Introduction
Five Songs, 1/31/2021
Five Songs

Five Songs, 1/31/2021

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Third month in a row without missing a day! 94 day streak going here. NOT BAD AT ALL.

Smut Peddlers, "That Smut"

Well, here's a ridiculous album from 2001. While obsession with sex has a long and storied history in music, it's seldom quite so forward as with this record, and the focus on porn in particular is relatively unusual. But it's not unheard of in hip-hop either, not with Too $hort around, so this isn't even really breaking new ground. At any rate, outside of the outlandish lyrics, the record itself is a bit of a time capsule of that time in rap.

Hüsker Dü, "New Day Rising"

The blistering beginning of the best Hüsker Dü record (of the same name). I mentioned yesterday that it took me a little bit to get into the Dead Kennedys, having to adjust to the speed of their sound. In the same way, it took me a bit to get a handle on Hüsker Dü due to the noise, but once you get past some of the inaccessibility of their music, you really understand why they've inspired so many bands. I don't think that this is the best hardcore album (my heart will always belong to Out of Step, and I think that Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables is probably also slightly better). But they made more great records than any other hardcore band (depending on how you classify the Minutemen), so that maybe makes them the best hardcore band?

Al Green, "No One Like You"

When I first typed the title, I accidentally put it as "No One Likes You", which would be a VERY different song, and out of character for Al Green.

(This album rules, by the way.)

The Blood Brothers, "Peacock Skeleton With Crooked Feathers"

Whirling post-hardcore band out of Seattle, your opinion on the Blood Brothers will probably depend on what you think of Johnny Whitney's falsetto howl. It can be a bit much at times, and the interweaving of vocals with Jordan Billie can sound cartoonish at times. But if you can get past that, I think they're really interesting.

Big Drill Car, "Glory"

From their 1988 EP Small Block, this was their debut release, and is a tight little collection of six songs. Very much from the Descendents school of punk, this release has been totally forgotten, but is a good time.

Joshua Buergel
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