of shows that grabbed my attention and the extended cold weather I’m dealing with in my area, it wasn’t too difficult of a decision. February is beginning to look very promising, so we’ll see.
Mostly, my biggest challenge will always be consistency and as long as I give myself the time to go back and listen to the charting singles of yesteryear, I will have no shortage of things to write about and that sort of engagement should help me post more.
With that all said. Here are a few of my favorite things I’ve listened to in January.
Alice Merton – Visions [website // bandcamp //instagram]
If anthemic songs about staying true to your vision in the face of an uncertain world, then this might be up your alley. Bursting with bold artsy-pop, I got a lot of Florence + The Machine vibes from this. A lot of groove and catchy choruses make this a great listen. It’s impossible not to bop along to something like “Boogie Man” or the lead single “Ignorance Is Bliss”
Charli Lucas – I shouldn’t (but I love you) EP [instagram]
This one caught me off guard a bit. I had this playing in the background and I had to check my phone to confirm what I was listening to. “How To Ruin Everything” sounds like a MUNA cut in its wonderful textures. “FKN EMBARRASSING” reads like a vulnerable but all too relatable diary entry. This EP is a fabulous entry and I am excited and hopeful to hear more of Charli Lucas in the future.
Dry Cleaning – Secret Love [website // bandcamp // instagram]
This was the album I listened to the most in January. Listening to Secret Love felt familiar, yet uncertain and exciting. I was expecting the bottom was ready to fall out at a moment’s notice. The opener “Hit My Head All Day” is a slow builder that not only sets the tone for the rest of the album with the burrowing bass and Florence Shaw’s speak-singing that comforts the listener. Secret Love is a journey that rewards you after multiple listens.
High Hi – Noonday Demon [website // bandcamp // instagram]
Admittedly, I stumbled upon this band (thanks, algorithm!) and know very little about them. I was blown away by their dreamy pop post-chillwave sound. I instantly fell for tracks such as “Running” and “Whatever” and had them playing on repeat for quite a bit. My favorite track so far has been “?? How” a song that has me envisioning The Knife writing a jam after a drowning in a case of energy drinks. In a perfect world High Hi would be playing some shows in the States with me bopping along in the back.
Minus Youth – Lines Crossed [bandcamp // instagram]
I have had a hard time finding a hard rock or metal band that I can sink my teeth into recently. I’ve had recommendations from friends and co-workers and they’ve all seem to be lacking. Imagine my surprise discovering Minus Youth and their latest offering. Lines Crossed is a definitive half hour of power. The German outfit goes for the jugular right from the onset with the opening title track and never lets up. “Underachieving” and “Read The Room” were among my favorites and are going to be fueling some of my training runs once this damn ice melts outside. Lines Crossed gives me flashbacks of great hard-hitting rock from yesteryear all while giving the genre a breath of fresh air and a kick in the ass.
Papooz – Papooz & Friends [instagram]
If you want an album to your next party started or going in the right direction, then let me direct you to this gem. Warm and bright this album is a trip on the same wave as an MGMT or Ween at their most cosmic. As the album title indicates, this album is a collaboration with Papooz with other musicians and they each brought their own flavor to the party. Artist Hugo Hamlet joins the band and knocks it out of the park for “Love Me Better” which sounds like late-stage Talking Heads. “I Don’t Feel The Same” is a song that washes over you and immediately affects your mood for the better. An absolute joy.
The Protomen – Act III: The City Made Us [website // bandcamp // instagram]
After many years since their last entry in the series, The Protomen finally return to finish the saga. The Protomen are a collection of musicians from Nashville sworn to secrecy as they perform a science fiction dystopian Rock Opera based off the Mega Man video game franchises. And while, yes, that might sound extremely nerdy (you may be right), the execution is simply flawless (I know I’m right). If this sounds like this might have a steep entry to understand the ins-and-outs, just know that you don’t need to know much of the games to grasp the story but it certainly helps. The album builds to a fever pitch sparked by the spaghetti western tinged “A Show Of Force” and the Springstten-esque epic “Light’s Last Stand” that delivers to its ultimate finish between rivals Dr. Thomas Light and the maniacal Dr. Albert Wily. The Protomen and Act III accomplishes the impossible, it got me emotional about robots.
Softcult – When A Flower Doesn’t Grow [website // bandcamp // instagram]
My first time discovering Softcult was with their 2023 EP See You In The Dark and I was hooked immediately. Since then the band had released singles intermittently until now. When A Flower Doesn’t Grow is the band’s first full-length effort and sounds like a band hitting their stride. The wall of noise washes along the shores of lushness that fills your ears in delight. Think shoegaze crashing into 90’s riot grrl filtered through Mer De Noms-era A Perfect Circle. Lyrically, this album is harsh, jagged, and in need of your attention. “I Held You Like Glass” is currently my favorite track that hits like a tidal wave.
imeanttolisten.com 