Music is a little like food and clothes. These are areas where it’s probably worthwhile for one to explore & expand their tastes. The Playlist is assembled each month by Dappered’s very own music correspondent, Tim Johnstone. Tim is a former Virgin Records Label Rep & current award winning Program Director at KRVB, which was awarded the FMQB AAA station of the year markets 50+. You can also catch his work on Fridays when he assembles the Weekend Dossier. Got a Spotify account? You’ll find a link to this month’s playlist at the end of the post.
Youth Lagoon – “Highway Patrol Stun Gun”
Youth Lagoon releases their third album Savage Hills Ballroom on September 18th. “Highway Patrol Stun Gun” is the second preview track and it has mesmerized me since the day it was released. There is something about the pulsating rhythm track and the simple, mournful repetitive piano that draws me in. In this context, Trevor Powers’ fragile, childlike vocals find a perfect match. The gradual introduction of strings and additional piano adds subtle layers that are scrambled with the arrival of the full band midway through. Musical themes expand and a fantastic bridge gradually bring us back to the original simple, slowed down melody and we are back where we started. It’s a magnificent ride.
Bossie – “There Will Be Time”
This is perfect pop. It is deliriously happy. It has been carefully crafted with changing time structures, Casio tunings and some wicked 8 bit synth guitar fun. While owing more than a little to Berlin, Blondie, Altered Images and Scritti Politti, the joy with which it all comes together makes it all seem like one ginormous tip of the hat. Doesn’t appear to be available for purchase yet?
Chris Cornell – “Nearly Forgot My Broken Heart”
His solo work has been admittedly hit and miss, but with this first song from his forthcoming CD, he’s assembled something undeniable. Cornell’s voice soars on highs and lows, shifting tones and multiplied with harmonies. That the instrumentation and arrangements (with sonic tributes to The Who and Zeppelin along the way) hold their own amongst Cornell’s persona says a lot about why the song stands out.
Method Man – “The Purple Tape” Featuring Raekwon and Inspectah Deck
“Wu-Tang is for the children.” Because of course. The retro vibe here provides the perfect base for the MC’s and keeps the whole jam floating. Nice work fellas.
EL VY – “Return To The Moon”
Take one part The National (lead singer Matt Berninger) and one part Menomena (producer, musician Brent Knopf) and one part throwback and you end up with an 80’s flavored atmospheric track that percolates along on a friendly guitar lick and airy production. Just don’t ask me about the lyrics.
BETWEEN THE BEATS:
MASTER SESSIONS: Groundbreaking synthesizer pioneer is bringing together a long list of acolytes for a new project. This is kind of a big deal. Then there’s this.
ABOUT. DAMN. TIME! The expectations for this record are kind of completely unrealistic.
SUMMER OF 1989? One of the more interesting characters in Rock N Roll is up to shenanigans. I’m interested.
PARADISE CITY: This is far from the only article I’ve run across on this. I’ll believe it when I see it but I would lie if I said I was completely disinterested.
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis – “Downtown”
Haters gonna hate, but this is pretty entertaining. It is bombastically over the top, joyfully dopey, and willfully cheesy. But it seems to me that it’s all good natured. And despite the fact that the song features the likes of Grandmaster Caz, Kool Moe Dee and Melle Mel, the star of the show is Eric Nally, lead singer for Foxy Shazam who saunters in for the arena sized dose of glam rock glory.
Deerhunter – “Snakeskin”
Because sometimes you want a solid T -Rex boogie with nonchalant sleaze and weird dreams.
Lana Del Rey – “Terrence Loves You”
The single most polarizing woman in music delivers another preview track to her upcoming album Honeymoon with this David Lynch worthy (and I do so hate to use this word) epic noir extra low-power ballad. With strings from a Cinemascope/Technicolor 60’s spectacular and an homage to Davie Bowie, “Terrence Loves You” might not make her any new fans, but those who are already on board will love this.
Eagles of Death Metal – “Complexity”
That one time EODM made the best Sparks song in forever. This works on so many levels beyond the immediacy of the Sparks homage. The song just builds and gets better and better with every verse as the arrangement opens up. By the time they get to the Brothers Mael approved backing vocals, it’s on.
THE CLASSIC: Roxy Music – “Avalon”
Legendary sexy times music. Led by one of the most stylish men in music, Bryan Ferry’s Roxy Music emerged from London’s art rock scene. Their suave, funky and sensual brand of new soul via new wave were a perfect match for MTV and this particular video would be one of the most influential of the decade.
Click here to find this playlist on Spotify.
For previous editions of The Playlist, see the growing archive here.
