Summer 2016: Chaos Reigns

So much has been said about how 2016 sucks. Deaths of icons. An election that seems to be taken from some parody within an apocalypse within a farce of a nightmare. A climate that is rightfully trying to kill us all with fire, if we don't all just shoot each other first. Race not "still" being an issue, because that's not surprising, but what seems to be an escalation in willful denial about inequality has ignited some truly insane shit. Anyway, the world is on fire figuratively and almost literally. I swear I felt the sun laugh flames in my face the other day as I stepped outside.

I see so many ridiculous arguments on every side of issues with very few people being consistent about a damn thing. I'm constantly amazed about how much people are willing to give up to systems that are clearly broken just because that's "the way it is." The idea that change is incremental is something only people that benefit from the status quo can say with a straight face, as if that was somehow ok. People looking to change things are called naive by those supporting candidates simply because they pledge the right mascot. Everyone is offended but somehow calling out actual offenses is also offensive. It's mind-boggling.  But anyway, about music. . .

I've been listening to a lot of Nick Cave this summer and it's been the perfect voice for all of this. We've partied like it was 1999, but no big time apocalypse came. Instead, it's been a descending spiral for several decades. Cave's narratives are the soundtrack of our elongated doom. But, of course, there's other songs, other voices. Hence my playlist, Summer 2016: Chaos Reigns. Metallica released a song that is not only a great reminder of why they were my band back in the 80s, but is one of the most timely things I've ever heard. And of course, Leonard Cohen's "Everybody Knows" plays in my head every time I'm reminded how shitty the world can be. It's not all doom and gloom, though.  Deap Vally's "Smile More" is an anthem for every woman who's ever been, well, a woman in a supposed man's world, but also for anybody who's ever been outside the norm or just generally feels like they should be left the fuck alone. (Hint: leave everyone the fuck alone). The point is, there's a sense of rebellion here and maybe even hope as well. But, always, unfortunately, for most of us, struggle. Still, at least we're not alone, even if we don't always realize it.

Anyway, listen and think and hopefully enjoy. And I'll try to post more often again, if anyone cares. 

2015 Week 17: Sludge Nap

My Teenage Lullabies.

I feel like I'm on the cusp of a personal metal resurgence. I've been listening to heavier music this past week. It could be due to stress and I don't care what anyone says, metal is the best stress reliever. There's a reason so many of us, mostly awkward teenagers, turned to it when we did. Particularly boys, but that may have just been a sign of the times. I think the gender gap here was more of an imaginary one, imposed by culture, as most gender gaps are. As a matter of fact, my current favorite is Royal Thunder and the singer/bass player is a girl! A girl!! And she's a badass. Imagine that.

Mlny Parsonz of Royal Thunder

I remember I used to get home from school, particularly when I was in high school, which I hated, and would put on Metallica (usually) and actually fall peacefully asleep as I listened. And this was well before "Enter Sandman," which I'm now convinced was about me. These were the best naps of my life. The rage, aggression, frustration and ultimately pain and confusion of adolescence would be soothed by this music that gave it voice like nothing else. We always tend to think every song is about us at that age, so it's refreshing to know that 25 years later, I can still listen to crushing chord and feel understood in some way.

Anyway, this week's Spotify playlist just sort of happened to be heavy and sludgy so I went with it and organized it a bit into something of a journey into one of those naps. Only this isn't a throwback list by any means. And it's not all metal, but the couple lighter tunes I left in kinda fit in anyway. Most of this stuff, I actually just heard this week for the first time. If I had the time for one of those epic naps, this might be playing in the background. And as much as I love vinyl, I wouldn't have to get up and flip the record over at any point. So, turn it up and take a sludge nap. By the way, I recommend playing these in order with a 5 second cross fade if possible.