Stuck Disk 1

opening a can of ear worms

So when I was a freshman at the University of South Carolina, I had a show on the student run radio station WUSC 90.5FM (check ‘em out). It was a grand ol’ time of learning about FCC regulations, perusing through a CD library with a collection gathered over the years, and waking up at the ass crack of dawn to do my weekly show with my co-host Lisa. That experience really solidified for me that I just really love talking about and sharing music with other people. Which if you know me irl, wow I know, such a shock.

Now I make no claims of being hip to the happenings of the industry or being a real connoisseur of what’s good and what’s shit. I subscribe to the school of thought that taste and preference in all things is subject to a degree of change and/or evolution throughout our lives, which is an idea that I think some people struggle to accept (I’m people sometimes). All that to say that I have the urge all the time to just share what I find is catching my ear and why with anyone who will listen because it’s always changing. And what better outlet for that than this substack I have that I don’t know if anyone will read!

So without further ado, I’m gonna share in no particular order a few tracks/records/projects from artists that have taken up my brain space and some general thoughts and reflections on them.

“Swoon” by Fickle Friends is proof to me that yearning is oh so back in the 2020s, and as a D1 championship yearner, we’re so up. I knew this track was gonna be a problem for me when an Instagram reel of the band teasing the song came across my feed at end of January. I’d never heard of the Brighton indie pop outfit before, the song wouldn’t drop for another month, and it was already an instant ear worm. It’s got wonderfully playful lyrics about a timid first date turned heated honeymoon phase love affair set to an infectiously danceable 80s inspired synth pop score with a modern indie twist. At the time of writing it is 6 months since the track released and it shows no signs of losing it’s ability to make me move my hips.

vibe: singing out the car window as the person you’ve been seeing for a few weeks drives you home from a party where they met all your friends (it went well)

“All My Friends Are So Depressed” is the latest release from legendary punk rock band Joyce Manor. Their last solo project was 2022’s studio album release “40 Oz. To Fresno”, which in itself was a bit of a far cry their 2014 album “Never Hungover Again” (the one that arguably everyone knows and put them on the map). These guys have never been afraid to let their sound grow and evolve with them over the years and they keep that admirable trend up in this single. “All My Friends Are So Depressed” goes for a twangy, jangly, old school rock n’ roll feel but keeps the band’s signature emo/punk irreverence with lyrics poking at depression (who’d’ve thunk), suicidal ideation, listlessness, hitting the bong, and staying in bed till 3 PM. As someone who has dealt with all these things, yeah they just fuckin’ get it. But in a fun way.

vibe: Having a beer on the back porch with your high school friends shootin’ the same old shit on a Friday night after a long work week (it’s familiar yeah, but no less a good time)

“4D Country” is a funky little EP from Brooklyn based rock band Geese. It’s a collection of tracks cut from their 2023 sophomore album “3D Country”. The crazy thing is, the band goes just as crazy on this EP as they did on the actual album if not crazier. The track 4D Country is both the title track of the EP, but also an extended jam version of the title track from the previously released album. If you’ve spent any time in the car with me in the last year, you’ve probably heard 3D country in its entirety and have given me funny ass looks about it. At it’s simplest, it’s a banging heavy rock project written about/from the point of view of a cowboy on psychedelic drugs. It’s weird, it’s catchy, it’s a jam, it’s totally shaken up my normal listening for months now, it’s just damn good.

vibe: road trip to the beach in your dad’s old pick up with your best friends, head bobbing to the radio, wind in your hair, bumpy ass road

“lightweight” was my introduction to genre bending Huston based alternative artist DE’WAYNE and damn, I’ve not been this mad about being late to the party in a minute. Vocals, production, undeniable alt swag, DE’WAYNE has it all. “lightweight” is the second track from his 2024 four track project “I WANT YOU MORE THAN ANBODY WANTS YOU” and is an incredibly catchy indie rock flavored bop about a relationship that feels a bit like the back and forth of a boxing match. It’s personal, it’s danceable, it makes you wanna speed down the highway with the windows down and scream the lyrics, it’s everything.

vibe: a small fight with your partner leaves you feeling off all day and you realize when you get home they’ve felt the same and you have some open communication and dance in the kitchen together while making dinner afterwards

That’s all I have for this one folks. I may make another round up like this in a week or so, so stay tuned. Hopefully this will give me some incentive to keep breaking out of my repetitive listening funks. If you like any of these artists go and support them however you can! Have any opinions? Think my takes suck? Got something that reminds you of any of these artists? Feel free to let me know!