Prepare To Go Full Joey Chestnut
NEW MUSIC FOR OLDS #85
Dear readers, it’s been far too long.
Sorry for the mini-hiatus. I took a couple weeks to attend to some life stuff and man oh man, have I run the emotional gamut these past few weeks. From the elation of witnessing Zohran’s historic victory at the Queens DSA watch party…
…to engaging in some primo July 4th upstate relaxation, including my friends Bob and Amanda recreating a classic movie moment…
…and perhaps most vitally, a trip to Massachusetts, where I (deep breath) performed 45 minutes of standup comedy at my father’s assisted living facility.
JEALOUS MUCH?????
That’s a story for another day. All of this is to say, I’ve been focused on other things. But I will now make up for it with a bonafide shitload of new music for you.
Seriously, prepare to go full Joey Chestnut.
GOOD STUFF
As requested, your Glossary of Terms.
Sababa 5, “Nadir”
Listen on Apple Music // Listen on Amazon Music
Album: Nadir
Nutshell: Global groove
Voltage: 5
Thoughts: Do you enjoy Khruangbin but are also a little bored by Khruanghbin? To be clear: I appreciate what Khruangbin and let no man say otherwise! And if you’re asking “Should I know what a Khruangbin is?”, the answer is…sure, they’re pretty fun! But their minimalism can wear a bit thin after a while, reminding me of Guitar Hero tutorials, when the game is teaching you how the buttons work. This is an unwieldy way of suggesting that if you prefer your funk-tinged world music a bit knottier, Sababa 5 may be right of your alley. They’re less “expensive hotel lobby” and more “vintage foreign porno VHS you found at a yard sale”.
Pairing Suggestion: Struggling to adjust the brightness
Nihilistic Easyrider, “Getaway Plan”
Listen on Apple Music // Listen on Amazon Music
Album: DELUXE EDITION
Nutshell: Slacker power pop
Voltage: 7
Thoughts: This song is stupid and simple and dumb and I’ve listened to it roughly 1000 times over the past month. Something about that bouncy beat and helium-tinged vocals. Also, this song confirms my belief that more rock music should include maracas. The so-called Nihilistic Easyrider is Jacob Duarte, lead singer of Dallas neo-Grunge act Narrow Head, a band that seems…fine. With all due respect to Mr. Duarte’s main gig, I’d consider quitting my day job. But if this guise is a mere one-off, that’s fine too. Not every album has to be some paradigm-shifting reinvention of the artistic wheel. Disposability has its charms!
Pairing Suggestion: Bashing on the steering wheel
Gelli Haha, “Funny Music”
Listen on Apple Music // Listen on Amazon Music
Album: Switcheroo
Nutshell: Kiddie electronica
Voltage: 6
Thoughts: Maybe it’s the daily shit stream that qualifies as “news” these days, but my ears have been desperately craving buoyancy. That Nihilistic Easyrider tune certainly qualifies, but it’s hard to get bouncier than this gleeful album by LA songwriter Angel Abaya, aka Gelli Haha. This pleasantly bonkers collection of Casio pop songs answers the burning question, “What if the Teletubbies soundtrack was done by Kraftwerk?” But giddier. Like, you know when you spot a jittery six year-old at a county fair or sporting event, clearly riding an intense sugar high? This is that, but music.
Pairing Suggestion: Pre-gaming your backseat carsickness.
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VISITING ALUMNI
I warned you I’d be dumping a lot of new music on you this week, so here goes.
After two-plus years, I’m still not entirely settled on how to structure this newsletter. One example: repeats, i.e. artists already featured in a previous NMFO. My aim, to the extent that I have one, has been to reflect my actual listening habits, without much consideration to genre or popularity or discourse-iness. Like, I’m sure if I had thoughts on, say, the Sabrina Carpenter album cover controversy from a few weeks ago, I’d share them here. But I don’t feel compelled to address it, other than to assure you that every Spinal Tap joke has been made.
If an artist I previously wrote about has released new music, chances are I’m listening to it. Problem is, I’m not much of a writer—I likely used up all of my insight the first time around. Also, I kind of like the idea of continuing to push forward with new artists, at least until my brain turns to jelly and I spend the rest of my life humming “Shortnin’ Bread”. So I think I’ll let the New Music for Olds Audiophonic Universe continue to expand apace.
Does that mean I would deprive you of my infallible taste? Not likely! Here’s a playlist of some recent “repeaters”. Think of this as being at a high school social function (cast party, pep rally, circle jerk) and a recent graduate shows up unannounced. Not some dickhead—a cool kid you haven’t thought of in forever but are genuinely thrilled to see. Each song is that kid.
PLAYLIST: NMFO Visiting Alums, Vol 1
This playlist on Apple Music // This playlist on Amazon Music
Alison Goldfrapp, “Hey Hi Hello” — One of my all time faves, in her occasional synth-pop guise. (NMFO #32)
OSKA, “It Happens Either Way” — The very first artist featured in NMFO. Were we ever so young? (NMFO #1)
Blinker the Star, “Honey” — As always, a feast for the ears. (NMFO #19)
SG Goodman, “I’m in Love” — Beautifully understated. Understatedly beautiful. (NMFO #10)
Meat Wave, “Dehydrated” — This song is literally about someone not drinking enough water. Metaphors are overrated. (NMFO #17)
Caroline Kingsbury, “Shock Treatment” — The most under appreciated ‘80s-style pop songwriter of this era. (NMFO #67)
Julia Jacklin (feat. Faye Webster), “Good Guy” — An NMFO alum two-fer! Also, I have a weakness for songs “Please treat me like garbage.” (NMFO #21 & NMFO #52)
Sharon Etten, “I Can’t Imagine (Why You Feel This Way)” — Not in love with this album overall, but this tune has a saucy little bounce. (NMFO #6)
Greet Death, “August Underground” — Here’s that weepy sludge you asked for.(NMFO #3)
Natalia LaFourcade, “Cancionera” — Amo a este mujer. No se lo digas a mi esposa. (NMFO #18)
The Beths, “No Joy” — Concise, surgical power pop, per usual. (NMFO #11)
Clothesline From Hell, “Capital C” — Another cool mix of acoustic and programmed sounds. (NMFO #8)
Pool Kids, “Easier Said Than Done” — This first single off the upcoming Pool Kids adds a bit of studio polish. A good thing? TBD. (NMFO #11)
And with that, we bring NMFO #85 to a close. Last chance to talk shit!
See you in a couple of weeks.1
You know better than to hold me to this.