Intronaut, "The Pleasant Surprise"
I've engaged in a fair bit of introspection around progressive metal around here. I suspect it's because the music is sufficiently ambitious that it invites us to engage with it seriously and think about it. Today, instead, I'm going to take a step back and try and instead answer a different, much more visceral question with regard to this song, instead of the usual navel gazing: does it rock? Reader: this song rocks.
The Delgados, "The Light Before We Land"
Some heavy mid-period Flaming Lips vibes going on here!
Einstürzende Neubauten, "Ten Grand Goldie"
2020 was Neubauten's 40th anniversary, and they celebrated by releasing a new studio album. As with every one of their records, it's interesting and frequently surprising. You never really know where any of these songs are going, and it's such a pleasure to hear a band that is capable of doing whatever they'd like in a studio.
The Beatles, "Roll Over Beethoven"
Chuck Berry was a genius.
The Arcade Fire, "Keep The Car Running"
You know, like so many other people, I really liked Funeral a lot. But Neon Bible just totally missed me. I don't know, it just doesn't connect with me at all, and this sort of music only works if it can make an emotional connection. In the absence of that, it's just kind of showtunes.