The best thing one can do when it’s raining is to let it rain
By the time I post my next playlist I hope to be doing it from hotel quarantine in Australia.
Ear Candy 2020.07 – Counting The Days
I’ve added a few more new release songs this month than the last couple. I’m desperately hungry for new music, but struggling to find much. Here’s some newie’s getting me by, along with a couple of classics. Not For All The Love In The World is an all-time work of art, as is the explosion at 1:23 on Desiree.
60 days to go. September can’t come soon enough.
Ear Candy 2020.06 – Walking in the Snow
In the middle of a dream
I lost my shirt, I pawned my rings
I’ve done all the dumb things
What a month. What a week. It feels more and more like this pandemic has been the catalyst for a lot of people to awaken from their slumber. Living in this part of the world, on the border with USA it’s especially apparent. Many people, already struggling to get by, have been cooped up inside for weeks on end, lost their jobs and left to fend for themselves.
Anyway, here’s my playlist. It’s June and it’s still cold and grey in Vancouver. I can’t wait to leave this place. That Devs soundtrack is so mysterious and cool (great show too, albeit with poor acting). Some old classics, some new releases, and an old release from an artist new to me.
Ear Candy 2020.05 – Eat the Sun, Chew the Gum
In spite of ourselves we’ll end up sittin’ on a rainbow
Some new tracks, some old, and some rediscovered deeeeeep cuts this month – with a big crunchy opener from some kiwi legends who gave awesome live shows back in the day – and a chaotic closer.
I had to include a John Prine classic, rest in peace.
Damn this plague.
Ear Candy 2020.04 – Happy In Denial
Log me in and out of my life
I’ve thrown in a few more oldies this month. Being stuck at home has led me to dig through some old favourites seeking comfort during my slow descent into solitary madness.
The Strokes dropped The New Abnormal which really only made it clear to me that JC should just focus on The Voidz instead, and so I ended up listening to Tyranny and Virtue again instead.
And given it was the 15th anniversary of Guero last month I had to revisit it, and since I couldn’t decide on a favourite I threw one of the 8-bit remixes that came out at the time. Yes, the original is better, but chiptunes warm my soul and I get to feel like I’m collecting coins or rings as I listen.
Lyrically, Girl is a great example of what I love about Beck’s stream-of-consciousness style. The official lyrics for the hook are “My … girl” where the ellipsis is mumbled and interpretation is left up to the listener. Is it sun-eyed or cyanide? The rest of the lyrics can be read differently depending on perspective, but overall it’s a very dark song cast to an upbeat tune.
“I know I’m gonna steal her eye” isn’t quite as charming when taken literally.
Ear Candy 2020.03 – Love
I think you’re beautiful, well, isn’t it strange?
Stay here with me, and never change
We could be suitable, like one in the same
A light in the world, ever dark and mundane
One thing I’ve come to realise lately is that I’m not a fan of the increasing trend of drip-feeding 6 singles leading up to an album’s release. By the time the album drops, you’ve already played through half of it and it changes your relationship to the album as a whole. You can’t evaluate every song evenly since you already have favourite children. Just a thought. I’m looking at you Tame Impala.
Aside from that, what a great month of music. Here’s twelve songs keeping my ears warm this month. As usual, a couple of old classics thrown in for good measure.
Ear Candy 2020.02 – Sleep
Now I worry our horizon’s been nothing new
‘Cause I get this feeling and maybe you get it too
We’re on a rollercoaster stuck on its loop-de-loop
‘Cause what we did, one day, on a whim
Has slowly become all we do
A few tracks I’ve had on rotation in the last couple of months. Some old favourites and some freshies.