MUSIC MONDAY PLAYLIST: Janai’s Picks
I like to call these songs adhesives. They are the songs that stick. Some perennial tunes, and some new tunes that have found their way into my daily rotation.
Oshwa – “Ultraflourescent” – Is it because I find beauty in the ultrafluorescent? I find truth in the most common of chemicals? I find nausea in the routine? I like my muscles taut and tried? I wanna go out every night? Wanna change my clothes, my hair, my face? I'm faithfully human being.
I was immediately drawn to the raw lyrics and the gruff voice backing them. Alicia Walter of the band Oshwa sheds light on what makes her a real human in this song in a playful and sly manner. It’s a declaration of emergence – saying, “Hello! This is me, take me as I am.” The revelation of innate quirks and flaws that make you who you are is formidable, but easily subjugated with the help of this song.
Modest Mouse – “Gravity Rides Everything” – A gentle reminder that all is well and gravity keeps us grounded…literally.
Sufjan Stevens – “Come On! Feel The Illinoise!” – I was one of those kids who detested all church youth group activities or trips. I only started to warm up to the idea when I reached high school and the trips had much more of a grand appeal. We drove to Chicago in the summer of 2012. Before any big trip, we were all given matching t-shirts to function as a group identifier. This trip’s shirt had “Come on feel the Illinoise” in big, bold, orange letters surrounded by the Illinois state outline. This was my first band tee, a gateway tee if you will, that opened to the music of Sufjan and some of my other favorite artists and bands to this day. I strongly suggest a preliminary listen of the album Ilinois during a 12-hour drive to Chicago.
Waxahatchee – “Recite Remorse” – I’ll ashamedly admit that this is the first song by Waxahatchee that caught my ears. But WOW, it has really caught my ears.
Talking Heads - “This Must Be The Place” – CLASSIC. This is the ultimate feel good song. I love this song so much; I have five different covers saved in my library. Is there a strand of happiness in you if this song isn’t in your top 20 somewhere?
San Fermin – “Oceanica” – It was my first week as an intern and one of my initiating tasks was to research upcoming bands set to play at the Club. One of the upcoming bands was San Fermin. I wasn’t completely engrossed by their music at first, but it didn’t take long for them to instill. I eventually fell in love with the orchestration under a pair of guttural and delicate voices. Not seeing them at the 9:30 Club in May was regrettable and I’m letting everyone know it.
Obliques – “Lightweight” – The catchy riff that keeps me involuntarily dancing in the bathroom mirror.
Huffamoose – “James” – Both nostalgic and consistent. This song has secured itself in my top 10 since 1999. Aged three years old in the back of my dad’s van for a three hour trip to our campground; an annual summer trip. It was a large van with no secured seats in the back; just my two brothers and I sprawled out on the floor on a few layers of blankets. This album must’ve played two times over during the trip, and many more times throughout my childhood. The song has an innocent and loving nature, and was more than appropriate for a drive towards the mountains.
Valley Queen – “In My Place” – One of those situations where you go to a show blindsided, only wanting to see the headliner. This was the case for the Laura Marling show at the Club back in May. Valley Queen opened the show and I was an immediate fan. Ever since that night, I can’t get enough of her powerful and resonant voice.
Sun Club - “Tropicoller Lease” – I saw Sun Club with Ra Ra Riot and PWR BTTM in 2016. Another case when I didn’t know much about the openers and wasn’t expecting them to be the takeaway from the show, but Sun Club certainly was. This song, like most of their songs, is hardly discernable. It’s the type of music you listen to without a care in the world, when you have nothing to lose, and just want to dance freakishly.
