Keeping all of the dorkus malorkus music writers away
Everyone’s mad at me and hates my guts.
I really hate being an even worse version of “guy who peaked on high school football team” (a.k.a. “guy who peaked in his mid-to-late 30s because of a post-ironic nostalgia podcast”) so let this be the last time I bring it up (until the inevitable oral history that comes out on Gawker 5.0), but today (May 24) marks exactly one year since the last-ever episode of the pod! And what a year it’s been. So much free time. And you don’t even really know how we’ve spent most of it. Sam, in particular, worked very hard to replace me. And I’ve done some stuff too that maybe you’ll know about one day. Or maybe I’ll just start a pod where I walk around and breathily talk to myself.
Here’s some stuff we’re listening to this week.
Tzompantli “Tetzahuitl”
Sam: I have been “banging the shit” (in quotes because it’s true and I meant it but it’s embarrassing to actually say) out of Beating The Drums Of Ancestral Force based on one compelling tweet and sensed I was missing some valuable context, which is why I appreciate still doing this newsletter. Forced to search, I have learned that Tzompantli’s whole vibe is steeped in sick pre-Hispanic sounds and history, from their name (Aztec skull racks!) to the whoops that help bring this song to another sick eleve (Aztec whoops!). Evidently this used to be one guy and now it’s nine guys, including three guitar players, which all bands should have. Cool shit.
Jos: Haven’t clicked anything yet but based on this description and Sam’s shit-banging I’m guessing this is gonna be some kind of Banger Films-esque international YouTube metal? It’s crazy, without Sam I would never hear any of this kind of stuff. I would love for someone to try and name drop this band IRL. Okay I was wrong, this is really good. Or maybe YouTube metalheads have just evolved beyond stinky djent breakdowns? Either way, we’re all thriving. I’m gonna listen to all 5 minutes.
Svdden Death feat. Bejalvin “Teeth”
Sam: I’m also “banging the shit” out of this but that’s because of this clip from Svdden Death’s set this week at Las Vegas neon bacchanal the Electric Daisy Carnival. Mr. Death only came to my attention after word of this collaboration leaked to cybergrind Twitter and set the landscape aflame, because apparently this dude is quite the big deal! This is born out but the size and prominence of his set at what otherwise appears to be a spectacle of what a lesser writer would call “bro-step and its ilk” (everything going in quotes this week). And then in the middle of this set for thoroughly normal people just trying to enjoy a night of “molly,” they drop what is evidently a new collab that is honestly so fucking sick that it sounds like someone is making some kinds of shreds-type joke video, but it’s real and it’s amazing. People are so mad about it! And because Svdden Death is very popular all kinds of people are hearing this beautifully wacky shit while they’re high as hell and you KNOW it’s messing them up BAD! My dog is HATING this right now because I’ve played it SEVERAL TIMES. Honestly just very cool.
Jos: Sam’s really all in on this cybergrind stuff, eh? It does seem like a pretty good use of the internet. Not being sarcastic, I just can’t remember how to talk about stuff. But it seems like people are doing the kitchen sink stuff of hyper pop but couching it in metal, which has the nice effect of keeping all of the dorkus malorkus music writers away. I mean this song has elements of like, late-blog era trap (thinking specifically of TNGHT, the Hudson Mohawke/Lunice collab — dude I’m so fucking old) and it almost sounds like the Nelly “Dilemma” call at the very, very end? Fascinating stuff. Also I was going to “ping” Sam about this sentence but I think I’ll just leave it in… but what does he mean by “This is born out but the size and prominence of his set at what otherwise appears to be a spectacle of what a lesser writer…”? Is he doing cybergrind with his prose?
Hana Stretton “Can II” / “Ducks”
Jos: Let’s bring this shit wayyyyy down now. I feel like a lot of trends are happening all at once (see: cybergrind), and I’m sure it’s already happening (what with the resurgence of Elliott Smith’s popularity on TikTok and all), but I really do think lofi as an aesthetic needs to return. Every recording should just be drenched in background noise and birds chirping and trucks backing up and stuff. Hana Stretton’s Soon really speaks to that with its blissed and hissed out vibes. The album was self-released last year, but giving it the full lofi seal of approval, Phil Elverum just reissued it on his P.W. Elverum & Sun label, which is rare because he rarely puts out other people’s records (although he did release this Debordian hardcore band). Anyway, this is just some great music. Dunno what else to tell ya.
Sam: Josiah and I are both going on vacation (not together) next week and I’m currently preparing all of Coop’s stuff for the week he’s spending with his original fosters and it’s terrible. Why am I leaving my boy. This music is making the filling of containers with kibble into an emotionally fraught experience that I don’t need in my life. Lovely music. Never leave your dog.
Laughing “Will She Ever Be a Friend of Mine?”
Jos: Last week I was talking about “the homies” in Nap Eyes (which really just means “guys I’ve met who live one neighbourhood away from me), but Josh also has another band called Laughing that I’ve been meaning to put in here for a while. First off, Laughing is such a good band name. Frick. It almost pisses me off. And they have a sort of hardcore punk looking album art that makes it seem like they’re from the Sorry State/Static Shock days, but instead they’re making delicious and yes somewhat lofi Teenage Fanclub worship. It’s rare that you hear stuff like this without any played-out shoegaze vibes, but instead they keep it nice ‘n’ clean. It’s got a hint of Sloan in there too. Maybe I’ll give Josh the nod next time I see him on Beaubien.
Sam: My local “homies” are Shad and Whitehorse, and maybe Dave Bidini if I stretch the homie boundaries. All cool and nice people some of whose music I like (you’ll never guess) but damn, Josiah might have the marketed cornered on neighbour bands. I only recently started listening to non-single Sloan songs and it turns out they’re a sick band just like this. Harmonies should be mandatory in all music.
Sam Campbell presents: BEAUTIFUL GENERATIONS
Jos: We are doubling up on newsletters this week, so I thought it would be funny to include an annoying third choice. So I just spent the last 30 minutes looking for something annoying, which somehow means I lost. So instead I’ll share something good. Sam Campbell is the real deal. He’s so funny. And this little 10-minute clip is just a small sampling of what he can do.
Sam: Dude come on I’m not watching a ten minute comedy video. We’re both packing! At least one of us is doing it with a hint of melancholy! And on top of that, I can’t fix my typo from the Bejalvin bit because you quoted it and now it’s written in news stone. It’s wild that the pod ended a year ago, though. And so funny how aggressively I’ve had to fill your hole.