POD SUN??
I saw someone say that they think I’m posting rage bait to promote my newsletter, but now I can’t find it, because my menchies have been RIP’d for many days. Why do I post these things? Does anyone know? I certainly don’t, but I’ve created a kind of endless supply of the most hilarious responses and questions about what it means to be “punk.”
If we were still doing the pod (oh, and if you did get baited into reading this newsletter, you should listen to “Blink-155” podcast… it’s not what you think. It’s worse.) we’d probably be trapped in like 12-hour episodes talking about stuff like this:
Anyway, here’s some other stuff we’re listening to this week.
Riley Whittaker “Sedona”
Sam: I’ve been working in an office again for a little over a month and the only things I listen to now sound like this. If you’re singing all quiet without opening your whole mouth but it’s gently rocking and sounds sad? I’m in. Honestly that’s it that’s all I’ve got.
Jos: Wow punk font on the album cover much? This is definitely some nice generic guitar-based indie pop music. And it also sounds like it’s from a teen dramedy, but I’m realizing I use that reference all the time despite having not watched one in many years. I think at this point most of them are about Emma Roberts accidentally switching places with her doppelganger at some kind of non-existent fashion internship? Anyway if Sam’s listening to shit like this it means he needs a hug.
Tommy Lefroy “Let Me”
Sam: I told Josiah I hadn’t listened to any new music in weeks but that isn’t entirely true. I’ve been biking to and from an office for about 90 minutes a day and I eventually started listening to podcasts and sad music in a single earbud to keep from crashing into cars out of boredom. So when I’m not listening to Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, which very sincerely has otherwise been the only thing I have any interest in hearing, it’s this shit.
Jos: Sam going back to the office is turning him into a moody indie rock moper, and I’m freaking here for it. Seriously this sounds almost exactly like the last thing, in a great way. It’s so tasteful. Maybe Sam is the one who accidentally switched places at an internship. Damn, the piano at the end. He’s looking at himself in the mirror in the elevator, and he sees a Sam who is going to be okay.
ALVILDA “Angoisse”
Jos: Seems to be a lil bit of buzz about this band, and I can understand why. This is a kind of delicious indie pop tune that is close to twee but has a lot more cigarette-smoking energy. The French helps, but ultimately it’s the kind of thing where they have the right haircuts and friends that allow them to sneak indie pop music onto Static Shock and into hardcore guys’ record collections who would never touch Alvvays with a ten-foot pole. And that’s not a bad thing in any way, because this rules. Can’t wait for this album. Maybe I should buy some cigarettes.
Sam: The French is doing a lot of heavy lifting here but this is amazing. I was thinking yesterday that I should just start smoking. This was the sign I needed. How do you even buy cigarettes now. “One cigarettes?” They’re hidden behind a communist sales curtain here in Ontario so I don’t even know which ones look cool. Can you buy American Spirits here? Are those racist? What is a cool cigarette in 2024 anyway?
WUT “Mingling with the Thorns”
Jos: Guess I went with all caps bands this week. WUT is some very old friends of mine (meaning I’ve been friends with them for a long time, but we’re also all very old at this point). Kaity and Tracey used to play in the wonderful band Love Cuts, although I’ve been listening to Kaity’s songs since we were teenagers in Abbotsford. Their relatively newer band WUT has been going for a minute, but the new LP is definitely a new peak. I love how they’ve managed to grow as songwriters, get tighter, improve the production, etc, all without losing a slight sense of jankiness to the jangle. I really love this album, and the title track is a perfect intro.
Sam: God’s own bass. What a wonderful song. Vocals perfect. Your old friends are nice. What cigarettes do they smoke.
MOD SUN “Hotel Lights”
Jos: I’m now noticing that MOD SUN has been all-capsed this whole time. Probably something I should have noticed by now considering I watch his music videos and read his posts every single day. I don’t really understand what kind of music he makes now, and I don’t necessarily love it, but he gets off some absolutely incredible fits in this music video. If you want to see them all skip ahead to the 2:30 mark. MOD SUN also revealed this week that he’s giving away an original hand-made painting to every single person that signs up for the VIP meet-and-greet on his tour. How can one artist manage to feel so much like both an industry plant and a struggling local band at the same time? Should I start POD SUN??
Sam: I feel like this guys also smokes but in a sadder way, so I’ve decided I’m good. Maybe we should have done handmade paintings as a Patreon tier. Maybe you should do it for POD SUN???