This Week’s Spotify Playlist
I put out weekly playlists. I use Spotify because I have an easy time finding most of the music I want to include is there (and I hope that I can make some bands that I like a few extra bucks).
<You can follow me on Spotify at Ypsifactj>
I try to emphasize brand new music from the Punk, Post-punk, Electronic, Alternative Hip-Hop, and Garage genres.
60 Miles From Truth
- Midnight, Yaz, Upstairs At Eric’s (1982)
If you have never known the pleasure of Yaz (officially Yazoo in the UK). It was the combination of Alison Moyet and Vince Clarke (who was also an original member of Depeche Mode and would go on to even larger fame as one half of Erasure).
“Upstairs At Eric’s” was part of the soundtrack to my freshman year at the University of North Texas. “Midnight” is still one of the most memorable songs from a very memorable album.
2. 60 Miles An Hour, New Order, Get Ready (2001)
Another very important band from my young adulthood (well technically “bands” as I am a huge fan of both New Order and of Joy Division). I have often remarked that Peter Hook is my musical spirit animal and this is one of the last New Order projects that included Hooky.
I always enjoyed this song and it fits right in with where I started this playlist (nostalgia land).
3. Get Out, Chvrches, Single (2018)
One of my buddies and I have been arguing about this new Chvrches single. I like it and he hates it. I decided to include it just to annoy him (although I do like it a lot more than he does).
Chvrches is one of the few pop bands I actually like, they also were the subject of one of my favorite music posts on my blog ever. I am looking forward to hearing the new album soon.
4. Ice Bear, Mind Spiders, Furies (2018)
I am not sure I like a song about Ice Bears this much but I have listened to it like ten times now and every time I hear it I like it even more. Oh well, who knew I was an “Ice Bear Mark?”
5. Policy Of Truth, Depeche Mode, Violator (1990)
I was trying to integrate new electronic with retro electronic to start this playlist…so, why not add in some prime-era Depeche Mode from arguably their best overall album. Truth!
6. Unfurnished Rooms, Blancmange, Unfurnished Rooms (2017)
Being mildly tricky here. Blancmange was a 1980’s band that put out a good comeback album in 2017. In other words, continuing the retro trend for the playlist.
7. Antidote, Preoccupations, Single (2018)
As you have probably figured out, there are certain bands that I just always include and many of them start with the letter “P” (see Protomartyr).
8. Reset Reaction, Century Palm, Meet You (2017)
This one gave me kind of a bridge feel. I felt like a bit of the same electronic/post-punk groove from the first half of the playlist but also kind of a DEVO thing going on that I thought could get to the guitar end of the playlist.
Catchy Tune.
9. Retina, False Heads, Single (2018)
This is one of those songs I came across listening to random tunes on Spotify’s algorithmically chosen playlists. I don’t feel too bad about this because my tastes are what influence what the algorithms sends me way.
Regardless, I pushed False Heads music a year or so ago (I think the song was All Eyes).
10. Radio Kinski, Versing, Nirvana (2017)
This is a song from one of my top 20 albums of 2017. If you haven’t checked out Versing yet, they are a really good Seattle band and this album was spectacular. Check it out if you get a chance.
11. Running, Bully, Losing (2017)
Been trying to find a way to work a song from Bully’s latest album onto the playlists. Bully’s 2013 EP was one of my favorites of that year and I have been a fan ever since. Alicia Bognanno used to be a sound engineer and used to work with Steve Albini which is pretty cool.
Yes, their drummer is named Stewart Copeland, but he is not that Stewart Copeland.
12. Blue Hell, Pardoner, Uncontrollable Salvation (2017)
Uncontrollable Salvation was on the list of albums that barely missed my “Best of 2017” cut. Still, one heck of an album and this is one heck of a great song.
13. Gotta Run, Lea Porcelain, Single (2018)
Really like this song, might be my favorite new song on the playlist. Need to learn more about this band but I pushed one of their songs last year too (Warsaw Street).
14. The Dark Don’t Hide It, Kevin Morby & Waxahatchee, Single (2018)
Not sure what brought Kevin Morby and Waxahatchee together? Or why they are singing in a country style? But it is still pretty cool.
15. Girlpool, Picturesong, Single (2018)
Girlpool just put out a new album in mid-2017 (Power Plant). I didn’t love it as much as I loved their debut album (Before The World Was Big), but this is a pretty good song and really closed out the playlist on a good note.
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