I’m very excited about MAN ON MAN, the new project from real-life boyfriends Roddy Bottum and Joey Holman. They make music that is extremely gay, and extremely good. I described it to a friend as “The National sound, but Dan Reeder lyrics.” I love the driving guitars, electronic drums, and distorted vocals. Their self-titled album is out May 7th.
I’ve been really into David Bowie, but I’d already used “Space Oddity” on a playlist, way back in 2017, 68 conformity. Side note: this playlist is missing its title track, which is/was “Digital Papers” by UPSAHL, off of her first record Unfamiliar Light, which has since been wiped from the Internet. Taylor, if you’re reading this, I love that song please give it back.
IAN SWEET’s singles are teasing a new record, Show Me How You Disappear, out March 5th. I’ve been loving “Drink the Lake” as well, featured on 527 backwards. I’m using her songs as references for my own work, because I so admire the juxtaposition of the industrial instrumentation and soft, vulnerable vocals (reminiscent of Daughter) which convey complicated, sad situations.
Another artist that plays with this contrast is Mac DeMarco, whose song “Another One” is track six on this playlist. The heavy use of synths and other electronic elements alongside the country-folk vocal style forces you to listen closer, to discern exactly why he’s feeling so low. I’m slowly discovering new Mac DeMarco, after being a longtime fan of Here Comes the Cowboy (2019) but too afraid of his fanbase to take an unaccompanied deep dive.
I’m positively captivated by Frances Quinlan’s voice. I’m most familiar with Hop Along, especially their most popular tracks: “How Simple”, “Prior Things”, “Somewhere a Judge.” The lyric
Don't worry we will both find out
Just not together
lives rent-free in my brain. Her collaboration with Quarter-Life Crisis is off-beat in a way that suits her voice, so precise and somehow casual. I also really enjoyed the Hand Habits track on this EP, “Comfortable.” It’s featured on 489 in the clear.
Finally, I’ll mention the new Clap Your Hands Say Yeah record, New Fragility (2021). The swelling strings on this song “CYHSY, 2005” are joyful in a contented, peaceful way. It feels like you’re driving down a familiar highway on a sunny day in the place you feel at home. In the year of our lord 2021, this kind of elation feels like a welcome change.