![2021 Music Showcase, Part 2 [[xxxREMIXxx]]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/508751_0d423aa8b4164c4aa9d554338800336a~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_1200,h_800,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/508751_0d423aa8b4164c4aa9d554338800336a~mv2.jpg)
The second post we ever put up on this site was a link to the collaborative playlist that shares a name with our website. The playlist predates the website, and was an idea I came up with to simulate the musical experience of our childhood. Growing up together, we were constantly listening to each-other’s music. We loved many of the same albums, fortunately, but we all had somewhat different tastes and introduced each-other to artists we would have never heard otherwise. None of us have lived together full-time for about a decade, so our exposure to and excitement for each-other’s favorite new music has dwindled greatly. The Headphone Bros playlist is a way for us to keep that conversation alive.
Now, you’re a part of that conversation. I’m going to introduce you to the seven songs I am currently contributing to the playlist and why I included them. Hopefully you find one that sticks with you.
Tom Morello, Bassnectar, Big Boi, & Killer Mike - Rabbit’s Revenge
As a fan of Rage Against the Machine, I’m sad to say that I haven’t really been following Tom Morello’s solo releases and side-projects. I was an Audioslave fan, but I haven’t generally been too excited by most of his other projects.
I have, however, been avidly following Killer Mike ever since he came onto my radar thanks to Run the Jewels. Add in Big Boi, who surprised me by becoming my actual favorite member of Outkast, and you’ve got a collaboration I’m actually excited about.
And the song is basically exactly what I expected. Tom Morello’s guitar noises are as fun as ever, and when you combine his and Killer Mike’s political mindsets, you know the song is diving into some timely subject matter. This song had my attention the first time I heard it, and it continues to make me crank the volume every time it comes on.
CHVRCHES - Miracle
Shifting gears pretty heavily, CHVRCHES are a band that took me a while to get into. Years ago, I gave their album The Bones of What You Believe a few listens. I decided that they were catchy and talented, but ultimately not for me. 5 years later, I’ve come around quite a bit. Their sound is very different from most of what I listen to, but I can’t deny their combination of powerful, catchy melodies that can pump you up and make you sad at the same time. I’ve also become more drawn to music that borrows from the 80’s, and CHVRCHES scratch some nebulous, nostalgic itch that was ingrained in my aural memory during my formative years.
The Coathangers - Gettin’ Mad and Pumpin’ Iron
I think the first time I heard a Coathangers song it was because Margie (my wife) had put it on a playlist. It heavily featured a squeaking rubber ducky, which is a great example of some of my favorite punk acts: repetitive and obnoxious, but passionate. I went through a MAJOR Riot Grrl phase about 15 years ago, and I still love listening to angry women singing aggressive, energetic, and fun music.
Rob Zombie & Marilyn Manson - Helter Skelter
The amazing thing about this song is that it didn’t exist 20 years ago. The artist who named himself after Charles Manson singing the song Charles Manson claimed to be inspired by? For most artists, I’d say maybe it’s too obvious a cover. But Marilyn Manson? I don’t think “obvious” is a thing he worries about. I am also not sure that I’ve heard him and Rob Zombie share a track before, which seems like something else that should have happened in 1998. This song makes me happy because it is righting the cosmic balance. This song exists because it always should have existed.
cupcakke - Cinnamon Toast Crunch
Grandma, if you’re reading this and, specifically, if you listened to that, I’m sorry. Sometimes I’m just in the mood for something raunchy. I like many things about cupcakke. She’s got a song about cartoons and another all about pop-culture’s weird double standard when it comes to same-sex representation. (Girl on girl, they like “Yup!” but when it’s man on man they like “Yuck!”) From her lyrics, she seems like an open-minded nerd. Mostly, though, she raps about sex. Graphically. To be honest, some of her stuff makes me blush even when nobody else is around to know what I’m, listening to.
Even when my sensitive ears aren’t prepared for the bombs she’s dropping (Listen to Duck Duck Goose or Spoiled Milk Titties if you want to know what I’m talking about. Unless you’re my parents, then please don’t.) I really appreciate the way that she raps about sex. It's not like she’s trying to please someone else, but because she really, really likes sex. I think it’s actually very important for people to be confident about their sexuality. I think that the way sex is kept as this hidden, forbidden part of our lives that you just don’t talk about with people you don’t share a bed with is actually very unhealthy for our society. I, however, am too shy to ever talk to anyone about my sex life, so I’m glad that people like cupcakke, Peaches, and Dr. Doe are here to do it instead.
Twin Shadow - When You’re Wrong
If CHVRCHES have an unusual sound when compared to what i usually listen to, Twin Shadow stands out like an elephant at a dog park. Pop R&B is not my signature genre by any stretch. Strangely, I actually came around to his music faster than I did to CHVRCHES. I listened to his 2012 album Confess quite a lot that year, especially the standouts 5 Seconds and Patient. I feel like Twin Shadow is the best example of the “80’s sound” that has been boosting certain artists for me.
His 2018 album Caer is not as solid as Confess. In addition to 5 Seconds and Patient, it also contains Golden Light, You Call Me On, and several other songs that I like quite a bit. On Caer, I really only want to listen to one song, When You’re Wrong, but I like it a whole lot. The driving base, the eerie but beautiful vocals, and a solid hook will keep me listening to this song for a while.
Jonathan Coulton - Don’t Feed the Trolls
Jonathan Coulton is an undeniably clever, talented, and prolific songwriter. Unfortunately, I frequently ignore the lyrics when I listen to music. This means that Coulton is not in my regular rotation, because unless I’m paying attention to his lyrics his songs are just pleasant, semi-generic indy fare. Recently, though, I was listening through his album Solid State (which is also a graphic novel he co wrote with Matt Fraction) and I was just in the right mood to really listen.
When I did, this song stood out. As I said, he is undeniably clever, and he does a great job of turning internet culture into a heartfelt and funny song. I know that sometimes clever can be off-putting, but I hope you find yourself in the mood for this sometime soon.
BONUS TIM TRACK
The Grass Roots - Wait a Million Years
I decided to end this post with one of the songs my brothers added to the playlist. I had heard this song occasionally on the radio over the years, but I could never tell you who sang it or what it was called. When it starts, it doesn’t really grab my attention, but as soon as the killer chorus kicks in I’m sold. Nice job bringing this oldie to my attention.
Finally, I Made a YouTube version of the playlist for those of you that don't use Spotify. Enjoy!